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[Pahaska]

Myron pretty well sold the ads.  He certainly was responsible for the largest ones.  I'll check, though.

[none]

All Those in Favor at 13 panels is good Leo.  Love the graphics as always too. However have you gotten any feedback about making the dues uniform throughout the units?  I think the supersaver clubs enjoy their alternative pricing.

Hey lady!  I just saved near everyone $20-$25 and you're worried about the Super Saver Units?  They're going to get $15 a whack in the deal -- imagine what they could spend that money on!  That's some rally!!

Good point Leo. You would be saving them alot. I wasn't worried perse' but I thought they might consider their membership fee as an expression of unquieness and alternative thinking.

Aren't units autonomous to set and spend fees?  Is that within a unit's constitution, regardless of whether it is membership fee, or advertising fee or how they spend?   Certainly can't be more stringent upon units than upon the IBT. LOL!

[Pahaska]

We sure had a unanimous raising of hands when we presented the motion to suspend our unit dues next year!

We always have an auction at the December rally.  I was the most recent auctioneer.  We brought in about $1600 of which half went to a local charity (headstart) and the rest into the unit coffers.  This made us about 1/2 of what the dues suspension will cost us. 

[Pahaska]

By the way, Jim Haddaway commented Saturday that the nominating committee is free to nominate themselves with an almost sure chance of being elected.  Talk about a self-perpetuating mechanism.

I see the nomination process as being like a big clock escapement.  Once a year, it fires up and the gear rotates and out pops a set of clones.

[Pahaska]

Our new Texas Highland Lakes Unit website is "thlu.org".  It is up and running as of noon yesterday.  I posted some photos from the Mardi Gras Rally on the new site.

Now that I have some space and bandwidth to work with, look for some neat additions.

[none]

I like your mardis gras pictures John.  I especially like the bead throwers and at the parade.  It gives a real feel to the setting.  In royalty that head dress must weigh a lot!!!

I like that you will be using pay pal for membership.  That is such a great convenience.  It makes paying dues effortless and not a chore put on a list to do.  I think too it will get new members that will be looking for ways to sign up online. 

You have gotten the merit award every time, that is incredible.  Good work!!  No wonder it seems like a great unit it is a great unit.   And you made the home page very welcoming and I like the descriptions.  They sound very inviting and pleasing and real. (I think that's a Texas thang though   Aren't you all so hospitable and friendly?)

[Bob280]

It is understood that the Committee Chair has recommended that a unit would not receive a Merit Award if no new membership gains. Stupid!

Yes,this is plain stupid. Suppose a unit has a great recruiting program and, as a result, has recruited every Airstream owner in their area; an area that takes in a geographical area hundreds of miles across.

Now, under the Chair's stupid proposal, the unit would not get a merit award. Why? Because they were too good at having a fun club which Airstreamers wanted to belong to.

Wake-up, Mr Chairman! One can not mandate new membership and to saddle an excellent unit with an unreasonable burden is WRONG.

It is suggested that such  an wrongful position be re-considered.

What is the worth of an award that a unit can not achieve becauswe they are good at what they do"

[none]

Yes the telemarketing units will get new members.  The others might actually drop off, having been living fast and large and having so much fun, here today and gone tomorrow.

I agree with you Bob, it doesn't seem an appropriate measure for a unit merit award to either its credit or debit.  There again one can easily see leadership continually trying to solve its budget problems with hair brain schemes always putting the emphasis on more revenue from new memberships.  Maybe they should have membership drive contest and give scooters and lafuma chairs and grills as prizes.  Then it will be up to everyone to make sure the members stay!!!!! 

Maybe more money would come into the club with all those new members, if leadship worked hard to make the club and events more appealing to a larger segment of Airstream owners, a diversity of ages, incomes, and family situations.  Instead they are set apart, traveling and meeting together, and completely insulated from the regular members as a whole.

Let's face it, there just aren't as many old retired rich folk any more, most have gone to that big rally in the sky and the rest of us are still schlepping it out down here trying to make ends meet and asking about the high costs of our rallies and caravans and the international membership. Consequently they are worried about their cushion of privileges and perks when there are not enough of us paying in to keep up with their standard of expenditures. That is their initial concern and has been their focus for many years now. They should be growing the club, in the right direction, for the right reasons. 

We hear all the time about the money, that we NEED more members. Do we?  Do we NEED more members, or do we NEED to take better care of our current members? We need to retain the members we do have and not lose them while we are so busy looking to find more.  That should be the leaderships goal.  Instead you will find them, in their separate places, sitting on the fence, trying to make a dollar out of 59 cents. And they missed, and they missed and then they missed like this.  We have all seen it, let's change the name, let's open the club up to other brands of RVs, let's charge the campgrounds to list their discounts in the Blue Beret, let's charge MALs more for membership, no one likes them anyway. The reality of the "international club" is, if you are not in the loop of moho owners and fancy rig gold row "volunteers" that full time then you just aren't one of the hand picked "quality" members to have your voice regarded or your votes counted. 

[Bob280]

Amen! You have nailed it down right and proper. Now, how on earth can we get "dumb and dumber" to understand what you and so many other are saying time and again.

Thank you for your wisdom and comments.

Bob T

[Pahaska]

Our unit, which certainly would be rated as successful, had a decrease im membership this year.  We had deaths and we had folks dropping out because they were no longe travelling because of age.  In general, though, most of those we lost were folks that had signed up and then had never participated (even though we have a strong mentoring program).  They were merely supporting the EC7 and all their excesses with their $55/year and not doing the unit a bit of good.

Even with the decrease, we have had the highest rally attendance ever.  40 of our unit rigs at the Vintage rally and 30 at our rally last week which was 220 road miles from here.  We also welcomed four new member couples to our unit at the rally.  That certainly shows that a simple total membership number is not relevant to unit performance.

[Bob280]

 

Wonderful, keep up the good work. Some of us have been considering an annual "Way of Life" Award from fellow members to a unit such as yours that understands the Airstream way of Life  and does such a great job having fun and fellowship.  Keep up the good work.

Bob T

[Mud Dog]

It is understood that the Committee Chair has recommended that a unit would not receive a Merit Award if no new membership gains. Stupid!

Yes,this is plain stupid. Suppose a unit has a great recruiting program and, as a result, has recruited every Airstream owner in their area; an area that takes in a geographical area hundreds of miles across.

Now, under the Chair's stupid proposal, the unit would not get a merit award. Why? Because they were too good at having a fun club which Airstreamers wanted to belong to.

Wake-up, Mr Chairman! One can not mandate new membership and to saddle an excellent unit with an unreasonable burden is WRONG.

It is suggested that such  an wrongful position be re-considered.

What is the worth of an award that a unit can not achieve because they are good at what they do"

Actually there are a number of unintended consequences to this proposal, and I too hope that it will not be adopted.  Let me begin by noting that my understanding that the proposal was that units had to increase in membership in order to get a merit award.

1.  This proposal, perhaps inadvertently, favors new units over old ones.  WBCCIs demographics are such that older units have large numbers of older members, some of whom drop out each year on account of becoming too old to travel, or simply dying.  In order for an older unit to grow it has to first recruit enough members to replace older members aging out and then more members to increase membership.  This is borne out by experience--the IP's 2008-09 "State of the WBCCI" presentation showed the two fastest-growing units in the WBCCI were the "non-traditional" WDCU and 4CU.  (Undoubtedly their $1 a year dues helped.)

2.  This policy favors units in areas of higher population density where there are, in fact, non-member Airstreamers to recruit.  It's harder to find new members where there just aren't very many people.  An example is the North Dakota Unit, which doesn't have very many members--but North Dakota doesn't have very many people!  (639,715 in 2007)

But there's another side to this issue, which is, who needs Unit merit awards?  I think it's interesting that people who are contemptuous of the International Club with its  pomp and pageantry nevertheless seek its approval in the form of merit awards.  Who cares? If a unit is keeping its members happy and is growing, what good does a merit award do it?  Well, you do get a pennant with which to festoon your unit flag in the International flag ceremony.  But if I remember correctly (I could be wrong), neither of the two fastest growing units in the club, WDCU and 4CU, even participated in the flag ceremony at Bozeman.

[Pahaska]

I think that the award fosters esprit de corps among the members.  It makes them feel rewarded for their efforts and raises pride in the unit.  Most of the members never see the flag paraded at International or even at the Region rally, but ours is displayed, complete with with ribbons, at every rally.  It is also nice to see it presented to the past President who has worked for the unit all year.

On the website, it is an indication to prospective members that we have an active and successful unit.  I don't know how many new members the website brings in, but it can't hurt to advertise.

[RideAir]

I will say, when I was Prez of the WDCU after many emails from Don (Region Rep) requesting I put in our paper work, I did out of respect for Don. The unit got a Superior Merit award that year which I was glad to see. What will I ever do with the ribbon I got for helping make that happen, I have no idea. It is folded up and is kept in the trailer along with the “Past Prez” flag of which neither of them will ever be flown. To me, you get in, do the best you can and step down not asking for or wanting thanks for your service. Though I have received many awards during my career for a “job well done”, I don’t have the “I love you wall” nor would I ever want to have one. If you do your job well, people will know, you will know it and nothing more needs to be said or shown flying in the wind or hanging on the wall to prove it. Awards to me are for people that need to be praised for their work to make them feel whole. Though I can not now or ever have in the past spoke for the members of the WDCU, I don’t think the Merit Award is something that is really worried about. We know we are having fun, we know people join our unit because we have fun and that is what it is really all about. No need for praise, just come and have fun with us, that’s all the “Merit Award” we want or need. Hope to see you at our next rally.

Paul Waddell
Region 2 VAC Guy
WDCU Past Prez

[none]

Hey Paul!!!  Get that "I love you wall" built! I mean it! Nothing wrong with flying your colors and appreciating that people appreciated your efforts.  It's kind of like the bad rap money gets.  It isn't money or awards and flags and badge distinctions that gets people into trouble it's the LOVE of them over all else that drives others crazy.  You deserve those, be proud of your awards and accolades.  I know you are humble enough to never make people feel like you are trying to put on airs or elevate yourself over them because you have had such a rich and full life of experiences.  Pride is a good thing.  It's arrogance and superiority that we could all do without.  When people start putting themselves ahead of everyone else, aggressively seeking the finest places, assuring themselves of the lion's share, and forgetting to put others ahead of themselves and be a minister or public servant unto them, that's when resentment and murmuring occurs.  Using your powers for good, means you should rightfully treasure the symbols for all the great memories and fondness they are intended to bring you.  A swell of pride after a job well done is enviable.  Its the person that wins respectand not the display or office.  I have no doubt that you understand that difference as well as your unit co-members.