For Membe rship & Vacancy I n f orma t ion: Sunkatchers R.V. Park Co-operative #174 4155 Hwy 3 Keremeos, B.C. V0X 1N1 S U N KA T CH ERS R. V. PARK C O - OPERA T I VE Phone: 1-250-499-2065 Visit : 13 km West of Keremeos on Hwy. 3 (between Keremeos & Hedley) 40 minutes east of Princeton 45 minutes south of Penticton An affordable home base For senior RV ers (over 45) in the beautiful Similkameen Valley Sunkatchers is a B.C. Registered Co-operative, administered by an elected Board of Directors Keremeos, British Columbia
Sunkatchers R.V. Park Co-op was formed a few years ago by a group of RV ers who wanted a safe, affordable home base. The acreage they purchased along the Similkameen River has more than fulfilled their expectations: A spectacular rural setting in the beautiful Similkameen Valley yet near to shopping & services; 10 minutes to Keremeos for medical & general needs, 45 minutes to Penticton, an easy connection to Vancouver (4 hours) Great Recreation Area: Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park, lake & river fishing, golf courses, wineries, hiking & biking, Apex Mountain skiing, the Okanagon & immediate border routes south for snowbirds. Members are full-time RV ers, part-time RV ers & planning-for-retirement RV ers. Maintenance fees pay for: water (deep well water of exceptionally fine quality) sewer, refuse disposal, basic property taxes and general park administration. Telephone Service is available 60 Si t es (approx. 48 x 60 ) S enior A dults (age 45 minimum) Membe rship Price : Cur r ently $ 25, 000 (r edeemable) Maint enance F ees (cur r ent ly $ 55 /mont h) Unde rground U t ili t ies S tor age Sheds & Pa rk Models Pe rmi t t ed A Yea r - Round Home Remembe r : - op Privileges & Responsibili t ies a r e sha r ed equally.
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS: SUNKATCHERS R.V. PARK CO-OPERATIVE 4155 Hwy 3, Keremeos, B.C., V0X 1N1 Telephone: 250-499-2065 We invite you to experience the wonderful world of SunKatchers RV Park Co-op in the beautiful Similkameen Valley. Our senior adult park is located 8 miles (13 kms.) west of Keremeos on Hwy 3 alongside the Similkameen River. Known as the fruit stand capital of Canada, this southern tip of the Okanagan offers fishing, swimming, rock hounding, horses, orchards, wineries, magnificent scenery and good neighbours like the shaggy mountain goats and bighorn mountain sheep. We enjoy five area golf courses for three seasons and Apex Mountain skiing for the fourth. (And we d really prefer to keep all this a secret but from time to time we do have a lot or two available!) SunKatchers is a registered Co-operative consisting of sixty shareholders, many of whom participated in the development of our sixty underground-serviced lots, an accomplishment of which they are justifiably proud! SunKatchers is a senior adult park geared to the RV lifestyle. Minimum age is 45 years. Presently total membership price is $25,000 in the form of redeemable shares this price is subject to change. As a shareholder you will sign an Indenture (Occupancy Agreement) and have the use of an approximately 48 x60 RV lot for as long as you remain a member. Maintenance fees cover the ongoing expenses of taxes and common building utilities. Each lot is individually metered for electricity. Maintenance fees are currently $55 per month subject to change. Since the park is a permanent home basis for all of our members, the only RVs accepted into the park are 5 th wheels, trailers, motor homes and RV park models. A former residence on the property is now our clubhouse. There is a maintenance shop, washroom, laundry and office. The old store is now our pool/exercise room. Our Co-op Rules as defined in our Certificate of Incorporation and the Occupancy Agreement must be read before making a commitment. We highly recommend a personal visit to the park to experience the beauty of our surroundings and the friendly atmosphere created by our members. You will be shown around and interviewed by our Membership committee who will be happy to answer any questions you have. Attached is weather information for the Keremeos area, which is comparable to the mild climate of Osoyoos. The sun is warm, the breeze refreshing and the snow almost always stays in the mountains. If we have enticed you to investigate further, or if you already enjoy the freedom of an RV lifestyle, do come for a visit. All membership applications are presented to our Board of Directors for approval. Remember, we are a Coop and participation by our members in the operation of the park is the key to our success in maintaining low costs. Because of our location next to the Similkameen River there are covenants issued by the Ministry of the Environment to absolve them of any financial responsibility should the 200 year flood occur. These are on file in the office and can be viewed at any time. We look forward to seeing you. Questions are welcomed. Thanks for your interest. SUNKATCHERS RV PARK CO-OPERATIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Version 0/13/08/08/lw/membership
HOW IT ALL STARTED The idea for our Co-op began in May 1993, after the Okanogan Escapee Chapter #33 Annual Meeting. It was decided to write to every known Escapee in Canada to see if the numbers were there to form a co-op in this area. Others investigated possible sites from Cherryville in the north to Osoyoos, Rock Creek and Christina Lake closer to the border. Thousands of miles later, a meeting was held that fall to consider the three best sites. No one site was voted conclusively and we reluctantly gave up for the winter. It quickly became apparent that there were not enough Escapees interested in a Canadian Co-op. Meanwhile, the parent group nixed further co-ops anywhere. Two letters published in the RV Times brought many enquiries and we were much encouraged as we entered 1994. We heard about this property in May and the Steering Committee was unanimous in their approval. The value was there, in land, buildings and services. More important was the fact that it was currently licensed for our purposes and the area did not have zoning by-laws. This meant that improvements would likely be grand-fathered in any future zoning. A deal was signed, a deposit placed and we had thirty days to come up with $150,000.00. The balance would be carried by the sellers on an open mortgage. Frantic phoning brought in the required money, plus working capital, and we had our property. A first meeting was held in early July, our first Board was elected and we were a reality. We were offered the net camping revenue from the park from August 1st if we took over management of the then campground. The pioneers of our group accepted the challenge and worked the long hours required. A further general meeting was held in late September and by October we were able to burn the mortgage. Plans were forming for the replacement of services. A hardy group wintered on the site and ground was broken in February 1995 after much planning. New sewer, water, TV and telephone cables were laid as well as individual electric services with meters. For these four months it was a war zone with open trenches everywhere. With the exception of a supervising electrician and a hired digger at the end, it was all accomplished by the members of the day. By June, 1995, the trenches were closed and beautification began. You will need to spend some time with the pictorial history in our clubhouse to understand the full impact of what was accomplished in those early years. Another side not covered well pictorially, but nevertheless very important, was the yeoman work done by others to ensure that the I s were dotted and the "T"s crossed. The work done to create the agreements with various departments of governments and to write the Indenture, Rules etc., was an important, if sometimes overlooked, job. We now have a park to be proud of, with no debts, money in reserve for emergencies and yes, in the year 2003, the dues were re-established at - $55.00 a month.