Re: [A/S] Re:traditions (was berets)

[Thomas LaVergne <thomaslavergne@xxxxxxxxx>]

Friends,

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I think that the original WBCCI folks 
were pretty down to earth folks.  I say that for two reasons. The first 
is that my Grandparents joined up in 1961 or so and were heavy 
participants in rallies and caravans.  They were not stuffy people by 
any means and as a kid I remember lots of their A/S friends being a 
blast to be around.  They did the beret thing but not the 
sport-coat-white-pants-country-club thing.  That group would smoke and 
drink a beer while helping each other dig gopher holes.  They did not 
have A/C and spent more time outside together hanging out under the 
awnings.  The second thing is to watch the old caravan films that VAC 
sells on DVD.  Those folks were on some great adventures and sure 
seemed like plain old everyday folks to me.  They are wading waist deep 
in mud and fixing bridges.  There's Wally on a mini bike with a 
megaphone in his hand riding up and down the line giving people info.  I 
think the change came in the 70's and 80's when it got more stuffy and 
political.  Instead of these great adventures, many of the newer WBCCI 
folks were just running up and down the freeways from the north to the 
south in the winter.  I think the attitudes have gone from the original 
laid back to stuffy and now is evolving back to laid back.  It is a work 
in progress.  Traditions are great but need to evolve and adapt to 
current times and life styles.  This would be easier if it would all 
evolve slowly and steadily but it rarely does that.  Things usually 
change fast leaving people on two sides of a fence.  This goes with all 
things in life and not just the WBCCI.  Just some thoughts.

Thomas