Airstream like any other manufacturing company was created to make a product. For the owner and entrepreneur, Wally Byam to fulfill his goals in life and to make a living.
The first Caravan in 1951 was conceived to assist Airstream owners, and others (the first few Caravans were open to all manufactured RV’s), to travel as an American Community. Airstream’s reward was publicity to sell Airstreams.
The Club was a natural occurrence. This American Community of Airstream owners wanted to get together on a local basis and chew the fat, remember the good times, and take their Airstreams out on a more frequent basis, but for a shorter period of time. The Club Members wanted the club to be exclusive for Airstream Owners only.
Let’s go back to Caravans. The Caravans could never have gone ten miles with out a sub-structure and delegation of duties. Wally Byam was a master of organization.
The Club core was the volunteers; the go-to-people that assisted in making the Caravans go. This spirit, this dedication, this form of personal involvement was the core of the WBCCI in 1955.
Check out the Jack Rabbits; thank them for your club today. They “hounded” Wally to form a club.
My Mother, Helen Byam Schwamborn, was given the task, by Wally, to start a headquarters to be the home of the Club, and the action center for Caravans. Three major Caravans came from the Headquarters in the early days. (Europe 1956, Africa 1959, Around-the-World 1963.)
Because of the dedication of the members and the organizational and interpersonal skills of Helen, the Club grew, and grew, and grew…what a growth!
Yes, Airstream funded the Headquarters. Yes, it was a marketing tool. However both entities this symbiotic relationship endorsed the purpose, ‘TO HAVE FUN.”
My pride swells every time I pass an Airstream on the highway, or see one on TV.
Remember, have fun, that’s what this is all about.
That’s all Wally wanted for you, and that is all my Mother wanted for you.
“TO HAVE FUN!”
See you on the road.
Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn
Footnote:
I was a family member before there was Caravan.
I traveled on the !st Caravan.
I went on a total of five Caravans. (1951 Mexico, Central America; 1955 Eastern Canada, 1956 Europe, 1957 Eastern Canada, and 1959 Africa, the Holy Land, and Europe)
I scouted two Cavavans 1959 Africa, and 1961 Eastern Canadian Caravan.
I worked at the California Airstream Plant from 1964 to 1969.
I have been to five International Rally’s.
I am former owner of Wally’s gold trailer.
I am a Charter Member of the WBCCI.
This is being told to you not that I am extraordinary, I’m just a fortunate person to have been part of this history.
When I say “TO HAVE FUN”, I mean it and I know that’s what it is all about.
Yes, "TO HAVE FUN"!
After Sue and I went to Bozeman it brought back the reason why we do what we do. I met many freinds. Some old, and many new friends but all of us have a common bond, the Airstream Way of Life and the memories of Wally Byam and Helen Byam Schwamborn.
Thank you alll for a memorable Bozeman. Never forget to "Have Fun."
This is the spirit in which members engage what ails us (IMHO). We want fun with friends and family. I am a member for 9mos? The bruhaha has been discouraging.
However, I feel all of this ends up really re-igniting the values expressed by PeeWee in our new(er) membership. PeeWee's message is the very (and only) reason I joined WBCCI. Your words, and the words of others you've shared your Airstream life with should be memorialized so that we may walk very close to the path Wally (and Helen) have shown us!
We are a fun club, my unit is tops! I love my camping buddies we get together whenever we could figure any excuse at all. However, one of our camping buddies - a great volunteer - an asset to our unit - and an incoming Unit President - has become the new target of the IBT.
Regretfully, we don't want him yanked from our unit. The rules and laws are stacked agaist us.
I too am very disapointed in the actions of IBT and the greater majority of our WBCCI leaders.
We had a wonderful rally this past weekend - it ended with the bad news that our incoming President Leo G is about to be EXHILED from our unit and our great club.
__________________
Joe Colao 50th Anniversary President of Metro NY WBCCI # 30916
KC2RAR
It's time you get off the porch and join the 4 corners unit. Running with us is going to be a wild ride. Come have fun the way Wally intended it to be .NO WBCCI politics,just fun And that the honky tonk truth.
__________________ Jimmini :Just an old buzzard that look's kind of mean.
THE FEW,THE PROUD,THE SQUARESTREAMER'S
AMERICA.LAND OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.LOVE HER OR SADDLE UP AND RIDE.
I can appreciate your fellings about 4 corners. I met some members. We too have a great unit, however the IBT guys are yanking some out of the club. We have a great time, they just won't leave us alone.
__________________
Joe Colao 50th Anniversary President of Metro NY WBCCI # 30916
KC2RAR
Airstream like any other manufacturing company was created to make a product. For the owner and entrepreneur, Wally Byam to fulfill his goals in life and to make a living.
The first Caravan in 1951 was conceived to assist Airstream owners, and others (the first few Caravans were open to all manufactured RV’s), to travel as an American Community. Airstream’s reward was publicity to sell Airstreams.
The Club was a natural occurrence. This American Community of Airstream owners wanted to get together on a local basis and chew the fat, remember the good times, and take their Airstreams out on a more frequent basis, but for a shorter period of time. The Club Members wanted the club to be exclusive for Airstream Owners only.
Let’s go back to Caravans. The Caravans could never have gone ten miles with out a sub-structure and delegation of duties. Wally Byam was a master of organization.
The Club core was the volunteers; the go-to-people that assisted in making the Caravans go. This spirit, this dedication, this form of personal involvement was the core of the WBCCI in 1955.
Check out the Jack Rabbits; thank them for your club today. They “hounded” Wally to form a club.
My Mother, Helen Byam Schwamborn, was given the task, by Wally, to start a headquarters to be the home of the Club, and the action center for Caravans. Three major Caravans came from the Headquarters in the early days. (Europe 1956, Africa 1959, Around-the-World 1963.)
Because of the dedication of the members and the organizational and interpersonal skills of Helen, the Club grew, and grew, and grew…what a growth!
Yes, Airstream funded the Headquarters. Yes, it was a marketing tool. However both entities this symbiotic relationship endorsed the purpose, ‘TO HAVE FUN.”
My pride swells every time I pass an Airstream on the highway, or see one on TV.
Remember, have fun, that’s what this is all about.
That’s all Wally wanted for you, and that is all my Mother wanted for you.
“TO HAVE FUN!”
See you on the road.
Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn
Footnote:
I was a family member before there was Caravan.
I traveled on the !st Caravan.
I went on a total of five Caravans. (1951 Mexico, Central America; 1955 Eastern Canada, 1956 Europe, 1957 Eastern Canada, and 1959 Africa, the Holy Land, and Europe)
I scouted two Cavavans 1959 Africa, and 1961 Eastern Canadian Caravan.
I worked at the California Airstream Plant from 1964 to 1969.
I have been to five International Rally’s.
I am former owner of Wally’s gold trailer.
I am a Charter Member of the WBCCI.
This is being told to you not that I am extraordinary, I’m just a fortunate person to have been part of this history.
When I say “TO HAVE FUN”, I mean it and I know that’s what it is all about.
This section is to give the reader an understanding of why the Club was founded and the meaning of how to have fun. I believe if you have side comments, issues and problems , address your feelings in the other blogs. These comments are meant as a history feeling.
This section is to give the reader an understanding of why the Club was founded and the meaning of how to have fun. I believe if you have side comments, issues and problems , address your feelings in the other blogs. These comments are meant as a history feeling.
Thanks,
Pee Wee
It is an open forum. Any thread started is open to comments from others that the OP may not like or approve of. As long as those replies are with in the TOS you just have to deal with it.
__________________
Van
2009 F-350 FX4 Crewcab 4x4 6.4l
former '78 Argosy 20' Minuet owner
former '77 23' Safari owner
former 25' Fun Finder X-250BHS SOB owner
current 26' Komfort Trailblazer 262BSLE SOB owner
This section is to give the reader an understanding of why the Club was founded and the meaning of how to have fun. I believe if you have side comments, issues and problems , address your feelings in the other blogs. These comments are meant as a history feeling.
Thanks,
Pee Wee
Thanks for sharing Pee Wee. It IS appreciated.
Barry
__________________ You never hear of people dieing in their Airstream, only at home and in hospitals. So, live long by getting out and enjoying your Airstream.
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch)
It is an open forum. Any thread started is open to comments from others that the OP may not like or approve of. As long as those replies are with in the TOS you just have to deal with it.
That's is exactly why I posted my feelings and comments. I have the privilege, as you do, to do the same. I also obsrve courtesy. When appropriate I start a new thread.
I am glad that you brought this up, because is what the forums are for.
Thank you, Pee Wee, for this insight; my husband and I bought our '94 Excella last August to do just that...to have fun! Now we're overwhelmed with the choices of destinations available this summer!!
I have been a member since 2001, been to a few internationals, VAC's, Regions, followed posts, been chewed up and spit out as President of a Unit, and read both negative and positive on this forum.
It is about fun-thanks for the reminder Pee-Wee. If you can keep your focus and make every remark, think of every exchange you have verbally with other members from this perspective and make your decisions from this simple base first, you can have fun. I think sometimes we take things too seriously, we become too intense, too minute in our thinking in regards to the club because we ALL want it to survive and thrive.
It's a club and exists for the purpose of having fun.
Robin
__________________ KB1UFH
KB1UFI "Reality Is The Leading Cause Of Stress" "There are only five great men in the world and three of them are hamburgers."
Airstream like any other manufacturing company was created to make a product. For the owner and entrepreneur, Wally Byam to fulfill his goals in life and to make a living.
The first Caravan in 1951 was conceived to assist Airstream owners, and others (the first few Caravans were open to all manufactured RV’s), to travel as an American Community. Airstream’s reward was publicity to sell Airstreams.
The Club was a natural occurrence. This American Community of Airstream owners wanted to get together on a local basis and chew the fat, remember the good times, and take their Airstreams out on a more frequent basis, but for a shorter period of time. The Club Members wanted the club to be exclusive for Airstream Owners only.
Let’s go back to Caravans. The Caravans could never have gone ten miles with out a sub-structure and delegation of duties. Wally Byam was a master of organization.
The Club core was the volunteers; the go-to-people that assisted in making the Caravans go. This spirit, this dedication, this form of personal involvement was the core of the WBCCI in 1955.
Check out the Jack Rabbits; thank them for your club today. They “hounded” Wally to form a club.
My Mother, Helen Byam Schwamborn, was given the task, by Wally, to start a headquarters to be the home of the Club, and the action center for Caravans. Three major Caravans came from the Headquarters in the early days. (Europe 1956, Africa 1959, Around-the-World 1963.)
Because of the dedication of the members and the organizational and interpersonal skills of Helen, the Club grew, and grew, and grew…what a growth!
Yes, Airstream funded the Headquarters. Yes, it was a marketing tool. However both entities this symbiotic relationship endorsed the purpose, ‘TO HAVE FUN.”
My pride swells every time I pass an Airstream on the highway, or see one on TV.
Remember, have fun, that’s what this is all about.
That’s all Wally wanted for you, and that is all my Mother wanted for you.
“TO HAVE FUN!”
See you on the road.
Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn
Footnote:
I was a family member before there was Caravan.
I traveled on the !st Caravan.
I went on a total of five Caravans. (1951 Mexico, Central America; 1955 Eastern Canada, 1956 Europe, 1957 Eastern Canada, and 1959 Africa, the Holy Land, and Europe)
I scouted two Cavavans 1959 Africa, and 1961 Eastern Canadian Caravan.
I worked at the California Airstream Plant from 1964 to 1969.
I have been to five International Rally’s.
I am former owner of Wally’s gold trailer.
I am a Charter Member of the WBCCI.
This is being told to you not that I am extraordinary, I’m just a fortunate person to have been part of this history.
When I say “TO HAVE FUN”, I mean it and I know that’s what it is all about.
I see that some people have quoted my "To Have Fun", there is, I guess, nothing new under the sun.
__________________ "Keep the road straight, the sky clear, the glass full, good friends and the laughter loud!", Pee Wee
Quick Links
To all the disgruntled
It's time you get off the porch and join the 4 corners unit. Running with us is going to be a wild ride.
Come have fun the way Wally intended it to be .NO WBCCI politics,just fun And that the honky tonk truth.
AMERICA.LAND OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.LOVE HER OR SADDLE UP AND RIDE.
"MERE MEMBER" WBCCI 8991
CHARTER MEMBER 4CU
Linear Mode
