Four Corners Unit No Show at International

[SilverCabin]

What happened to you guys? I was expecting to see some activism at this event and nobody was here. I heard complaints from other units on how you hurt their membership, so I was expecting you to be representing the 44 votes you had. Leo and the other candidates only captured 25% of the vote, and didn't get in, but we could have used your support.

Randy

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by SilverCabin

What happened to you guys? I was expecting to see some activism at this event and nobody was here. I heard complaints from other units on how you hurt their membership, so I was expecting you to be representing the 44 votes you had. Leo and the other candidates only captured 25% of the vote, and didn't get in, but we could have used your support.

Randy

Actually (speaking from my present perspective parked at the International) I think 4CU may be ahead of the trend.

Recent events show the futility of trying to change WBCCI from the bottom up. A modest constitutional amendment was proposed at the midwinter IBT. It would have the nominating committee forward the names of all qualified candidates to the units for a vote, rather than just the selected one. It was voted down 16-2. The present officers clearly prefer to select their own successors rather than have them elected.

At the "member suggestions" forum at this year's International, Donna Garner commented that ". . . the WBCCI is like a battleship. . . it takes a long time to change course. . . ".

True, but the battleship is changing course--it's sinking! Membership declines each year and this year attendance at the International dropped to only about 850--200 less than last year. (Of course, gas prices had a lot to do with that, although the VAC parade had 83 units, a near record.)

It reminds me of a statement made by my Red Cross lifesaving instructor: "If the drowning person you're trying to rescue puts up too much of a fight, give them time to drown a little more."

Benign neglect may be the best approach to the International and Regional hierarchy of the WBCCI. Ignore them. Build your unit, and have fun with it. When the IBT is ready to change, they'll come to you.

See you down the road,
Nuvi

[Jim Foster]

I'm sure there are several reasons for the attendance to be down over last year. The gas for certain would be one. Dissatisfaction with WBCCI would be another.

We are not only Airstreamers, but Street Rodders as well. We have attended events all over the country and have found that people from the west will generally travel further to attend an event than people from the east. An event on the east coast will usually have more attendees from the west than an event on the west coast will have attendees from the east.

[SilverCabin]

I received a PM from a member of the FCU who was very upset with my post.

I never intended to upset anyone, just to inquire as to what happened? I'm working hard to build the FL Unit and to effect some meaningful change in the WBCCI to make it more relevant to today's Airstream buyers, and honor the long tradition of the club. I've only been a WBCCI member for 18 months, but my voice has been heard here at International, and I was looking forward to meeting the other forward thinking units like FCU.

If I offended anyone with what I thought was an innocent inquiry, please accept my public apology. That wasn't my intention, and I regret that it was taken that way.

Sincerely,

Randy

[SilverCabin]

Originally Posted by Nuvite-F

Benign neglect may be the best approach to the International and Regional hierarchy of the WBCCI. Ignore them. Build your unit, and have fun with it. When the IBT is ready to change, they'll come to you.

See you down the road,
Nuvi

Nuvi,

Just my opinion here (I'm watching what I say now), but I don't think benign neglect is the answer. That's how the IBT leadership treats us now. I think we need to keep in their faces until they respond. That's what Leo is doing, and what I have been supporting here at the rally.

I am working to build my unit and have fun with it, and that's my primary focus. I hope I'm successful enough that they do come to me someday.

Thanks,

Randy

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by SilverCabin

Nuvi,

Just my opinion here (I'm watching what I say now), but I don't think benign neglect is the answer. That's how the IBT leadership treats us now. I think we need to keep in their faces until they respond.

Thanks,

Randy

You're more than welcome to your opinion, and I wish you luck.

I am kinda reminded of a saying a former boss had on his wall: "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig."

Cheers,
Nuvi

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by Nuvite-F

"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig."

I like that. It fits a lot of circumstances.

[PeeWee]

I tried.

But there was no way to be seated. Even after presenting myself.

You must either be a paid for life member, with unit dues; or a annual paying WBCCI member, with unit dues.

All payments must be paid in accordance with the by-laws and constitution.

I discussed this with Jerry Collins, Jim Haddaway and the Region 11 President.

My status with the WBCCI is that as a PR-1. This is a public relations category that entitles me to attend any rally, but not have a voting position in the club.

Dale

[Gene]

This is not leaving me a very good impression of WBCCI. After reading materials I received from them after buying our unit, it seemed very formal and had many requirements that seemed to be for caravans and not for just getting together. I recently learned about officers having all sorts of flags to display at rallies and I'm unsure what that proves. I like the idea of boondocking rallies and that may fit more in the west. We went to a FCU rally to see what it was like and it was fine and if FCU wasn't part of WBCCI, we'd join FCU right away. Yet, I don't see why I should join the WBCCI if there is so much discontent and it seems the organization may be more important than the members. Maybe I'm completely wrong. I think one thing weakening WBCCI (other than the behavior of the organization) is the Forum because it gives us another way to gather. I really don't understand why it is so difficult for an FCU rep. to be allowed to participate.

Gene

[eubank]

Ah, CrawfordGene! Just around the corner from where my parents had their ranch at Paonia!

Hey, you should really give both FCU and the Denver unit a try! We're having the Denver unit here at the end of September for the 3½th Annual 2008 Fall Colors, Raspberry Picking, Maintenance, Eating and Just about Anything Else You Can Think of Rally!


Lynn

[Goin camping]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

This is not leaving me a very good impression of WBCCI. After reading materials I received from them after buying our unit, it seemed very formal and had many requirements that seemed to be for caravans and not for just getting together. I recently learned about officers having all sorts of flags to display at rallies and I'm unsure what that proves. I like the idea of boondocking rallies and that may fit more in the west. We went to a FCU rally to see what it was like and it was fine and if FCU wasn't part of WBCCI, we'd join FCU right away. Yet, I don't see why I should join the WBCCI if there is so much discontent and it seems the organization may be more important than the members. Maybe I'm completely wrong. I think one thing weakening WBCCI (other than the behavior of the organization) is the Forum because it gives us another way to gather. I really don't understand why it is so difficult for an FCU rep. to be allowed to participate.

Gene

Gene, Couple of thoughts.

Dale is not a paid member of the WBCCI. The rules say ya gotta pay to play.

We rally with a forum group and are members of the FCU and. We enjoy both.

No aspect of our world is perfect. My TV may need a repair but I still enjoy it. I may not care for what a President or Congress does but I'm still glad to be an American. Same with the WBCCI. The WBCCI may irritate me but a Rally with the FCU is still fun and worth the membership and the drive from Calif to wherever the rally is.

[PeeWee]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

This is not leaving me a very good impression of WBCCI. After reading materials I received from them after buying our unit, it seemed very formal and had many requirements that seemed to be for caravans and not for just getting together. I recently learned about officers having all sorts of flags to display at rallies and I'm unsure what that proves. I like the idea of boondocking rallies and that may fit more in the west. We went to a FCU rally to see what it was like and it was fine and if FCU wasn't part of WBCCI, we'd join FCU right away. Yet, I don't see why I should join the WBCCI if there is so much discontent and it seems the organization may be more important than the members. Maybe I'm completely wrong. I think one thing weakening WBCCI (other than the behavior of the organization) is the Forum because it gives us another way to gather. I really don't understand why it is so difficult for an FCU rep. to be allowed to participate.

Gene

Gene,

I have been a Byam family member since birth. I have Caravaned, I have attended rallies, and I have worked at Airstream.

After attending the International in Bozeman, I can only praise the life of the Airstream world and WBCCI.

The only reason I could not vote was a technical point of my status and the constitution and by-laws of the clubs.

I have made so many new friends at Bozeman. This is what it is all about. Also I shared time with many of my old friends.

Don't discount joining. You will be welcomed with open arms and you will find that you have been missing a new life.

Put the comments you read on the forum behind you.

Welcome.

Dale "Pee Wee" Schwamborn