Adventures With Mike

Adventures with Mike:

How a Simple Hike Became an Ongoing Adventure
Shared By Mike Correll, VP RAM IT

 

Back in 2017, I decided it was time to get back into hiking because I missed being outdoors, hitting the trails, and exploring nature. By 2018, someone suggested I post my hikes on RAM’s interdepartmental website, The Dispatch, to see if anyone else wanted to join in. This was the beginning of “Hikes with Mike”.

 

At first, it was all about hiking, but once summer rolled around, we realized the Florida heat wasn’t exactly our friend on the trails, so we switched things up and added canoeing, snorkeling, spring hopping—you name it. Before long, it wasn’t just about hiking anymore. That’s when the group naturally evolved into what we now call “Adventures with Mike.”

 

In May of 2019, we took a trip down to the Everglades. It was there, while soaking in the beauty of that wild landscape, that a friend suggested I start a Facebook group. And just like that, “Adventures with Mike” went social. My motto? “I’m doing this, and you’re welcome to join me.” It’s simple, honest, and captures the spirit of what this group is all about.

 

Since then, we’ve hiked trails across Northwest Florida, Alabama, and Georgia—including multiple waterfall tours. I’m pretty sure we’ve visited almost every spring in Florida, from the northernmost parts down to Orlando. We’ve taken airboat tours through the Everglades, flown by seaplane to the Dry Tortugas, and explored the Florida Keys.

 

We’ve paddled countless rivers and creeks throughout the state and we’ve done overnight trips on the Blackwater River. Some of our more adrenaline-filled adventures include whitewater rafting and ziplining. Twice a year, we go deep sea fishing and rent a pontoon to snorkel in the Gulf of America.

 

Over the years, the size of the group has varied—sometimes it’s just two of us, other times we’ve had as many as twelve join the fun. Since this whole thing began, I’ve only hiked alone twice. That says a lot about the power of shared adventure.

 

One of our biggest milestones? A 20-mile hike on the Florida Trail in a single day with fellow RAM IT crew member, John Criss. Was it crazy? Maybe. But to me, it’s not really an adventure unless you’re pushing some kind of limit.

 

What’s Coming Up?  At the moment, nothing’s officially on the calendar.  I usually plan our outings about a week in advance, depending on the weather.  Flexibility is part of the fun.  The only thing on the horizon is our usual overnight canoe adventure. I’m currently saving up for a honeymoon to California in the fall—so I’ll be logging some personal adventure miles out west, too.

 

Want to Join the Adventure?  If you’re up for exploration, connection, and a little spontaneity, we’d love to have you join us!  To request access to our private Facebook group, scroll to the bottom left corner of The Dispatch and click: JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP – “Adventures with Mike”.  And no, it’s not just for RAM employees! In fact, we’ve had folks hop on board mid-adventure—the more, the merrier.  Hope to see you on the next one!

/3 Comments

Policy Reminders: Marketing

 

Need Graphics? Let Marketing Handle It!

We know how important it is to have eye-catching, professional marketing materials for your property, but please remember that sites should not create graphics in Canva or other design platforms. To maintain brand consistency and quality, all marketing materials should be created by our Marketing team.

We’re here to help! Whether you need flyers, social media graphics, or other materials, simply reach out, and we’ll ensure you get what you need. You can visit RoyalAmericanMarketing.com to submit requests and explore available resources.

Also, a quick reminder about online reviews: site teams are welcome to respond to positive reviews to thank residents for their feedback. However, the Marketing team will handle negative reviews to ensure a consistent and professional response.

Lastly, sites are not permitted to create their own social media accounts. Each property has an official Facebook page managed by our Marketing team, and all social media access must go through SOCi, our online social media and reputation management platform.

Let’s work together to keep our branding strong and consistent! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Marketing team.

See the full policy HERE.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts in this series as we continue to highlight important policies and procedures at Royal American!

/0 Comments

Policy Reminder: Resident Services

Handling Canceled or Rescheduled Events

To ensure residents benefit from tenant programs, canceled mandatory workshops must be rescheduled within the same time frame they were originally required. Simply noting “FACILITATOR CANCELED” or “EVENT CANCELED” on your monthly report is not sufficient.

For example, schedule quarterly events such as Health & Nutrition or Job Training, at the beginning of the quarter. If a facilitator cancels, you will still have enough time to reschedule or replace the event with a comparable offering before the end of the quarter.

Have questions about this? Reach out to Resident Services or read the whole policy here.

 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts in this series as we continue to highlight important policies and procedures at Royal American!

/0 Comments

Policy Reminders: IT

 

Personal Social Media Policy

Social media is a powerful tool for connection, and while we encourage responsible use, employees should remember that the same professional guidelines outlined in the Employee Handbook apply online. Whether posting on personal accounts or engaging in online discussions, employees are expected to exercise good judgment and personal responsibility.

Key reminders from our policy:
✔ You are solely responsible for what you post online.
✔ Do not speak on behalf of Royal American Companies without prior written approval.
✔ Avoid negative or disparaging remarks about coworkers.
✔ Consider the impact of your posts on both your reputation and that of the company.

For full details, please review the official policy HERE. If you have any questions, reach out to the IT department for clarification.

 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts in this series as we continue to highlight important policies and procedures at Royal American!

/0 Comments

Join This Month’s Principal Class on Retirement Readiness

 

Don’t miss this month’s free webinar from Principal on retirement readiness. This class is taking place today at 1PM Central/ 2PM Eastern. Register here!

Learn how your savings strategies may change throughout your career to help set yourself up for success. They will discuss the importance of early planning, setting and achieving retirement goals, and managing your finances as you approach retirement.

See the full list of webinars and catch the replays here.

/0 Comments

Policy Reminders: Training

 

This month, we are highlighting some policies from the Training Department. You can find these policies in Chapter 7: Training on the Intranet or by clicking HERE.

7.2.1 CODE OF CONDUCT

While participating in any training session the following code of conduct must be followed:
• On time for class
• Follow RAM Dress Code policy for site-personnel when attending in-person training
• Participate in activities – poll questions, chat participation, games, etc.
• Act in a professional manner
• Be respectful of others in class
• Do not answer calls/texts during class unless true emergency
• For virtual sessions, webcam must be on, and you must be clearly visible on camera

Violations of this policy will be reported to the Regional Manager, Senior Regional Director (if applicable), and Regional Vice President for the property immediately following class.

7.2.2 POLICY FOR MISSING VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON CLASS

If you are unable to attend a required in person or virtual class, you must first discuss with your Regional Manager. Approval to be excused from class must be provided by with your Regional Manager. Approval to be excused from class must be provided by your Regional Manager or Senior Regional Director, and the training department must be notified immediately. You are required to forward the approval to be excused to training@royalamerican.com.

If you fail to attend class, and no reason/approval was provided to the training department, it will be reported to your Regional Manager and Senior Regional department, it will be reported to your Regional Manager and Senior Regional Director. A report of missed attendance/ lack of webcam usage is reported weekly on Friday.

 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts in this series as we continue to highlight important policies and procedures at Royal American!

/0 Comments

Policy Reminders: Maintenance

 

Got maintenance questions? These policies cover some of the most asked maintenance questions. Don’t forget to click on the policy below for more detailed information. The link will take you to where the policy is located on the Intranet for further reading and reference!

  1. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Station: Each site must have a readily accessible PPE station in the maintenance shop. The station should include items like eyewash, eye protection, rubber boots, cut-proof gloves, back braces, MSDS kits, lockout tagout equipment, hard hats, earmuffs, masks, painters suits, first aid kits, and hazard assessment forms.
  2. Ladders and Step Ladders: Employees cannot work on surfaces six feet or higher without guardrails, except for inspections or assessments. Only employees with certified fall protection training can use fall arrest systems.
  3. Maintenance Services Program: Preserve properties, maintain owner investment, and ensure resident safety and well-being. Keep landscaping and buildings attractive to maintain property value. Consistent care and attentions are essential for effective maintenance.
  4. Mold and Mildew: All sites must have residents sign a mold addendum as part of their lease. Residents are responsible for controlling mold and mildew in their apartments and must notify management of any moisture or mold problems. Staff should be educated to treat indoor moisture problems as immediate concerns and conduct regular inspections to monitor for mold. Routine monitoring, inspections, and addressing water leaks can help prevent mold growth. The decision to have air sampling, or any other testing performed, is determined by Risk Management, Maintenance Department, and appropriate Regional VP.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts in this series as we continue to highlight important policies and procedures at Royal American!

/0 Comments