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Coloradobus · 05-30-2007, 12:13 PM

I spoke with the "Treasurer" Tom Burns, of the Mandalay Travel Club this morning. I asked him if he was familiar with the motion being presented to the Airstream Club membership allowing Mandalays and Four Winds coaches into the WBCCI. He was not familiar with this motion.
I ask him, if it passes by membership vote, will any WBCCI member owning a Class A, Class B Sprinter, or travel trailer be able thru reciprocity be allowed to join the Mandalay Travel Club.
First, he said, that the Four Winds coaches were not allowed in the Mandalay Travel Club. Second, he stated the Mandalay Valencia was being dropped. Third, he was going to have to call the factory to find out what was going on and get back with me.

Thought this was interesting.

rickandsandi · 05-30-2007, 12:18 PM

Very interesting Jim, but I wouldn't want to belong to any other club than an exclusive Airstream club. A part of the reason that we purchased our first Airstream was so that we could join the WBCCI. We bought our second Airstream for all the same reasons we bought our first in addition to wanting to stay in the WBCCI. Of course we love the quality, the beauty and very important the history of Airstream. I really hope when we buy number three that WBCCI is still intact as the one and only original Airstream Only Club!

Rick

Minnie's Mate · 05-30-2007, 12:37 PM

I think it is interesting that not only does the Mandalay Owner's club not allow Four Winds into their club, they are also dropping one of the Mandalay models from the club as well. Talk about exclusivity! Makes me think of when WBCCI wouldn't let Argosy in the club and when they wouldn't let Airstream Moho's in the club and when they didn't want to let Base Camps in the club.

Maybe that is why Four Winds was added to the WBCCI ammendment...so they would have a club that would have them without having to start their own club.

Airhog1 · 05-30-2007, 12:46 PM

IMHO...I just don't think this motorhome thing is gonna fly...I really don't think Airstream will just put their name on something that they did not make...I think the liability issue is to great.

just my 2 cents worth...

G

rickandsandi · 05-30-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmorris

IMHO...I just don't think this motorhome thing is gonna fly...I really don't think Airstream will just put their name on something that they did not make...I think the liability issue is to great.

just my 2 cents worth...

G

G- We are way past that point. The branding is no longer on the table from what I can gather. of course the information coming out of IBT is encoded and they won't let any of us grass roots up and coming members have a decoder ring. If I can read the current motion which is not in English, they will allow the MOHO in as is and as named by Thor! Libility too great? Heck, WBCCI dropped sponosring the Cairo caravan because the liability is to great! Some club. If only Wally was around today! Oh I forgot, our wonderful President of WBCCI states that we newbies have no knowledge of Wally!

Coloradobus · 05-30-2007, 01:07 PM

First, the only motorized airstream we have is a B-190 Van. Second, we have no intentions of joining a non-airstream club with our airstreams. I called this gentlemen to see if there was a problem with WBCCI members applying to join their club. If they won't let us in, why should we let them in, that's all.
Third, I got the feeling that Mandalay Coach was ending production of the Valencia, not their club dropping that level of coach.
I brought this up because the IBT says other Mandalays could join WBCCI to increase our current member numbers.

It appears from the Four Winds RV website, they have no direct factory involved club.

Buttercup · 05-30-2007, 01:11 PM

g,

If you want to hear the whole story about this listen to the latest VAP podcast. We have gone from Airstream Edition to WBCCI Edition to who knows what now. But it will most likely go down in flames.

Coloradobus · 05-30-2007, 01:18 PM

Buttercup,

I hope your right!!! Have you checked Save Wally to see what has been going on with the unit voting results and the pla-labber that been spewed to unit members before they vote? You know how pesky those little gremlins in their red coats and vests and blue pants can be.

Buttercup · 05-30-2007, 01:31 PM

Well, as one of the founders of SaveWally (horn tooting here) I do closely follow the results as Leo posts them. What is interesting is that many of the units which vote for this are doing so after getting a sales pitch from a member of the IBT.

To have information presented which represents only one side of the story is not enough to base a decision on but that is what is happening here. The Leadership refused us 2 times to present a counter argument in the BB. So all that got published to most of the members who are not internet savvy is how great this will be. Those folks, having no reason to distrust these revered leaders (and they are by many) go with it knowing that the leadership couldn't possibly made a bad decision on behalf of the club.

My feeling on this is that many of these IBT members will not be around forever but a younger crop of AS enthusiasts are up and coming. They are not finding a comfortable home in what the WBCCI is offering. If the club ends in a few years it will not mean anything to these folks because they will soon be past the point of camping. But I have 40 years of camping ahead of me. I have a greater vested interest in seeing this club survive than do ANY of the IBT.

Coloradobus · 05-30-2007, 01:49 PM

We agree completely!! We also have many years of airstreaming to do..

A small part of me fears the IBT will win by "Hook or Crook". That will be a Crock!! But you're right, the club in some fashion will survive. Since the IBT won't allow the vintage faction to be its own unit, maybe all vintage units could transfer to a dying existing unit and TAKE CHARGE!

Airhog1 · 05-30-2007, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the update...I really have not been following this to close...I just did not think A/S would not put their name on anything they did not make.

g

Coloradobus · 06-01-2007, 03:52 PM

Still no news from the Mandalay Club treasurer about Airstream partcipation in the Mandalay Travel Club.

**jcanavera** · 06-01-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttercup

To have information presented which represents only one side of the story is not enough to base a decision on but that is what is happening here. The Leadership refused us 2 times to present a counter argument in the BB. So all that got published to most of the members who are not internet savvy is how great this will be. Those folks, having no reason to distrust these revered leaders (and they are by many) go with it knowing that the leadership couldn't possibly made a bad decision on behalf of the club.

And that's the real problem in those units that have a large pro amendment vote. In St. Louis one IBT officer is part of the GSL unit. This person is telling folks that Airstream has approved this. No one asked the question "approved what?". They are telling folks that the motor home folks will end up being left out. That we should be voting for people not hardware. All in all no one to challenge or question what these folks said. It ended up that unit voted 100% to accept in favor of the amendment. I've told others that my only regret in quitting at year end, was not being there to challenge these so called facts.

Jack

Coloradobus · 06-01-2007, 06:05 PM

Jack,

We agree with you. If it passes, we will not renew. We believe, the IBT is in for a BIG shock! They are worried about a 6% annual loss of members,,,,,,I can't even imagine the loss of current members, especially "Vintage" we know, who will not re-up for 2008. We have 114 unit members at last count..May 5th ,2007. Around 1/2 of our unit is Vintage.

We live about 35 miles from our Region 11 1st Veep's doorstep.. A part of me wants to drive up there and have a little chit-chat. This whole mess is Awe-Foul!!

bfred · 06-01-2007, 08:49 PM

As a class"A" AS MH owner, I too am totally opposed to this amendment. I know when my MH wears out, I have two options. Buy an AS trailer and stay in the club or buy an sob and move on. Thats the way life is. Losing a lot of members because AS doesn't build a MH anymore is pure BS. AS class "A" diesel pushers are put on Freightliner chassis with CAT engines and 3000MH Allison transmissions which are all known for reliability and will probably outlive their owners.
We just attended a large FMCA rally in Berrien Springs, MI. (about 1000MHs) and about a third of them were more than 10 years old and doing fine and the owners had no intentions of purchasing a new MH.
Also, FMCA is for MHs only. class"A", class"B" and class "C", but no trailers allowed. They also have experienced a loss in membership over the years and market heavy for new members. It seems the trend is, people just want to travel and camp without belonging to any one group or club.
I say, WBCCI is for airstreams only and I want to see it stay that way.

Coloradobus · 06-01-2007, 10:43 PM

Thanks bfred,
We also have a motothome, albeit an SOB. We do belong to FMCA. Either group is for camping and to have a good time at it. Being in our Airstreams, we like to see all that shiny aluminum in one spot.

pmclemore · 06-02-2007, 03:10 PM

Rats. I thought this thread was a benefit offered by a great casino. Never mind.

Coloradobus · 06-06-2007, 11:17 AM

Update:

Got a call from Mandalay this morning, and was told the Prez of the Mandalay Travel Club will be calling to talk about this WBCCI/IBT/ Mandalay-FourWinds motion. Guess the initial call last week has caused some flap. Maybe I need to find my pith helmut and cast iron shorts.

Minnie's Mate · 06-07-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloradobus

Update:

Got a call from Mandalay this morning, and was told the Prez of the Mandalay Travel Club will be calling to talk about this WBCCI/IBT/ Mandalay-FourWinds motion. Guess the initial call last week has caused some flap. Maybe I need to find my pith helmut and cast iron shorts.

Maybe they are worried that they will loose members to the WBCCI! After all, Wally is the one that started it all, (Tin Can Tourist excluded) and this would allow their members to become members of the club that started it all (Tin Can Tourist excluded).

tincantom · 06-08-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

Maybe they are worried that they will loose members to the WBCCI! After all, Wally is the one that started it all, (Tin Can Tourist excluded) and this would allow their members to become members of the club that started it all (Tin Can Tourist excluded).

That is what IBT is trying to sell - Lot's of Four Winds owners jumping ship to fill the WBCCI ranks. Sorry - it ain't gonna happen! But then I suspect you know that, right?

Tom