[65GT]

Actually that whole bit posted at the SCCU website muddies the water a whole lot. I'm not sure whoever wrote that 'Clarification' really understands the full impact of this proposed amendment. I'm guessing that there are a good number of Region 3 Units that will never quite be exposed to the real problems with this proposal, based on what we're able to find online at WBCCI sites. If the members understood the real ramifications of this proposal, it couldn't get on a printed page -- it's not worth the cost of ink to move this drivel forward...

I can't believe the lessons that weren't learned in Perry, but here it goes -- here's what Region 3 is up against right now...

"Article VI, Sec. 2, Part D would read as follows: Regular members, who own a motorhome manufactured by Airstream and who were in good standing as of the date of this amendment, may purchase a Class A Motorhome manufactured by the Four Winds International Division of Thor Industries, Inc., and retain their membership in WBCCI."

So a current 'motorhome' owning member (as opposed to a current Class A motorhome owning member) could buy a Four Winds (a NEW or USED Four Winds as written) and retain their Regular Member status. That means that non-Airstream owners could VOTE, could hold ELECTED OFFICE, and all from the throne of an SOB, trying to move an Airstream only club in directions that match their membership experience (non-Airstream product).

We already have IBT members that no longer care about this being an Airstream only club. They've already gone shopping for their Four Winds motorhomes at the end of '06. Then they invited all those other Class A members (the ones that think like they do -- the inner circle) to come to the Mid-Winter IBT Meeting in Jan of '07 to come inspect their next motorhomes. This amendent is merely "IBT SOBs II" -- a required stop on the path to completing their shopping spree. If this one doesn't pass -- "IBT SOBs III" is right around the corner -- bank on it...

Now that South Florida and Palmetto Units have PASSED this death knell proposal we need to see if any other Region 3 Units are alert enough to understand what happens if something like this actually passes.

A. If the WBCCI will no longer be an Airstream only club, is a void created for another Airstream only club to establish itself?

B. If SOBs are allowed to qualify for Regular Member (voting/office holding) status in a club where everyone joined because it was an Airstream ONLY club, how many might not renew their dues in '09? What will happen to those people? (see A.) How many Class A members are we trying to save?

C. If THOUSANDS leave as a result, what will happen to the WBCCI? The IBT will re-initiate their RV-meld -- they'll be forced to open up WBCCI membership to ALL THOR RV Product. Wait a minute -- isn't that exactly what they told you they wanted to do in the infamous IBT Survey of 2004?

That will be the final turning point for the WBCCI. "Silver Flight" will ensue and not only will the club lose the majority of its membership because of these IBT Leader driven actions, ALL Airstream owners, WBCCI members or not, will only look at that new club as something worth joining.

Allow SOBs in to qualify for Regular Member status and you can stick a fork in the WBCCI. It won't take but two years for a complete transformation into a useless, unattractive club, to take place.

The Associate Member Class is the answer, BUT it comes with a whole bunch of problems:

1. It's restricted to current Class A members only which solves the current issue. That in itself causes a member's rights issue.

a. New members come into the club in Airstream Class A motorhomes. Do we have them sign something when they come in that says, "If you ever get out of this Class A you can no longer be a member" BEFORE we accept their dues?

b. When a Grandfathered (that's what this temporary class of membership would be) member sells their Airstream Class A to buy a Four Winds, do we deny the same rights (to eventually move up into a Four Winds) to the new owners that just bought this rig from a WBCCI member that moved on up to a Four Winds?

So don't think for a minute this "Regular Member" proposal is about our long time members and friends. This is about those that are leading, and those that have led, that would view an Associate Member Class an unacceptable place for them to be -- especially after all they've done for this club.

I know how I'd like to thank those few that have spearheaded these efforts, and intentionally divided this club for their own personal interests. The Associate Member class is no longer how that thank you gets relayed...

Knock this one down, let them come back with another angle and a new title -- "IBT SOBs III." You can bet they'll never put the Associate Member Class forward. It does nothing for them -- they won't entertain it. They'll be trying another angle on violating our Regular Member Qualifications! Leaders? Leadership?

Don't drink the Kool-Aid! If this one manages to sneak up on you just stomp it -- NO MEANS NO!

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