I want to join

[Rust]

I just bought a new airstream, my first one after following Airstream's for years now on the net.
I have been reading about the club now and was looking for some good reviews as far as the club is concerned and all is negative so far with lots of fighting and outdated web sites like the Ontario chapters.And what I mean about outdated is lack of info and photos of rallies that happened two years ago. I had to contact corporate to get a package sent to me.

I always believed the club was about travel and meeting new friends that had these great travel trailers and motor homes.

I would have thought with all the trailers that airstream makes the membership would be up and not down.

One thing I read was that some members want to buy other RV's and still belong. Forget that! no airstream no membership that was simple was it not.
I also agree that leaders should be voted in from all paying members and not selected. The members that are running local chapters or the ones that volunteer will prove there capabilities and these are the people you need to vote in and re vote in after a maximum two year term. up to two consecutive terms.
It is like anything that happens without new blood coming into an organization it will continue to struggle.

But I'm not a member yet and don't know the whole story so I only put down a few thought. If I misunderstood anything I have read please correct me since I want to belong.
I really want to be a member and enjoy my new trailer with fellow airstream owners.
Yes and when I had a Sunny Brook trailer they had there own club as well and so did Award trailers when I had my Award.
So if a member buys another RV I'm sure there will be a club for them.

George

[DKB_SATX]

Well, just in case you need any validation, I had read a lot of these "problems with the WBCCI" threads and I chose to join the WBCCI. I joined one of the younger, "virtual" units (Heart of Texas Unit) largely because of several interesting members of the unit who are active and outspoken here on the AIR Forums. They're not outspoken in the sense of commentary on the WBCCI organizational controversies, but outspoken in their dedication to and enjoyment of Airstreaming.

[WineStream]

Hi George:

There will soon be some Airstreams coming through your area soon, perhaps you could join us for at least the stops in Ontario. I know the stops are largely during the week (I'm taking a week's vacation) so it could be difficult for someone to make it without taking work time off. Here's some links to details on the Airforums:

Airstream Forums - Lake Erie Loop Rally Hopping Caravan

Airstream Forums - TAC Canada Rally

[Bill M.]

Simply put, joining WBCCI has turned out to be the best thing we have done in the last 5 years. Local rallies and dinners once a month. Great people. Caravans (6 so far, including Alaska). Airstream parks. Have stayed at Olympia, Minn. park, GA park so far. Great retun on a very low cost membership. Worth the cost to buy the Airstream to be a member of the club. Really is no downside to being a WBCCI member that I can find.

[Skater]

I've said it before, but: You can read about the problems in the club in this forum, and it's pretty depressing. But, you can read about the upsides of the club in the rally forum. It's night and day. We have a great time at rallies and would have trouble giving that up. We've already been to one rally (that we hosted, actually), and are planning to go to three more this year.

You just have to find a unit that fits with you.

[HowieE]

While Airstreaming has developed into several forms, WBCCI, TAC, and AirForums you may want to try each before you commit.

I would suggest attending a TAC or AirForums rally first as the WBCCI wants your money up front. My first WBCCI function they drove one of my friends out in less than 12 hours because he had only just bought his unit 2 weeks before and was not a member. No numbers get out.

Now that said you are in a unique location as the Ontario unit of the WBCCI is not in lock step with the WBCCI and I am sure would offer you a welcome as a guest.

As noted above there will be a TAC rally coming through you area in a few weeks and would be a great time to interact with a group dedicated to having fun while camping.

If you are headed sought this winter the Can Opener, an AirForums rally is a must.

While the TAC and AirForums are far less formal groups at this point in time they will most likely be the form any surviving Airstream groups takes.

[WineStream]

I would like to point out that while I endorsed a TAC rally above, I also endorsed a non-group caravan. The caravan will make stops at a WBCCI rally, a TAC rally, an Airforums rally, and two courtesy parking stops. It truly hits all the clubs and opportunities to socialize with your Airstream.

That's the beauty of all of this...you can camp wherever and whenever with whomever you want. The WBCCI fits for some, TAC fits for some, Airforums rallies for some. Some participate in two or all three. Some even belong to non-brand specific RV clubs. It's surprising, but I still pull into campgrounds and find people with Airstreams that have never heard of Airforums and some that haven't heard of WBCCI.

Find out what works for you and get camping!

[TBRich]

At first we had no intention of joining WBCCI. We didn't think it had anything to offer us. Boy, were we wrong. That having been said, I do believe that much of our "happiness" with being members of the WBCCI is that we are members of the 4 Corners Unit. A unit's "culture" can make or break WBCCI for you. We have made many great friends through our involvement in the WBCCI, both within our unit and beyond our unit. One of the great things about WBCCI is the breadth of experiences you can have in it with fellow Airstreamers...from organized caravans to informal gatherings in a local campground. We know folks who are members of WBCCI, TAC and camping clubs like Escapees, etc. And we've met and camped with some great folks through the Forums who are members of no clubs. Any means of bringing campers in general and Airstreamers in particular together is OK by me. There is room for everyone, is there not?

[Gene]

George,

We choose not to fund the WBCCI's endless internecine battles. We travel a lot on our own and have no time left for caravans and not much for rallies. But there are plenty of Forum and TAC and other rallies and caravans, so you can meet plenty of Airstreamers. Hanging around on this Forum you will get to know a lot of us as well.

Some WBCCI units have buddy rallies where you don't have to be a member. I think you may be encouraged to join and you may not be able to keep going to buddy rallies, but you can check it out. Forum events and TAC don't have dues, but TAC may have to charge something at some point for insurance.

With the internet, you have many options. Years ago the WBCCI was the only option, but no longer. I think you identified some of the WBCCI problems in your post.

Gene

[greywolf]

I have to agree with CrawfordGene.

After being WBCCI members for the past 6 years, I won't be renewing this year, due to internal problems with my local unit and corruption all the way up to the top International level. I will not continue to pay dues to an organization whose local unit leaders want to run the club as a dictatorship and who then openly call me a liar because I don't agree with their methods and "official" account as to why many other members have quit.

I don't need that, especially when, as CrawfordGene and others point out, we have other options.

[Kerrbett]

George: We would be glad to have you give the Ontario Unit a tryout! We have about a dozen new members this year and you would have lots of company as a new Airstreamer. Our next rally (the theme is "Simply Camping") is at Almonte in the Ottawa Valley over the Labour Day weekend, followed by our season closer at Alliston on September 23 - 25. PM me and I can give you details. You will read lots of pro's and con's about WBCCI and any particular Unit, but give us a try and make up your own mind. We think that we have a fun and active group here in Ontario.

Cheers, Kerry

[Don McKelvay]

Hi George,
I echo what Kerry said - we just returned yesterday from the Ontario Canada Unit Rendezvous in Lindsay. BTW a rendezvous in our Unit is a more relaxed event rather than a rally, i.e. usually no entertainment, no catered dinners or organized tours. We had about 35 rigs there and everyone had a wonderful time.
Contrary to what some others have said you do not have to be a 'paid member' to attend your first rally - simply arrange with the unit, check them out, have fun, meet new friends, and learn more about your Airstream - we had a very fruitful exchange of information about our rigs and camping, etc during the rendezvous discussion.
Hope to see you in Almonte.
Also, I will be staying at Casino Rama with our trailer Sept 9-11 and feel free to drop over or contact me with a PM and we can arrange to 'chat', about the Unit, the Club and various dealers/service people in Ontario.
Trusting you will have a fabulous time with your Airstream, and with a 'WoW' new 2011 it should last at least 70 years.

Cheers,
Don