New WBCCI Name Poll

[GT1963]

Hi Silver67;

It was I who made a note that the word Carvan might have evolved from the European term for a trailer. As Wally was from Europe and where the WBCCI was founded was in Nova Scotia on a Caravan- also a very European influenced area.

I come from England and have always refered to trailers as caravans. If someone asked me where I was going when I was headed off to a Rally I would say We're going "Caravaning" so to me it does not necesarily mean a month long ordeal - (or in 65GT's mind ADVENTURE). I think it has a dual meaning - which would have made sense back then.

Maybe the Genealogy Intra-Club can shed some light on your question of why Wally and his followers back then decided on that name would be interesting.

Long live the Caravans - be they long or short in duration. Be they silver or painted ladies, self powered, self contained or blue buggy assisted. Be they Classy A's, or innovative "base camps" cause they all GOT "Curves".

Now if Thor wants to get on the ball - paint them silver and ditch the corners

Why do we really need a name that says the Obvious

Yeh so I am camping somewhere and someone says wow I like your Airstream (hmm the fact that Airstream is on the trailer in pretty big letters! that would be an easy one) - So what do your big red numbers mean - hmmm they are our Membership Number for the "Aristream Club" - yeh now that really generates some interest "don't it"..

I quite enjoy telling the history behind the foundation - and any I have told have as well. Even those who like the newer ones say it is amazing they are still making them all these years.

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by GT6921

Hi Silver67;

It was I who made a note that the word Carvan might have evolved from the European term for a trailer. As Wally was from Europe and where the WBCCI was founded was in Nova Scotia on a Caravan- also a very European influenced area....

GT6921,

Wally was from Idaho, Montana or maybe Oregon and lived in LA before and after WWII. He did go to Europe with Cornelius Vanderbuilt right after WWII however.

Bill

[GT1963]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

GT6921,

Wally was from Idaho, Montana or maybe Oregon and lived in LA before and after WWII. He did go to Europe with Cornelius Vanderbuilt right after WWII however.

Bill

Sorry just assumed that the sheep they refered to put him in the Welsh Mountains

Also assumed: Name Byam

English: probably a habitational name from Bytham in Lincolnshire, so named with Old English bythme ‘valley bottom’ + hÇm ‘homestead’.

But if you say he is a US guy then so be it - the Caravan theory is out the window and referes to long long long silver trailers traveling in weird and wonderous places - with family and friends.

But I still want to get a mini bike and bull horn.

...but did I see you say "or maybe" - does that mean you don't know for sure either??

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by GT6921

Also assumed: Name Byam
English: probably a habitational name from Bytham in Lincolnshire, so named with Old English bythme ‘valley bottom’ + hÇm ‘homestead’.

Here's another 'littledidyaknow' Byam, is not Wally's given last name, it was Davis.

Shari

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

GT6921,

Wally was from Idaho, Montana or maybe Oregon and lived in LA before and after WWII. He did go to Europe with Cornelius Vanderbuilt right after WWII however.

Bill

Pretty sure Wally was from Oregon. Seems to me there's a museum somewhere in the state with a display about him. If only I could remember where. I know I've heard folks talk about it.

[rnzbernd]

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name and adopt a new logo. Regular members will have an opportunity to vote yes or no (or amend) through their units and unit delegate at the 2006 International Rally. You will learn to what and why in future editions of the Blue Beret.

I find it interesting to read "it's not the name that needs to be fixed - - it's a lot of other things", or words to that effect. How about elaborating on those "other things" to your unit, region and international officers so they can work on fixes.

I have suggested to our officers that they need to look at this Forum from time to time, so you may or may not be heard here. There are more appropriate and action oriented avenues, e.g., your unit and region officers.

[rnzbernd]

Wally was raised in Baker City, OR. There is a small display devoted to him in the Baker City museum. The last time I visited there, the docent was totally unaware of the display. We are attempting to upgrade it before the Salem Rally in that it's REALLY outdated.

R.B.

[GT1963]

Originally Posted by rnzbernd

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name and adopt a new logo. Regular members will have an opportunity to vote yes or no (or amend) through their units and unit delegate at the 2006 International Rally. You will learn to what and why in future editions of the Blue Beret.

Couple of points - just by your post can I interpret that we are now been given direction that a name change will be iminent and that due process, research, studies actually involving and recruiting WBCCI members input beyond this forum and the Blue Buret will now be solicited? Or are you saying there is a Name that the IBT has approved that subsequently will need member ratification via Unit meetings and then at the delegates meeting in June.

I find it interesting to read "it's not the name that needs to be fixed - - it's a lot of other things", or words to that effect. How about elaborating on those "other things" to your unit, region and international officers so they can work on fixes.

This is amazing - not to sound to sarcastic and I sure hope that a chuckle does not come through my typing - but if you and your committee had taken more than a few hours to actually research and give this Constitutional Change it's due process then you just might find out about the "other things" and instead of being on a Name Change Committee you may have been heading a Club Improvement Committee to communicate with your members and come up with brilliant ways for your IBT to actually lead this club into the new era - rather than tear down its history.

I have suggested to our officers that they need to look at this Forum from time to time, so you may or may not be heard here. There are more appropriate and action oriented avenues, e.g., your unit and region officers.

I caution your officers then - to enter at own risk - there is a lot of passion here at these forums from both WBCCI members and non-members. I am sure there are a lot of Forum members here who at one time were WBCCI members. A statistic I would love to see from my own unit.

A simple observation - WBCCI is not falling down in attracting new members - they are falling down in KEEPING their members. Just on that simple premis alone - do you still think it is the NAME of the Club that needs to change - or is it how the Club operates that needs to change?

Take a close look at how this whole Name Change process has been handled. If you had a chance to put all your members in one room and asked how many members actually new about the change or understood the need for a change what would that vote be???

If change is needed then so be it - but change should be brought about through thorough reasoning and not a whim of a few members that like to fill out a questionnaire - or a few Executives that have a hard time trying to explain what WBCCI is.

Airstream Inc is in the business of making a product that can provide a "lifestyle" for its customers. Their recent marketing Video dipicts that with perfection melding the history with the present day.

WBCCI should be in the business of maintaining that lifestyle and the ideals of its founder for all its valued members through programs and activities for all ages and all walks of life. Surely you can see that changing the name to something completely different will not secure this Clubs future.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by rnzbernd

I find it interesting to read "it's not the name that needs to be fixed - - it's a lot of other things", or words to that effect. How about elaborating on those "other things" to your unit, region and international officers so they can work on fixes.

I have suggested to our officers that they need to look at this Forum from time to time, so you may or may not be heard here. There are more appropriate and action oriented avenues, e.g., your unit and region officers.

Wow don't get me started/

The problem is that in many cases you are preaching to the choir.

Suggestions that I made months ago on the WBCCI forum site and email to JC headquarters noted the fact that nobody chose to go back to the folks who left to find out why. Instead the current membership gets a survey to fill out. Well hell, most of those folks are happy with the status quo. Did anyone go after the folks who didn't renew their free first year's memberhip? There's the lessons to be learned. There's the answers to what needs to be fixed.

I sent emails out to WBCCI in Jackson Center requesting that the survey results be made available via the web site. Nothing came out of it.

A local institution in St. Louis did an Airstream as art exibit. They emailed WBCCI regional folks regarding assistance in getting some trailers to display. No answer from WBCCI...

You know this is part of the problem that needs fixing. How do I convince the local or regional leadership that we have a problem when they are so focused on doing it the way it its always been done?

The bottom line to this all is that except for a few pockets of forward thinking units, the organization will continue to contract due to death of the old guard. New members will join, and then turn right back out, and until someone starts asking those people why, we will continue to think that cosmetic changes like the renaming the organization will be what is needed to turn things around.

Sorry to be so negative but it just blows my mind how a group of mature experienced people running an organization can't seem to understand where they need to go to get the answers as to where the problems are. Unless you address the revolving door with new members, nothing else matters.

Jack

[65GT]

Originally Posted by rnzbernd

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name and adopt a new logo. Regular members will have an opportunity to vote yes or no (or amend) through their units and unit delegate at the 2006 International Rally. You will learn to what and why in future editions of the Blue Beret.

I'm very concerned that what is about to take place is another shell game. The vote taking place should be Up or Down. What is this AMEND all about. If it's not UP or DOWN you just create more ill will amongst the members.

Hear this: The leadership is misrepresenting the will of the membership. The leadership took a crooked vote to ADD the name A**stream to the club and then the leadership IGNORED that entire vote and passed a motion that allowed for the creation of a BRAND NEW NAME that was not put before the membership.

I'm thinking we need to get attorneys involved in a members' rights action with a cease and desist order (if that's doable) on this one. This has turned into a sorry joke.

__

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by 65GT

I'm thinking we need to get attorneys involved in a members' rights action with a cease and desist order (if that's doable) on this one. This has turned into a sorry joke.__

65GT:

I cannot think of any better way to spread Wally's four freedoms - freedom from arrangements, freedom from the problem of age, freedom to know and freedom for fun (!) - than to bring in a fistful of lawyers to argue, bicker, bitch, complaint, nitpick and procedurally parse the proper club name. Sounds to me like a winning formula by which to escape from the cares of everyday living. Hey, what a great recruiting theme - the travel club run by lawyers for the benefit of all! Where can I sign up for a lifetime of lawyer determined fun??

[overlander63]

I voted NO.
WBCCI #1801

[65GT]

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

65GT: I cannot think of any better way to spread Wally's four freedoms - freedom from arrangements, freedom from the problem of age, freedom to know and freedom for fun (!) - than to bring in a fistful of lawyers to argue, bicker, bitch, complaint, nitpick and procedurally parse the proper club name.

Can you refer anyone?

__

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by rnzbernd

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name and adopt a new logo. Regular members will have an opportunity to vote yes or no (or amend) through their units and unit delegate at the 2006 International Rally. You will learn to what and why in future editions of the Blue Beret.

I find it interesting to read "it's not the name that needs to be fixed - - it's a lot of other things", or words to that effect. How about elaborating on those "other things" to your unit, region and international officers so they can work on fixes.

I have suggested to our officers that they need to look at this Forum from time to time, so you may or may not be heard here. There are more appropriate and action oriented avenues, e.g., your unit and region officers.

R.B.,
I agree that discussing such topics on this forum doesn't directly accomplish anything within the WBCCI, but it does allow us to collectively refine our thoughts so that they can be presented in a logical and complete fashion to our WBCCI unit and region officers. I have already begun this process by contacting my unit and region officers via email. To date I have received replies from my region, but not unit officers. In my communications I have presented the reasons why I do not support this name change and I have indicated that I would follow up with ideas on how to help the club attract and retain new members, which will require changes that are much more important than a "not so simple" name change. That diolog went on hold when everyone left for the IBT meeting. I will be following up with them soon to continue the dialog. I would love the opportunity to even extend these discussions to the International officers (a couple of which I have met), but alas, I do not have their email addresses, nor even phone numbers. I am not comfortable reverting to snail mail to contact them, especially knowing that they are away from home attending events 95% of the time.

And to get back to the original vote, I did not participate in the survey in 2004, because we had just joined the club but had not even attended an event yet, so I did not feel I had any basis to form an opinion at that time. I do not beleive I was even informed that a vote was coming from my unit, nor when and where that vote would be taken. In retrospect it appears that the vote was taken at a rally that we did not attend. If only those in attendance got the opportunity to vote, I'd suspect that maybe 10-20% of my unit even had the opportunity to express their opinion based upon attendance at other events. The rest of us were left out. Not everyone can attend all unit events (especially those of us that are still working). Relying on just those in attendance to make the decisions makes the rest of us feel excluded and risks having the voting results not truely reflecting the desires of the total membership.

With respect to those voting results, I really suspect that most members do not truely support a name change for the club. I think, however, that they feel a sense of loyalty to the officers that are running the club. Thus I believe that the name change proposal was approved more because the members that voted felt that if that is what the club officers thought was necessary to attract and retain new members, they would "go along" with it. The key point being that they trusted the leadership and "went along" with it. I do not tuely feel that many members would strongly endorse a name change, especially not one as extreme as what has now come out of the Name Change Committee. It will be interesting to see how this pans out as it goes to the units for ratification.

I could go on to make more points, but feel that I have said enough for now. Thanks for taking the time to peruse these forums and keep us informed. Even though I do not support the proposed new club name, I do appreciate your attempts at open communication.