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nitzo · 08-20-2021, 05:15 PM

I've read a bunch of this stuff and my eyes are hazing over. Exactly how do I join the WBCCI club and also a local club. What are the easiest steps? And this is the direction I need to go, correct? If I want to be in the club.

**Nelson428** · 08-20-2021, 05:32 PM

Check your private messages

djb75 · 08-20-2021, 05:33 PM

My understanding is that WBCCI is now ACI.
Try https://airstreamclub.org/ - under the "Future Members" menu option.

uncle_bob · 08-20-2021, 05:46 PM

Hi

First question is really: do I want to join / should I join? That part is very much up to you. The "stuff" that WBCCI / ACI offers is pretty well gone over in various threads here. You should be able to get a reasonable idea of what you are signing up for.

You join the national organization *and* can join any number of local chapters. The practical minimum is one local chapter. Much of the practical stuff comes from that local chapter. As noted above, you can do the sign up on the web.

You might want to do some research on local chapters. If you *never* are home and are *alway* on vacation here or there, it might be more practical to join the chapter in the vacation spot .... I've been to way more chapter meetings in Georgia than I ever have in Pennsylvania.

Bob

nitzo · 08-20-2021, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson428

Check your private messages

Thanks

**richard5933** · 08-20-2021, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djb75

My understanding is that WBCCI is now ACI.
Try https://airstreamclub.org/ - under the "Future Members" menu option.

The site lists ACI as a d/b/a name. The WBCCI appears to be the primary name. They list the following at the bottom of some pages, "Wally Byam Caravan Club International, Inc. dba the Wally Byam Airstream Club and Airstream Club International".

Hittenstiehl · 08-20-2021, 10:18 PM

WBCCI, Wally Byam Caravan Club International, is now known as Airstream Club International as was voted in and will continue to be phased in. The change of name more accurately reflects what the club currently represents. WBCCI will continue to play a role as it represents the club history and founding.

uncle_bob · 08-21-2021, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

WBCCI, Wally Byam Caravan Club International, is now known as Airstream Club International as was voted in and will continue to be phased in. The change of name more accurately reflects what the club currently represents. WBCCI will continue to play a role as it represents the club history and founding.

Hi

There has also been a "rebranding" of the local chapters in the last couple of years. That might have broken older links to their web sites.

Bob

PatLee · 08-21-2021, 12:33 PM

And you want to try out an Airstream caravan or two. You might want to start with this website: https://airstreamclub.org/future-members. This website also looks like it might be very helpful: https://airstreamclub.org/contact-us
If you join, put those Big Red Numbers (BRNs) where they'll be seen!

switz · 08-21-2021, 06:33 PM

Big red numbers were used at the International rallies to find you . They are from the days before cell phones in every pocket. They also are in the member directiry so you can see who and where from info associated with tahst soecific Aurstream

uncle_bob · 08-22-2021, 08:32 AM

Hi

One of the other parts of cell phones is that everybody has them.

Big red numbers tell *anybody* what your registration is. A couple of clicks on the internet and they have your address. That combined with the fact that likely are away is "valuable" to certain folks.

Is this a big deal? Who knows. I find it a bit hard to believe that crooks are that organized. At the same time, no, I don't have big red numbers on my trailer.

Bob

**richard5933** · 08-22-2021, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

One of the other parts of cell phones is that everybody has them.

Big red numbers tell *anybody* what your registration is. A couple of clicks on the internet and they have your address. That combined with the fact that likely are away is "valuable" to certain folks.

Is this a big deal? Who knows. I find it a bit hard to believe that crooks are that organized. At the same time, no, I don't have big red numbers on my trailer.

Bob

In many states they can do the same with a license plate number. Probably much easier to do it than with the BRN. I just put my car's plate number into an online search and had a report ready in a couple of minutes for the low, low price of only $3.95

Privacy is an illusion.

rmkrum · 08-22-2021, 08:51 AM

Which is also why I don’t have any useful big red numbers, or mention our travel plans in public, like on the forums. I may talk about my travels after I return, or maybe not. OPSEC is the term the military uses.

I learned that lesson years ago.

eubank · 08-22-2021, 11:28 AM

Not necessarily true. In order to access that kind of info, you have to be a member of the club. Further, at joining the club, you can also specify whether this kind of info will be made available at all online, even when restricted to members.

Don't believe it? Try it. Below is my club number. Tell me what my street address is using ONLY the number. If you do find it, then you must also explain the path you followed from, say, Google to the address listing.

21043

Lynn

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

One of the other parts of cell phones is that everybody has them.

Big red numbers tell *anybody* what your registration is. A couple of clicks on the internet and they have your address. That combined with the fact that likely are away is "valuable" to certain folks.

Is this a big deal? Who knows. I find it a bit hard to believe that crooks are that organized. At the same time, no, I don't have big red numbers on my trailer.

Bob

nitzo · 08-22-2021, 06:39 PM

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PatLee · 08-23-2021, 08:08 AM

I like the Big Red Numbers posted boldly on the front and back of my AS. I like that fellow Airstream club members can look them up in their directory and know who I am. Good! This is not a 'lack of caution' for me but rather, feeds into my sense of camaraderie with fellow wanderers, who wonder along with me about what's over the next hill, around the next curve, down that next mountain trail. If something bad happens because of this approach, I'll report back.

uncle_bob · 08-23-2021, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eubank

Not necessarily true. In order to access that kind of info, you have to be a member of the club. Further, at joining the club, you can also specify whether this kind of info will be made available at all online, even when restricted to members.

Don't believe it? Try it. Below is my club number. Tell me what my street address is using ONLY the number. If you do find it, then you must also explain the path you followed from, say, Google to the address listing.

21043

Lynn

Hi

Ok, if I wished, I'd go to the directory that I have downloaded and look it up. No Google or internet path involved. The gotcha is that anything that is downloaded *could* be out in the hands of "folks". If so it could easily be buried on a site you or I would never visit.

Bob

**richard5933** · 08-23-2021, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Ok, if I wished, I'd go to the directory that I have downloaded and look it up. No Google or internet path involved. The gotcha is that anything that is downloaded *could* be out in the hands of "folks". If so it could easily be buried on a site you or I would never visit.

Bob

True, but once you're at that point of worry then why stop at the BRN? Should we all be worried about someone seeing our license plates as well?

What exactly is the worry anyway - someone in Idaho with nefarious intent sees your BRN, looks up and finds your home address in Georgia. They're not in Georgia, so is there a worry that they'll call someone down there to rob you?

If someone wants to find the home address of an RV owner, the license plate number is much more direct and and much quicker source for the information.

I operate on the assumption that I have no privacy and that my information can be found if someone wants it. When we're traveling, we take the usual precautions for our house. But, in the end this is why we have insurance.

Hittenstiehl · 08-23-2021, 02:05 PM

Bob, you missed the point. If the number isn't published in the directory then you can't look it up there.

uncle_bob · 08-24-2021, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Bob, you missed the point. If the number isn't published in the directory then you can't look it up there.

Hi

If I go to my copy of the digital directory and search for the number mentioned, it most certainly does come up. The last name on the listing matches the user name who posted it ....

To be very specific: "WBCCI Digital Directory 02052019.pdf" if that matters ...

Again, I have never heard of an *actual* problem from any of this. It's all speculation. The only point is that there has been a lot of talk about it. It's worth being aware of *before* you put up the numbers. We all take risks all the time, it's part of life. Personally I don't see this as a big risk, but some folks do.

Bob