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xrvr · 07-03-2015, 01:37 PM

Just like most everything else in life, you have to know how to work the system. For better or worse!

airdreamers · 07-03-2015, 02:07 PM

All I know is the members make the club a "CLUB". I am an active member for 5 years and my wife and I consider the club to be part of our life now. With all the new friends and aquintences we have made and all of the activities and rallys, we are having a great time. There will always be naysayers. To each their own.

jaydthompson · 07-04-2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kokomogoggy

We joined earlier this year and have been sorely disappointed. We joined to take advantage of the various caravan trips. I checked into four of them and they'd been booked for some time. We don't have the luxury of planning more than a year from now...not knowing if any similar trips will materialize. We're not interested in the local rallies. Many of the Canadian and California chapters have great trips and rallies. We'll take a look at it again in a couple of years.

There is space on this year's SW Adventure caravan. I spoke with the leaders, Margie and Phil Glassey and they have one space available for this year's caravan. My wife and I will be co-leading the SW Caravan with the Glasseys next year, 2016 and there are currently 22 rigs signed up and we will be taking 30. We would be pleased to have you on the caravan.

Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

AirBen · 08-08-2015, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n2916s

Left when the "any motor home by Thor" proposal was resurrected immediately after being shot down for the second time. And the proposal started in my Region.

The leadership at the time did not give a flying rat's patootie about the wishes of the membership.

Maybe different now but I am no longer interested.

Mike

I think the club should have standards, and one of the standards should be " only airstream" otherwise, it devalues the whole concept that Wally started. I'm sure there are other RV clubs where anything goes, if someone were so inclined to look, but this one should be specific only. If someone doesn't think so, they should find a different club. My .02.

SteveSueMac · 08-08-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AirBen

I think the club should have standards, and one of the standards should be " only airstream" otherwise, it devalues the whole concept that Wally started. I'm sure there are other RV clubs where anything goes, if someone were so inclined to look, but this one should be specific only. If someone doesn't think so, they should find a different club. My .02.

I agree - and not to stir the pot, but the new Prez's intro letter in the latest Blue Beret mag identifies one of his goals as "Strengthening the Club's ties with Airstream and with Thor." If that is a hint at wanting to change the definition of Airstream-only, I know I'm not going to continue to be a member. And I say this as someone who really loves the New England Unit and isn't thinking much about International politics - but if (big if) that's a new direction, I'm definitely not interested.

Frank's Trailer Works · 08-08-2015, 07:01 AM

You forgot the box in the poll "used your dues to send you a cease and desist letter for holding a WBCCI only rally"

Protagonist · 08-08-2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

I agree - and not to stir the pot, but the new Prez's intro letter in the latest Blue Beret mag identifies one of his goals as "Strengthening the Club's ties with Airstream and with Thor." If that is a hint at wanting to change the definition of Airstream-only, I know I'm not going to continue to be a member.

I don't think that's the case. At least, I hope not. Thor is the parent company of Airstream, and any changes at Airstream have to be supported by Thor's management. Strengthening ties with Airstream pretty much also requires strengthening ties with Thor.

Airtandem · 08-08-2015, 08:42 AM

Thor has a VG line of MOHO's. Take 2 or 3 of their models and repurpose them into Airstream models. Change the graphics and Add the Airstream logo/name. That is essentially what they have done with the Interstate; they use a Mercedes or Dodge chassis make the rest of the unit Airstream. Maybe this would keep everyone happy, or just opened a new can of worms.

mike

jgerardi · 08-08-2015, 08:51 AM

The groups activities didn't fit my schedule. They seemed like a great crowd.

SteveSueMac · 08-08-2015, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protagonist

I don't think that's the case. At least, I hope not. Thor is the parent company of Airstream, and any changes at Airstream have to be supported by Thor's management. Strengthening ties with Airstream pretty much also requires strengthening ties with Thor.

I hope not too. But in my brain (not that it's right), strengthening ties with AS pretty much implies ties with Thor would be strengthened as a result (where Thor is the parent company). Spelling it out implies (or - at least I inferred) something less organic.

We'll see.

eubank · 08-08-2015, 01:04 PM

Perhaps doesn't make much difference, but the historical Thor is rather different from the current-day one. Thor was formed in 1980 by Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein for the sole purpose of purchasing Airstream from Beatrice Foods. It was only subsequently that Thor began purchasing other RV companies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Industries

Lynn

Smartstream · 08-08-2015, 01:28 PM

It's interesting that on a thread about why you left the WBCCI there are so many posts by current members. I'm not quite sure how to interpret the message here. Maybe it's just me.

Protagonist · 08-08-2015, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartstream

It's interesting that on a thread about why you left the WBCCI there are so many posts by current members. I'm not quite sure how to interpret the message here. Maybe it's just me.

There's no message to interpret. Current members are as just curious as anyone— if not more so— as to why other folks have left WBCCI. And of course we're just as likely as anyone else to have opinions about the reasons given for leaving the club. We are/were privy to many of the same events that prompted some people to leave, yet we haven't left. Aren't you equally curious as to why?

Frank's Trailer Works · 08-08-2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartstream

It's interesting that on a thread about why you left the WBCCI there are so many posts by current members. I'm not quite sure how to interpret the message here. Maybe it's just me.

Stop being logical. No one appreciates logic these days...

dwightdi · 08-08-2015, 02:21 PM

The club has about 6% of its members aging out of trailering every year. There are a smaller percentage that sold their Airstream, but bought something else. An even smaller percentage are the people who find the club provided activities not up to their expectations and current interests.

The goal is to provide, through the International, Region and Local units, activities that the majority of members find are worth the cost of the annual dues. Communications have improved and signing up for membership has been made easier causing the club this year has signed up more members that it lost. It is a good sign for the club.

In the next three years, we will have presidents who are committed to making positive changes for the club.

Smartstream · 08-08-2015, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protagonist

There's no message to interpret. Current members are as just curious as anyone— if not more so— as to why other folks have left WBCCI. And of course we're just as likely as anyone else to have opinions about the reasons given for leaving the club. We are/were privy to many of the same events that prompted some people to leave, yet we haven't left. Aren't you equally curious as to why?

I understand people are curious and they also have opinions. There are many threads about the WBCCI and how the members enjoy it but that was not the question asked at the start of this thread. If I were to post my reason for leaving I really don't want to be challenged nor do I need people telling me why I'm wrong for thinking or feeling the way I do. If I feel the need I can seek professional help for that.

Protagonist · 08-08-2015, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartstream

If I were to post my reason for leaving I really don't want to be challenged nor do I need people telling me why I'm wrong for thinking or feeling the way I do. If I feel the need I can seek professional help for that.

After you posted that, I went back and re-read the entire thread from beginning to end. I didn't see one single instance of someone— not even me— telling anybody that their reason for leaving was wrong.

There was some advice for people who were on the fence about leaving because they joined to go on caravans and were dismayed by the long waiting lists, and stuff like that. And some membership statistics.

But if your reason for leaving WBCCI is controversial and you don't want controversy, you're entirely within your right to exclude us from knowing it. You could PM the OP instead of posting it for the peanut gallery to read.

skitique · 08-08-2015, 05:13 PM

We joined last year due to a rally we went to at Hiawassee, which was not a WBCCI rally, but several members of the Southeast Unit were there & most work as do we & their idea of camping is similar to ours. There were not schedules & it was more about camping. We are going to attend our first WBCCI rally at Palmetto Cove in the fall so we'll see how it goes. Rally parking at the fall event which is not what we are used to but the point of this gathering is to socialize so it sounds like a fun time.

Drathaar · 08-08-2015, 05:19 PM

We joined the Oregon Chapter when we bought our first Airstream. I found them to be friendly and helpful folks, but we discovered we just didn't want to caravan with a large group. Nothing at all against the Chapter or the organization.

AirBen · 08-08-2015, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

I agree - and not to stir the pot, but the new Prez's intro letter in the latest Blue Beret mag identifies one of his goals as "Strengthening the Club's ties with Airstream and with Thor." If that is a hint at wanting to change the definition of Airstream-only, I know I'm not going to continue to be a member. And I say this as someone who really loves the New England Unit and isn't thinking much about International politics - but if (big if) that's a new direction, I'm definitely not interested.

I would like some clarification n exactly what the pres means. I'm a new member, so, I'm in the learning stage, but I would think, if anyone such as the pres. were to challenge the integrity of this club, by even slightly implying that the club should let Thor products in, which are not in line with what this club has allowed, and has been status quo, for 60 years, then I would say that would qualify as an impeachable offense. Ths club is very unique unto itself, as it has been very strict with allowances, even to forbid the painted trailers access to the club, for obvious reasons.