rideair 04-03-2007 @ 11:58 PM Just a quick intro, my name is Paul Waddell and I’m the 2006-07 “Prez” of the Washington, DC Unit (WDCU). I’m 43, wife and a daughter (5yrs). We joined the WDCU in the spring of 2002 while attending the WDCU “Cherry Blossom Rally”. The WDCU is one of the newer Units of the WBCCI and one of the fastest growing units. We currently have around 130 members and 70 affiliates from 38 states and 3 countries. The WDCU is known to some as the “virtual” Unit, because we do most if not all of our voting, newsletters, etc… via the web. Most of the members in the WDCU own “vintage” trailers, but we are seeing more and more members with newer trailers join our Unit. Though most of our members have “vintage” trailers and even vintage tow vehicles, the Unit is made up of a mainly “baby boomers” either empty nesters or with teenage to older children. About 60% of our members are from the age of 45-65, 25% below 45yrs with younger children and 15% over the age of 65. We have a simple saying in the WDCU “It’s just camping”. Although, we known to be a laid back Unit, we take the “history” of the WBCCI very seriously, one could even say with a passion. The Unit does own “one” blue beret that is passed down from Prez to Prez each year (virtually of course). Each year we hold the “Cherry Blossom Rally” (CBR) outside the Washington, DC area on a near by farm. The “CBR” is the only rally we hold each and every year, it’s known as our “Signature” rally. All of our rallies are held up and down the east coast of the USA from North Carolina to New Hampshire and every state in-between. We feel as a Unit, the Airstream trailers were built to travel, not sit in campgrounds, for this reason many of us will travel 2-8 hours or more just to attend our rallies. Plus, by hosting rallies up and down the east coast, it allows many of us to see and experience things we would not closer to home. The news is getting out that our rallies are “quite a bit of fun” and so we are having many members from other Units within the WBCCI join us at our rallies. Some things you will find at are rallies are “kids” (of all ages), many vintage trailers, a campfire until the late hours of the morning, some people relaxing, others out trying to find that special place in the area, a great happy hour, pot luck, kids playing, movies for kids (young and old). Things you will not find, formal dinners, blue berets and red jackets (I found a 42short in a second hand shop for $1.00, I plan to give it to the incoming Prez later this year, he’s a 52 long, by giving him this, I know he can more than fill my jacket when I pass the torch). If you would like to visit us our website is
http://www.washingtondcunit.org there you will find a list of our officers, rallies, newsletter and pictures of past rallies. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. The WDCU is always willing to help other Units in their quest to grow and expand their membership. I encourage Units that are loosing members or not growing as fast as they would like to come and see how we do it and maybe get some ideas. Only by sharing and adopting the “ideas that work” will we see people joining and coming back to the WBCCI.
Paul Waddell
WDCU Prez (In the words of Richard Nixon “I’m not a crook”)
pyanke 04-09-2007 @ 11:52 AM Hello
My name is Pete Yanke, currently in the position of 3rd VP of the MN Unit. I hope more of the current officers will use this forum to share ideas or at least get to know each other. The MN Unit has just over 100 members. We are four year members of WBCCI. My "Social Director" (Kathy) and I decided that the best way to try and direct the club towards some younger interests was to get involved. Plan events, take a leadership position, and lead by example. The trick is to not alienate the folks that have been doing it for years. The old "Rome wasn't built in a day" theory. Improving the club with some younger interests is no different than raising children. You have to teach them to make good choices when planning events. You may not always agree or like them, but think of the long term results and to whom it may appeal. Granted I may not go white water rafting at a rally but I have gone to dirt track stock car racing.
Just a few thoughts,
I hope to get some more insight into some of the other club officers.
Pete
65GT 04-26-2007 @ 10:17 PM Well I'm not a Unit President (as the title suggests) but I'm being taunted so I figured I better play along or else...
I'm the 2nd VP of the Metropolitan New York Unit, #072. As there are many units in NJ and all throughout NYS it would appear that our main base of activity is Long Island.
Satellite View, Long Island
We do have Regular Members all over the country though. New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, & Arizona.
Our unit has just about everything. Young working couples with kids up through retired couples working at the International level and everything in between.
A small unit with ~36 Regular Members and ~10 Associate Members (they like our activities!). There's only so much growth that can be had when you're surrounded by water, but one thing has been true since 1957 when our unit was founded. We're "Not the Biggest, but the Friendliest".
We still have the original banner that was used at the old International parades displaying that very same logo. It's a few feet tall and about 14' wide!
Leo
Wally Byam Caravan Club# 6006
Region 2, Metropolitan New York Unit, 2nd VP
www.MetroNY.WBCCI.netThis message was edited by 65GT on 4-26-07 @ 10:25 PM
Communicator 05-04-2007 @ 8:45 PM I'm so glad to see you folks using this leadership forum. It is another example of how a member's suggestion is being implemented.
If you are coming to Perry for the International Rally, be sure to attend the Unit Leadership Workshop series. There are four sessions that cover Basic Unit Operations, Creating Fun Rallies and Caravans, Communication, and Membership. There has been an announcement in the Blue Beret, but I will try to get an electronic copy of it and post it here.
I will be leading sessions 1 and 2 and hope to see you there!
Renee Ettline
TradeWind74 07-12-2007 @ 4:08 PM Renee,
Having attended all four workshops at International, I'd like to give you a special thanks for your efforts! They were all very well attended and very informative. Kudos!!
