Tuxedos Mandated In Bozeman!

[Ed Emerick]

In coming 2008-2009 IBT President Jerry Larson (who will be installed in Bozeman) has mandated the formal dress for his Installation Ceremony. In an email to those officers who will participate in this event Larson mandated dress WILL include men in white tuxedos and the ladies in floor length formal gowns.

Many of the Regional participants responded to this mandate with comments like “this is in the wrong direction”, “remember we are a camping club”, “we are sending the wrong message to the membership”, “most of the younger members and some of the older members feel we have too much pomp and ceremony” and last “If we are going to take this to take this organization from good to great we will need to make some major changes which will include less formality”

Larson has turn his back on these comments and responded with the following email message:

“This upcoming Installation Ceremony is one of the most significant events that I will have had the privilege of experiencing. Other events that I have dressed similarly for are High School and three college graduations, my children’s weddings and a visit to the White House Oval Office. So you see this is not just merely a passing event. It is VERY important to both Joan and I. Events like this have set the WBCCI apart from “just a camping club” or “just a recreational club”. Wally Byam set high standards several years ago for us to perpetuate and keep the WBCCI special from all the others.”

All I can say is WOW! The leadership of this club is so full of themselves that they compare an Installation event with a visit to the Oval Office! No wonder this club is dieing, the leadership is more interested in their own wants that they turn their back to the needs of the membership.

I am so flabbergasted by this mindset that I just don’t know how to respond but felt those of you out there should see how the inner workings of this club are NOT moving forward.

Now I have to go study my WBCCI history and see if I can find the photo of Wally at a rally with a white tux on!

Amazed,
Ed

[thecatsandi]

Sounds like it is only important to his ego. One of the reasons I left WBCCI is the upper folks seem to be on a power trip. Flag rules, formal dress? Eat at 8 AM, bathroom break at 9 AM, you get the idea. What are they thinking?

[Kevbo10]

all our potlucks at california rallies are black tie.

it's the direction were going.

others may hold the shorts, T's and flip flop convention, were not going there.

to each his own.

just sayin...

kevin

[lewster]

Originally Posted by Kevbo10

all our potlucks at california rallies are black tie.

it's the direction were going.

others may hold the shorts, T's and flip flop convention, were not going there.

to each his own.

just sayin...

kevin

Ed,

I almost left WBCCI due to folks like these who are so caught up in themselves that they have no desire to 'do what's right' to grow this club and be on the same page that most of it's members are. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the upper echelon of the club responds to this mandate.

Kev,

The last time I was at a black tie event, I certainly wore one........ and nothing else!

[BamCamper]

Are you kidding me?

I laughed out loud when I read the e-mail response.

Having been involved in the corporate world for many years, the formal events are becoming quite passe.

How very out of step with the world...no wonder people are leaving in droves.

But the funniest part is the visual of dragging a formal gown out of the tiny wardrobe in my Airstream and walking through the campground dust to the event in my heels.

And pssssst...it IS a camping and recreational club.

[wkerfoot]

Ed,

Please turn your calendar, it is September 15 not April 1.

Bill

[markdoane]

Better get your name on the list, there's only one tuxedo rental in Bozeman, and she's sure to run out of stock.

[Westfalia]

Another (sad) reason as to why I was only a member for one year. At least a white tuxedo would hide the dog fur from my two Siberians, but nothing could hide that campfire smell.

[doorgunner]

Well I'm not a Wally member, never will be- having said that

I would wear my hunting tux to the event, it's kinda camo overlay on white. It's also the one I use to clean my kill-sorta blood stained.
I'm thinkin maybe I should join just to make a fashion statement.

[Janet H]

This is wrong on so many levels.

We camp - how about cutoffs and flip flops instead
It's Montana - overalls and sheep shears would be more common
Generally, leaders set the example - will suits and ties become the norm at rallies?

Oh geez!

[Alumatube]

Baton Rouge has a great Mardi Gras ball every year where the attire is formal dress. Everyone comes in tuxes... with flamingos painted on the back, with rhinestones in the shape of Elvis on them, made out of denim with overall straps on the front, you get the idea. The ladies wear similar fashions in their formal dress. Now THAT was fun.

This event, not so.

I agree - comparing this to a trip to the Oval Office is crazy. This may be an honor and a nice formal event, but business/business casual attire should be de rigeur, not this silliness.

Susan

[Gunnyusmc]

I am not and never will be a member of wbcci.
That said, isn't this the guy who said he wanted too heal the club and move it forward?
Good start, I can see the membership dropping from here.
You have too love forward movement.

Don

PS: Forum runs rule!!!!

[mandolindave]

My camping club ( The Grillbillies ) have an annual Prom Night. He have 80
prom dresses for the ladies ( bearded men are allowed to wear formal gowns ). Men wear the fanciest or gaudiest tuxedos that they can find.
Nothing is mandatory. People who don't dress up, feel left out and dress up the next year or become photographers for the evening. We also have a Pajama Party night , and Pirate Night.
Here is my advice. Email all attendees and club members that there
has been a change. The new official dress code for the evening will be clown outfits. Activities for the evening will be....How Many Clowns We Can
We Fit In A Bambi, and Pie Fight Night.

[whitelight]

Sitting here with the latte in hand, sleep in my eyes, I first thought "is this for real "
. . . I had visions of "how would a gal transport a full length gown in a short length vintage closet (maybe that's why the push for the MoHo issue - longer closets!) . . . men walking across dusty fields in their white tux . . .

Yes, clubs with traditions do have certain dress codes associated with their ceremonies - and these dress codes are comensurate with the function of the club.

PHP Code:

"for us to perpetuate and keep the WBCCI special from all the others.” 


. . . maybe soooo special that no one wants to participate . . .

[jimmickle]

This is probably the final straw in my decision to renew.

Jim Mickle 6980

[Royce]

OK Ed. You have had your joke, now tell us what really is going on. This can't be true. From the just when you think you have heard it all department.

BTW this is my thrid attempt at a post. I deleated the fist two.

Any club that does not serve the members will either change or die. So this must be what the members want. I see decline followed by rebirth when new members take leadership.

[Janets Husband]

Fish on, Fish on. You're caught.
You know this has got to be a joke.

[Kevbo10]

boom, buttta, boom!

Originally Posted by lewster

Kev,

The last time I was at a black tie event, I certainly wore one........ and nothing else!

[Lumatic]

I suggest alternative formal wear. Here is Estancia a nice set of Dickies coveralls would fit the bill. They're unisex too! Add a well broken in cowboy hat and boots and voila! It should also work in Bozeman.

[thecatsandi]

You know maybe the Guys would wear the dresses and the gals wear the tux? Think that would get the message across?