[StingrayL82]

Chuck,

I was given a membership to the DVNJ Chapter as a "gift" for dropping too much money on the refurbishestoration (yeah, figure that one out) of our Sovereign. I went to the the Turkey Rally in '05 and had never been to a single WBCCI event before in my life. Sherri had just died, and the kids and I needed a distraction, so we went.

Again, no offense to the older folks, but I think I was the only person under 55 there (I was 32 at the time), so I had noone to relate to, and there were very few kids there the same age as my children...grandkids that had been dropped off with Grandma and Grandpa.

When it came time for the meeting, I was told that I had to attend, since it coincided with dinner. The meeting was about as boring as could be, and that clued me in that this wasn't what I had thought it was going to be. I can do without rules, when I'm camping, unless it's the courtesy rules, i.e., keep your animal on a leash, clean up their poo, don't make loud noise after 1000, etc...

The International Rally in Salem cemented my belief that the WBCCI was not for me. The idea that changing an organization's name, which had been in existence for decades, would make it better and increase membership was, is and ever shall be (to me) preposterous, and the manner in which that meeting was conducted was ludicrous.

I cannot, and will not in good conscience, pay dues to an organization that misuses those funds and tells me what I can and cannot do in said organization. Kudos to all the Chapters who do their own thing and disregard the Blue Book, but ask yourselves this: If you joined the Club, aren't you expected to abide by their rules? If I don't agree with the rules, I leave...I don't need to belong to a club to enjoy myself and drink a toast to the genius who invented my rig.

Good luck overthrowing the regime, so you can change those crappy rules...just like RedSHED said in not so many words, seems like the Good Ole Boys are cemented in their places, trading out amongst themselves every so often.

So what's the point to being in the club then? If you are out doing your thing with your friends in your Airstreams together, why in the heck are you in the WBCCI???? If you can't change their rules, and not for lack of trying, without getting sanctioned, censured or even thrown out, then leave and have fun with your friends and family without the rules.

I, for one, wear a beret everyday and it's crappy. It doesn't keep the sun out of your eyes, when it rains it smells like a sheep and it makes look like a Frenchman....great.....just what I wanted.

Chuck, I truly didn't mean to get you ruffled, and I apologize if I did. I am just relaying my experiences. If it seems like I've been rambling, I probably am....I've been up since 0400 and working an extra shift for another soldier, sorry.