Jim and Marianne

The IBT SOB (some other brand) Proposed Amendment: Grand Fodder for us all!

Let's look at a former Airstream rival and its club to see where our current IBT is taking us. Avion began making monocoque travel trailers in 1955. In 1961 the Avion Travelcade Club was formed. Avion was acquired by Fleetwood in 1976. In 1988 the Avion Travelcade Club opened its membership to Fleetwood Motor Homes. In 2002 the Avion Travelcade Club opened its doors to any RV manufactured by Fleetwood except those with folding sides and tops. In 2005 the Avion Travelcade Club was renamed the Fleetwood Travelcade Club. Shiny silver Avion Trailers now make up but a small minority in that club. Does this scenario look familiar?

Fleetwood stopped making Silver Avions in the mid 90's. It's quite possible that their club needed to expand in order to survive. In 2007 there are more Airstreams on the road than ever. Why isn't our membership growing? Our leaders are not focused on modernizing the club's look and appeal to today's Airstream buyer. Instead they believe opening the club up to non-Airstream RVs is the answer.

But what about Jim & Marianne? Like many Class A Motor Home members Jim and Marianne are concerned about the direction our current leaders are taking us in. "We own both a 2000 motorhome and 1991 trailer. We are opposed to letting other brands in the club. This is an Airstream club and it should stay that way.

Our leaders have started this fiasco, apparently believing that letting non-Airstreams in will lead to great growth in the club. We believe that they are dead wrong! Why would any non- Airstream motorhome owner want to join this club when FMCA is available? FMCA is less expensive, offers a much better magazine, more perks, units and rallies.

What does WBCCI offer? Low cost caravans is the only thing that I can think of. There are more Airstreams on the road than ever. If we were to really go after Airstream owning non-members, we could make a much greater impact on membership numbers than going after non-Airstream motorhome owners. Unfortunately, there seems to be little, if any, effort along those lines.

I have proposed that we go after new members by encouraging the formation of new units that meet their needs rather than trying to fit them into existing units. Some of the current officers seem to be listening and making moves in that direction. I believe we can rebuild this club with younger, forward thinking members who will carry it to new heights if we do the right things. Letting other brands in is not one of the right things!" - Jim & Marianne Mickle WBCCI Members # 6980