Lady E and the Professor

Terry Cooper going about his daily teaching job at the TSTC here in Waco, TX.  Plus, he is the online instructor for Northampton Community College from Bethlehem, PA teaching Certified RV Techs.

We completed another  ’Live Event’ with our Gold Star Club, which is our online group here at Mobile RV Academy of 2010 , these are folks who have signed up for the complete RV maintenance training program we have available.   October RV Expert Guest was George Montgomery from Business and Tax Planning.  Mr. Montgomery has 30+ years providing bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, filing of personal and corporate tax returns.  He has operated his business and lived as a full-time RV’er and currently lives with his wife in Arizona.  What a great wealth of information he provided to our group giving them tips and suggestions on how to lessen their lax liability and more.  A big TEXAS thank you goes out to George Montgomery.

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This week the Terry Cooper and I met with our publisher – TSTC Publishing,  looking over the rough draft of the RV Centennial Cookbook – Celebrating 100 years of RVing.  I can truly say that I am overwhelmed at the beauty and overall quality of this publication.  The book is being projected to hit the market in January 2011.  WE had the priveledge of having the book critiqued by some  PROS in the industry and was given a ‘GREAT’ rating. (which is so exciting) For me….I am thrilled to see it’s progression from being just a thought I had a year ago…to now – we have a near completed book.

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My publisher also announced that obtaining book signings is now one of their priorities.  The first one to be placed on the calendar for 2011 comes from a very special lady from my hometown of Rockdale, Texas – is Lana Caldwell, manager of Antique Queens.  Located in the historical downtown section on the Cameron Avenue, Lana has a great antique mall with lots of local and non-local vendors. We will be there doing our book signing on March 3rd, 2011 as Lana, son – Cody and his wife Zena Caldwell celebrates the 3rd anniversary of their business success of Antique Queens. That weekend will also be Rockdale’s monthly scheduled Market Day’s with lots to see and do while visiting.  I am looking forward to being back in my hometown and celebrating the cookbook with Lana and so many of my other friends there in the Rockdale area.

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Another wonderful thing that happened this week ….Terry Cooper was asked to  be the next Chairman of the Texas RV Association’s  Education Committee.  What an honor for him to be asked and of course, he accepted that position.  Terry has been a part of that committee for 6 years serving as an advisor/member.  He is looking forward to the upcoming year as he helps the dealer techs to maintain and upgrade their skills and help them secure their continuing education to re-certify. 

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We have been working feverishly to finish all the details of the RV Maintenance for Ladies 2011 Program.  We officially launch that on the 22nd of this month.  I can’t tell you how excited I am for my involvement in this project.  This will be open to all ladies everywhere. There are no stipulations other than it will require a “We Can Do It!” attitude from those who want to participate.   Here on our website we have a special page devoted to this program…if you would like to sign up for some additional FREE information on that, please do.

Another program that will come back for 2011 will be the Gold Star Club.  There will be some slight changes to that great program.  We have adjusted somethings where we can make it more affordable to all.  We are launching that material  the end of next week, as well.   I will say that this new program will start on January 1st, 2011 and will only last for 4 months.  You will be getting the 8 core RV Maintenance courses along with some great bonuses.  All the information will be coming soon.

Both of these programs will be featured in the Workamper News -  November/December subscriber magazine. If you a subscriber…please check those feature ads out.  Also, I will mention that I am continuing with the being the official ’Social Media Guru’ for Workamper News. Want to be a Facebook Fan?  Come be at a part of the fun and workamper education at www.Workampingtoday.com

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Birthday Fun!

Well, that’s it for this week…..but before I close, I want to send out a very special Happy Birthday wish to my youngest granddaughter who turned 1 this week  - Miss Calli Elizabeth.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Also, my wonderful ‘older’  sister is also celebrating her birthday tomorrow…..Happy Birthday Yvonne Praesel Baker.  Here is to a year of “We Can Do It” attitude!!  I love you………..

Until next week…. Happy Fall Y’all!
 

RV Centennial Cookbook by Evada Cooper

One of TSTC Publishing’s authors, Evada Cooper, just got word the national Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) is endorsing her upcoming cookbook, RV Centennial Cookbook: Celebrating 100 Years of RVing, as one of its official publications during its year-long celebration of 100 years of RVing.

“I’m just very excited,” said Cooper. “It’s all about family, friends and food.”The Coopers own and operate the Mobile RV Academy, an online RV maintenance academy. A portion of the book sales will be donated to the Texas RV Association to further RV Maintenance Education, she said.The cookbook, to be published by us later this year, will boast recipes that are easy and quick to prepare, especially for the avid RVer.“We would love to have recipes from every RV association across the country,” said Cooper. It also will contain tips on maintaining your RV from Cooper’s husband, Terry, nationally known as the Texas RV Professor. He also is an instructor at TSTC Waco. The book, with its official RVIA endorsement, will offer tidbits of RV history and photos of early RVs featured at the RVIA website.“We are happy to offer our endorsement and allow the book to be called the ‘official’ RV Centennial cookbook,” said Bernadette Murphy, RVIA communications director. “Thank you for your work on behalf of the RV Centennial!” The national organization launched its centennial celebration earlier this year with a special website that chronicles the history of RVing in America.TSTC Publishing was established in 2004 and is the publishing arm of the Texas State Technical College System. TSTC Publishing is a leading provider of high-end technical instructional materials and related information to institutions of higher education and private industry. For more information on the RV Centennial Cookbook, please contact LadyEcooper@MobileRVAcademy.com

Sheila – Marketing Manager TSTC Publishing Dept.

Has there been someone on your staff you have been watching and they show promise? Do you have a sharp young man or lady that would make a great RV technician if you could just get them some training?

 Here is your chance to develop their skills and talents that will help grow your business.

 Hi, I am Terry Cooper, a Master Certified RV Technician and recipient of the RVIA Scholastic Achievement Award.

Why pay travel expenses, hotel bills and have your technician away from the shop and their family for 2 to 3 days at some off site training location.

Now you can have your technicians take their training via a live 2 way interactive Webinar from your location.

These Webinars will be held on Saturday mornings from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM starting May 8, 2010 for a period of 5 weeks, for a total of 10 hours (May 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd, 29^th and June 5^th).

The student will be able to access these live classes via a computer whether it is at your shop, their home or some designated location you chose.

Your technician will be able to raise their hand to ask questions, talk and interact with the Professor just like they would if they were sitting in a classroom at some tech training center.

Each course will have the following:

• Skills Evaluation Exam – 125 questions in the format of a Pre-Test (a $100 value)
• 10 hours of online instruction via a 2 way internet connected webinar
• 5 sessions of at least 2 hours in length
• Lecture and discussion of various electrical topics
• Downloadable handouts in pdf format
• Homework – hands on assignments
• Quizzes and Video segments to view
• Copy of the Professor’s DVD “Know Your RV – A Guided Tour of a 5^th wheel and Travel Trailer”
• Post Test
• Access to recorded material for up to 30 days after course completion
• Certificate of Completion from the Mobile RV Academy

RV Electrical Systems for the RV Technician Course Overview

Session 1 – Saturday,  May 8, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Overview of the 3 RV Electrical Systems

• What is electricity? Where does it come from?
• Learn about the 3 electrical systems found in today’s RV
• Voltage, Resistance and Current, the 3 items that make up the electrical systems
• Ohm’s Law, Watts Law and
• The difference between AC voltage and DC voltage.

Session 2 – Saturday,  May 15, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

DC Voltage

• What is DC voltage and where does it come from?
• Converters  are more than just fancy battery chargers
• Why you need a fully functional battery to properly operate your appliances, water pump, slide outs and other devices.
• Fuses and DC protective devices.
• Going Green – Solar panels and wind generators – what they can and cannot do for you

Session 3 – Saturday,  May 22, 2010 –  8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

AC Voltage

• What is AC voltage and where does it come from?
• Why you need AC voltage for the air conditioning, microwave and heating element of your water heater.
• Shore (pedestal) power and generators
• Inverters – the other AC voltage source
• 30 amps vs 50 amps, why bother and what do they mean?

Session 4 – Saturday,  May 29, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Electrical Capstone Materials

• Calculating power consumption and power conservation
• Replacing a defective circuit breaker
• GFCI testing and troubleshooting
• Monitoring AC voltage from the pedestal
• Why you need to restrict the usage a 30 to 15 amp reducer

Session 5 – Saturday,  June 5, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

• Safe testing procedures to live by.
• Learning to use your Volt Ohm Amp Meter.
• How to use an Amp Clamp meter to test for current flow.
• Procedures on conducting a Hot Skin Test
• How to troubleshoot and sectionalize an electrical circuit.
• How to locate, test and replace a defective circuit breaker or fuse.
• Down and dirty troubleshooting techniques to save you time and make you money.

Live discussion of troubleshooting issues that the students have encountered will be an ongoing process during these sessions.

10 hours of online instruction via a 2 way internet connected webinars are priced at

$697 each student

To Register click on Mobile RV Academy  or contact professor@MobileRVAcademy.com or call 254 715-7388

Equipment and Supplies necessary to take the course:

• Internet connection – you will be given a link to access for the interactive 2 way Webinars.
• Computer with at least Windows XP software – recommend each student have own system.
• Headset- 1 per student with microphone (similar to Logitech Pro, approximate cost $40)
• Inexpensive multi-meter for testing of electrical circuits (we will provide 1 for each student)
• Notepad, pens and pencils
• Willingness to learn