New England Unit Take Note

[Over59]

Check out this thread, particularly post 139. Read reasons 3 and 4. All is not quiet on the Western front. This is the front line of what's wrong with WBCCI and an issue the "leadership" cann't conceptualize. That was apparent in the Blue Beannie article with a great title and no content. "It's their club, like it or leave it." If you give people an alternative they muster to stop that also. I think is very appropriate that they wear Red Coats.

We are drawn to camp with other Tin Hut's like those lost in the swamp are drawn to a light. Why not a new Tin Hut Club coexisting with WBCCI if they continue these power tactics. If the explanation had been "you need to show you are organized enough to manage the responsibilities of being a unit ect" that would have made sense. There is a "Brand" to maintain.

I WACCI R U?

[balrgn]

Which Thread???

[peegreen]

http://www.airforums.com/forum...-24706-10.html

Check post 139. Is this a threat? I enjoy fair winds and following seas while in my Land Yacht.

[bryanl]

It seems an awful lot of people aren't thinking about the implications of putting the cart ahead of the horse.

They comdemn organization yet demand communications and structure and other facets of organization.

Building a structure and then going after goals is the process of extreme advocacy groups. That is not WBCCI.

The tradition with WBCCI is to go camping - together. And then to build organization as needed to support the effort.

And going camping is considered to be getting out and using the Airstream. It is not sitting in front of a computer display and keyboard and ranting on forums.

And then we have the racism (e.g. "red coats") and the defensiveness (e.g. "power tactics") and the bigotry and hubris (e.g. "cann't conceptualize").

Right now you have the "been there, done that" crowd versus the "I know better" crowd. The "I know better crowd" are making a lot of noise on these forums and it appears that it is hindering their listening. That is a tragedy because it is destructive but it is also an opportunity for those who want to learn.

From the talk, you'd think WBCCI was preventing people from going camping in their Airstreams if they don't do it with WBCCI. I think this is false and a contemptible allegation. I think WBCCI is getting set up as a straw man for other discontents.

If you want to go camping in your Airstream, go ahead. WBCCI isn't going to stop you. If you want to go camping with friends in your Airstream, go ahead. WBCCI isn't going to stop you. If you want to form another RV association, go ahead. WBCCI isn't going to stop you. WBCCI has 'been there, done that' and learned from the experience.

But I think you need to do a bit of introspection to consider whether your actions are to spite someone else (e.g. WBCCI) or to do something constructive like enjoying your RV with friends. Its only if your goals are clear and consonant with your feelings and values that you are going to be able to communicate them and gain colleagues to join you.

[Fyrzowt]

Racism?(Redcoats) It seems that was more a reference to breaking away from England, etc.
I don't understand the tendency by some to "play the race card". If your point of view is well thought out and well articulated, then you never have to resort to race. IMHO.

[Over59]

Originally Posted by balrgn

Which Thread???

Sorry http://www.airforums.com/forum...ico-24706.html

[myboyburt]

Originally Posted by Over59

Check out this thread, particularly post 139. Read reasons 3 and 4. All is not quiet on the Western front. This is the front line of what's wrong with WBCCI and an issue the "leadership" cann't conceptualize. That was apparent in the Blue Beannie article with a great title and no content. "It's their club, like it or leave it." If you give people an alternative they muster to stop that also. I think is very appropriate that they wear Red Coats.

We are drawn to camp with other Tin Hut's like those lost in the swamp are drawn to a light. Why not a new Tin Hut Club coexisting with WBCCI if they continue these power tactics. If the explanation had been "you need to show you are organized enough to manage the responsibilities of being a unit ect" that would have made sense. There is a "Brand" to maintain.

I WACCI R U?

After being exposed to some Region 1 politics this past weekend at our business rally I was ready to "Take my ball and go home". Seems change is hard for some folks, they feel threatened by those of us who are active change agents and they are trying to stop our progress. I'm over it now AND will become even more involved in the WBCCI - beyond the Unit level at some point but for now I'll continue my work as Membership Chairperson for the New England Unit.

Warning, I'm stepping up on my soapbox now:

If you are an Officer in a WBCCI Unit and some of your membership is transferring to another unit in your local area you need to look at why they are leaving. I'll be willing to bet it's because the other unit is offering a better over all member experience for them. International/Region/Unit Officers must remember all WBCCI members are free agents - we can belong to any unit we want to! Fact is I belong to the New England Unit even those I don't fall within it's "assigned area" (should be in WMNHU)- get over it. The NEU is the Unit that welcomed my husband and I, included us in activities and generally just feels right for us. My whole family are now members of the NEU; Mom and Dad from AZ, Sister and husband from ME and Leon and I from NH. And I tell everyone, no matter what Unit they are in how much fun we have in the NEU. If they decide after comparing the experiences they have had with their Unit against the experiences they have had with the NEU that they want to leave their current Unit and join the NEU that is their right. as a member of the WBCCI.

Stepping off soapbox - folks are safe again.

[SnorkyII]

Michelle & Leon: Yes you are definitely correct you can change clubs if you desire. When we did just that, we did not expect the response we received from some members of the old club. The experience of being at International, and having people totally ignore you, not once, but several times, when just several months before they would talk to you is a little disharting.

Yes, I will remain in the WBCCI, but my wife doesn't want anything to do with it now.

Yes, we do go camping in the Airstream without the WBCCI, we enjoy the Escapees, and have been to an Escapade. Yes we have a campground membership, and enjoy it.

This is our real life experience with the WBCCI.

[bobandcarla]

Originally Posted by myboyburt

After being exposed to some Region 1 politics this past weekend at our business rally I was ready to "Take my ball and go home". Seems change is hard for some folks, they feel threatened by those of us who are active change agents and they are trying to stop our progress. I'm over it now AND will become even more involved in the WBCCI - beyond the Unit level at some point but for now I'll continue my work as Membership Chairperson for the New England Unit.

Warning, I'm stepping up on my soapbox now:

If you are an Officer in a WBCCI Unit and some of your membership is transferring to another unit in your local area you need to look at why they are leaving. I'll be willing to bet it's because the other unit is offering a better over all member experience for them. International/Region/Unit Officers must remember all WBCCI members are free agents - we can belong to any unit we want to! Fact is I belong to the New England Unit even those I don't fall within it's "assigned area" (should be in WMNHU)- get over it. The NEU is the Unit that welcomed my husband and I, included us in activities and generally just feels right for us. My whole family are now members of the NEU; Mom and Dad from AZ, Sister and husband from ME and Leon and I from NH. And I tell everyone, no matter what Unit they are in how much fun we have in the NEU. If they decide after comparing the experiences they have had with their Unit against the experiences they have had with the NEU that they want to leave their current Unit and join the NEU that is their right. as a member of the WBCCI.

Stepping off soapbox - folks are safe again.

I want you to know that this is why I salute you!!!!!!

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by myboyburt

And I tell everyone, no matter what Unit they are in how much fun we have in the NEU. If they decide after comparing the experiences they have had with their Unit against the experiences they have had with the NEU that they want to leave their current Unit and join the NEU that is their right. as a member of the WBCCI.

well, you'd better stop that. didn't you hear? "competition is ~forbidden~"

http://www.airforums.com/forum...1-post136.html

[bobchevy89]

I know now why I am not joining the WBBCI, there is a power struggle going on between old membership and the new members.sounds like the old want certain players to be at meetings but don't want the whole to vote on anything by email..Just a few old members want to rule the roost..The forum here is free, no one pays dues,GREAT info is SPOKEN here..all you have to do is check on line where a great group of happy campers is going to meet!!
I greatly injoy all the threads that are posted here, some have been done over quite a few times,no one forces me to read them..So save your money and go camping .Sometimes it's hard to be a follower..
Just my $.05 worth.
Bob

[doorgunner]

After reading all this stuff I'm thinking of blowing off the Nor Cal rally; talk of racism, politics rules etc. matter of fact I think I'll stop posting all together, Then again maybe things are different out here on the left coast.

[bryanl]

talk of racism, politics rules etc.

that kind of talk is here, not at the NorCal rally, nor at the SNU rally.

So if you want to avoid those things, get off the forum and go camping with your local Unit.

[Over59]

Originally Posted by Leipper

that kind of talk is here, not at the NorCal rally, nor at the SNU rally.

So if you want to avoid those things, get off the forum and go camping with your local Unit.

You sir are the one who used the term racism. Given that you have not attended our recent business meeting you would not get the humor in the phrase. I knew that those who wear the Red Coats and Blue Beannies consider themselves to be special, I did not know it goes so far that you consider yourselves to be different race. But it does explain alot.

The only reason I still belong to any WBCCI unit is because I went to a forum rally. I met people who were welcoming. I attended a New England Unit rally after that with these people and now belong to it. I shared my prior experiences with the Region One President up close and personal this very weekend. Other's shared their unpleasant experiences of other units.

[bryanl]

Originally Posted by Over59

You sir are the one

oh my, getting testy are we?

I agree that racism is a strong word. But consider.

When a group is defined by some artificial attribute (like red jackets) and then are treated as a group (like in "I knew that those") without any consideration of individuality - isn't that exactly what racism is?

Because the word has such ugly connotations is why I think it important to make note of its presence. That is about the only way I know to get past them and on to more fruitful discussion that allows for individuals to not be branded by some artificial criterion.

If we want to make things better we have to work one on one - and start with ourselves.

[Over59]

Originally Posted by Leipper

oh my, getting testy are we?

I agree that racism is a strong word. But consider.

When a group is defined by some artificial attribute (like red jackets) and then are treated as a group (like in "I knew that those") without any consideration of individuality - isn't that exactly what racism is?

Because the word has such ugly connotations is why I think it important to make note of its presence. That is about the only way I know to get past them and on to more fruitful discussion that allows for individuals to not be branded by some artificial criterion.

If we want to make things better we have to work one on one - and start with ourselves.

Racism is a belief in the moral or biological superiority of one race or ethnic group over another or others.[1] The term racism is also sometimes used to refer to preference for one's own ethnic group (ethnocentrism)[2], fear of difference (xenophobia), views or preferences against interbreeding of the races (miscegenation)[3], and nationalism[4], regardless of any explicit belief in superiority or inferiority fact. Related concepts include prejudice, discrimination and racialism.
Racism has been used to justify discrimination | social discrimination, racial segregation and violence, including genocide.
The term racist, when used to describe someone who subscribes to racism, has been a pejorative term since at least the 1940s, and for this reason the identification of a group or person as racist is nearly always controversial.
The inaccurate characterization of my remarks I consider to be a hostile and personal attack. I will leave the members to decide who's posts fit the definition. I personally will no longer respond to your attempts to hijack threads by reframing the issues with your conceptual dishonesty.

[mswartz]

Typically I read and post on technical issues. I think I'll keep it that way after reading this and the Four Corners discussion thread. It is unfathomable to me that so many good people are going to such great lengths. My God, turn off the computer and go polish the trailer, or better yet, go camping alone to have some time to think about how to spend this short life more productively. All the best. Leave the rest.

[rgesch]

Originally Posted by myboyburt

After being exposed to some Region 1 politics this past weekend at our business rally I was ready to "Take my ball and go home". Seems change is hard for some folks, they feel threatened by those of us who are active change agents and they are trying to stop our progress. I'm over it now AND will become even more involved in the WBCCI - beyond the Unit level at some point but for now I'll continue my work as Membership Chairperson for the New England Unit.

Warning, I'm stepping up on my soapbox now:

If you are an Officer in a WBCCI Unit and some of your membership is transferring to another unit in your local area you need to look at why they are leaving. I'll be willing to bet it's because the other unit is offering a better over all member experience for them. International/Region/Unit Officers must remember all WBCCI members are free agents - we can belong to any unit we want to! Fact is I belong to the New England Unit even those I don't fall within it's "assigned area" (should be in WMNHU)- get over it. The NEU is the Unit that welcomed my husband and I, included us in activities and generally just feels right for us. My whole family are now members of the NEU; Mom and Dad from AZ, Sister and husband from ME and Leon and I from NH. And I tell everyone, no matter what Unit they are in how much fun we have in the NEU. If they decide after comparing the experiences they have had with their Unit against the experiences they have had with the NEU that they want to leave their current Unit and join the NEU that is their right. as a member of the WBCCI.

Stepping off soapbox - folks are safe again.

HERE HERE GIRLFRIEND!!!

The problem is those whom are speaking have NOT done the research to know what their unit members want, they ASSUME they know. I have a number of e-mails from members of my former club who will make the switch to NEU because their unit members did not take the time, nor the inititive to get them out to a rally or get to know them. My husband and I drove out to see people in person, made phone calls, and kept in touch by e-mail. We have a relationship with the membership that is on-going and when we went to NEU they followed. This is a natural course of events. Why wouldn't they want to follow us we are their FRIENDS. We made AN EFFORT to know them.
NEU has done nothing wrong I wish some of the Region people WOULD read the forum they might learn something positive like I did. Instead they bash and blame others for their failing units. If they spent that time and energy on something positive like calling and visiting members they wouldn't be losing so many. I have read the Blue Beret and guess what? The concept is not a new one. Those people at the top do know this and have been encouraging us to call members recognizing that if we get them out to a rally they probably will come again. They ARE RIGHT!!!!!! I'll step down now.

NEW IN NEU AND PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!

[Uberlanders]

Originally Posted by Leipper

oh my, getting testy are we?

I agree that racism is a strong word. But consider.

When a group is defined by some artificial attribute (like red jackets) and then are treated as a group (like in "I knew that those") without any consideration of individuality - isn't that exactly what racism is?

Because the word has such ugly connotations is why I think it important to make note of its presence. That is about the only way I know to get past them and on to more fruitful discussion that allows for individuals to not be branded by some artificial criterion.

If we want to make things better we have to work one on one - and start with ourselves.

Leipper, I don't think you were reading Over59's post in the way that it was intended, and maybe this thread belongs on a New England forum page, I'm not sure. But living so close to Boston, we have this thing for Boston and the Revolution. We live in a place of contradictions so we like throwing out words like "red coats" once in awhile. For example, Boston, heart of the Revolution....violence erupts over taxation, yet today Massachussetts is one of the most heavily taxed states in the Union. Get the picture?

Also I think you need to understand that the intent of this thread is for the New England unit to continue to strive for what will help them grow and stay alive. It is not intended to bash, it is intended to remind the club of how far they have come in the last 10 years.

As far as looking into oneself for change.....that is exactly what people like Over59, Myboyburt and others of the New England unit have done, and continue to do. They realized that they couldn't sit around and complain anymore about what they would like the unit to be. They realized that they had to help change the unit. Even the old guard likes the changes.

Sorry about the big speech, I just feel the need to moderate the discussion here because it seems that due to our lack of understanding of each other and our backgrounds, sometimes people make assumptions they shouldn't.

And if you ever get to a New England rally, you will realize "it's just camping" and one of our members did coin the phrase.

Kathleen

[myboyburt]

Originally Posted by Uberlanders

As far as looking into oneself for change.....that is exactly what people like Over59, Myboyburt and others of the New England unit have done, and continue to do. They realized that they couldn't sit around and complain anymore about what they would like the unit to be. They realized that they had to help change the unit. Even the old guard likes the changes.

And if you ever get to a New England rally, you will realize "it's just camping" and one of our members did coin the phrase.

Kathleen

Hi Kathleen,

You've hit the nail on the head - we in the NEU want to survive, really to grow so we are putting major effort into understanding what our members want out of our club. And you know what we've found out about attracting and maintaining members is not rocket science. It's all about accepting folks, old and young. Folks with kids and without, folks with pets (even the exotic ones as long as they don't try to eat you). Life is good in the New England Unit - our rallies and events are all about fun, fellowship and adventure. They really are!