WBCCI cyber unit?

**Janet** · 04-24-2006, 09:34 AM

I have been mulling over the "What makes a unit a good unit" issue and have a couple of thoughts....

A good unit has regular communication, rallies, member participation, diversity, encourages new folks to join and carries out the mission of the parent organization. it's members have voice and vote and feel valued.

Some of us belong to those kinds of units - some don't. Many of us live hundreds of miles form a WBCCI unit - and while we belong - we do not participate in the regular business of the organization - we can't - it's too far to drive. Many belong to the WBCCI as "at large members" and have no unit affiliation AND no voice or vote - yet pay dues.

So... how about a Cyber unit? Forums members are already acting as a WBCCI unit. we plan and hold rallies, we meet regularly (online), heck we vote on polls! We work out our differences, we (many of us) are willing to support the forums with cash...

Why not start a WBCCi unit? it could be a venue to give those 'at large" members a voice. We are already a cohesive community. We have the technology to hold online meetings and there is established practice for doing so. I beong to another organization that has online meetings and balloting - it's fairly effective.

If the current model of the WBCCI is not flexible enough for our new population, let's expand it. Don't throw it away - just tweak it a little. There is room for both traditional units and non-traditional units. Many already belong to more than one unit anyway....

just one little small step into cyber space......

maxandgeorgia · 04-24-2006, 09:52 AM

As one of the members-at-large, Janet, we would be more than happy to make this forum membership our unit WBCCI membership. This forum community fills our "active association" needs. While we have only attended one forum rally (midwest), we enjoyed it a lot and will attend more when time and location fit us. We could be doing this as WBCCI-Cyber/Forum. What about members already aligned with a local unit? I like this idea a lot. ~G

**jcanavera** · 04-24-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet

I have been mulling over the "What makes a unit a good unit" issue and have a couple of thoughts....

A good unit has regular communication, rallies, member participation, diversity, encourages new folks to join and carries out the mission of the parent organization. it's members have voice and vote and feel valued.

Some of us belong to those kinds of units - some don't. Many of us live hundreds of miles form a WBCCI unit - and while we belong - we do not participate in the regular business of the organization - we can't - it's too far to drive. Many belong to the WBCCI as "at large members" and have no unit affiliation AND no voice or vote - yet pay dues.

So... how about a Cyber unit? Forums members are already acting as a WBCCI unit. we plan and hold rallies, we meet regularly (online), heck we vote on polls! We work out our differences, we (many of us) are willing to support the forums with cash...

Why not start a WBCCi unit? it could be a venue to give those 'at large" members a voice. We are already a cohesive community. We have the technology to hold online meetings and there is established practice for doing so. I beong to another organization that has online meetings and balloting - it's fairly effective.

If the current model of the WBCCI is not flexible enough for our new population, let's expand it. Don't throw it away - just tweak it a little. There is room for both traditional units and non-traditional units. Many already belong to more than one unit anyway....

just one little small step into cyber space......

Interesting thought Janet. My wife and I were talking yesterday regarding our interest in continuing with WBCCI. Quite honestly my work schedule has played havoc with rallies, we don't go to the International or to Regional rallies, we don't go on caravan's, so the question for us is why expend $65+ to something that we don't use?

Obviously if we wanted to maintain any tie to WBCCI, this obviously would be a method. Talk about shaking things up though. Does a unit have to have a geographical home? Obviously you would have officers of the unit living all across the country....not much different than some units today. I guess someone needs to look at the bylaws that relate to forming a unit and see what it says about the geography side.

Jack

wkerfoot · 04-24-2006, 10:38 AM

Isn't that what the Washington DC Unit is? A virtual unit, the dues are $1.00. Why not contact them and see if they would allow their name on rallies around the US? Make that unit a true all US unit.

Bill

**Stefrobrts** · 04-24-2006, 10:38 AM

My Hubby and I were discussing the same thing. Other commitments keep us from attending most of the OR Unit rallys, and even though they meet between rallys and have breakfasts, they are about an hour away, which is further than I want to drive early on a Saturday morning. So we were discussing if we should re-up this year, when experience is showing us we just don't have time to participate.

However, the forum rallys absolutely rock and I do my darndest to NOT miss them! If we could form up as a unit, I would go for that immediately. The forum is such a great way to stay in touch, there's people on here I've only met once who I feel I know better than people in my unit who I've met many times.

I think that's an excellent idea, Janet, now someone tell us why that can't be done...

maxandgeorgia · 04-24-2006, 11:21 AM

" . . .now someone tell us why that can't be done... "

. . . And then, how to DO it!!~G

jimmickle · 04-24-2006, 11:34 AM

Take a look at page 31 of the Blue Book. A cyber unit will probably stretch the rules quite a bit. The first thing would be to find a progressive region president and then try to form the unit in that region. I am not close enough to any region officers to make any suggestions. I would be willing to become a member of such a cyber unit and might even volinteer to keep track of the members.

Jim Mickle 6980

Over59 · 04-24-2006, 12:04 PM

I see nothing in the rules that would prohibit any unit from establishing a cybergateway. There are rules about publishing stuff like a newsletter, rallies, ect, stuff like elections that such an arrangement would challenge. Finding a unit to transistion would be the key. Could be any unit. Prehaps a failing one with few remaining member or one that wants to push the edges. You will run into controll issues as there is this officer progression and nominating committee thing that pretty much guarantees that change will be painfully slow and that the unit will survive.... until everyone dies off.... which in some units will be any time now...

Many of the New England Unit's officers and Trustees are on the forum. What do you say guys.... Want to go NATIONAL.... We could vote on it at the Spring Business Meeting....

There is of course that issue of "commerical" entanglement. Do you really want to be at the mercy of those who "own" the forum...

Uberlanders · 04-24-2006, 12:43 PM

It isn't the forum's unit....it is just that the forum becomes the vehicle for the communication. Andy already hosts many WBCCI unit web pages. It is like making a meeting to go have a get together at the local pub to do a business meeting. But instead we log on and use one of their rooms.

47WeeWind · 04-24-2006, 12:51 PM

Seven or so years ago I was a founding member of the WDCU Chapter of the WBCCI, an Internet Unit that was virtually based 1,500 miles away in Washington, D.C. Many other founders were, like me, WBCCI Members at Large who then lived thousands of miles apart but who met and stayed in touch over the Internet via the VAC List, the forerunner to the current VAL List. Participation in the WDCU occurred wholly via the Internet, the only delivery medium for its newsletter. Although distance and full time work prevented me from attending a WDCU Rally, it was only after I joined and became active in the local Denver Unit that I finally let my WDCU membership ($1.00 annual dues) drop.

The first two VAC Rocky Mt. Rallies were organized solely over the Internet through the old VAC List. Many of us locals joined the Denver Unit after the Second Annual VAC Rally and brought that event with us into our Unit. So, Janet's idea has already been implemented and could easily be replicated. The WDCU blazed the trail and provides the template for a Nationwide Virtual Unit. Contact them, I'm sure they will be happy to help any way they can.

**wahoonc** · 04-24-2006, 12:57 PM

I am for it! My current work schedule is brutal, I actually spend more time visiting other units than my own

My unit's last business meeting was 90 miles from my home and I was over 700 miles away at the time, not exactly an easy commute

Our unit appears to not be very internet oriented, I get an occasional email and the snail mail newsletter. I would be interested in the formation of one or more cyber units.

Aaron

Mike Lewis · 04-24-2006, 02:03 PM

count me in ---Pieman

65GT · 04-24-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

Isn't that what the Washington DC Unit is? A virtual unit, the dues are $1.00. Why not contact them and see if they would allow their name on rallies around the US? Make that unit a true all US unit. Bill

Funny that Janet just brought this up. We had a full-timer write and complain that they can't vote because their unit wants them at their business meeting. I had thought about WDCU and wrote them. Turns out it's crazy to be a member at large no matter how you look at it.

WBCCI dues are $55 + unit dues. At large members pay $70. WDCU members pay $55 + $1. They do all of their VOTING by email. If you don't respond, they CALL you.

They also have their own forum for online communications and an online newsletter. They're interested in taking in members from any and everywhere... To be an affiliate member will also cost you a buck.

The website:
http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/

Their forum (you need to be a member to read and post):
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/WBCCI_WDCU/

By the February/March/April message tallies (bottom of that page) they look to be pretty active.

Here's the SaveWally thread if you want to see what took place there but I pretty much covered it here...

http://savewally.org/forums/index.php?topic=377.0

I think I'll become a WDCU affiliate member. For as long as I have a local unit, I'll continue to support them. I just think it's the right thing to do and I don't want to have to think too hard about why.

__

Leipper · 04-24-2006, 05:53 PM

The internet is a tool or a set of tools. A common interest, such as that in a set of tools, is usually expressed as an intra-club, not a unit.

IMHO a unit should have a geographic basis and identity. It should represent an area of the country and be a host for that area and be a voice for that area. It should be strengthed by the common bonds of those who choose to call that area home.

Rather than setting oneself apart because of the participation in these forums and the use of other internet technologies, why not use this interest to help bring together club members and encourage those who are having difficulties, for whatever reason, in using the internet effectively, to come on board so all can benefit.

Set up a plan, a scheme, and support methods to better coordinate the use of the internet by WBCCI and its components. Devise means to bring people on board. Find ways to help out those who are afraid the water is too deep.

There is a good kernel here. What would it take to make a coherent and planned communications media for WBCCI in this model?