About CLM

Letter from a former CLM employee.

April 25, 2004

I received your inquiry about my experience working for CLM. Yes, I had a very negative experience working for them.

I met reps from CLM at the Workamper Job Fair. They interviewed me and later offered me a job as office manager at their Huntington Lake campgrounds. I had also applied for 2 other jobs with other companies, which I was offered and I turned down, because I felt bound to honor my prior commitment to CLM.

The people I met were middle and upper management, and I was confident that if anything went wrong that I could talk to them. I had been very clear from our first conversation about my application and with an in person introduction to my husband that he was permanently disabled, and could not work. They assured me repeatedly that that was fine, and that they were willing to have both of us in our campsite without any expectations upon Bob.

We were repeatedly promised a campsite with full hookups and a phone. The beginning and ending dates were clearly established as May 1 to September 15, and up to October 1 if the weather allowed. I had detailed discussions, from which I took notes. Nothing that we were promised was honored except for my rate of pay. Our campsite did not have full hookups. Only 20 amp electricity worked, though the 30 amp was promised and present. They promised to send a truck to pump out our tanks, and then reneged. We eventually prevailed in getting a truck by arranging it myself (as office manager) after a series of broken promises. There was not even water to the campsite for over a month because CLM would not repair a broken water main that was their responsibility.

I became convinced of discriminatory treatment due to my age, gender, and the fact that my husband was unable to work. I voiced these concerns to upper management, who provided some short-term solutions until they laid me off. I trained my replacement, not knowing that is what she was, and I was laid off just after the 4th of July. This caused us great financial difficulty, since we had not budgeted to travel so soon after arriving, and we were planning on a whole season's income.

As office manager, I was told that we had the smoothest 4th of July ever and the best relationship ever with the Forest Service, for whom we managed the campgrounds. After the office was set up and systems were put in place, I was laid off to cut costs. I was working very hard, with the same conscientious work ethic that had gained me a reputation for maintaining an efficient, friendly, office in my past 15 years of professional experience in office work.

I had never worked for such unprofessional people.

1. Seasonal workers were treated in the worst possible way.

2. CLM did not value customer service, acting only on the interest of making a profit.

3. They refused to adequately staff all positions, preferring to make a bigger profit.

4. They refused to pay overtime or reimburse mileage for personal vehicle use, but would not provide an adequate number of vehicles to conduct their required business.

5. Facilities were not maintained to high standards.

6. Pit toilets were pumped as infrequently as possible, having to be closed when they got too full.

7. Maintenance problems were not addressed in a timely or thorough way.

8. Trash was not dumped often enough, and dumpsters were not replaced when needed, so that bears were more highly attracted to pillage them.

9. The people who were the most professional and conscientious among the staff were the first to be laid off, preferring people who think and care little about their areas of responsibility.

10. They are making huge profits, but do not reinvest in their areas of management.

11. Sewage problems that were their responsibility had gone unrepaired, as had outdated and unsafe electrical systems to host sites.

12. They regularly raise rates and try to expand their managed properties whether they provide real services there or not.

13. Formerly free camping areas were being charged their $14 rate (more now, I am sure) though all they did was clean the pit toilet once a week and arrange for trash pickup infrequently.

14. Picnic and parking areas have imposed fees.

They come across as competent professionals and promise the moon, but buyer beware. They will never deliver what they promise. The owner and area managers are too greedy. By minimizing costs in cutting back on manpower and expenses like pumping out toilets, they take home a bigger bonus at the end of the season.

I refused to send large motor homes (some towing cars) over a switch-backed, one-lane pass without turn around spots because it was not safe for anything larger than a maximum of 25'. It was dangerous enough that guys who had worked for CLM for years would only tow their 20' trailer over following a pilot car. Yet a CLM area manager ordered me to send elderly RVers with up to 40' RVs over the pass if the campgrounds on the other side were not full. I would not do it because I would not have taken OUR 27' narrow body MH there. People died trying in the past.

I felt responsible to provide truthful and responsible information, and to serve my customers. I believe that good customer service brings people back, and will ultimately yield more profits than endangering the lives of today's customers for $14-16 if they live long enough to get there and pay.

If you care about any area, do not let CLM exploit and ruin it. We met a couple that had been camping at Huntington Lake since 1940, JD and Doris Hamner. They can tell you about CLM and the quality of their campground management and staff. You can tell them that I referred you for their input as campers in an area that came under CLM's management about 10 years ago. They love Huntington Lake like you love Tecopa Hot Springs.

Wishing you success in your endeavors,

Mary Schaal

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