I recieved the following email today, I've copied it in its entirety. I don't really know what to make of it. Is it spam? Legit? Very strange.
For Brian and Angela xxxxx. Virginia Beach , VA
Congratulations on your ownership of an Airstream RV. This is certainly one of the most gratifying experiences that you will ever have. I also see from your membership number (3889) that you have also become members of the Airstream RV Owners Organization. Sincere congratulations for this, too.
The organization can provide many activities and benefits to both of you. My family of three generations has over 100 years of active accumulated membership and I have served in all elected positions (including International President). Therefore, it is my feeling that any questions you may have I should be able to provide answers. Regardless of your work status, age or any other consideration, there are benefits available to you.
Please allow me to provide you information so that you can explore this and allow you the opportunity of determining the possible benefits of being apart of this great organization. Sincerely, Don Shafer, Past International President
The gentleman's email address was Shf7D (at) aol dot com.
Sounds like the upper tier is reaching out to you. Airstream RV Owners Association is the name that was voted down but still appears on all official documents right under Wally Byam Caravan Club International.
Actually if you look at your most resent Blue Beret(the one with my daughter on the cover) you will see"Airstream RV Owners Association" used often.
Methinks it's something they will do for a few years, then say, "Many members have mentioned that it is confusing to have two names, so in order to better reflect the actual activity of the club, we will henceforth be known only as the "Airstream RV Owners Association".
Betcha!
__________________ ♫ The road to a friend's house is never long. (Old Danish Saying)
Methinks it's something they will do for a few years, then say, "Many members have mentioned that it is confusing to have two names, so in order to better reflect the actual activity of the club, we will henceforth be known only as the "Airstream RV Owners Association".
Betcha!
To bad the name change didn't go through, then we wouldn't have had to vote on whether to let in SOB motorhomes as we would have been restricted as "Airstream RV Owners"
When I was in the WBCCI a few years ago there was a lot of talk about having people assigned to be mentors to new members, to welcome them and show them the ropes in the hopes they could retain more members - since so many join for a year and leave. I would guess that program might be behind this, except not using the proper WBCCI name sure is odd.
Appears to me that you have in fact been contacted directly by the '06/'07 WBCCI International President, Mr. Don Shafer. The use of "Airstream RV Owners Organization" in upper case, as if there were an officially named organization, is quite odd (to me), but the year prior to Don's reign, for two years running, there was a great push from leadership to change the ~50 year old historic name to something more along those lines. I seem to remember something along the lines of 'Old McDonald had a farm, AOAI - OH NO' or something to that affect (Airstream Owners Association International).
Don is best known for single-handedly championing the push to bring Four Winds Motorhomes into the WBCCI. That effort went down in FLAMES , capturing less than 50% of all votes (requiring 2/3rds or better to pass).
If you belong to a local unit, (thinking out loud here) I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the contact. Surely you should be able to get every answer to every question you could possibly have from, or through your unit.
Still, Don is a very sincere guy, and comes across as a very nice guy as well (as I have no doubt he is). I wouldn't hesitate to reply back to him with a quick thank you at a minimum. It's actually nice to see Don , three terms removed, still working hard for the club!
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...Please allow me to provide you information so that you can explore this and allow you the opportunity of determining the possible benefits of being apart of this great organization. Sincerely, Don Shafer, Past International President
Thoughts??
Well, if this is as it appeared in your e-mail, Don Shafer should change his letter from 'being apart of the organization' to 'being a part of the organization,' since those meanings are opposite.
Airstream RV Owners Organization...We are ARVOO ! Was that before or after DEVO?
__________________ CJ The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.-Eleanor Roosevelt It is never too late to be who you might have been.-George Eliot
Well, I did just join the WBCCI as a Member-at-Large, since I'll be moving soon. Why didn't he just say he was with the WBCCI? I didn't know the Airstream Owners Club or whatever was another name. I may email him back.
Don Shafer has made a mistake by not identifying, in his e-mail, the proper name of the club for which he was an International President. He has targeted you by obtaining your e-mail address from some WBCCI source of information, since he uses you valid WBCCI membership number. What he says is valid. WBCCI does offer benefits to its members but it offers the most benefits to the members who have time to enjoy them. Those people are: the newly retired (that is me), people who work in professions that have the summer off, and people who have enough money to travel broadly for long periods of time. People who have limited time off get to enjoy only the local benefits of membership but whose International membership dues are funneled to those who can partake of the international level provided, benefit package.
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The use of "Airstream RV Owners Organization" in upper case, as if there were an officially named organization, is quite odd (to me), but the year prior to Don's reign, for two years running, there was a great push from leadership to change the ~50 year old historic name to something more along those lines. 
I seem to remember something along the lines of 'Old McDonald had a farm, AOAI - OH NO' or something to that affect (Airstream Owners Association International).
That effort went down in FLAMES 
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