as my buddy leo likes to do (see post #79) so often when he just cooks up this stuff!
Oh 2err, what evidence have you brought us that I've cooked anything up?
You merely proved my point. The club did have it's highlights under the wings of the manufacturer PRIOR to Thor? Not DURING Thor.
Yes, they spill to the tune of $100K per year. Yes, they used to have their own Airstream club (which failed). Yes, they USED to do caravans (no longer).
You want them running THIS club? I'm guessing that would take us from a 45 degree decline to a true vertical drop.
Take their money, give them their dual digits for posterity, invite them to participate in everything we do, hand in hand. But NEVER hand them the keys...
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6000+ Airsteam families having fun!
1000+ Airstream Events including 500+ Rallies in 2009! SaveWally's WBCCI Unit Guide
I only caught the end of this discussion at the FSR, but afterword I did discuss it with the region 3 pres. His reasoning is as follows (BTW he has a 2006 brand new MH, this is not a personal issue to him). The members that want to stay in a MH WILL leave when it comes time to trade because they want a NEW motorhome. It is a member retention initiative.
Being a member with close to 15 years in the club I can tell you that IF this ever sees the light of day at the IBT, and passes, the members that exercise this option are going to be shunned by the general membership. The General membership are the ones that coined the term SOB.
I see it as a stopgap measure until the dust settles or product development happens that creates a Thor/Airstream (built by a thor division with an Airstream name as a special order) motorhome. I do not see it as the death rattle of the club, I see it as a way to allow the older members that want/need to stay in a MH in the club until they die. The DIE HARD Airstream owners will keep the club alive. This issue could be the rally issue that more members can use to push the club (IBT)to be more effective in all of its activities to increase the membership. I have spoken to a number of the international presidents regarding the shape of the club org chart and offered my advice on how to make it more streamlined. Most of it has been accepted, but not implemented. The organic nature of the club has actually made some of my recommended changes happen and I belive it will continue.
I am not saying we should roll over on this issue, but I doubt it will make it out of the initial motion stage. Too many hurdles to overcome to get it before the IBT for initial vote. I am going to my unit Executive board meeting (even though I am not able to attend the rally) just to be sure I get my $.02 in.
__________________ Brett G WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
Logic is the one way you can go wrong with confidence - Charles E. Kettering
Does everyone feel the love from Leo? So happy to have such a friendly easy going guy in our corner. Leo, please do keep posting, people really do enjoy your ....... I don't know what to call it........ Hmmm let me think....... Oh I see........ Look familiar? Sorry Leo, I will not get into another fencing match with someone who plays with a dull blade. Fortunatly, folks are usually judged by what they post and I feel most members on this thread as in others have figured you out. Please join the ranks of forum members who are here for the friendship and learning and save your sarcastic posts for your own forum. Enough said...please have a great day!
__________________ J. Rick Cipot Sandi Gould NEUNew England Unit Airstream Life Magazine WBCCI #3411 AIR #17099 2009 Silverado 2500HD 2004 22' Safari 1960 24' Tradewind
More emptiness... It's easy to puff out your chest -- but it shouldn't be so hard to back up your position should it? I'm not surprised -- it was actually predictable. Have a nice day!!
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6000+ Airsteam families having fun!
1000+ Airstream Events including 500+ Rallies in 2009! SaveWally's WBCCI Unit Guide
The members that want to stay in a MH WILL leave when it comes time to trade because they want a NEW motorhome. It is a member retention initiative.
Brett. It's irresponsible for International Leaders to put a motion forward that will end this clubs single brand identity and in the same breath include SOBs into the regular member ranks.
Out of the ~800 or so MoHo members this club has NO ONE has done the proper research that shows you can retain XXX members without driving away XXXX members.
Until one of these folks is willing to do the proper research -- and I believe they never will -- they should let this issue die completely.
Don't count on Airstream doing anything to pacify some double digit number of International Club leaders. They shouldn't be swayed by such a small number of inquiries and even fewer sales.
The club has been screwed over by this issue long enough. If they want change, let them go do the homework to discover they'll do nothing but split the club over this issue...
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6000+ Airsteam families having fun!
1000+ Airstream Events including 500+ Rallies in 2009! SaveWally's WBCCI Unit Guide
Air-nooby here with a question----Why all the turmoil?----Is it that when at a rally a non-monoque[sp?] will ruin the view? or are motorhome owners are not cool?--or is it bad to taint the purity of aluminum at rallies?--or is it the unfair tactics used by your club leaders?--why not "the more the merrier"?-----just askin----
come back through the warp hole in that space vortex.
It's always a pleasure my friend, but seriously, you needed to dump your Thor stock long ago. At a high of $55 some time back you're getting out much too late.
No amount of Thor _ _ _ is going to fix that one for you...
Did you ever get yourself a blue or are you still slumming with the dreads crowd?
__________________
6000+ Airsteam families having fun!
1000+ Airstream Events including 500+ Rallies in 2009! SaveWally's WBCCI Unit Guide
why not "the more the merrier"?-----just askin----
It IS the more the merrier as long as they're Airstreams. The basic problem is that a very small special interest group of MoHo owners have been trying to end the single brand identity of the club -- let OTHER -- Some Other Brand -- into the club and that's just not going to fly without a mass exodus...
That's the skinny -- everything else going on runs the gamut of individuals dueling with licorice, all the way up through Corporate hob nobbers and everything in between...
__________________
6000+ Airsteam families having fun!
1000+ Airstream Events including 500+ Rallies in 2009! SaveWally's WBCCI Unit Guide
or is it bad to taint the purity of aluminum at rallies?--or is it the unfair tactics used by your club leaders?--why not "the more the merrier"?-----just askin----
Liken the WBCCI to a Camaro Owners Club. A proposal get's presented to the Camaro owners that they need to let Mustang owners in as a stop gap to diminishing membership. If past, is it still a Camaro club then?
There are plently of multibrand RV clubs out there that folks can join. As you stated - keep the Rally fields pure...
It IS the more the merrier as long as they're Airstreams. The basic problem is that a very small special interest group of MoHo owners have been trying to end the single brand identity of the club -- let OTHER -- Some Other Brand -- into the club and that's just not going to fly without a mass exodus
...
I'm not a WBCCI member, and don't see where I can benefit (at this time in my life) by joining. But I am following this with some interest, sadness, anger and foreboding.
IMHO, WBCCI is an Airstream club. I agree that Ford Mustang clubs should be forced to have Volkswagens allowed in, and I see a parellel here.
However, I am fearful that when powerful people use their positions and influence to manipulate the environment around them (as well as the rules, timing and propaganda--oops, I mean information to the masses), there is always a chance that the end results of things put into motion will be different than what the masses expected. It seems to me that a little paranoia is not unwarranted.
Anytime I hear someone counseling "Just relax; everything will be OK", my early warning detectors go off in my head.
What a distraction this seems to be. What a division this seems to cause. What an amazing and saddening spectator sport.
As I think 2Air has implied, hospice may be the best hope for the masses to get the club back. Evolution at its best. But I personally hope not. WBCCI had said on it's website "The Wally Byam Caravan Club is now one of the largest clubs in trailering, and it is a remarkable tribute to Wally. It demonstrates once more, and in an excellent way, the effect he had upon those around him. Most men would have insisted upon controlling the club; Wally let his followers keep control." Maybe control can be regained.
__________________ Phil and/or Sue (with Gus, Penny and Roger)
(Buffett RIP 9/15/08) 1983 31' Sovereign 1973 31' Sovereign (project) '01 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad LWB 2x4 6sp Cummins Turbo Diesel
AIR 1753
__________________
"If your not living life on the edge... Your taking up too much room. WANTED, Single lady who loves and has a Airstream. Please send photo of Airstream and Tow Vehicle Operation "SAVE RUDY" Strike Team (Charter Member) RALPH, KW8G.....WBCCI # 4201 Metro Detroit & 4CU
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6000+ Airsteam families having fun! 
and channeling voices,
is going to fix that one for you...
wonder when/where/who this was?)
WANTED, Single lady who loves and has a Airstream. Please send photo of Airstream and Tow Vehicle
(Charter Member) RALPH, KW8G.....WBCCI # 4201 Metro Detroit & 4CU 
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