{{Short description|Organization of RV owners}} {{For|the warehouse store chain|Sam's Club}} {{Infobox organization | name = Good Sam Club | native_name = | image = RGB-GoodSam-Membership-Horiz SignageGreen.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|1966}} | founder = Art Rouse | extinction = <!-- e.g. use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | merger = | type = Organization of recreational vehicle owners | tax_id = <!-- or | vat_id = (for non-profit org) --> | registration_id = <!-- for non-profit org --> | status = | purpose = | headquarters = Bowling Green, Kentucky | location = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} --> | region_served = | services = | products = | methods = | fields = | membership = Over 1.8 million, world's largest RV organization | language = | owner = Good Sam Enterprises | secretary_general = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = Good Sam Enterprises | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = Camping World, NASCAR | budget = | revenue = | disbursements = | expenses = | endowment = | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | website = {{url|http://www.goodsam.com/club}} | remarks = | former_name = | footnotes = }} The '''Good Sam Club''' is an international organization of recreational vehicle (RV) owners and the largest organization of RV owners in the world.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://trib.com/business/good-sam-samboree-in-rock-springs/article_2ec0957e-9738-5e97-823d-77a75a6d12d6.html | title=Good Sam Samboree in Rock Springs | publisher=Star Tribune (Casper, Wyoming) | date=June 1, 2013 | accessdate=24 August 2014 | author=(Staff)}}</ref> It is focused upon making RVing safer and more enjoyable, also, saving money for members through club-endorsed benefits and services.<ref name="Eure"/> It states that it has over 2.185 million members.<ref name="GSAA">[http://www.goodsamclub.com/about/Default.aspx What is the Good Sam Club? RV Camping Club, RVers Online Community<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It was founded in 1966,<ref name="Eure"/><ref name="GSAA"/> and is currently owned by Good Sam Enterprises. The organization is affiliated with RV parks and campgrounds.
==Overview== ===History=== Credited as the founder of the Good Sam Club is Art Rouse,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nipawinjournal.com/2009/06/03/rv-enthusiasts-to-visit-nipawin-for-their-samboree | title=RV enthusiasts to visit Nipawin for their Samboree | publisher=Nipawin Journal | date=June 3, 2009 | accessdate=24 August 2014 | author=Butt, Shannon | archive-date=26 August 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115009/http://www.nipawinjournal.com/2009/06/03/rv-enthusiasts-to-visit-nipawin-for-their-samboree | url-status=dead }}</ref> founder of TL Enterprises, a California-based publishing company responsible for ''Trailer Life'' magazine<ref name="THI"/> and MotorHome magazine. Rouse and his two sons acquired the organization in 1968 and further developed member benefits and RV-related services for which the club is known. Rouse sold TL Enterprises in the 1980s and died on June 19, 2007, following head injuries suffered as a result of a fall, at 89 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.resorttrades.com/news.php?act=view&id=1794 |title=The Resort Trades<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2014-08-24 |archive-date=2014-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115358/http://www.resorttrades.com/news.php?act=view&id=1794 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Today=== Good Sam Club is based in Englewood, Colorado.<ref name="GSAA"/> The organization is currently owned by Good Sam Enterprises, which also owns Camping World (an American corporation specializing in selling parts and services for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping), Coast to Coast Resorts,<ref>[http://www.coastresorts.com/learnmore.cfm "Who is Coast to Coast?"]. Coastresorts.com.</ref> Trailer Life Publications, MotorHome Publications and the Good Sam RV Travel Guide & Campground Directory.<ref>[http://www.woodalls.com Woodalls campground guides and directory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The organization also offers additional services such as roadside assistance, RV insurance, and RV extended warranties for additional fees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.goodsamclub.com/services/ |title=Good Sam Club Services – Roadside Assistance, RV extended warranty, Insurance, Financial, Travel Assistance services<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2014-08-24 |archive-date=2014-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115340/http://www.goodsamclub.com/services/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2022 Good Sam clubs across America were closed by Camping World executives.
===Membership=== In 1985, the club had over 450,000 members;<ref name="SMC"/> today, it has over 2.185 million members.<ref name="GSAA"/>
===Nomenclature=== The club's name comes from the Bible parable of the Good Samaritan,<ref name="VCNB"/> which tells of a traveler from the region of Samaria who helped a person along the road who had been robbed and beaten.
==RV park affiliations== In 2017, there were over 2,100 RV parks and campgrounds affiliated with the Good Sam organization<ref name="Eure"/> in which club members receive a 10% discount on the nightly rate for staying in their parks.<ref>[http://www.goodsamclub.com/whyjoin.aspx Good Sam Club – Money Saving RV Discounts<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> These RV parks have to meet a minimum standard of services and appearance to be considered for association.<ref>[https://www.goodsamnetwork.com/rating/index.cfm Good Sam Network: Rating System<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Good Sam also publishes information to help members find parks that provide stated levels of services.
==NASCAR== [[File:Marcus Lemonis with Good Sam Club Mascot at Good Sam Club 500 - November 2012.jpg|thumb|Marcus Lemonis at the NASCAR Good Sam Club 500 in 2012]] The club sponsored the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega Superspeedway<ref>[http://radio.foxnews.com/2011/10/21/fox-in-the-fast-lane-good-sam-club-500-at-talladega/ FOX in the Fast Lane: Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega - FOX News Radio<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and the Camping World Truck Series' Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 at Rockingham Speedway.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.goodsamclub.com/2011/08/goodsam200/ |title=Join Us for the Good Sam Club 200 NASCAR Race {{!}} Good Sam Club News<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2014-08-24 |archive-date=2011-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924134031/http://blog.goodsamclub.com/2011/08/goodsam200/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://racing-reference.info/race/2012_Good_Sam_Roadside_Assistance_Carolina_200/C|title=2012 Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=March 10, 2017}}</ref>
==See also== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *Affinity Group Inc. *Camping *Camping World *Snowbird *Stephen Adams {{Div col end}}
==References== {{Reflist|2|refs= <ref name="Eure">[https://books.google.com/books?id=VfoNEqIzlGMC&pg=PA246 The Everything Family Guide To RV Travel And Campgrounds – Marian Eure<!-- Bot generated title -->]. pp. 246-247.</ref> <ref name="SMC">{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1075&dat=19850718&id=ZUMlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NhUGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2404,2224475 | title=Club Seeks Members | publisher=The St. Marys Oracle | date=July 18, 1985 | accessdate=24 August 2014}}</ref> <ref name="VCNB">{{cite web|url=http://www.news-bulletin.com/2009/11/07/la-vida/traveling-across-the-country-with-the-comforts-of-home.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826160843/http://www.news-bulletin.com/2009/11/07/la-vida/traveling-across-the-country-with-the-comforts-of-home.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |title=Traveling across the country with the comforts of home |publisher=Valencia County News-Bulletin |date=November 7, 2009 |accessdate=24 August 2014 |author=(Staff) }}</ref> <ref name="THI">{{cite web | url=http://news.rvbasics.com/rv-magazine-guru-art-rouse-downsizes-to-class-c/ | title=RV magazine guru Art Rouse downsizes to Class C | publisher=(originally published in The Humboldt Independent) | date=October 14, 2005 | accessdate=24 August 2014 | author=Fletcher, Steven}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{Commons}} *[http://www.goodsamclub.com Official website: GoodSamClub.com]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Recreational vehicles Category:Transportation organizations based in the United States Category:Emergency road services