Sponsorship International Rally 2009

[rideair]

I have offered to WBCCI HQ a sponsorship of the "International Board of Trustees Meeting (June 26)(July 5th)" at the International Rally 2009 through a company I started called "Overthrown by Pirates International". I'm currently waiting for a response from HQ on my offer.

With that said, I would like to help bridge the gap between the WBCCI and the Airforums group by asking WBCCI members here on Airforums to come together and sponsor an event at the International rally. Here a link to the Sponsorship page.
http://www.wbcci.org/documents/Madison%20SPONSOR%20PROGRAM.pdf

This is not a joke! I am willing to head up this project for the members here. You can give $1.00, $5.00, $10.00, etc...

We can work it one of two ways. Either make a goal to sponsor an certain event and have a $$ drive to get to the amount needed or see how much $$ we can get and then sponsor the best event we can.

I can also contact WBCCI HQ and see if people can call in and place donations on their credit card.

This would give Airforums the chance to show we support the WBCCI and place info in the "Goody Bag" about Airforum.

Together, Airforums and the WBCCI can be a great help to each other and Airstreaming.

Thoughts??

[robandzoe]

Paul,

Let me be the first, and let me know how I can contribute - $25 from my cauffer!

We need a kids neighborhood at International... a pool, a blow up gym, maybe some clowns (Obie?)....

Paul is just full of great ideas, I love it!

Rob

[mistral blue]

Rideair, you are a breath of fresh air.

[2airishuman]

the wb' is on the ropes...

ONLY after it has gone down for the count,

might it rise again.

while it could ( and will ) be fun 4 forums folks to assemble at the rally...

or off site, nearby...

what is the point of tossing money toward them, before REAL and SUBSTANTIAL change has happened?

many here are members of both and many of us who are don't see an either-OR situation....

let the club do it's thing,

for now.

and let the forum continue to evolve, expand and redefine what essential elements make up a "club"...

the link that suggests 1500-2000 trailers next year is silly.

what was THIS years attendance?

now SUBTRACT the ibt, past/ current and wannabee officers,

and subtract the 400 moocher-volunteers that camp for a month at the same $ as a normal week attendee...

and who/how many are left?

the newbies, rank and file members other basic attendees...

so in reality about 300 trailers attended this year in montana.

it's an interesting gathering to attend, perhaps ONE TIME.

but the appeal of parking sardine style with other trailers is a novelty at best, and an exercise in conformity.

it's clear that many in the wb' see these forums as a threat.

many in the wb see everything and every THOUGHT outside the old guard as a threat...

the club is dying from within and most of the fake leaders are HAPPY to let it do just that...

it isn't so much an age thing as a paramilitary-vigilantly "follow the rules" home-owners-association mind set...

yes there are 15-20 local units having fun, out of how many?

yes the vac is doing ok and getting attention now, just BEWARE of many on the otc leader ladder too...

and ALL of the groups within the club that are prospering are doing so IN SPITE of the national body and ibt...

i pay dues to the wb (unless they wanna cancel my membership) but without a vote...

the forums here provide a voice to those of us members that would like to see a VERY DIFFERENT club...

and i don't need current or past officers to represent me.

i also don't need to 'sponsor' anything at the next international.

forum rallies and gatherings and other non-wb' sponsored camping will continue to RE-DEFINE the essentials of a club...

the wb' if free to be "like minded" folks doing their thing,

till the money runs dry... and it soon will.

they are free to kick some of us OUT, or otherwise circle the wagons...

but the CLEAREST and SHARPEST way to express another view is ...

DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MORE MONEY

cheers
2air'

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by rideair

I have offered to WBCCI HQ a sponsorship of the "International Board of Trustees Meeting (June 26)(July 5th)" at the International Rally 2009 through a company I started called "Overthrown by Pirates International". I'm currently waiting for a response from HQ on my offer.

...

Thoughts??

Paul,

Do you seriously think that the WBCCI will accept sponsorship from "Overthrown by Pirates International"?

Best of luck,

Bill

[Pfredd]

I am sorry 2air', but by narrowing it down to a "Them vs. Us" attitude you are being just as narrow minded and inflexible as the "old guard" is.

If we can sponsor an event or two, and have as our "advertisement" in the goddie bag be a list of all the people who donated and state that we did this because we are working for change, maybe some of the older fence sitters will start to see us as not a threat but as a a hope that their club will continue into the future.

Dave

[rideair]

2airishuman,

You say:
"it's clear that many in the wb' see these forums as a threat."

That's why I'm suggesting this in the first place!

It's not a Airforums vs. WBCCI thing.

Remember the part about:
"Together, Airforums and the WBCCI can be a great help to each other and Airstreaming."

Just trying to help with making "Airstreaming" the best it can be, that's all, nothing else.

Based on your post, I take it you will not be donating, but please don't ruin it for those that may want to extend an "Olive Branch".

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Pfredd

...maybe some of the older fence sitters will start to see us as not a threat but as a a hope that their club...

nothing in my post suggests 'us vs them'.

it is THEM vs THEM.

and it is naive to think or suggest some personal action can "maybe" cause a change in another persons thoughts, feelings or behavior.

beside the ibt' folks aren't 'fence sitters' they are fence builders.

they won't want token donations, UNTIL and UNLESS the club is on it's last breath.

they have long rejected a variety of member growing ideas.

what they want is local units to recruit and TRAIN new membership to THEIR WAYS of thinking and acting.

and that doesn't work now.

cheers
2air'

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

Paul,

Do you seriously think that the WBCCI will accept sponsorship from "Overthrown by Pirates International"?

Best of luck,

Bill

Bill,

I guess we'll find out!

Paul--both the "Pirates" sponsorship and the Airforums sponsorship sound like a great idea to me. We'll find out if "Pirates" are too much for them, and the Airforums sponsorship will cast Airforums in a positive light.

Recent reports of a certain past IP's filing of grievances against certain outspoken Airforums members are certainly depressing, but as you have pointed out, many on the current IBT are more inclined to reconciliation. Let's go for it. I'll chip in--tell me where and when to send the money.

See you down the road,
Nuvi

[Pfredd]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

beside the ibt' folks aren't 'fence sitters' they are fence builders.

Very few of the WBCCI members participate in the IBT.

Most of the ones that DO participate are there just to represent their units.

Unless these folks are shown otherwise, most of them will just follow the leader, as their generation was brought up to do.

It will take all sorts of different tactics to change the WBCCI. I just prefer to try methods that cause less collateral damage first....

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by rideair

...Together, Airforums and the WBCCI can be a great help to each other and Airstreaming."

currently i don't see any "great help" from the wb' for these forums...

just the opposite is more likely, because of the clubs FEARS about this group and media and free idea exchange.

so PLEASE give me just a few ways the forums can benefit from a relationship with the wb...

-would it be from the blue beret?

-or un-necessary insurance for rallies?

-or some leadership sharing from the ibt?

-perhaps how to park trailers, so that OFFICERS are in a special area?

-or just WHAT?


really i'm open to reading how the forums can benefit...

Originally Posted by rideair

....please don't ruin it for those that may want to extend an "Olive Branch"...

you asked for THOUGHTS in the o.p. and i'm sharing some.

if THINKING and expressing ideas 'ruins' it for others, perhaps there is a need to rethink thinking...

surely u didn't want or expect ONLY those who agree to post?

the club is sinking and it has been for awhile, BUT it's not fully there yet...

only after the rats have abandoned ship is there much hope for renewal...

the ibt and others that think the problem for the club is OUTSIDE the club need to get a clue...

that's a soul searching and sickeningly painful process and place to arrive,

and nothing tells me they have gotten there yet.

cheers
2air'

[robandzoe]

It is time to do this Paul, and thanks for stepping up and starting it. It's a snowball, and I want it to be huge by the time Madison rolls around to show everyone how to have a good time. Please don't ruin it for us 2Air - we're trying to make a difference, and a few can!!!

[Air Apparent]

Paul:

I respect your courage in trying to do this since you will most likely be the next WBCCI member to have a grievance filed against him.

Good Luck.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by robandzoe

... we're trying to make a difference, and a few can!!!

on this belief we agree completely.

but the fear that someone expressing another view will "ruin" it...

whatever "it" is,

is very very scary.

Originally Posted by rideair

This would give Airforums the chance to show we support the WBCCI...

and for those unaware, the forums already does things to support the wb'...

-andyR has given server space TO many wb' units....
-mods/admins have created websites for those units...
-private forums areas have been set aside for wb' units...

-the forums were and ARE an early supporter of the capetown caravan (on wait the wb' is against that too)

so again consider WHO or WHAT is being supported.

is someone planning a separate area at madison for the 'air members' to camp?

see THAT might make for an interesting 'reality check' for the ibt' and wb bobbleheads...

i can tell u from first hand experience what gets the wb's attention and that is having FUN without them...

in salem in 2005, a group of wb' officers just happened to wander into a forum rally,

30 miles away from the international in the mountains...

while these officers (wearing badges and ribbons) wouldn't get out of their cars...

they sure did ask questions about WHY we weren't in the salem fairgrounds...

those 10 or so trailers made a HUGE impression down in the valley.

cheers
2air'

[robandzoe]

as a snowball of opportunuity, goodwill on our part to make our club what we want it to be... and if a greiveance comes out of good will, then so be it... but if people that "make grievances" are reading it, I don't think that's Paul's intention... it's the cool eye patch in the goody bag

[streamer23]

Paul,I think this could be a great idea.I like the suggestion that it has something to do that is kid related.
I'm sure as the thread progresses there will be several more ideas and suggestions to consider.
Overall if done correctly it could be great exposure for the Forums.

[airstreamhobo]

We need a kids neighborhood at International... a pool, a blow up gym, maybe some clowns (Obie?)....

"Have Balloons Will Travel" Just ask, Right, Paul??...AirstreamHobo:co ol:

[Pfredd]

Originally Posted by airstreamhobo

We need a kids neighborhood at International... a pool, a blow up gym, maybe some clowns (Obie?)....

"Have Balloons Will Travel" Just ask, Right, Paul??...AirstreamHobo:co ol:

Great idea, but if you want to sponsor something that doesn't already exist at an International then you will have to get someone to be in charge of it, organize it, and get the volunteers to run it.

Dave

[Goin camping]

My gut reaction is that they will reject your offer.

However its still worth $25.00 to me to see if.

A, They will agree.

B, You can get an Airforums eyepatch in the goodie bag.

There are more ways than one to affect change.

[till]

I have a donation waiting...