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[1Adam12ret]

Hello, Save Wally fans.  My buddy, Leo, just posted a reply I wrote to IP Tom Collier in regard to his latest President's Monthly Newsletter (June 2010).  My reasons for dropping out of the club are pretty clearly enunciated in my reply, although I did not mention by name certain PIPs, one of whom played a singularly critical role in thoroughly pissing my wife off, not to mention me, as well.  She wouldn't go near a rally now to save her...and one high and mighty PIP is completely to blame.  Another IBT member later wrote me and said it was a shame I'd let one person ruin my entire outlook on the club.  Funny how he forgot that he was involved in the whole affair by defending this PIP with a bunch of totally absurd reasons, none of which were either logical or true.  Y'all have probably had you own run-ins with some of these folks yourself.  Listen, I'm not some stand-on-the-street-corner protester, but I once loved this club to death and you couldn't stop me from recruiting new members.  But there a whole bunch of people with their individual and collective heads buried in the sands, and it was simply time to "jump ship" before we went down with it.  This club needs to get back to basics and one idea that I think will begin to get us back on track is the idea of several joint regional rallies instead of the one huge (!!!) International Rally.  I sincerely believe in the end we'd have more members attending four or five medium-sized, joint regional rallies than one larger International Rally...and the cost savings would be equally commensurate.  And another reason it would work better: it's of the little people, by the little people, and for the little people!!!

Those of you not jumping ship just yet, you have my best wishes for many happy camping days ahead.  Hopefully, the "HeadShed" will get the message before it's too.......................................................................

Donnie Bowerman, #2655, UPP, Life Member, Founder's Award, and MAL*
Council Bluffs, Iowa

* a personna non grata in WBCCI

[Pahaska]

PIP Jim Haddaway once told me that the only reason there ever was a MAL category created was to accommodate someone who signed up for membership at WBCCI HQ in Jackson Center.  They were then expected to locate and join a unit.

[Wheel Interested]

Welcome Donnie and thanks for your input.  Unfortunately I think there are many stories out there where people walk never to return to WBCCI.  I agree with you that we need to get back to the heart and soul of the club directly.  I like the idea of combined region rallies also.  It is impossible to recruit when people are treated poorly and even harder still to retain members afterward.  I am sorry for your experience.  I do think there are more than a couple overstepping their position and power and thinking way too much of themselves.  Haughty is not a good word for a camping club.  Oh I know it's a caravan club, but the times they are a changing...

[Simon]

Welcome Donnie. I greatly appreciate your message. It was very well written.