Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


View Poll Results: Why did leave WBCCI ?
Cost too much 13 15.66%
Not enough value for the membership fee 24 28.92%
Too many rules 31 37.35%
I don't need to belong to group to enjoy camping 29 34.94%
Bad experience 15 18.07%
Other reason(s) 19 22.89%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 83. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-08-2015, 05:50 PM   #41
Figment of My Imagination
 
Protagonist's Avatar
 
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over , More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirBen View Post
Ths club is very unique unto itself, as it has been very strict with allowances, even to forbid the painted trailers access to the club, for obvious reasons.
Careful, there. Argosy trailers and motorhomes ARE allowed into the club. So are painted Airstream Class A motorhomes and Class B van conversions. The key point is that they were manufactured (or converted) by Airstream, not by another subsidiary of the parent organization.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
Protagonist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2015, 05:57 PM   #42
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
AirBen - like I said - I didn't want to stir the pot and I was wildly speculating what he may have meant. That doesn't mean my inference is correct (ask Roger Goodell how difficult it is to get an inference right &#128515. So let's not get too wound up right now.

And if by Painted Trailers you mean Argosy trailers/motor homes - they are indeed welcome. The membership requirement is dues and ownership of an RV manufactured by Airstream, Inc. which is absolutely true of Agrosy products. The challenge would be some class A motorhome or 5th wheel built by Thor - that's not manufactured by Airstream, Inc. even though Thor owns Airstream.

Perhaps I'll write the Prez and ask him what he intends directly?
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2015, 07:32 PM   #43
Rivet Master
 
Arcticfox's Avatar
 
2013 28' Flying Cloud
Central , Canada
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,082
Boy talk about speculation....... Let's not get tooooo worked up over nothing. Only the new president knows what he is thinking.

On the topic of caravans being full for years in advance. I must admit (and I have said it before) this is a huge problem for new members and new member retention.

It sounds like cancelations happen all the time and if there is a waiting list that spot is then filled. Yet what happens when there is not a waiting list? The spot goes empty as the leaders have no idea who might be interested because many people are not interested in putting their names on waiting list......

As a suggested fix; would it be possible for (all) caravans to post their vacancy situation and update it when there is a change or an opening. This would allow new comers to have knowledge of possible opening at the last minute and jump in if they wish.

Just an idea - hope someone in power can look into possible options.....

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
Trying to use my camera to create memories - not photographs!
Arcticfox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 03:31 AM   #44
Rivet Master
 
Smartstream's Avatar

 
1982 28' Airstream 280
Port Angeles , Washington
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,943
Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist View Post
After you posted that, I went back and re-read the entire thread from beginning to end. I didn't see one single instance of someone— not even me— telling anybody that their reason for leaving was wrong.

There was some advice for people who were on the fence about leaving because they joined to go on caravans and were dismayed by the long waiting lists, and stuff like that. And some membership statistics.

But if your reason for leaving WBCCI is controversial and you don't want controversy, you're entirely within your right to exclude us from knowing it. You could PM the OP instead of posting it for the peanut gallery to read.
You may interpret things one way while others may see it differently. My original point is that the OP ask ex members why they left and so many current members feel a necessity to post why they love the club and are continuing membership when there are so many other threads to express those feelings. You may not think so but there is a message.

As to my reason for leaving WBCCI, it is not controversial and it has been posted on these forums long before your involvement in the Airstream Community and I don't feel a need to re-post it.
__________________
Cheers, Dan
________________________________________


"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
~ Margaret Thatcher ~
Smartstream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 04:33 AM   #45
Restorations done right
Commercial Member
 
Frank's Trailer Works's Avatar
 
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore , Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
Images: 2
I thought it was just me who recognized the glow fest this thread has become. I do not mean to assume, but I think Castaway was trying to understand why people leave, not why they stay or what the current President is or is not thinking. I am fairly sure that how sign ups for caravans is done is not part of what the OP was trying to understand. People are just unable to read the title but comment any how.
Many of you posting(mostly Protagonist, a fitting name) fail to realize that not everyone feels a warm and fuzzy over the WBCCI. Instead of respecting that others do not enjoy the WB , you continue to state how wrong they are and great is going to become. You do not have to say "you are wrong" to express it.

This thread is titled Why Did You Leave The WBCCI. Perhaps if you have not left, this is not really the thread you should be commenting on it. I hate to point out simple logic.
Frank's Trailer Works is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 04:47 AM   #46
Rivet Master
 
SteveSueMac's Avatar

 
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W , New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank's Trailer Works View Post
...snip...
This thread is titled Why Did You Leave The WBCCI. Perhaps if you have not left, this is not really the thread you should be commenting on it. I hate to point out simple logic.

I'd like to clarify something. I posted what I did because IF it expanded beyond AS products I would leave. I didn't think that was glow festing - though it is purely wild speculation and probably irresponsible on my part.

Other than that, I felt I was in keeping with the intent of the thread. Sincere apologies if that wasn't felt to be the case.
SteveSueMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 05:12 AM   #47
Restorations done right
Commercial Member
 
Frank's Trailer Works's Avatar
 
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore , Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
Images: 2
Oddly, here might be a better thread currently running also...
Frank's Trailer Works is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 06:01 AM   #48
Rivet Master
 
robandzoe's Avatar
 
1958 30' Sovereign of the Road
Plymouth , New York
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,776
Images: 19
Send a message via Skype™ to robandzoe
Other

Forgot, that while a Unit President at age 39, submitted a list of 27 things to improve the club (when the club was hemorrhaging at over $200k a year loss) only to fall on deaf ears, then when leaving the club and hosting a Rally - served a 5 page cease and desist letter (further hemorrahaging an already over legal funds budgeted) with 7 items to adhere too (three of which were to change the name from "Wally Byam's Birthday Bash" , get rid of the picture of Wally (that came from a plaque from a Wally Byam Holiday that pre-dated the WBCCI) and to ensure all attending knew it wasn't a WBCCI event).

I'll NEVER go back... and I don't say never often... and thus the birth of The Airstreamer's Club - or TAC!! No dues and no TIES, just a love of Airstreaming and the camaraderie of owning (or wanting to own one)!! PS - I complied, but I almost responded with a one paged photo copy of my NY salute! I have that letter framed in my office!!
__________________
Rob, Zoe', Stanton, Bryce, Braedon and Finn Baker
Do you Listen to the www.theVAP.com
Plymouth, NY 13832
https://bakersacresofchenango.blogspot.com/
Courtesy parking
Flag Pole Holders - https://robsflagpoleholders.blogspot.com/

robandzoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 06:12 AM   #49
2 Rivet Member
 
AirBen's Avatar
 
1993 34' Limited
Franklin , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist View Post
Careful, there. Argosy trailers and motorhomes ARE allowed into the club. So are painted Airstream Class A motorhomes and Class B van conversions. The key point is that they were manufactured (or converted) by Airstream, not by another subsidiary of the parent organization.
I'm sorry, I thought I had read that panted argosy, or if someone painted their airstream, would not be admitted in the club. I apologize, for my misspoken mistake.
AirBen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 06:16 AM   #50
2 Rivet Member
 
AirBen's Avatar
 
1993 34' Limited
Franklin , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by robandzoe View Post
Forgot, that while a Unit President at age 39, submitted a list of 27 things to improve the club (when the club was hemorrhaging at over $200k a year loss) only to fall on deaf ears, then when leaving the club and hosting a Rally - served a 5 page cease and desist letter (further hemorrahaging an already over legal funds budgeted) with 7 items to adhere too (three of which were to change the name from "Wally Byam's Birthday Bash" , get rid of the picture of Wally (that came from a plaque from a Wally Byam Holiday that pre-dated the WBCCI) and to ensure all attending knew it wasn't a WBCCI event).

I'll NEVER go back... and I don't say never often... and thus the birth of The Airstreamer's Club - or TAC!! No dues and no TIES, just a love of Airstreaming and the camaraderie of owning (or wanting to own one)!! PS - I complied, but I almost responded with a one paged photo copy of my NY salute! I have that letter framed in my office!!
To me, that president should have been removed, if you can't honor and respect the heritage of the club you belong to, namely, the man who started it all, you probably should be allowed to hold a position higher than member. That's all I'm going to say on the subject.
AirBen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 06:24 AM   #51
Rivet Master
 
Currently Looking...
Mantua , Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
Blog Entries: 2
All that garbage is in the past, I hope.Things are different now. Two sides to every story. I'm on your side, though.
xrvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 06:24 AM   #52
Restorations done right
Commercial Member
 
Frank's Trailer Works's Avatar
 
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore , Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
Images: 2
This topic goes on and on and on....
2007
Frank's Trailer Works is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 07:01 AM   #53
Rivet Master
 
rideair's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,800
Frank,

Wow, over eight years ago!

Thought I'd seen a thread like this before, now I know why ;-)

Oh, and I do plan to call you back, still waiting for you and the family to enjoy a little "holler" camping.

Enjoy,
__________________
Paul Waddell
rideair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 07:20 AM   #54
Rivet Master
 
Rich Jenkins's Avatar
 
Tavares , Florida
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,052
Hi. I'm not an Airstream owner, but my wife and I are thinking of buying one.

We currently own a Mercedes Roadtrek Class B that we use for extended travel throughout the US.

Since we really don't know anyone with an Airstream, I was curious about Airstream clubs, and this topic.

I did a web search for the WBCCI, and read more about the club there. in the "why join" section, there was a lot of mention of caravans, rallies, and Airstream-only campgrounds.

My wife and I enjoy travel, and enjoy the outdoors. We've met wonderful people across the USA, whether in a Class A, B, C, C+, fiver, TT or tent. We like people. Don't get me wrong. But the reason we have an RV is that we want to see the country, National Parks, State Parks, sightsee, and so on. We're not really interested in sacrificing our flexibility by traveling or camping "as a group".

The WBCCI also mentions I'd be surrounded by friends who know the ins and outs of Airstreams. That might be true.

But it is also true that these days, I can get answers to virtually any technical question, in seconds, on the internet, via social media and forums, like this one.

The Club offers 10 issues of the "Blue Beret" magazine.

I went looking online for this, as we don't do paper magazines/newspapers anymore. If it is not online on an iPad or Tablet, it's not something we are interested in.

I found an online "Blue Beret" for August 2015 and downloaded the pdf.

The "President's Corner" mentions "more caravans" and "more rallies", which, as I explained, we personally are not interested in.

There was also page after page of advertising. That's fine. But it doesn't add any "value" to a membership.

Plus, there were a lot of articles about signing up for future rallies.

After that, the "Welcome" new members article admonished me ("Where were you?") for "not being in Farmington."

Really? Maybe because I was somewhere else? Maybe I had something better to do? And you have an issue with that?

Then I saw an article that advised me to "do a google search" if I was going to visit somewhere for the first time. Uh...right.

I liked the article on "Care and Feeding of your RV" very much. I found it odd it was dated from 2014.

I then stopped reading, as the advertising seemed to go on and on.

Here is the bottom line for me. It would cost us $85 a year, as a member at large, to join. We don't caravan. I find all the technical know-how I need online, via forums like this one, Facebook groups, Youtube, or the equipment makers websites. I am also very active in social media.

And all of this is free.

I personally just don't see the value for money by joining this club.

This is just my opinion. I realize these are just superficial comments based on a quick survey of the online information available about the WBCCI. I don't mean to offend anyone, or make any comments about those who find value in joining. If it works for you, great.

Thanks.

Rich
Rich Jenkins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 07:23 AM   #55
Rivet Master
 
Larry C's Avatar
 
1996 34' Excella
Elberta , Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 837
Blog Entries: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by n2916s View Post
Left when the "any motor home by Thor" proposal was resurrected immediately after being shot down for the second time. And the proposal started in my Region.

The leadership at the time did not give a flying rat's patootie about the wishes of the membership.

Maybe different now but I am no longer interested.

Mike

Mike,
You nailed it! We were members of WBCCI, Pensacola unit for a couple years. The "embeded" hiarchy never even took the time to know our name. They were too intent on only associating with their exclusive little groups.
Those two years were a waste of money, and a lesson that we won't forget.
Larry C
Larry C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 07:42 AM   #56
2 Rivet Member
 
AirBen's Avatar
 
1993 34' Limited
Franklin , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry C View Post
Mike,
You nailed it! We were members of WBCCI, Pensacola unit for a couple years. The "embeded" hiarchy never even took the time to know our name. They were too intent on only associating with their exclusive little groups.
Those two years were a waste of money, and a lesson that we won't forget.
Larry C
From what I'm understanding, is that the international group, is so far removed, and so out of touch, as to be inaccessible, to acknowledge the smaller units, other than to accept its money?
AirBen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 07:42 AM   #57
Rivet Master
 
Larry C's Avatar
 
1996 34' Excella
Elberta , Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 837
Blog Entries: 1
Exactly!

Larry
Larry C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 08:07 AM   #58
Figment of My Imagination
 
Protagonist's Avatar
 
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over , More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirBen View Post
From what I'm understanding, is that the international group, is so far removed, and so out of touch, as to be inaccessible, to acknowledge the smaller units, other than to accept its money?
That may be changing. One VP in particular, Jim Cocke, has proven to be very accessible. I've met him on multiple occasions at various functions, not just the International Rally, and he is very willing to discuss issues that are important to rank-and-file members. Including things only peripherally related to the club, for that matter.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
Protagonist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2015, 01:22 PM   #59
Rivet Master
 
m.hony's Avatar
 
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood , Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
If the entire WBCCI organization is growing at the same rate as our li'l ole Mississippi Unit, then it should be growing astronomically in numbers. We have new members added every month. The number of trailers showing up at rallies is growing. And yet there are still people I know with Airstream trailers (or Interstates) who are not yet members-
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
m.hony is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2015, 04:11 AM   #60
Restorations done right
Commercial Member
 
Frank's Trailer Works's Avatar
 
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore , Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
Images: 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by rideair View Post
Frank,

Wow, over eight years ago!

Thought I'd seen a thread like this before, now I know why ;-)

Oh, and I do plan to call you back, still waiting for you and the family to enjoy a little "holler" camping.

Enjoy,
Yes, that thread is very old. Unfortunately the topic always remains the same...
I find it funny that in the second or third post on that thread, 2Air links a dozen or so older threads on this topic. I also find it funny how many names I see on that thread, who fought hard to make things better, that are now completely gone from the community.
It will be interesting to revisit this in another 8 years. I'll bet you the names have all changed but the situation has not.
Frank's Trailer Works is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Should the VAC leave the WBCCI?? rideair VAC | Vintage Airstream Club 101 05-01-2011 04:09 AM
WBCCI, Why you left or did not join? rideair WBCCI Forum 137 05-24-2007 04:41 AM
Why, Why, Why aviontt On The Road... 22 11-20-2003 07:41 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.