Escapees Member News- To our Escapees family,

Our Escapees Family,

Over the past 43 years, together we have weathered many ups and downs. From the fuel shortages of the 70s to the recession through the 80s and 90s, we came together and found ways to continue enjoying the RV life. Even in the 2000s, we full-timers fought for our right to vote, and into the 2010s, we had to find new ways to make the most of this lifestyle as the economy slowed around us. And now, in 2020, we must come together again to support each other through a pandemic that has affected not only our nation but feels to have singled out full-time RVers. Through all of this, though, we have yet to lose our way. Our sense of adventure, our drive to challenge ourselves, and our strength as a community has never wavered.

Though we can't come together physically at a Hangout, Convergence, HOP, Escapade, or even at an RV park social right now, we are still here for each other. The Escapees family is as strong as ever.

When the time is right, we will celebrate together by sharing hugs, high-fives, campfires, RV stories, and more, rekindling the kind of connection that can only happen when we're together.

Until then, let's take care of ourselves and each other. Reach out and check on your friends, make sure they're doing ok. If you're feeling low, find someone you trust and ask them for a little support. We are still here, we are still an RVing family, and no amount of physical distance can weaken that bond.

Some of you have been with us from the start, and have seen first-hand the successes and setbacks our RVing family has experienced over the last four decades. To help our newer members understand and appreciate the hard work done by those who came before, we are creating a collection of stories from our club's history. Take a walk down memory lane with us as you browse the articles below.

Roots Run Deep: Read along as the Carr family shares a bit about how the club was started, as well as how it continues to grow and develop under the leadership of each generation.

Rainbow's End: Here, Kay Peterson, Escapees RV Club co-founder, shares stories and adventures from the early phases of building the first Rainbow Park, which is also home to our headquarters.

Back to Rainbow's End: In a follow-up to the post above, we learn more about what it took to finish getting Rainbow's End ready for guests and leaseholders, including the sacrifices and contributions of many volunteers.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Kay continues sharing insights from Escapees history, here focusing on building the first SKP Co-Op park.

The Census 2020 conversation may have fallen off your radar, due to all of our collective attention being paid to COVID-19. (We at Escapees hope that you are all safe and healthy.) However, we promised to provide you Census 2020 updates, as we have them. Behind the scenes, we worked with Susie Adams, attorney/partner, at Loring and Associates, as well as Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy, on matters related to Census 2020. Judge Murphy has told us that "the 2020 Census is extremely important to East Texas and its residents. Since the Escapees were one of the groups that were undercounted or underrepresented in 2010, we are making every effort to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself, along with implementing census requirements within the spirit of the law."

While Escapees RV Club cannot directly advise you on the interpretation of the Census instructions, Judge Murphy urges each of you, full-timers, to please "complete the Census form using your domicile as the place you "live," not where you spent the previous night." Please know, if you have circumstances that make following Judge Murphy's suggestion unrealistic, or if you have an interpretation of the Census rules that differs from Judge Murphy's, please complete the Census based on your understanding of the rules as written by the Census. You may complete the Census questionnaire by visiting www.my2020census.gov.