WBCCI or Airstream Camping Club

[GT1963]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

it may be partly true that the wb' has history on it's side...

and i like looking at old b/w pics as much as other a/s owners...

To which history are we speaking - BW Photos or the 50+ years of Club existence - I think I was referring to the past present and possibly the future and the general sense of the Clubs history in comparison to this forums infancy.

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

but history doesn't make travel and camping and fun happen.

too much time looking BACKWARD gives me a neck cramp!.....

history means LESS to me than camping, gathering and traveling NOW...

having owned and traveled and enjoyed an a/s for almost 30 years....

MY OWN CAMPING has WAY more meaning to me than the wb'

but i try NOT (never) to tell campfire stories about aluminum travel 'way back when...'

cheers
2air'

Could not agree more...

I have not traveled and enjoyed an A/s anywhere near close to 30 years - but I sure do enjoy camping!

I too like Shari's comments.

But the one thing I see in such a "fortified" wb - is it's ability to overwhelm and overpower it's "new blood" - you know the "new blood" that we all count on to help change the wb - unfortunately with single year terms and progressive offices and the rules of progression - by the time the "new blood" get into the influencing positions - they are spent and their fighting power has been pulled to bits with the destructive political path they have had to endure from all fronts.

I have seen this both at the Local Unit Level and the International Level. I wonder what happens at the Regional Level?

But like any war - the longer you keep throwing the lambs to the wolves - eventually the wolves will be full and fall asleep, thus the Lambs will prevail.

[dwightdi]

I think the voting at Bozeman this year prove you can not defeat the old guard. All the floor candiates (along with the floor candidate's recommendations) were defeated by block voting done by older term local presidents . The offically sanctioned candidates refuse to take a position on anything and therefore it is hard to run against them. The old guard continiously says they are looking to improve but year after year there are very little changes and the committees proposing changes have their recommendations put on the shelf and the committees dissolved. The organizational structure (that was adopted in 1963) guarentees all promotions and offices will be due to senority and personal friendships rather than ability or progressive intentions. We would need to have a complete failure of the club to force them to have a Constitutional Congress and reform the club's organization to allow it to become more progressive. There are too many old officers with personal vested interests to allow any radical changes which might effect them. I have been with the club for 14 years and am a past unit president and have interfaced with the Region and International officers over the years.

[3streams]

Originally Posted by dwightdi

I think the voting at Bozeman this year prove you can not defeat the old guard. All the floor candiates (along with the floor candidate's recommendations) were defeated by block voting done by older term local presidents . The offically sanctioned candidates refuse to take a position on anything and therefore it is hard to run against them. The old guard continiously says they are looking to improve but year after year there are very little changes and the committees proposing changes have their recommendations put on the shelf and the committees dissolved. The organizational structure (that was adopted in 1963) guarentees all promotions and offices will be due to senority and personal friendships rather than ability or progressive intentions. We would need to have a complete failure of the club to force them to have a Constitutional Congress and reform the club's organization to allow it to become more progressive. There are too many old officers with personal vested interests to allow any radical changes which might effect them. I have been with the club for 14 years and am a past unit president and have interfaced with the Region and International officers over the years.

Having been there and served as a delegate this year- I agree completely. It was like- "Why the h*ll are we even voting!" All the units just kept putting 100% of the votes to the "old guard" and the nominations never even stood a chance!! Every person should vote individually - via through snail mail ballot from the Blue Barrette or internet voting on the WBCCI website- I know way to progressive- won't ever happen! Frustrating- thats how I described my experience as a first timer delegate!

[RedSHED]

one member, one vote.

The option is that the WBCCI goes away.

[mbmbstreamer]

April-
You did a fantastic job making sure all votes cast by your unit were counted. I know the process is dated and slow, but change can only happen from within. We had a very interesting discussion in the Unit Leaders' Workshop on the topic of block voting. We were told that votes are to be cast proportional to the actual unit vote. The only other option is to cast votes that allow the delegate to vote his will. There were probably 40 or 50 folks in the session who represent a variety of units. I'm sure the topic of Block Voting will be discussed when each of us return to our Unit.

Dwightdi -
I saw a tremendous difference in the way the vote was received this year vs. Perry. Several Region officers I spoke with are supportive of change, but see it coming in slower than you would like. I think the old guard is looking for acceptable ways to give in to change.

Matt

[Trackers]

Hello Everyone,

First of all I am not a WBCCI member. I do own an Airstream. This is my first Airstream. I have always wanted one and finally found one that I could afford. I waited 54 years on it and I plan on enjoying it as long as I can with my wife.
After I bought it I did some researching on the net about Airstreams. I found this forum and a site from the WBCCI among others. After looking at the WBCCI VA region page I saw a name that was familiar. I sent him an email and we discussed the upcoming rally in Galax VA. I asked him if it was possible for me to come up and see some of the other Airstreams that would be there? He assured me that I would be welcome. My wife and I arrived at the rally and sure enough we were welcomed with open arms. We walked around the lot and everyone we met were the most friendly folks you would want to meet. Everyone answered our Airstream questions and offered tours of their Airstreams. It was a pleasure meeting WBCCI international and regional leaders.
I gained a lot of valuable information on towing hitches and maintenance that would be needed on my unit. One nice guy and his Son from Denver NC pointed out several great things on the type of towing hitch that worked the best concerning anti-sway. Also some good information on airconditioning and awnings.
These fine folks of the VA Region invited my Wife and I to attend some of their planned activities for the week and to just come along and enjoy ourselves. All this and I am not even a member of the WBCCI. I have read the past posts concerning change etc and I have came to the conclusion that with my experience with the VA region and members from NC. What changes need to be made? I don't know all the facts within the WBCCI and about why griping is going on but I do know one thing. The WBCCI people I met at the Galax Rally were all super nice folks. I contacted the WBCCI about becoming a part of this organization after seeing how genuine these folks really were. I would be proud to a part of the WBCCI if everyone is as nice as the members I met in Galax.

[DEITZ645]

Originally Posted by Trackers

Hello Everyone,

First of all I am not a WBCCI member. I do own an Airstream. This is my first Airstream. I have always wanted one and finally found one that I could afford. I waited 54 years on it and I plan on enjoying it as long as I can with my wife.
After I bought it I did some researching on the net about Airstreams. I found this forum and a site from the WBCCI among others. After looking at the WBCCI VA region page I saw a name that was familiar. I sent him an email and we discussed the upcoming rally in Galax VA. I asked him if it was possible for me to come up and see some of the other Airstreams that would be there? He assured me that I would be welcome. My wife and I arrived at the rally and sure enough we were welcomed with open arms. We walked around the lot and everyone we met were the most friendly folks you would want to meet. Everyone answered our Airstream questions and offered tours of their Airstreams. It was a pleasure meeting WBCCI international and regional leaders.
I gained a lot of valuable information on towing hitches and maintenance that would be needed on my unit. One nice guy and his Son from Denver NC pointed out several great things on the type of towing hitch that worked the best concerning anti-sway. Also some good information on airconditioning and awnings.
These fine folks of the VA Region invited my Wife and I to attend some of their planned activities for the week and to just come along and enjoy ourselves. All this and I am not even a member of the WBCCI. I have read the past posts concerning change etc and I have came to the conclusion that with my experience with the VA region and members from NC. What changes need to be made? I don't know all the facts within the WBCCI and about why griping is going on but I do know one thing. The WBCCI people I met at the Galax Rally were all super nice folks. I contacted the WBCCI about becoming a part of this organization after seeing how genuine these folks really were. I would be proud to a part of the WBCCI if everyone is as nice as the members I met in Galax.

Trackers,
First, welcome aboard. I think most everybody has no issues with their local WBCCI units. The local units and functions are where are the fun is. I believe the griping and complaining starts ashen you get up to the international level and their resistance to change. If you have found a unit you like, by all means join up, and enjoy what the WBCCI has to offer at the local level. As you participate more, you will then learn more about what sticks in peoples craws about the high leadership of the WBCCI. If you find the WBCCI isn't for you, then there is a simple solution...stop paying the dues.

[mbmbstreamer]

Welcome aboard Trackers! All of us who are members of the
WBCCI joined because we really want to be here. We aren't concerned as much about our units as with the management at the International. We are very concerned with the club's inability to attract and retain new members. Since you found friends within the unit, you are an excellent example of how new membership is supposed to work.

Unfortunately, there are many new members who join as MALs (members at large) and never connect with a unit, or experience a unit that does not hold their interest. These folks leave the club, even though they love the product.

We are worried about the long term survival of the club as THE Airstream Camping Club. The International leaders have not yet found the solution to membership decline. The answer is change and we are trying to help the club understand the need for that change.

In short, ENJOY the club. We're glad you joined. New members are the future of the club.

Matt