"The Wally Byam Airstream Club"!

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by cazual6

Unfortunately, complainers and nay sayers will always exist. Within reason, I always look at it as glass half full.



From your personal experience, what does being in the club mean? As I mentioned, I just signed up a few days ago.

For me, being part of "the club" is just one more avenue to connect with like-minded people who own Airstreams. It is one of several "avenues" I will pursue. And as long as the pursuit brings me enjoyment, I will continue it. If it stops being fun, then I stop. Easy.

[melindamcmul]

I LOVE the fact that the WBCCI leadership is looking for ways to continue moving forward, and believe it's a great idea to incorporate Airstream into the branding considering the fact that membership is only to Airstreamers and legacy Airstream brands.

I've been in marketing for more than 30 years and understand first-hand the importance of branding. I spent nearly a decade at IBM, where we were continually focused on evolving our brand. That said, I'd caution that the new logo be carefully considered -- is this a transitional logo or one that the creators hope will last for at least 10-25 years. If the latter, it should be carefully developed and tested with current and prospective audiences. I feel, though, that we are in excellent hands with the current and future leadership and look forward to many years of membership in WBCCI.

[Silver.Sanctuary]

Originally Posted by avionstream

Tradition means something to people who think.

I suspect they don't want to continue the "tradition" of a dying WBCCI, so something would have to give, wouldn't it?

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by Silver.Sanctuary

I suspect they don't want to continue the "tradition" of a dying WBCCI, so something would have to give, wouldn't it?

Membership is up. Sounds as if the infusion of new members trying to make change from within is what's helping to look toward the future without forgetting the past. Mona just got elected as 3rd VP and hopefully over time will ascend the ranks the run the show. We'll see.

I'm glad there's a use of the words "Airstream" and "Rallies" in the new name/logo.

[Protagonist]

Not only is membership up, but the average age is down slightly as well, indicating an influx of younger members. (Or was that the average age of Airstream owners in general? I wasn't paying enough attention.)

Changes in the club come from motions submitted by members— ANY members— and voted on by the IBT for changes to bylaws or by the Delegates (meaning the membership as a whole as represented by Delegates) in the case of changes to the WBCCI constitution. The WBCCI President doesn't get a vote in the IBT for bylaws changes unless a tie-breaker is needed, and tie-breakers are meaningless when a 2/3 majority vote is needed. He does get a vote in the Delegates' Meeting— exactly the same vote that every other member gets at the Unit level as represented by his Unit delegate— so there your own vote means just as much as his.

So a WBCCI President can foster an attitude of change but the actual changes occur at a lower level. If someone wants change, they should do their homework. Read the WBCCI Constitution and Bylaws, figure out what's wrong, come up with a way to make it right and determine how much it will cost to do it, and submit a motion to make the change.

The WBCCI President is only a symbol of the club and by himself (or herself in Mona's case) can only change the ceremonial aspects. The President can do away with the uniform dress code for meetings and go with "business casual" in place of mandated white shirt and dark pants, neckties and berets optional— after all, how you dress makes no difference in how you vote. The President could do away with the Parade of Flags on the opening day of the International Rally and just present the national flags while the hundred-some Unit flags are just lined up along the back wall in advance without ceremony— or even decide that Unit flags won't even be displayed at the International Rally because no one even bothers to look at them after the flag ceremony. But those ceremonial changes, however desirable they may be to some members of WBCCI, are trivial compared to changes to the Constitution and Bylaws that cannot be made by the President but only by the IBT and/or the general membership.

The club is its members, and only its members can change it for the better.

[xrvr]

Originally Posted by Silver.Sanctuary

I suspect they don't want to continue the "tradition" of a dying WBCCI, so something would have to give, wouldn't it?

Some of the traditions of the club can continue even as the club leaps forward. Forgetting or eliminating traditions of the past decades to cow tow to newer younger members would be unfortunate and mean the death of the club as we know it. Yes, things must change, but not at the cost of losing the clubs identity. Let's hope for leaps forward with an eye on what the club has stood for. It's being done. Jump forward but keep an eye on the past. I just wish I still owned an AS so I could be a member again.

[Rich Jenkins]

I'm not a member of WBCCI, but I'm glad to see this change. It seems a step in the right direction.

Question: does WBCCI have a vBulletin or similar discussuon forum that a prospective non-member can join to learn more about the club?

My previous experience with a SOB forum was that you had to (first) pay up before participating, and after I was able to audit the forum, it was using very antiquated software (e.g. daily and weekly "email" summary's. Reminded me of a 9,600 baud dial up connection using AOL. )

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

The President can do away with the uniform dress code for meetings and go with "business casual" in place of mandated white shirt and dark pants, neckties and berets optional— after all, how you dress makes no difference in how you vote.

Are you serious?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Llando88

Are you serious?

Yes. That was the established dress code for the participants in the flag ceremony AND the delegates' meeting. The IBT had their own slightly more rigid dress code established in the "protocol book" sent out to all IBT members prior to the International, but since that's above my pay grade, I didn't get a chance to see it— not that I wanted to.

Rank-and-file members had no particular dress code for any rally events, except that they were supposed to wear their name badges and the ribbons that showed that they had registered and paid. Other than that, they could wear whatever they liked, within the limits of common sense and public decency.

In the Delegates' meeting at least, some iconoclasts defied the dress code, but for the most part they complied, however reluctantly in some cases.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Yes. That was the established dress code for the participants in the flag ceremony AND the delegates' meeting. The IBT had their own slightly more rigid dress code established in the "protocol book" sent out to all IBT members prior to the International, but since that's above my pay grade, I didn't get a chance to see it— not that I wanted to.

Rank-and-file members had no particular dress code for any rally events, except that they were supposed to wear their name badges and the ribbons that showed that they had registered and paid. Other than that, they could wear whatever they liked, within the limits of common sense and public decency.

In the Delegates' meeting at least, some iconoclasts defied the dress code, but for the most part they complied, however reluctantly in some cases.

Woah.

Ok, thanks. Interesting to know.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Llando88

Woah.

Ok, thanks. Interesting to know.

Don't let it deter you from joining. The dress code for event participants has relaxed somewhat in recent years— neckties and berets are optional rather than mandatory, and no one even mentions blazers anymore— and I expect that trend to continue in the future, with dress codes becoming even more relaxed until there isn't one anymore. We shouldn't have to dress alike to express our group solidarity; our Airstreams do that for us.

Besides, as I said, for rank-and-file membership dress codes are pretty much a non-issue already.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Don't let it deter you from joining. The dress code for event participants has relaxed somewhat in recent years— neckties and berets are optional rather than mandatory, and no one even mentions blazers anymore— and I expect that trend to continue in the future, with dress codes becoming even more relaxed until there isn't one anymore. We shouldn't have to dress alike to express our group solidarity; our Airstreams do that for us.

Besides, as I said, for rank-and-file membership dress codes are pretty much a non-issue already.

No worries.

Heck, we're still just figuring out how to avoid locking ourselves out of the Airstream again.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Llando88

No worries.

Heck, we're still just figuring out how to avoid locking ourselves out of the Airstream again.

You mean besides not locking it at all?

A spare key hidden somewhere in your tow vehicle is usually sufficient. If you lock yourself out of the tow vehicle as well, a call to your favorite roadside assistance company can usually get you back into your tow vehicle, which in turn will get you into your trailer when you retrieve the spare key.

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

You mean besides not locking it at all?

A spare key hidden somewhere in your tow vehicle is usually sufficient. If you lock yourself out of the tow vehicle as well, a call to your favorite roadside assistance company can usually get you back into your tow vehicle, which in turn will get you into your trailer when you retrieve the spare key.

Oh yeah...I had both spare key blanks I got cut today at the locksmith. I'll keep them in the truck for now I guess.

With the truck, as long as I have my phone, so can use the uConnect app to unlock it. Assuming I have my phone lol.

We were in Holley NY, and my wife had gone to check on the laundry. I woke up groggy from a nap and the Mini Schnauzer had to go find a bush.

I went out and a gust of wind caught the door, and it closed with an odd click.

Yep, no keys, no phone, zip.

By chance I'd left the rear hatch unlocked. The camp host eventually leant me his impact drill driver and I was able to remove the under bed panel to gain access, then fortunately was able to wriggle through the hatch.

Two hours later.

It was a character building experience.

[Ted S.]

Established dress code.

Stick a fork in it.

[rmkrum]

Last time I was in an organization with a dress code, it was as a Boy Scout Leader. I put up with it there as it was part and parcel of the programme.

Anything other than that, I don't see the need to be that formal.




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[switz]

Uncle Sam had a dress code for me a few years ago in the late 60s and early 70s..... Even selected the hairstyle - peach or cue ball.

[xrvr]

Funny, you all have to the uninformed, virtually identical trailers, pulled by two or three lookalike tv types and you want to camp in groups. Yet you argue over a specific uniform that basically no one is required to wear. Have fun being different. Enjoy camping!

[Jim Flower]

Originally Posted by switz

Uncle Sam had a dress code for me a few years ago in the late 60s and early 70s..... Even selected the hairstyle - peach or cue ball.

I get it. Antagonize the enemy so that they will do something foolish.

Every school year end, my dad would dig out his cold, manual hair clippers and shave most of my head bald. The ensuing attack in the play ground made me fast and smart but not tough. I guess it worked, sort of. Jim


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[SilverEagle6]

Ok, let's assume this is about branding. That would mean "they" want to increase membership. Ok, what we all have in common is an Airstream. I don't caravan and doubt I ever will. I am a member of the organization, but have begun to question why. This latest news is good. Make the club about owning an airstream, whether you caravan, boondock, or sit in a park. I for one would lose the Wally. I want to promote Airstreaming, as defined by the person who owns the Airstream...not Thor, not Wally.