I had just about given up on ever joining WBCCI, but after reading about Bob's fight to make changes at the top and because of the encouragement of others in local units, my husband and I are finally going to join....perhaps our vote will help!
I have never met Bob, but it is my hope that he is successful in his appeal. We need people like Bob at the top fighting to make the WBCCI a club we ALL want to join!
I had just about given up on ever joining WBCCI, but after reading about Bob's fight to make changes at the top and because of the encouragement of others in local units, my husband and I are finally going to join....perhaps our vote will help!
I have never met Bob, but it is my hope that he is successful in his appeal. We need people like Bob at the top fighting to make the WBCCI a club we ALL want to join!
Thank you for your post and for stepping forward to join a really great club and a wonderful group of people at the unit level. As I have mentioned so many times before, don't leave, join so that together we can all go camping together, have fun together and show others that Airstream owners are the best!
__________________ J. Rick Cipot Sandi Gould NEUNew England Unit Airstream Life Magazine WBCCI #3411 AIR #17099 2009 Silverado 2500HD 2004 22' Safari 1960 24' Tradewind
We do, but in order to change the guard you need to join!
The club needs new blood.
The problem is, I deal with stuff in the real world I don't want to have to do it in my recreational one..... I want to enjoy myself not be pulled in to petty politics and bickering..
The club seems to have lost what it was created for.... Enjoying a camping trip with friends... and is caught up in rules and regulations on how to enjoy that trip and what to do on it... (is this correct or not?)
I've seen it happen.. The old guard won't let go till they die... And new blood will have a hard time getting in and making changes.. And for me it not worth the hassle.. Maybe for someone else????
The leadership needs to realize what it is doing and change. But I doubt it will happen till it's to late, as is usually the fact..
Maybe the units should pull out of the International and do your own thing... Seems like you have more fun in the Unit anyway.....
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Jason
May you have at least one sunny day, and a soft chair to sit in..
The problem is, I deal with stuff in the real world I don't want to have to do it in my recreational one..... I want to enjoy myself not be pulled in to petty politics and bickering..
The club seems to have lost what it was created for.... Enjoying a camping trip with friends... and is caught up in rules and regulations on how to enjoy that trip and what to do on it... (is this correct or not?)
I've seen it happen.. The old guard won't let go till they die... And new blood will have a hard time getting in and making changes.. And for me it not worth the hassle.. Maybe for someone else????
The leadership needs to realize what it is doing and change. But I doubt it will happen till it's to late, as is usually the fact..
Maybe the units should pull out of the International and do your own thing... Seems like you have more fun in the Unit anyway.....
Another Amen and some karma sent your way.....
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I don't need this kind of discension and politics in my recreational life. I am here to have fun, not be involved in in-fighting and squabbling.
Hello! This is exactly why the membership is dwindling.
It amazes me that there was a committee to do a study to figure out how to increase membership and the WBCCI can't figure out that they can't continue to do business as usual, and can't repeat the same mistake over and over (motor home issue), or rail road the members. Hello people, wake up and smell the coffee.
Sometimes I really think if I hadn't joined the WBCCI, I wouldn't join it now. I just sent in our membership dues but I really think that if the motorhome issue comes up again this year, I may not rejoin next year.
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2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
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This is a slap down by the same people that didn't let the New England Unit's officers into International in Georgia in 2007. It's a shame that a handful of people are willing to let the club die with them if they cann't have their Four Winds motor homes.
I believe it is possible to have an Airstream trailer club without this kind of problem. But not WBCCI, it's who the leadership is, has been, and will be.
Yes, we pay for the privelage of being members and it seems we are not allowed to voice our opions. Could Bob have made his thoughts known in a better fashion, yes; does Bob support the members of WBCCI and hold them and the club dear? Yes he does. Have health problems in recents weeks caused distress for Bob? Yes. To help Bob, please take the time to send our WBCCI president an email or letter showing member support for Bob and his right to voice his concerns. When doing so, please be cordial and to the point. Thank you.
Could you please give us the e-mail address of Mr. Collins? I'd like to explain that this sort of issue is just another brick in the wall that keeps me uninterested in the WBCCI.
May I 'umbly suggest that when lawyers are called only they win? It seems to me that the best way to convert "fogies with stogies" might be to invite them to some forum functions - if they SEE how the other half lives?
Paula
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Today is a gift. That's why they call it "the present"
What I would like to see happen here is for Bob to sue the pants off WBCCI in Federal Court for things like freedom of speech and the ramifications of what they did as it relates to the US Constitution.
Bob,
Although I have no interest in defending the actions of the IBT, what happened to Mr. Thompson (as described) is not a violation of his constitutional rights. Spend a few minutes reading here. Particularly this passage:
"The First Amendment applies only when Congress passes a law abridging speech. Suppressions of speech are not violations of the First Amendment unless the State does the suppressing"
My take on this whole matter is that this is more about a personal disagreement between Mr. Thompson and several current/former members of the IBT rather than an indication of what general members of the club can expect from their leadership.
My sympathies go to Mr. Thompson and the folks in his group who have been affected by this action. It is very unfortunate and a black spot on the club.
My response to all this is to spend my time sharing good times with my Airstream buddies and all who want to participate. I'll be counting the days until Mr. Thompson can return to his position and his efforts (let's hope).
All I want to do is camp and make new friends along the routes and towns I meet.... not the political BS...
Anyways, a few days ago I posted my reply on the "save wally" forum, suggesting that WBCCI members supporting change to identify themselves by flipping our numbers upside down...
I haven't done it yet, but really thinking about it...
__________________ Kevin & Prim Li Bandit the Siberian Husky & "G" the Min-Pin Cosmo the Custom 2008 27FB Intl CCD 2008 Ford F-250 King Ranch Diesel 4x4 AKA "The King" WBCCI # 11809 AIR # 6155
2nd love - 2006 28' Safari LS 1st love - 2004 19' CCD Bambi
I just found this blurb by Mr. Franklin at the IBT Seminar who ousted Bob T.
Jim Franklin, IPP, Arizona Unit. I think Mr. Carson has touched upon a problem this club has been struggling with for quite a while. People on the Airstream Forum, people on the blog, they seem to be unhappy being members. They have driven away more members than what many of our membership crew has been able to obtain. I think that one of the solutions that Region Presidents and Unit Members need to look at, we need to think about quality instead of quantity. Of course everyone has freedom of speech, and we respect that, but people that continually tear down the club, or attack the Executive Board and the membership. If they have something constructive to do, I think that the board will certainly listen to it. But people that are continually tearing down the club, and being destructive, and they're unhappy, I think we need to be selective in our memberships and start looking at a way of terminating their membership and let them go find a place that they are happy
Carol Bell, Tidewater Virginia Unit. I'm a little upset by the comment I heard from Mr. Franklin about the Airforum situation. Basically as I understood it, is if you don't agree, get out, or get forced out, or whatever. I just don't understand that kind of thinking. I thought this was an organization that was willing to listen to its members, even though some of them might be negative comments. I've never gone on Airforums, I don't know anything about it. I go on WBCCI forums on a fairly regular basis and there are negative comments on that as well. But I'm hearing, if I say something negative, and let me say it right now. I don't like being parked behind a generator. I can't hear myself think. I can't open my windows, but that's just the way this rally is set-up, so I'm dealing with it. But because that's the way I feel and I comment about it, is that negative to this organization? Are you going to throw me out? I don't understand why this organization is not willing to listen to everything the members have to say.
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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
Here's that lock thread I was talking about, another dumb rule to waste time enforcing, Something for someone to do with power, when they should be enjoying their time camping.... Hitch Lock
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Jason
May you have at least one sunny day, and a soft chair to sit in..
I met Bob for the first time last week at the Region 1 Rally in PEI.I really enjoyed my conversations with him and feel privelaged to have met him and his wife Harriett.
I do not know the full story here but what I do know I am in Bob's corner 100%.He told me he has served the club for 32 years and I'm sure this has been very hard on him.
As mentioned before,it seems the timing on this suspension was no coincidence.To do this at a rally he has worked so hard on for 2 years is just another way to put him in his place(in their eyes).
I believe as this thread and time progresses more of the details of this suspension will be revealed.
How do you change a club that blocks any attempts to go through the proper channels to attempt to make those changes?No wonder we have lost so many existing and potential members.It HAS to change for its very survival.
It's all about the people and camping.The folks I met last week that were from the Canadian Atlantic Unit (CAU),the New England Unit(NEU) the Ontario Unit and the Charter Oaks Connecticut Unit were fantastic and fun people...one and all.To me that is what it's all about.The friendships that are made,some that last a lifetime.That is one of the things that WBCCI has given to me and it is why I will continue to be a member.
I just wish and hope that the club can listen to its members and implement some of the changes that are so badly needed.If not,the membership will continue to dwindle and ultimately the club will cease to exist.
A new club will be waiting in the wings.
My camping buddies are the most important thing-all this crap from the WBCCI bosses is wearing my patience down.
Perhaps the membership should require that the WBCCI bosses go back to trailering again - do it like Wally, do it like the greater majority of us, forget this class warfare.
I don't see how it is productive for the WBCCI leadership to continually attack our hard working unit and region members.
In my mind it is all about relationships, camping buddies and the volunteers.
Our Metro NY unit is emerging because of people like Leo G - we don't need less Leo G's in our unit just because some WBCCI boss is pissed off or insulted.
I don't think the guys on top should even have the authority to rip "workhorses" from our units and exhile them!
What are they thinking?
Joe Colao
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Joe Colao 50th Anniversary President of Metro NY WBCCI # 30916
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