Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Campground Owner Warns of Lame Duck Bill Rushed through MI Senate

November 26, 2018 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Vince Rogala, Co-owner of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, is warning Michigan’s residents/tourists about a bill that he says threatens family-owned hospitality businesses in favor of franchise and large hotel owners.

“Sponsored by our Senator, Wayne Schmidt, Senate bill 703-707 is being rushed through a lame duck session to strengthen the so-called “Community Convention or Tourism Marking Act”, MCL 141.871, et seq. This law gives franchise/large hotel owners who control local visitor bureaus the legal right to use your room tax money to effectively muscle out small local businesses they see as competition,” explained Rogala.

“Most residents/visitors and Michigan’s politicians think their room tax assessment is supposed to promote the ‘entire community.’ However, the hotel lobby made sure that this revenue is only legally required to promote the hotel industry, and to put more “heads in (hotel owner’s) beds.” “They are not required to promote restaurants, gift shops, water parks, golf courses, historic parks, or campgrounds like ours - unless it's beneficial to their hotel business,” says Rogala.

“The new bill doesn’t fix the existing act’s faults - it only strengthens the hotel lobby's’ grip on millions of our tax dollars. Hardly anyone understands they are being personally taxed to benefit hotels. To the best of my knowledge, This handout is not done for any other industry, certainly not for campgrounds - why should hotels have their hands in our pockets?” asked Rogala.

“Right now, this law is allowing the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau to impose a membership fee increase on Mill Creek Campground from $500 a year, to over $10,000. A fee unheard of for any other campground in the entire State of Michigan. All three local Mackinaw City campgrounds were financially forced out of membership. All three local Mackinaw City campgrounds were financially forced out of membership in their local Visitors Bureau after receiving notice of the outrageous fee hikes—this feels like economics warfare against my family-run campground,” charges Rogala.

“This will continue happening in communities statewide where a few hotel owners have a monopoly over their local Visitors Bureau and, the new law makes things worse,” warns Rogala.

“This was set up nearly 40 years ago without any real government supervision. When I personally suggested to Senator Schmidt, (who worked in the hotel industry prior to serving in the Senate), that when our government imposes a tax, it should have some type of supervision in place - he seemed disinterested” says Rogala”. “Any lodging business with 10 or more rooms is required to collect the Room Tax/Assessment. Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping is required to collect tens of thousands of dollars annually on behalf of the local Visitors Bureau (for its cabin rentals),” explains Ryan R. Charles, Esq., an attorney for the campground. “Apparently that is not enough, as the Visitors Bureau is now requiring the campground pay thousands of dollars more for a separate “membership fee”, or lose out on advertising through the Visitors Bureau marketing program.”

Rogala is urging his campers and everyone in Michigan to contact their local representatives to let them know how they feel about SB 703-707 and this last-minute attempt to give the hotel industry a big payoff at the expense of Michigan’s visitors and small hospitality businesses.

* For additional info, see the TV 9 & 10 report and story

How Can You Help?

Contact your local representative to let them know what you think! Simply click this link to search for your local Michigan State Representative and then send them a message or call, or both!

Michigan State Representatives
http://house.michigan.gov/MHRPublic/frmFindaRep.aspx


WARNING - MI Senator is Sneaking In A Lame Duck Bill


Filed Under: News Tagged With: lame duck bill, Mackinaw Area Tourist Bureau, Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, MAVB, Michigan Legislature, SB 703-707, unfair tax, Wayne Schmidt

Roy the Mackinaw Mill Creek Camp Turkey’s Story

November 24, 2018 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Photo of wild turkeys Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Our campers may have noticed the absence of "Roy the camp turkey" this past summer.

Photo of Wild Turkey Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

We thought that Thanksgiving would be a great time to update you on his story. First off we’d like to thank our campers for being kind to Roy and our local residents for watching out when he strayed too close to US-23.

Now for Roy’s story. Originally, a group (known as a "rafter") of turkeys that was hanging around the campground ostracized Roy. Roy had been injured. Turkeys will ostracize an injured member to protect the rest of the flock. An injured turkey can draw predators and danger to the rafter. A lone turkey is very vulnerable and we were all intrigued when Roy took to our campground and the campers.

Amy Rogala kept a watchful eye on him, making sure he had feed in cold months and shelter if needed. Last fall, which apparently was turkey mating season, Roy got a bit testy and aggressive. A DNR officer relocated him to a remote marsh so that he could continue his life naturally. It only took Roy about 3 hours to come back.

Chris and Jolene Rogala have a remote weekend camp/retreat and they noticed a rafter of female turkeys passed through regularly. Amy made an ingenious trap, using mirrors and gates, and was able to capture Roy so that he could be relocated to the remote “camp.” The first night was blustery and cold and Roy huddled up under Chris’s familiar camp truck.

Perfectly on cue, the next morning the rafter of females arrived. There was one immature “jake” (an adolescent male turkey), but he was no match for the mighty Roy’s grown up charms. The turkeys did their dance and Roy was crowned king of this harem!

Jolene and Chris witnessed him mating with all of the females and we know that this Thanksgiving season Roy has a bunch of grand-turkeys to continue his legacy.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, roy the camp turkey, wildlife

The Mackinaw Multi-Sport Mix and Team Maddy

July 11, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

The last weekend of July athletes stay with us at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping who are participating in the Mackinaw Multi-Sport Mix. This event incorporates these competitions:

  • Sprint Triathlon - 800m swim, 30k bike, 5k run
  • Duathlon - 2mi run, 30k bike, 5k run
  • Aquabike - 800M Swim, 30k bike
  • Kayatri- 2 mile Kayak/stand-up Paddleboard, 30k bike, 5k run
  • Open 5k run

The 2014 Mackinaw Multi-Sport Mix will be held on July 27th.

Among the participants staying with us at the camp last year was Rick Van Beek and his daughter Madison (who was born with severe Cerebral Palsy). That was how we learned about "Team Maddy."

Photo of article in the Daily News about Team Maddy.

This article in the Daily News will give you more information on the inspiring story of "Team Maddy."

Did you know that there are athletes that take disabled children with them on sporting events? That practice was part of the genesis of "Team Maddy." Their story was so inspiring that we decided to create the video (below) so that Rick could share his story personally.

You can learn more about the Mackinaw Multi-Sport Mix (Mackinaw City) as well as this wonderful new idea of athletes sharing the experience of their physical prowess with those who are less fortunate by watching our video (below).

You can also find out more about "Team Maddy" by clicking on the thumbnail of the Daily News news article (left) or by "liking" the "Team Maddy" Facebook page.


Team Maddy of the Mackinaw Multi-Sport Mix

If you find this story as inspiring as we did, please "like," and share it!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Frank Rogala, Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, Mackinaw Multi-Sport Mix, Team Maddy

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