WBCCI MOHO Issue - 2013

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by mefly2

We find the annual dues to be questionable as to value ... but have heard the rumors that some folks get their travel expenses paid ... is that why the dues are so high. It can't be for the magazine production costs and most of the WBCCI events which we have attended are self-supporting financially.

Compared to professional non-profit organizations I've belonged to (Construction Specifications Institute, American Society of Military Engineers, etc.) the WBCCI dues are actually reasonable.

Some WBCCI members do get reimbursed for travel expenses, but those are club officers, attending official club functions that they're obligated to attend by virtue of their positions. Supposedly. There is some room for abuse because some of the people who are responsible for determining who gets paid for what are also some of the same people who get paid. The financial disbursement rules do need more checks and balances built in. Overall, though, I believe that it costs club officers more than they're reimbursed. For example, they're paid travel expenses to get to an event, but not to get home from the event. Still, they're on the gravy train compared to the rank-and-file members attending the same events with no reimbursement at all…

[Gene]

Whether officers and board members of a nonprofit get reimbursed for their expenses is always a difficult question. Some boards expect them to donate time and money in the form of no reimbursements and also contribute money to the organization.

Sometimes this only means wealthy people can serve and they usually have little idea how the rest of the people live.

So I think there should be reasonable reimbursement for those who can't afford the expenses—this enables middle class people to serve and give their viewpoints. How to determine who can afford it and who can't can be a delicate question and may be better left to the officers and directors to each decide for themselves.

But even a badly run organization takes a lot of time and some money demands from the leadership. That's one reason leaders of many organizations appear to be concentrated among people who are retired and have a solid retirement income—military pensions for officers are very good and that is why they are so prominent among this leadership.

And it is a good idea for leaders to visit various units and their rallies so they can get feedback. Of course, those leaders do not seem to listen to the feedback or they aren't being offered any. If a leader visits a unit, why not have a question period at a rally where members can ask about the things they say on the Forum?

Hold them accountable.

Gene

[Blue Pearl]

Gene, I agree with you 100 percent. The renibursment the officers get allows members to take office that might not otherwise as it helps pays part of the fuel bill to be within their travel budget. And I bet those region officers and International officers are the best we have and we should support them. If I remember, they said that $6.00 from every membership goes to officer reimbursement. To me that is more than worth it to talk eye to eye with my region and International officers .

[monah]

???

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by monah

???

What is your question?

.

[monah]

the best we have? I believe the future of the club, and the best we have, are just around the corner.

[monah]

Plenty of momentum around Airstream trailers....
Airstream mystique: Passionate local community grows with a new dealership - NWautos

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Blue Pearl

Gene, I agree with you 100 percent. The renibursment the officers get allows members to take office that might not otherwise as it helps pays part of the fuel bill to be within their travel budget. And I bet those region officers and International officers are the best we have and we should support them. If I remember, they said that $6.00 from every membership goes to officer reimbursement. To me that is more than worth it to talk eye to eye with my region and International officers .

Thanks for agreeing with me regarding that some reimbursement seems fair, but I neither said that the system the club has is proper and not, especially, that the officers are worthy of support. I suppose they are the "best we have" because they are what you have, but I doubt better ones could not be found.

Gene

[monah]

Gene...trust me, they're out there

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by monah

Gene...trust me, they're out there

The ones we have now are too far "out there" as the MoHo amendment amply demonstrates. The new crop needs to be brough "in here" from "out there" before the present crop can indoctrinate them into the old ways.

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by monah

Gene...trust me, they're out there

I agree that there are some that are comin' up thru the ranks. I have met them, like and respect them.

The question is.......will they be a little too late and the WBCCI a little too gone?


Maggie

[monah]

I for one hope not.

[Gene]

Yes, I know a good one who is rising through the ranks, but how many reformers are doing that and will they make it?

Gene

[monah]

Gene....quite a few at many different levels.

[Gene]

Monah, that's good. How long will it take to turn the ship around? Will is happen in time? I doubt anyone has a good answer, but it would be nice to know the future.

Gene

[davenpow]

Despite what the president's (Captain's) best intentions, it is (was) the IBT's (rudder's
failure) short sightedness that is preventing (prevented) the club (Titanic) from turning around and missing the wrecking of a once magnificent club (ship).

[Buttercup]

My big concern is that There is little to no information anywhere about this most important issue published anywhere.
For example:

• There is no survey done to show what the members feel about this issue
• There is no impact assessment that shows how this could be a benefit or detriment to the club
• No marketing survey to show how many members will leave the club if this passes
• No indication whatsoever to show who even wants to get a new THOR SOB and stay in the club
• No guess as to how many members will just leave as opposed to how many members will stay with their new SOB THOR rig
• No indication of one single member who will take advantage of this opportunity if it passes at all - not one name.

In short - how could anybody support this with no information to back up the need to do this at all.


If you are in a unit - who has presented you with the information about the vote? The package is out there and published in the WBCCI site. Who is presenting it to your unit?

[wkerfoot]

Tim,

I agree with your concerns.

My unit president sent an email to all members requesting their opinion of the motion and how he should vote at the delegates meeting.

Bill

Originally Posted by Buttercup

My big concern is that There is little to no information anywhere about this most important issue published anywhere.
For example:

• There is no survey done to show what the members feel about this issue
• There is no impact assessment that shows how this could be a benefit or detriment to the club
• No marketing survey to show how many members will leave the club if this passes
• No indication whatsoever to show who even wants to get a new THOR SOB and stay in the club
• No guess as to how many members will just leave as opposed to how many members will stay with their new SOB THOR rig
• No indication of one single member who will take advantage of this opportunity if it passes at all - not one name.

In short - how could anybody support this with no information to back up the need to do this at all.


If you are in a unit - who has presented you with the information about the vote? The package is out there and published in the WBCCI site. Who is presenting it to your unit?

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

If you are in a unit - who has presented you with the information about the vote? The package is out there and published in the WBCCI site. Who is presenting it to your unit?

As you know, WBCCI is a strongly hierarchical organization in which information is supposed to percolate down the "chain of command". This stuff was sent to the unit presidents by snail mail (around April 1) and it's up to them to pass the word to the members.

Communications in our unit are good, and this will be voted on at the spring business meeting end of April. Information, including a ballot which can be sent in by mail, has been distributed in the latest unit newsletter, which is on the web:

http://wisc.wbcci.net/files/2013/04/...r_Bulletin.pdf

Our unit votes proportionally at the Delegates Meeting. When essentially the same motion was voted on last year, our unit voted 20% in favor, 80% opposed. I doubt the results will be much different this year.
.

[Blue Pearl]

What if Thor sells Airstream. None of the original owners that brought Airstream are around, Thor has moved it's operations to Elkhart, Indiana and Thor could make big money in the sale.
Maybe Matthew McConaughey and some of his movie star Airstream friends would be interested, he is so dreamy.