If the powers that be were truly interested in growing the membership rather than preserving some sense of privilege and prestige (for that is how it really looks to me), they'd not seek to include $300k class 6 trucks, but go for something a little truer to the roots of the organization.
Something that is at once iconic and practical. Economic and easily towable. More at home boondocking off a dirt road somewhere than anchored to a concrete slab in suburbia.
Pop-ups.
It's not as ridiculous as you might think. While not shiny and aluminum, thus destined to fail the 3rd grader test, it is the way a lot of families started, including ours.
Of course, the "hybrid" is the new pop-up, so maybe that would be a better choice. And the advantages of even a 20 year old Airstream over a 2 year old hybrid would become so blindingly obvious over the course of a single weekend...
Believe me, we've been there and have the shirt.
That's right!! If the WBCCI really needs a Thor Class A Moho, it's stands to reason that we also need a Thor pop-up rebranded as an Airstream. Let's present this idea to the IBT and see if it gets any support. It' the same thing. Isn't it?????
__________________ SuEllyn & Brian McCabe WBCCI #3628 --- AIR #14872 2005 25' Safari FB (Lucy) with HAHA 2005 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Olivia) & 2004 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Daisy)
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 1991
That's right!! If the WBCCI really needs a Thor Class A Moho, it's stands to reason that we also need a Thor pop-up rebranded as an Airstream. Let's present this idea to the IBT and see if it gets any support. It' the same thing. Isn't it?????
No. They are doing their best to keep the high end stuff, they don't want riff-raff in the club, like for example Argosies and B vans. Didn't they get disapproved for membership in the club?
i think that originally it was intended as a club for airstream owners and airstream lovers, so what is at issue here. i may be totally naive, but do the owners of these super-expensive motorhomes really "camp?" while we own a motorhome (1979 excella) i understand and appreciate the fact that the majority (i believe it is 80%) of airstream owners have trailers. this whole issue is a divide and conquer issue. should i feel less qualified as a member since i chose a motorhome. (we are also looking for a trailer to satisfy airstream fever!) this is like the issue of the girl wanting to join the boy scouts. it doesn't fly just because someone has decided it is the politically correct thing to do. i may be completely off-base here, but shouldn't this be decided by the motorhome purchaser? do they want an airstream or SOB? if they choose SOB, how about a whole new club for them. after all, several brands have their own clubs. does winnebago admit tioga, does barth admit coachman? i can see the idea of grandfathering them in, but how will that work down the road? will those members always have carte blanche to continue buying SOB and remaining members? maybe i'm being elitist, but i wanted airstream and if somebody wants SOB, let them have their own club that i can't be a member of! i apologize if i have offended anyone, just stating my opinion. for the record, i haven't yet even joined the WBCCI. i'm waiting to see how this issue gets settled before i decide if it is a group that stands by their airstream-loving members. for the record, i DO want to join. i'll just wait and see.
I plan to maintain my membership in WBCCI so that I can have griping rights and keep my big red numbers. I do this even thouigh the arogance of our leadership saddens me.
This Forums Group is emerging as the primary Airstream club. This Group is everything that WBCCI should be. This group accepts new members based upon their interest in Airstreams, not their ownership of one. This group helps people decide if they want to own an Airstream, and, if so, which model would suit them best. This group guides novices on the finer points of Airstreaming. It provides in depth technical assistance. It organizes get togethers and rallies that tend to be more fun than anything that WBCCI puts on. This Group does all the things that WBCCI should do and doesn't.
Since WBCCI has elected to abandon Wally Byam, Maybe the Forums could become the Wally Byam Fan Club. I think that this group is much better embodiment of the Wally Byam spirit.
__________________ SuEllyn & Brian McCabe WBCCI #3628 --- AIR #14872 2005 25' Safari FB (Lucy) with HAHA 2005 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Olivia) & 2004 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Daisy)
...while we own a motorhome (1979 excella) i understand and appreciate the fact that the majority (i believe it is 80%) of airstream owners have trailers. this whole issue is a divide and conquer issue. should i feel less qualified as a member since i chose a motorhome.
Ah, see, but the RV in your avatar most certainly would pass the 3rd/4th grader "Is it an Airstream?" test.
Something that I think whatever club winds up being "the club", there should be a couple of small membership changes.
1-Anyone that is interested in Airstream products and is willing to pay the dues should be able to be a member. If, however, they don't own one, they will only be able to attend select club functions. They could be eligible for discounts on club-endorsed insurance or campgrounds.
2-Any RV manufactured by or for Airstream would be allowed full membership into the club.
__________________
Terry You repair things with tools. You fix things with a hammer.
AIR#2611
Something that I think whatever club winds up being "the club", there should be a couple of small membership changes.
1-Anyone that is interested in Airstream products and is willing to pay the dues should be able to be a member. If, however, they don't own one, they will only be able to attend select club functions. They could be eligible for discounts on club-endorsed insurance or campgrounds.
2-Any RV manufactured by or for Airstream would be allowed full membership into the club.
You have basically described what the "Airstream Forums Club" already is.
__________________ SuEllyn & Brian McCabe WBCCI #3628 --- AIR #14872 2005 25' Safari FB (Lucy) with HAHA 2005 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Olivia) & 2004 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Daisy)
The leadership would listen to and where necessary act on the memberships suggestions.
The club currently has approx. 1000 new members join EACH YEAR and yet total membership hovers around 6-7 thousand.The club should easily be at least twice it's current size and with the proper leadership these numbers should be obtainable.
The 100 thousand question...under the current system,how do you get the proper leadership before the club is driven into the ground.
Quick Links
Linear Mode
