I have worked in municipal government for the past decade. People dislike Robert's Rules because it is a playground for pedants. (Trust me on this). I have served on (and chaired) numerous boards, commission and governing bodies. My standing recommendation is to adopt a greatly simplified set of rules of order. It doesn't take Robert's Rules to have civil and productive meetings. In fact, when the business of the body becomes procedural nitpicking, pretty much all hope is lost.
As for "change," it's always about the nickels and dime (if you'll forgive a bad pun). If the WBCCI is truly running in the red, the best way to effect change is to further diminish the revenue stream. The WBCCI doesn't exist in some alternative universe where money doesn't matter. They need to pay their bills like any other organization. The larger the deficit, the greater the pressure.
My wife and I are new "vintage" Airstream owners. We haven't joined WBCCI so I don't have a dog in this fight. We bought our Airstream for recreational use. Rule books, parliamentary procedures and political infighting... that feels like work, not fun.
One of the smartest things I've ever heard said on this forum went something like this:
How long would Airstream last if Toyota, Honda or Nissan started to make RV's?
Boy, that sentence should be a huge wakeup call to the whole RV industry - get smart BEFORE they come after you.
Now I'm going to try to say something just as smart - and it's going to be a reach.
An Alternate Rally across the street from the International? I've never met Jerry Larson and I can't know what's in his mind, but if he doesn't react about like Airstream would be to find the local Honda generator factory (12 miles from Airstream) was opening an RV division - then he just wouldn't understand the expression, "Denial is NOT a river in Egypt".
Related topic - didn't I read a thread about a week ago saying that AIRSTREAM isn't coming to the International? AIRSTREAM isn't wasting corporate advertising and marketing dollars on the WBCCI? Airstream's bean counters have decided that WBCCI is either already dead or totally irrelavent.
Are we beating a dead horse?
Respectfully, Paula
__________________
Today is a gift. That's why they call it "the present"
Airstream has been politely telling our leadership for years that they're doing a poor job of selling this club. Sadly that's only half the truth. The other half is that Airstream has repeatedly told our leadership that Airstream is selling today's trailers to a "different" kind of buyer". For those that need the interpretation that means that today's Airstream buyers aren't interested in the WBCCI.
__________________
Bob
'77 Sovereign Intl 31' CB '07 GMC 4x4 2500HD EC 8.1 Allision six | Bedrug | Softopper
WBCCI Time's a-changing Say no to Lawrence Welk attitudes
A simple universal rule for organizations--like species--is, "Adapt or die." No human enterprise is immune from this rule, no matter how rich its history or profound its accomplishments. Human history is littered with the corpses of once great and noble undertakings that simply could not adapt fast enough.
In my experience, change happens through crisis. When an organization has become rigid, stale, bureaucractic, rulebound or Byzantine, it usually takes a "life threatening" crisis to motivate change. In some cases, the crisis simply overwhelms the entity, killing it... or the organization withers, dying slowly over the course of years or decades. Every so often, the crisis is enough to bring about the change necessary for the organization to reinvent itself and survive.
The simple fact of the matter is that if the WBCCI is not growing and evolving, then it's dying. The only question is how quickly. Someone posted that the "old men" who run the club aren't going anywhere. Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes, they are... unless they've discovered the secret of immortality.
I'm not posting here because I have any particular agenda. I've just happened to spend most of my adult life trying to help organizations grow, evolve and adapt. In my work, I've seen some wonderful community organizations get old and die. The challenge facing the WBCCI is not that different than one facing local clubs like JayCees, Lion's Clubs, etc. Some groups "get it." They understand that survival requires profound changes... not just adding another page or two to the rulebook. Transformational change is hard for people; it's doubly hard for groups. By all accounts the WBCCI has some great members. I hope for the sake of these folks, the organization can change fast enough.
In an effort to help bring forth some administrative updates to the "Disciplinary
Procedures" Article V of the Bylaws, I propose the following for your consideration:
Unless the Executive Committee (EC) makes a finding of probable cause, a complaint alleging a violation of the Rules of Ethics shall be confidential except upon the request of the accused.
An evaluation of a possible violation of the Rules of Ethics by the Ethics & Grievance Committee (E&G) prior to the filing of a complaint shall be confidential except upon the request of the subject of the evaluation.
If the evaluation is confidential, any information supplied to or received from the E&G shall not be disclosed to any third party by a subject of the evaluation, a person contacted for the purpose of obtaining information or by the E&G.
An investigation conducted prior to a probable cause finding shall be confidential except upon the request of the accused. If the investigation is confidential, the allegations in the complaint and any information supplied to or received from the E&G shall not be disclosed during the investigation to any third party by anyone.
Not later than 3 business days after the termination of the investigation, the E&G shall inform the complainant and the accused of its findings and provide them a summary of its reasons for making that finding. The E&G shall publish its finding upon the accused's request with a summary of its reasons for making such finding.
If the EC makes a finding of no probable cause, the complaint and the record of the E&G's investigation shall remain confidential, except upon the request of the accused and except that some or all of the record may be used in subsequent proceedings. No one shall disclose to any third party any information learned from the investigation, including knowledge of the existence of a complaint, which the disclosing party would not otherwise have known. If such a disclosure is made, the EC may, after consultation with the accused if the accused is not the source of the disclosure, publish the EC's finding and a summary of the EC's reasons therefor.
The EC shall make public a finding of probable cause not later than 5 business days after such finding. At such time the entire record of the investigation shall become public, except that the E&G may postpone examination or release of such records for a period not to exceed 14 days for the purpose of reaching a stipulation agreement. Any such stipulation agreement or settlement shall be approved by a majority of those members present and voting.
Has anyone thought of the possibility that this is a trap? I remember once being told by a captain teaching a course on leadership that the definition of leadership is the ability to "manipulate" people into doing what they don't want to do. A good leader is good at manipulation. I don't agree with that kind of leadership, but that is what is taught both in the military and in business.
Look at their resumes. Larson - MBA, BBA, retired Navy officer. Collier - teacher, sales manager, has "enjoyed a variety of leadership roles in the past 40 years." Beu - BA Psychology, Masters Systems Management, Air Command and Staff College. Hechenswiler - police officer for 34 years. All of these men have had courses in leadership, management and organization.
It's been said in this thread that these are not bad men, just clueless. Really? I don't want to make that assumption. They are educated, experienced, and obviously intelligent. I don't think they are stupid, clueless, naive or any such thing.
Jim Franklin (also former military officer) has perhaps accidently let the cat out of the bag with his comments about terminating the memberships of those deemed to be "unhappy." Do you not think that wasn't discussed in Executive Council before and/or after he made those statements?
Let's say that there is a certain group of leaders in our Club that are frustrated because they've been stymied by a loud vocal group of malcontents. If only those malcontents could somehow be convinced to leave the organization then the balance of voting power might just shift in the favor of those wanting to change the name of the Club, or allow SOB of RV into the club, or whatever. How would you get those trouble makers to leave?
One way would be to wait and see who emerges as their leaders. Leo? Bob? Then give those leaders just enough rope to hang themselves... be patient - they'll do something that will provide the evidence to hang them, and then they'll get kicked out of the Club. By then, those malcontent leaders will have their like-minded followers who will be angry, and outraged by the suspension or expulsion to the point that they will themselves boycott, refuse to pay their dues, organize an alternate rally, and yes, eventually leave the Club all together.
Not all the malcontents need to leave to be successful, just enough to tip the balance of voting power. Then the WBCCI leadership can do what they want with little or no resistance. Sure, there will be a few tough years, because of the loss of memberships, but if it's done now while there is still a pretty good treasury the transition can be made.
Does that sound like a plan? Are you falling for it?
Interesting thought for certain. I don't think anyone thinks the IBT are doddering fools. Clueless, perhaps in the respect that they do not have the same understanding of priorities different from theirs, and developed an appreciation of what is important to many younger or newer members. It's very generational, but the gap does not need to exist. The current problem is the casm has grown to such an extent being left not updated for far too long. The idea that they need not conduct themselves as the members' agents and report and accept accountability to the general membership but rather are in a heightened position of authority and power and can mandate their ideas of what is best for the club without communicating to ascertain needs and modifying is a huge breach and problematic to member retention and satisfaction. Many of their former unit peers are no longer available as a touchstone and they are sequoistered to themselves in the International Club and that is what they know and what fuels their decisions and priorities. They are separate and their experience is no longer equal with the experience that the rest of the WBCCI membership experiences at unit level.
If it was a ploy it will surely backfire because if it is not Leo or Bob or their supporters than there will just be others in time in their place. Let's face it, they broke the mold for the current IBT some time back. Missing an international isn't leaving the club and an alternative rally would probably be lots more fun. But it would have a financial impact on the International Club and not affect the general membership or individual units experience.
__________________ CJ The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.-Eleanor Roosevelt It is never too late to be who you might have been.-George Eliot
The current problem is the casm has grown to such an extent being left not updated for far too long. The idea that they need not conduct themselves as the members' agents and report and accept accountability to the general membership but rather are in a heightened position of authority and power and can mandate their ideas of what is best for the club without communicating to ascertain needs and modifying is a huge breach and problematic to member retention and satisfaction.
<SNIP>
Kind of like grandfather said:
"In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough."
Jim
__________________
We are travelers with an attitude. We get to go anywhere, anytime, and have attitudes about what we see and hear.
"Travel is fatal to bigotry, prejudice and being narrow minded."
Has anyone thought of the possibility that this is a trap? I remember once being told by a captain teaching a course on leadership that the definition of leadership is the ability to "manipulate" people into doing what they don't want to do. A good leader is good at manipulation. I don't agree with that kind of leadership, but that is what is taught both in the military and in business.
Look at their resumes. Larson - MBA, BBA, retired Navy officer. Collier - teacher, sales manager, has "enjoyed a variety of leadership roles in the past 40 years." Beu - BA Psychology, Masters Systems Management, Air Command and Staff College. Hechenswiler - police officer for 34 years. All of these men have had courses in leadership, management and organization.
...
Jim Franklin (also former military officer) ...
Hmm.. I too am a former military officer, and struggle with this one. On the one hand I knew several that were just outstanding: one retired navy o-6 in particular with whom I was privileged to have several frank discussions on life, the world, and our role in it.
Among the good, always, always the officer labored intensely for the people in his/her charge. It was accepted as axiom that "if I take care of my people, they will take care of me." Among the very good, I was struck by the extent to which this went. Manipulation? maybe, but at some personal expense, and always for the good of the country, never the good of just one person.
So you think the International President isn't playing games with us? Look what just turned up all of a sudden... Ah, and just after you all went way out of your way to thank him so sweetly for participating. __________________________________________________ ___
From: Jerry Larson <jlarson144@
To: Tom Collier <collier145@
Ralph Forrester <zoral279@
Norm Beu <beu@
Jerry Larson <jlarson144@
Jerry Collins <jc6960mc@
Carolyn Florence <wbcci3500c@
Barry Heckenswiler <heck257@
Jodi Morris WBCCI <JMorris@
Dot Stengel WBCCI <DStengel@
Cindy Reed WBCCI <CReed@
Bev Suttles WBCCI <bsuttles@
Franklin D. Sanders <franklinsanders@
Don McKelvay <silverbulletspider@
Julian Clements <dandylynne@
Bill Johnjulio <FlintlocksbyJJ@
Bob Moyers <boblee5244@
Bill McManemin <weemack@
Betty Sullivan <basullivan@
Douglas Wylie <dew50@
R.B. Bernd <rnzbernd@
Janie Lichtfuss <janiekipp@
Don Clark <k9ebon@
Theda McGrath <TEMcGrath@
Joe Bublis <JCBUBL@
Janet Kendig <jkendighatlady@
Daryl Ewles <obdaryl@
Bonnie Nester <BNESTER1@
Bob Bennett <caravan1@
Raynold Lemaire <RaynoldLemaire@
Linda Amme <prof899@
Loretta Moss <lmoss324@
Jim Elmlinger <jbeengr@
Ray Landman <rrlawq@
Teressa G Taylor <ttay@
Jack Glouner <glouner@
Janie Haddaway <jhaddaway@
Bill Schrader <bschrad500@
Jean Helker <hrhelker@
Charilie Burke <cbburke@
Mary Anderson <don101mary@
Max Carmichael <mc6077@
Charles Duran <cduran136@
Ed Elmer <texasfudd@
Jim Franklin <jfranklin007@
Vern Goodwin, Jr <vhgjr@
Norm Hewer <nmh133@
Andy Kaiser <akaiser3@
Walt Knuesel <wjulius@
Bob Laliberte <blalib@
Ewart Phillips <ewart@
Don Shafer <shf7d@
John Shull <jlshull2@
Shirley Stubbs <ewstubbs@
WAG Wagnon <wagw9wag@
Subject: INTERNATION PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS ON WBCCI & GRIEVANCES
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:05:11
Greetings,
The attached Microsoft word file is for your information and for you to pass to your VPs/Staffs and members as you desire. I am also posting it on www.wbcci.org under Forums and the 2020 Committee where the current subject is being discussed. Once posted on the Forum, I do not intend to be responding to any further Forum Discussion on this subject. I will consider still answering e-mails on the subject that are sent to me with no other addressees or copies to..
Regards,
Jerry
Jerome (Jerry) Larson
International President
WBCCI, the Airstream RV Association
803 E. Pike Street
P.O. Box 612
Jackson Center, OH 45334
Cell: (555) 555-5555
__________________
Bob
'77 Sovereign Intl 31' CB '07 GMC 4x4 2500HD EC 8.1 Allision six | Bedrug | Softopper
WBCCI Time's a-changing Say no to Lawrence Welk attitudes
Forrest,
I beleive that they may have had a plan to control this situation fueled by Arrogance. I think they did not expect the outcry and support from the membership for Leo and Bob.
Military types are used to having control and not much BACK TALK which has created much Frustration for them.
They are used to getting and giving salutes, smiles, hood winks and handshakes. This is not what they bargained for.
I actually would perfer to consult with them and help them through this. It is not clear to me that they know what to do from thier actions or lack there of.
__________________
Joe Colao 50th Anniversary President of Metro NY WBCCI # 30916
KC2RAR
Quick Links
Say no to Lawrence Welk attitudes
Missing an international isn't leaving the club and an alternative rally would probably be lots more fun. But it would have a financial impact on the International Club and not affect the general membership or individual units experience.
Why did the chicken cross the road? 
Hybrid Mode
