[A/S] WBCCI and today's Airstreamer

[cooper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Okay, I have owned an Airstream Motorhome for three years now.  We 
have attended some Airstream functions and are members of the WBCCI.
I have made some observations in the past which I guess were too 
caustic for the Moderators of this group, and were not posted.  No, I 
didn't swear or anything like that, I just said some of the things 
which are now being discussed by the group.  

I am not an ignorent man.  I have a degree in the humanities and am 
retired after 35 years of service to the USA.  My Wife is an Attorney 
and still practices out of our home doing a good deal of pro bono
work 
on the side.  Sometimes my opinions are a little too radical for the 
environment of the time however.

I hope what I have to say may now be acceptable.  If not, you are 
moving in the direction that will accept it soon.  Times change, and 
you are all talking about what changes need be done to encourage more 
people to join the WBCCI.

The WBCCI is a fine organization.  It was organized when not too many 
people traveled around the country because of cost and facilities.  
Many folks thought that traveling in groups was better because if one 
had trouble, there were many to help out.  It was quite rational and 
worked very well for the time.  Of course strong bonds were formed 
between these people, as well they should have.  Campgrounds were
few, 
and repair facilities were sometimes unreliable and far apart.  I
know 
because I used to travel this country a great deal when I was young.

Today we travel this country alone with no problem.  There are many 
facilities we can use with no fear of being ripped off or stranded, 
and a great many organizations that we can turn to for help if we
need 
it.  It is a paradise for folks like us.

When we first bought our Motorhome, we went to an Airstream Park as 
invited guests.  We were interested in joining the WBCCI and wanted
to 
see what it was like.  The couple that had invited us were our only 
friends.  We were driving a MOTORHOME!!  They told us that motorhomes 
were only being permitted at that time because they were really
trying 
to get new members.  I found that a little disturbing because our 
Motorhome said right on the side, AIRSTREAM!!  We left after the 
weekend saying to ourselves that we didn't want to be part of that 
group.  We are friendly and outgoing people and prefer to befriend 
anyone that comes along.

Since then we have traveled all over the U S and Canada and found
that 
other folks don't have a good feel for Airstreamers.  We usually get
a 
cool recption, but in the end can make many friends if we work at it. 
They seem to get by the Airstream stigma.

WHY IS THIS?

Today's RVers are not timid about traveling alone.  They make friends 
wherever they go and some are long lasting relationships.  They don't 
need caravans anymore.  I personally believe that caravans would be a 
lot of fun, but then you run into the WBCCI Chain of Command that 
reminds me of the Military with all its rules and etiqute. 

We have joined the WBCCI, and are getting to know some of the people.
The rules are there all right, and the older folks really want to
live 
by them.  Perhaps they are worried about losing their status in the 
group if they don't keep a lid on us new guys.  I actually have a 
club president that wants to visit us at our home.  I percieve that
it 
is an inspection trip to see what kind of people we are.  I would 
gladly host the whole club at our home this Summer for a pig roast or 
some other activity, but I don't like the feeling of being inspected.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

Today's Airstreamers are a very diverse group.  They were not always. 
It used to take a good income to afford an Airstream, and that
limited 
the group to sucessful people.  Now one can buy an older unit quite 
reasonably, and restore it.  We have mechanics, truck drivers, and 
workers of every aspect of American life.  We also have Doctors, 
Lawyers, and a lot of very educated people.  I think that is a very 
good thing.  If someone is interested enough to buy an old unit and 
work very hard restoring it, I don't care what they do for a living.  
In fact as I read the AirstreamList, I see people with many, many 
skills that contribute a great deal every day.  They are a valuable 
asset.  

I believe that the WBCCI should shift more in the direction of Social 
Rallies, and not so many Caravans.  Most of us cannot be gone from
our 
homes or business for the length of a Caravan, and we can go these 
places on our own when time permits.  If one is in a group that is 
free and able to go, schedule your own Caravan and GO. For the rest
of 
us, I think more rallys would be better.  We are scheduled to go to 
New Orleons in Feb for the Ma De Gras Rally.  We don't know a soul 
that will be there, but it is Airstreamers, and I am hoping that we 
will come home with many new friends.

I have suggested to our local club that we do a Seafood Feast this 
Summer at the Airstream Park, and invite everyone who can come.  I 
have done these before for a different organization, and although a 
lot of work, they were FUN.  My goal in doing this was to attract new 
members, and in no time, we had so many members that we could not 
accomadate any more for lack of space.  We ended up with a waiting 
list.  I think that if we do this, and word spreads, we will gain
many 
new members.  What can you think of to do?

We cannot expect the older members of the WBCCI to do this.  Many are 
in their seventies and eighties, and it is too much for them.  I am 
sure that they would enjoy it if some of us KIDS in our fifties and 
sixties would do it for them though.  

I have been taught to respect my elders, and I think that we need to 
keep in mind that these older people kept this orgaization going all 
these years, and deserve some respect for this.  It is THEIR 
organization after all.  We just want to join.  If we do so with 
proper respect for their feelings and fears, we will be able to make 
this group into a viable organization again.  With new members there 
will be an inflow of sufficient cash to do many more activities.

I have now said my piece.  If this gets posted, I will be grateful. 
I 
know in my heart that these attitude changes are needed and will 
happen eventually, or the WBCCI, will die of neglect.

JAMES H. COOPER
East Central Minnesota
Cooper@unique-software.com
1962 Airstream Bambi
1985 Airstream 345 Turbo Diesel
WBCCI 6648
MN 055
AMERICAN LEGION, VFW, NRA
AARP, FMCA