LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING

Chena Marina RV Park & Resort is a unique, small, guest-oriented park located on an active float-plane pond just outside the city limits of the “Golden Heart City” Fairbanks, Alaska. Adventures in Alaska RV Rentals is our sister business co-located at the same  location.

We have a very short “season”, but have much to do during the spring and fall. Preferences for positions are for those folks who can commit to being with us from April 15th (to start orientation) thru mid-September.  But, we'd still love to have you consider even if you can't commit to all summer..

This year, we are again offering a monetary bonus for folks willing to commit to April 15th - September 15th. If you hang in there with us, we'll happily reimburse your incoming fuel costs (keep your receipts) for your drive "Outside" (what we call anywhere "Outside" Alaska) up to $1,000, payable September 15th.

All that we ask of you is a bit of your time, a smiling face, a “can do” attitude, common sense and use of your “life skills”. Please though, if you have some physical challenges - not the least of which is trouble lifting (we specifically ask you not to do any heavy lifting) and walking (the park is 6 acres +/-) this may not be the thing for you. Also, as the sun shines pretty much 24 hours per day, be careful with sun exposure if you are sensitive. Summer in Fairbanks, is very warm and usually very dry.
 

In exchange, you will receive the following for 40 hours (normally for 2 people it's 20 hours each, 1 person 40 or some variation thereof) per week:
 

RV Site (for 1 or 2 persons) with full-hook ups -water, sewer, 30 amp electric, basic cable TV if available, and pre-wired telephone hookup & free WiFi (if available) in most locations. You must arrange service with the phone company. Picnic tables are at each site. Early arrivals may have temporary sites for a short while until we open our full service section.

You may use our laundry facilities at no cost, with a caution - We must haul our water by our own truck and ask you to conserve wherever possible. You, of course, need to provide detergent, etc. Guests, of course, have priority.

You’ll be going out on several great tours and tourist oriented activities at no charge to you available through our vendors, at their discretion-on your own time (see our website for an overview of the tours you may be taking). These tours are to orient you to help in discussions with our guests. There’s a lot to do in, and around, Fairbanks. This is a special perk, and a wonderful way to see much of Alaska, especially the Interior. The longer you commit to staying with us, more tours will be provided. This is another reason we ask you to come early in the spring – so that you may take the tours before we all get too busy. The value of these tours varies, but can be $600 or more per person.

Your help is needed and may include any and all of the following depending on necessity and guest needs:

Visiting with the worlds best guests, front-desk registration (after training), answering telephones, paperwork, cleaning, inventory, making coffee, serving our famous “Klondinental Breakfast”, visiting with worlds best guests, bathroom and laundry cleaning, yard care to include mowing, raking, planting of flowers, watering and weeding said flowers, visiting with worlds best guests, light carpentry, light plumbing, painting, and last and most important - visiting with the worlds best guests. From time to time, we may ask you to run errands. If you use your vehicle, we’ll pay mileage.

If you haven’t noticed, we devote a great deal of time to making our guests feel at home, and helping them enjoy their adventure. This is our most important function of all. You need to be a “people person”, have a sense of humor, and be adaptable to what’s happening on any given day.

The days and hours you are scheduled will vary but we will try to make them as consistent as possible. We try very hard to have 8 days on, then 6 days off. Our helpers have really liked this. It allows y’all time to take extended trips throughout our wonderful state. If you are a couple, we normally schedule you for the same hours and days. But, this may not always be possible on any given day/week (we’re all “on” for the 4th of July as we throw a big party for our guests). Additionally, we expect all our helpers ( who are in the park and not away seeing Alaska) to be available on Wednesdays evenings to help with our cookouts.  It's only fair since you'll get dinner on us.

We also ask our helpers to confer with each other to set up the schedule. Then, give us a calendar with who’s on when. The schedule must include a minimum of 4 days on in one week (except with express agreement for special circumstance), and preferably 5 hours per day unless asked to adjust for a special project. Time of day will vary with what needs to be done on any given day, and the weather. Rank of arrival does have its privilege, and the first folks to arrive have first choice of days. In our park, one day is pretty much like all the others. So, weekends may not be the best days off. If it is your desire to attend Church - we will be more than happy to adjust your schedule to fit. It’s your responsibility to advise us that you’re approaching the agreed upon 40 hours per week per site. We do not want to abuse your time here.

It may be possible that we will need additional hours from you. If so, we’ll compensate with additional time off. Or we may consult with you and, if we’re all in agreement, you will be paid as a contractor (a 1099 will be issued at year’s end). We are using helpers in the front office these days. It takes a bit of time to train, but it works just fine. Some people like it, some don’t. We try to put people in the positions that make them happiest. If you'd prefer not to work the front desk, please tell us early in the selection process.  It's not a problem, but we need to know for scheduling.

Fairbanks, during the summer - is daylight 24 hours per day, thus we have guests arriving late into the “night”. You will not/very rarely be assigned the “late shift”, but we may ask you to cover the “early shift”. Coffee and breakfast (Danish or breakfast breads) need to be put out prior to opening (approx. 15 minutes).

This is a general description, and may be changed from time to time. Also it doesn't include all positions for our park and our rental business. See specific descriptions, As with any relationship, sometimes things go awry. If you have some serious concerns, we hope you will come to us before it gets too far off track so we can discuss. And, conversely, we will do everything in our power to make our association a mutually happy and productive one. If we come to an impasse, both parties should give as much notice as possible to cease the relationship. After all, this is supposed to be a fun filled trip for you to the “Last Frontier” and we genuinely hope you will leave us with many happy memories.

As I stated earlier, we’re a small park and we very much have a family atmosphere among not only those of us who toil together, but with our guests. And, if I haven’t mentioned it earlier in our discussions, we live right here at the park too.
Here is one final point for your consideration. Up until recently I didn’t think it necessary to point this out, but it’s a long road to get here, and a long road home. If you have issues with taking direction from a woman park owner, this isn’t the location for you. I try to pass the reins to “Mr. Bill” (my fiancé and the park General Manager) when possible, but from time to time I find it necessary for one-on-one direct instructions.

If you would like, we would be happy to provide EMail addresses of our former helpers as a reference. We want you to be certain this is something you can and want to do since, in most cases, it's a long way from home.

Thank you and we look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

Please sign below to indicate your understanding and agreement to the above.

____________________________  Date: ____________              ____________________________  Date: ____________

Spell Names _____________________________     _____________________________________

Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________

Phone Numbers: _____________________________________________________________________

Year/Make/Length of your RV and (if applicable) tow vehicle

____________________________________________________________________

 Who Cares?

Emergency Contact information before your arrival:

1)  Name: _________________________________   Phone: __________________________

2)  Name: _________________________________   Phone: __________________________
 

Emergency Contact information after your arrival

1)  Name: _________________________________   Phone: __________________________

2)  Name: _________________________________   Phone: __________________________

Upon agreement, please return one executed set of these pages, a copy of your driver’s license, and your check for $200 payable to Chena Marina RV Park & Resort. Your $200 (in cash) will be returned to you the day you arrive at the park. This money is by way of a guarantee that you will arrive as agreed and we need not fill your scheduled time with anyone else. We’ll need a copy of your SS card upon arrival.          Rev 11/8/07