Hello I'm a long time Lurker, I finally joined so I could join the chat during the winter IBT meeting.
My wife and I are new Airstream owners but are already on our 2nd, we had a 2003 22' CCD, but quickly learned that we needed more room and last fall we bought a 1998 31' Excella 1000. Before that we had a T@B, a very cute teardrop trailer also made by Thor.
We have only been members in the WBCCI for a little over a year, but we joined when the big Motorhome debate was going on, that peeked my interest in finding out what was going on in the club. We have been on one caravan already and really enjoyed it and we hope to attend International in Madison this summer. (only about 6 hour drive for us)
I have also been past president of the Central Indiana Region of the Porsche club of America (PCA), with our local membership of over 400+, and have hosted many dinners and Driver Education events for the club, so I know how a all volunteer organization works. But at the same time I can see what PCA does better then WBCCI and where the WBCCI falls short. (FYI, PCA has over 50,000 members, holds a national convention, and host many events all over the country, and has cheaper membership at $42 a year)
The biggest issue I see facing WBCCI is it's ability to attract the younger members, I'm only 41 and I know we are the youngest member in our region, in fact on the caravan we had a wonderful order couple adopt us, because their kids where the same age as us!!! WBCCI needs to get out of the "it has been this way for 50+ years, why change" mode. I also feel the entire IBT and executive board is too much management for a camping club. I also get the impression that the presidents job is to host the International and not to direct the club functions, to me it looks like they spend all there time on the International. The president should be running the club, and leave the intl to a committee.
I could go on, but it's going to take little steps first.
Damon Beals
WBCCI #4827
