Do I get to pick any body type I want in virtual reality? (Anyone have any chocolate, btw?) I would probably like a copy of the composite unit picture. My we're a fine looking bunch.
Seriously there is a mighty tight bottleneck and grip at the top of the WBCCI. Logic, change and intent are choked out by Robert's Rules and the IBT's interpretation of it. Ideas may have to be sealed until the next century for the protection of all and it's not for lack of members' efforts. But I see stonewalling and obstruction from our leaders.
__________________ Cj Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Oh I must be aging... I'm feeling like I'm about 90 years old with zero computer skills trying to grasp this cyberspace stuff.
Can somebody definitively explain to me:
A) What a virtual unit would be? (I envision campers all by themselves in the middle of the woods tending to their own fires with a laptop and a webcam off in the distance showing their grand view. Yet the laptop and webcam are so far away, they can't see anybody else's grand view).
B) How the experience would be any different than belonging to any existing unit that currently uses the Internet to conduct all of their business and all unit communications? (newsletters, group mailing lists, forums, voting, correspondence).
C) How a virtual unit would be ANY different than belonging to any of the ~137 currently existing WBCCI units, and still being able to log on here (and elsewhere) and communicate with your long distance friends that are MALs or members of other units.
You're right -- at this point, I simply don't get it. Anyone have a pro and cons list? How about a list of activities that this virtual unit would hold and run?
In my head, this is no better an idea than playing online poker and typing your needs and responses. "I'll take two please," "Pass," "Raise you 20." Not very social now is it? Would there be virtual fires somewhere?
I'm just trying to discern if what's really needed here is a virtual unit (members only forum?), or do some members just need more and better activities from existing/new units locally? Does the latter replace the need for the former?
I am NOT being a wise guy here -- trying to get a grasp on this -- because in my head, it could never work for me...
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Carol
CYBER UNIT?
I think U have been in Idaho to long or out in the sun too long or something. I think its time for U too come home girl and get your feet back on the soil from whence u came.
Roger
Oh I must be aging... I'm feeling like I'm about 90 years old with zero computer skills trying to grasp this cyberspace stuff.
Can somebody definitively explain to me:
A) What a virtual unit would be? (I envision campers all by themselves in the middle of the woods tending to their own fires with a laptop and a webcam off in the distance showing their grand view. Yet the laptop and webcam are so far away, they can't see anybody else's grand view).
B) How the experience would be any different than belonging to any existing unit that currently uses the Internet to conduct all of their business and all unit communications? (newsletters, group mailing lists, forums, voting, correspondence).
C) How a virtual unit would be ANY different than belonging to any of the ~137 currently existing WBCCI units, and still being able to log on here (and elsewhere) and communicate with your long distance friends that are MALs or members of other units.
You're right -- at this point, I simply don't get it. Anyone have a pro and cons list? How about a list of activities that this virtual unit would hold and run?
In my head, this is no better an idea than playing online poker and typing your needs and responses. "I'll take two please," "Pass," "Raise you 20." Not very social now is it? Would there be virtual fires somewhere?
I'm just trying to discern if what's really needed here is a virtual unit (members only forum?), or do some members just need more and better activities from existing/new units locally? Does the latter replace the need for the former?
I am NOT being a wise guy here -- trying to get a grasp on this -- because in my head, it could never work for me...
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Leo,
I quite agree. Why a virtual unit of the real WBCCI (which levies on units such un-virtual requirements as a couple of real rallies a year) when you could just as easily start your own virtual WBCCI and take your own virtual Airstream to virtual rallies? Heck, in your virtual WBCCI you can make the IBT wear tutus to the installation ceremony for all I care.
[Virtual travel is a tempting idea, actually, as we are in Minnesota at the moment and the mosquitoes are terrible this year.]
But like you, I don't see the point. I'll take our real Airstream to real rallies and sit around under the awning and shoot the breeze with other real Airstreamers.
I need a better word/phrase than Virtual or Cyber. I see now that some people think a virtual unit would be entirely in our imagination without any real Airstreams.
This was not my intention. It may satisfy others but I certainly expected a virtual unit to be a real unit consisting of real people and real Airstreams. Poor choice of words on my part but a virtual unit means to me that all business is handled via the internet. Meetings are streamed to all members who care to watch, all voting is done via the internet, and sub-groups of the unit may appear, become active and dissolve all within the confines of something similar to airforums.
WBCCI provided the flexibility for persons to join over the web (don't fill out a form and send in a check but sign up entirely on line with Pay Pal or something similar), participate over the web, and make friends over the web, etc. I think we would be surprised about how far this idea might go.
Yes, this is very similar to how some existing units are organized. My wife and I are members of WDCU for this very reason. But that's still lacking in some ways.
So I need help finding another word/phrase to describe this new type of unit. I think there is a need and we should adapt and address this matter.
Lucius
__________________
Lucius and Danielle
AIR#25 WBCCI#16771
'92 - 29' Excella
'96 - GMC C2500 Suburban Got a cooped-up feeling, gotta get out of town, got those Airstream campin' blues...
I have been following this thread and I am having a hard time finding the differences between some existing units and the E-Unit (you can use it if you like) you are discussing. Many units use email to deliver newsletters and other information to their members. Most unit business can be handled this way. As far as electronic discussions, there is a private area on these forums for several units where just that is happening every day.
Electronic media is great for taking care of unit business, but don't loose sight of what a unit is all about. It's the rallies, getting together with your friends and meeting new ones.
The use of the internet to communicate, conduct business, vote, plan, schedule, etc. provides those who use it with a tremendous advantage in conducting CAMPING events. The reason Units are regionally based, is to allow the members to meet in person and camp (or caravan). With the price of fuel, many folks are looking closer to home for most weekend travel.
Lucius is right. Conducting all communication and business electronically should make management of a unit much less time consuming...since you won't have to travel to meetings or clutter unit events with meetings.
As for obstacles within the club? People overcome obstacles through persistence and patience.
The fact is that Richard has it right and 2air notes an example of the canards often used in these discussions to conflate custom with policy with bylaw with rules - seemingly to generate a foil.
The I'net is just one method of communication. It is a tool, or rather a set of tools.
If communication is the goal, the I'net is just one venue and a successful organization will use it as well as all other tools at its disposal in an appropriate manner.
What I see here appears to be diktat - see the problem my way, the solution I want, and allow nothing else. Condemn those who see it any other way.
Your Airstream is a rather heavy mobile object with a fairly limited set of uses. There is nothing virtual about using it for its intended purpose.
Communication serves an organization, not vice versa.
Virtual communication becomes an oxymoron if communication is deemed to be a process of transmitting a specific message.
Any form of communication must be aware of the limitations of the media if it is to provide known qualities of reliability and quality. To talk about one tool as being clearly superior to any other without a proper consideration for these factors indicates a discussion that is not after understanding but rather something else.
The obstacles for the club, as I see it, are those placed on it by those who'd rather talk about obstacles rather than solutions. As Richard notes, you don't have to look very far to see that those obstacles are created from whole cloth and not a part of reality.
Then there is the fact that anyone can start a club of any sort any time they want. Trying to foist communications limitations on the WBCCI, trying to change its mission and purpose, and suggesting that it should bend to your particular desires and wishes indicates that something more than just a virtual club or cyber unit is motivating the discussion. Why can't this 'something' be put on the table and discussed honestly? What is it that is actually bothering some enough to start threads like this and keep at the same ideology for so many pages?
There is lots of kidding going on here but I think we tend to poke fun in light of frustration and seemingly unsurmountable difficulties. A little comic relief breaks tension, or would that be wind? Oops.
At unit or international levels and for the purposes of expediency, cost and central databases internet business proceedings would be ideal for as many as could benefit from it and moving ahead now is timely. Those without capabilities can still rely on human interface and a hand-up from others to enter their votes much more reliably than hoping someone will get to an International and record every members' vote that was cast. (Like 12 Eastern units could not this International.)
Rallies should be fun events and business should be just that business and each should not become a choice between attending to business or having fun. Both suffers as a consequence. Let's face it, we don't have all the time and money in the world to get things done. Why not allieviate this pressure and get it done with proven efficiency and maximize today's options. If not now, when?
Alright Rog, I am back to earth in Lapeer, Michigan, coming to you live through cyberspace. I adore you and Mariannne and plenty of other Metro Detroit area Airstreamers and then there are other WBCCI Metro Detroiters that I just no longer care to affiliate myself with. My choice is to become a Mal and still remain a member and attend any WBCCI event, and not limit myself to a geographical location. Albeit most of my difficulties began because my traveling and not attending unit functions. I was called out for not being a real Airstreamer because I don't attend luncheons and the local Detroit rallies. Membership materials were held hostage to force attendance. Excuse me I'll take a pass. Make mine global and don't make me feign a unit I don't attend or belong to or in. That is costing me my vote but not my conscience.
Let's make global affiliation legit, save our members some money and employ better voting practices! Long live local units but there is room in this hemisphere for all to dwell in unity.
__________________ Cj Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me
Having been a member of 2 distinctly different units, one rather traditional - DelMarVa, and the other bordering on virtual (and slightly global, in a sense) - WDCU, we much prefer the virtual approach. Both are great units, and we're still affiliate members of our old unit, and still camp with them. The WDCU just fits our style better - no scheduled luncheons/banquets, no one gets bent out of shape if you don't attend a rally, and much of the communication issues are taken care of via the internet. There's usually a business component at each gathering, but it's remarkably brief and very entertaining. We especially like the fact that when we rally, it's attended by people of all ages from all over the U.S. and Canada, and several members of other units.
In our 3 years in the WBCCI we've attended an International, and two Regionals. All were interesting and educational but, unless they're being held in our back yard, we're not likely to experience the club at those levels anytime soon. With an organization of this size, I suppose there's something for everyone. The WDCU is all about camping and having fun with other Airstreamers, and is just virtual enough for us.
Let's make global affiliation legit, save our members some money and employ better voting practices! Long live local units but there is room in this hemisphere for all to dwell in unity.
I don't know. If I were determined to be a MAL (Ha!), well, I wouldn't, but... I'd use that same sense of exploration that YOU clearly have, and I'd roam units year to year, just to experience them all. What could be wrong with getting the San Diego newsletter one year, North Texas Unit's the next. Onto Northern Illinois, Cape Cod, South Coast Carolina, etc.. You'd save some money, and once every decade you'd find a unit that cared about you enough to make sure that you got your vote. Hey kiddo, that's better than NO vote, ever.
YES -- better election procedures are a must -- but don't count on them this year. Jerry Larson has already stated his belief that a representative from every unit must travel in order for any individual member to get a vote. The fight is on!!
A virtual unit is nothing more than a private, paid membership forum. I still haven't seen anybody tackle the simple and basic questions from post#100 above. I think that silence speaks volumes...
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My we're a fine looking bunch. 
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