I have owned a vintage A/S for a couple years and have enjoyed reading and hearing from other owners on this forum. This relationship has encouaged me to finally join WBCCI and my local unit. There are times when I have read how many in WBCCI were discouraged about getting and keeping new members. May I make a suggestion? Start by having WBCCI set some standards for the local units. As good as WBCCI is, it is the local units that put the face on the club. Let me give you a couple examples. First I contacted one of my closest units using their e-mail form and asked for information about them, what they do, and an application form. I received nothing back. Next, I located the website of another unit and discovered they are proudly displaying their club rally schedule from 1999. Why have a website if it makes you look bad? We have all heard that image is everything but in these cases it's not looking so good. I know there are good people in these units, and I have met some, but if WBCCI members really want to grow the club back to it's former numbers they will have to look and act like it. I still want to join, but I'm afraid of what I will find. I think that WBCCI should set some standards for the units and evaluate them on a annual basis. Lets reward and recognize them when they do well. I would much rather use a carrot than a stick. If I was a member of a unit that was recognized as one of the best of 2002, I know I would be proud and encouraged to make my unit better. Right now, at least, some units seem to act like they are old and tired. You can't attract new blood that way. What do you think?
Larry,
You are right about what you said, While 99% of the people are great most of the people running the locals have been doing it for some time because no one wants take over so the same people get stuck doing it over & over again. And unless the younger people start stepping up to the plate I think many locals will be folding up in the near future. But I can see why younger families cant get more involved due to family, work, this, that. I think your evaluation idea is a good one. I am currently a member of a local unit but I think for 2003 I am going to switch to member-at-large (MAL) until I find a local that meets my needs, you could do the same, after all a MAL can still attend any rally etc.
John and Larry,
Get involved and make the units better. New ideas and new blood give new life. A couple of years ago a new "Merit Award" was put in place to give Units a guideline and incentive to build stronger and better units. Many of units have taken advantage of this program and are showing the growth and vibrance as a result. Check with WBCCI headquarters and find the units in your area that have earned the Merit Awards.
Colet
You sucked me right in Colet! Stougard hasn't been here since March of '04 and while 83Excella was last here in November of last year, you may not realize you responded to a post from July 2002! Just in case you got sucked in too the post date is right above the posters name.
Welcome to the forums Colet!!
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So here's my experience today preparing to go to my first unit luncheon. About par on the course with my rally experiences so far.
I call the membership officer and tell her we have an eye to the weather as there is a snow storm advisory for today for getting to the luncheon, which is an 1 1/2 hr away and 5 hr for the luncheon/meeting then another 1 1/2 hr home in possibly the thick of it, so we may not be able to attend. She says it wont hit til afternoon I tell her we have to get back too.
In making inquiries on the luncheon before I mailed in my $40.00 for lunch so I could attend and be involved and vote, I was asked if I was sent my unit members book and badge and replied that I had not. I was told that then it would be brought to the luncheon for me.
Today I asked that should we miss the luncheon will my materials be sent to me. "No" was the response! "You have to be at a meeting to receive them. We have too many people not going to any of the meetings, so now you have to be there."
I hung up. I paid $70.00 for my membership (BY MAIL!!) but I will not receive my badge unless I pick it up in person!!!!.
What a racket.
__________________ 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
Local unit, local rules. So I guess for you that means when the business meeting comes up in the spring where you have an important VOTE coming up you'll have to drive three hours round trip just to vote huh? Yeah, there's a real smooth way to run a club!
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6000+ Airsteam families having fun!
1000+ Airstream Events including 500+ Rallies in 2009! SaveWally's WBCCI Unit Guide
Local unit, local rules. So I guess for you that means when the business meeting comes up in the spring where you have an important VOTE coming up you'll have to drive three hours round trip just to vote huh? Yeah, there's a real smooth way to run a club!
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Like you said,local unit,local rules but it doesn't have to be this way.As a member,you have the option to get involved and change the way some things are done.Maybe a way to get around this is for the local unit to amend the bylaws to allow online voting for their unit.It can be done.Local unit,local rules.
So here's my experience today preparing to go to my first unit luncheon. About par on the course with my rally experiences so far.
I call the membership officer and tell her we have an eye to the weather as there is a snow storm advisory for today for getting to the luncheon, which is an 1 1/2 hr away and 5 hr for the luncheon/meeting then another 1 1/2 hr home in possibly the thick of it, so we may not be able to attend. She says it wont hit til afternoon I tell her we have to get back too.
In making inquiries on the luncheon before I mailed in my $40.00 for lunch so I could attend and be involved and vote, I was asked if I was sent my unit members book and badge and replied that I had not. I was told that then it would be brought to the luncheon for me.
Today I asked that should we miss the luncheon will my materials be sent to me. "No" was the response! "You have to be at a meeting to receive them. We have too many people not going to any of the meetings, so now you have to be there."
I hung up. I paid $70.00 for my membership (BY MAIL!!) but I will not receive my badge unless I pick it up in person!!!!.
What a racket.
Wow, that must be a local thing. The New England Unit sends out a welcome letter, WBCCI Badges, our unit directory, a NEU decal, the latest copy of our newsletter and sign up sheets for upcoming events as soon as we get a new member application. We don't even wait for "headquarters" to complete the "offical" application and send out the new member's numbers.
And if a non WBCCI member Airstream owner happens to stop by one of our rallys and completes an application we provide them with their "welcome kit" on the spot, including WBCCI badges which I prepare. I carry a portable file box with all needed materials along with my laptop computer and printer so that I can personalize their welcome letter and print out the name inserts for the badges.
__________________ Michelle & Leon
WBCCI # 7032 New England Unit
White Mountains NH Unit
Vintage Airstream Club Tin Can Tourists Vintage Club
Wow, that must be a local thing. The New England Unit sends out a welcome letter, WBCCI Badges, our unit directory, a NEU decal, the latest copy of our newsletter and sign up sheets for upcoming events as soon as we get a new member application. We don't even wait for "headquarters" to complete the "offical" application and send out the new member's numbers.
It is a local thing. Metro-Detroit has mailed my directory to me in the past. Apparently they have implimented brand new rules for handling membership.
In an attempt to meet members and get them active they are withholding your members directory and badge until you attend a local function in person.
However, in my case, I find this entirely counter productive. I have less desire to meet with a group whose rule revision tactics are formulated to force attendance to receive your rightful materials.
Today I received this in e-mail as a follow-up from this morning's phone call from the membership chairman of the Metro-Detroit Unit;
"You will be receiving your badges and membership directory when you
attend your first dinner and or rally that is put on by the unit. This
is the policy of the unit not to mail them."
Mind you, this was in response to the fact that a snow storm is hitting and my husband and I were not able to attend as we had planned today. We could go to greater lengths and expense to meet with our club members but these same club members whom we were to go establish bonds with will not drop our membership package into the mail for us. And not entirely because of the postage costs, but because of a new rule to mandate participation.
__________________ 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
"You will be receiving your badges and membership directory when you
attend your first dinner and or rally that is put on by the unit. This
is the policy of the unit not to mail them."
Your unit's approach is much different then the approach of my unit. Our motto is: "It's just camping" and our attendance at unit events has increased quite a bit since we adopted this way of looking at/running things.
__________________ Michelle & Leon
WBCCI # 7032 New England Unit
White Mountains NH Unit
Vintage Airstream Club Tin Can Tourists Vintage Club
old people can be down right stubborn some times....especially when they are officers......of a club.
i'd call or email to ask if you can stop buy the officers home and pick up the goods......and share a cup o' tea....
if the policy was started after you paid the $$$ and wasn't stated in the membership application or materials....seems you have cause to request a refund.
It is a local thing. Metro-Detroit has mailed my directory to me in the past. Apparently they have implimented brand new rules for handling membership.
In an attempt to meet members and get them active they are withholding your members directory and badge until you attend a local function in person.
However, in my case, I find this entirely counter productive. I have less desire to meet with a group whose rule revision tactics are formulated to force attendance to receive your rightful materials.
Today I received this in e-mail as a follow-up from this morning's phone call from the membership chairman of the Metro-Detroit Unit;
"You will be receiving your badges and membership directory when you
attend your first dinner and or rally that is put on by the unit. This
is the policy of the unit not to mail them."
Mind you, this was in response to the fact that a snow storm is hitting and my husband and I were not able to attend as we had planned today. We could go to greater lengths and expense to meet with our club members but these same club members whom we were to go establish bonds with will not drop our membership package into the mail for us. And not entirely because of the postage costs, but because of a new rule to mandate participation.
Wow.Although to some extent I can understand the reasoning behind such a policy(to increase attendance)I totally agree with you that it is a counter productive policy.Especially under your circumstances with a snow storm.I'm speechless and really disappointed .
wheel interested -- after reading your post I have to say I'm both shocked and angry to see a club that I pay dues to behaving this way, even if it's not the particular unit I belong to. I think this would be a good example to write up for the training manual on how NOT to manage a WBCCI unit.
To myboyburt and other NEUnit members and officers -- THANK YOU! for making our unit one that's so easy to belong to .
The more I think about it, the more it seems that he easiest and maybe the fastest way to change WBCCI would be to have more breakaway units start up. The newer units, less rigid and less concerned over rules, bylaws, and mandates, and more concerned with Wally's idea of fun and fellowship (like our N.E. unit), would move forward and grow with the younger (or young at heart and mind) while the older units would continue in their old ways until they just die off.
Its a good thing newbies dig up some of these old posts! It shows that old problems are also new problems.
For me, I'll put John and Larry's 2002 comments into the category of 'why we have region officers and reimburse some of their travel expense' - In my view, the headquarters operation should be developing measures for unit health and training regional and higher officers to use them to provide feedback and assistance.
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