Region Consolidation

[DFDureiko]

just recieved info on a proposed motion to consoldate into 7 regions and have the Int'l rally be one of the Region Rallys each year.
posted over on the WBCCI forums, but that place is a MAJOR ghost town.
So thought I'd try posting here to get thoughts.
I personally think it's a great idea as we need to change fast to survive.
Thoughts?
Dan

[wheel interested]

It sounds like a good idea to me. It will save money and we no longer need as many officers as we did when the club was so much larger. Redrawing the regions according to membership density rather than geography would even out the sizes of larger and smaller regions. That seems like a good idea too. I think alternating where the International is held and letting regions sponsor the rally would also be a big money saver and make accessibility more convenient at least every third International for all members. More business can be conducted via internet and free up resources and be able to spend more time on issues during the entire year and more time at Internationals for recreation.

[Stefrobrts]

Am I just having deja vu, or wasn't that proposed about four years ago? I'm sure I remember hearing discussions about it.

[azflycaster]

I'm not sure, but it sounds like the one sent to me recently. We will be discussing this at the Region 11 meeting next month. The proposal is a good start, but it does need a lot of work. Besides cutting the number of regions it also eliminates the 3IVP and puts some limits on travel. All good ideas. I have been running the concept by members in my unit and all of the comments have been positive.

[azfiredog300]

Very interesting, I think moving the International around would be a good idea.

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by wheel interested

It sounds like a good idea to me. It will save money and we no longer need as many officers as we did when the club was so much larger. Redrawing the regions according to membership density rather than geography would even out the sizes of larger and smaller regions. That seems like a good idea too.

The difficulty with redrawing region boundaries to roughly equalize the number of members is that it would create some geographically enormous regions which would simply not be viable. I personally believe that it would be better to simply eliminate the "region" layer of management altogether and go to real, multiple-candidate elections of the international level officers.

[wheel interested]

Originally Posted by Nuvite-F

The difficulty with redrawing region boundaries to roughly equalize the number of members is that it would create some geographically enormous regions which would simply not be viable. I personally believe that it would be better to simply eliminate the "region" layer of management altogether and go to real, multiple-candidate elections of the international level officers.

Would it matter how large the region is if the officers didn't have to travel to the various units? I do like the 1 member 1 vote idea. The voting procedures need work. Some units vote block some don't and a unit president can vote his conscience.

The club could definitely benefit from membership and leadership discussion of these subjects. So little can be accomplished the way club business is conducted currently at the few meetings and the time restrictions around these few meetings a year. And the unit delegates meeting isn't even allowed to presided over by their own but instead governed also by the IBT branch of leadership reducing all possibility of checks and balances and a greater collective deliberation.

[moosetags]

I wholeheartedly agree with 65GT. I think that the regional structure should be drastically reduced to significantly cut costs. The geographic size of the the regions is irrelevant. They should reflect roughly equal numbers of membership, so that the individual members are fairly represented.

Brian

[Gkiesel]

Hey Mr. 65GT, I would agree with your ideas about elimanating the EC and giving more say to the regions, but I have to ask you, Why don't you ever sign your comments with your name? You use no signature line that I have ever seen. If you are to lead us out of darkness, let us know who you are. Thanks, George

[Minnie's Mate]

I attended my first WBCCI rally this year...the Florida State Rally. I'm told it is the second largest congregation of Airstreams in the world. First, of course, is the International. So Regional Rallies would be possible.

[eubank]

The problem I see with removing regions altogether and going with direct vote of EC members is that the regions do serve to provide a voice to regions that have fewer members. Often this is a matter of simple geography; New Mexico, for example, is the fifth largest state in the US, but (as my former boss once said with his usual hyperbole) "nobody lives there." In a sense, it's like the US Senate, two-per-state, regardless of population.

All of which is to say that regions do serve a purpose of sorts. And while I support consolidation, it will have to be done with care.


Lynn

[Gkiesel]

Well, It's my humble opinion, That eliminating the region level would be a lethal mistake. I don't have an opinion on consolidation because I don't know enough about the proposal. The problem lies at the top, not in the middle, and certainally not on the bottom at the unit level. There are very dedicated people out there working hard to change the structure at the top. It's not easy or quick, but it will happen. To all the non member people out there reading all this stuff, I can only say that down at the unit level, it's just a good camping club. No politics on your weekend outings, just good people, good campfires, and good beer. Do not let the problems at the internatonal level prevent you from joining. Airing our dirty laundry in an open forum can really give the wrong impression some times. But silence will not cure what ails us, we need to let others know what is going on or it will never change. So I implore those on the fence about about joining us. Sign up. Come out. You'll have fun. And if your inclined to get involved with changing the top, more power to us. But, if your like alot of us working, family types who don't need more stress in your life, then just come out and camp with us, I'll bring the beer. George.

[DFDureiko]

I should have said this in my first post. does anyone know at what time in our past? what year? our membership was at the level it is now? and then what was the structure was at that time. I'm thinking we most likely will never be at the levels we were in the mid 70's. If only for the fact that people are not joiners of clubs and groups the way the WWII gen was.

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by DFDureiko

I should have said this in my first post. does anyone know at what time in our past? what year? our membership was at the level it is now? and then what was the structure was at that time.

The membership numbers by year are in the annual directory. I do not have access to one at the moment but I believe the present membership levels were equal to those in the late 50's when the club was just a few years old. The dynamics were very different back then--the club was nearly doubling in membership every year. But I don't know what, if any, region organization there was back then.

Cheers,
Nuvi

[dwightdi]

The last big reorganization was in 1963 when they decided there should be state based division, like Good Sam has. They thought better of it and developed the 4 region (East, Midwest, West,and South structure which quickly evolved into the Region structure and the three level IBT structure we have had ever since. The intermediate Region level was developed to make the communications with the national leaders more "orderly". Region leaders were supposed to help local units.

Things tend to evolve to satisfy the personal needs of those in charge of making the rules. It is not likely we will see a positive change actually implemented by those leaders unless it meets their personal needs. The people now in charge have made it the way they want it. Why would they make any meaningful changes? Grass root changes do not normally work, unless there is a complete breakdown or crisis. Big changes (like the forming of the United States) frequently require a Revolutionary War of succession. Not all succession wars are successful. Think of the US Civil war.

[wheel interested]

When was WBCCI started? 50's? For the very reason they reorganized in 64 for the changing needs of the club, that is the very reason it should have been readdressed regularly in similar intervals through the years. It seems the organization is stuck for decades in the last change. You'd think the structure and Blue Book were tucked away in the sacred ark to never be seen or touched by mere mortal members again rather than be regarded as a viable working plan that lives and grows and changes to resemble its makeup of members periodically. Or is that the work that is supposed to be going on between all those pancakes and dinners and awards and dressing up and entertainment and trips? It takes them a month to set up for a rally but then they have only a few hours to tend to club business with an individual member getting only seconds to speak if they can even manage to get that, not every one can. It is quite random and subjective, who may approach and for how long before your time is up.

If the region representation was reevaluated I wonder if the need for the Executive Committee would be critical and require that level of governance in addition to all the other officers, especially if unit delegate meetings had more power as well and less control and oversight from the EC as is the case now. Though presently the same EC people get to be able to have the first and last say over every matter WBCCI. That's where the real deals come down, the rest is pomp.

I really agree with what Dwight said to sum it all up. It seems to me that most of many on the present leadership want to extend privilege and host to friends as we see large numbers of volunteers committees rather than to shave it down at all.

I read a president's letter, recently and while he thought things should and must change he said he would have voted against because there is still a few years of money left at the rate of $80,000 in the hole each year so he would opt for more study on his watch. I think that typlifies the sentiment for many. No one wants to be the one to pull the plug and they are just going to let their good times roll until the money and time runs out.