Carolinas Unit of North Carolina

Caravanners,

The June 2009 edition of your newsletter, The Tarheel Traveler, is now posted on the website.   Please click here or select the Tarheel Traveler from your menu on the screen, then select the month you would like to read.

Compliments to Lynda Brown, Newsletter Editor, and Bob Clark, President, and Linda Fishel, 1st VP.

Complaints to Jim Cocke, Web Communications Chairman.

Thanks!

Jim

Our Unit President, Bob Clark, today released June 2009’s President’s Corner.  You can see it here or click on the top menu item at your screen’s right hand side.

Caravanners,

The May  2009 edition of your newsletter, The Tarheel Traveler, is now posted on the website.  Read about the most recent rally at Yost Farm and about upcoming rallies for our Unit.  This and more are in the May edition of The Tarheel Traveler, hot off the presses.

Please click here or select the Tarheel Traveler from your menu on the screen, then select the month you would like to read.

Compliments to Lynda Brown, Newsletter Editor, and Bob Clark, President, and Linda Fishel, 1st VP.  Complaints to Jim Cocke, Web Communications Chairman.

Thanks!

Jim

We received this email today from Julian Clements, Region 3 President:

“I got home today and received a letter from Walter Culley resigning as 2nd VP of Region 3. Walter was severely injured (leg) at the Easter Rally and due to the recovery period for his injury, he has elected to resign. Please pass this on to your units. We need a replacement 2nd VP as well as an incoming 2nd VP for 2010. Please have anyone who is interested contact Julian Clements (706) 778-0102 or cell (706) 244-2129. Thanks Julian”

Debbie and I were at the Easter Rally and had a very nice visit with Walter.  While Debbie and I were touring downtown St Augustine, Walter injured his leg back at the fairgrounds in Elkton.  EMS responders had arrived and transported him to the hospital before we returned.

I received an update from Walter earlier this week.  He is doing very well but he and Kathy are in for a long and difficult recovery.  The activities of Region officer would be more demanding than he will be able to manage with his injured leg, so stepping down is an unfortunate necessity for him.  Our prayers are with him and Kathy.

If you want to send him a card I know he’d appreciate it.  His mailing address is:

6014 Rich Farm Road
Tallahassee, FL 32317

Jim

The April  2009 edition of your newsletter, The Tarheel Traveler, is now posted on the website.  Read about the upcoming rallies for your Unit.  This and more are in the April edition of The Tarheel Traveler, hot off the presses.

Please click here or select the Tarheel Traveler from your menu on the screen, then select the month you would like to read.

Compliments to Lynda Brown, Newsletter Editor, and Bob Clark, President, and Linda Fishel, 1st VP.  Complaints to Jim Cocke, Web Communications Chairman.

Thanks!

Jim

This a “One Ton Challenge”!

Let’s see if our members can collect one ton of food for the Madison food bank.  (I am
told achieving one ton would require less than 4 pounds of food from each Airstream)
It must be non-perishable & not outdated.

If you can’t bring it to International, then let Bob Clark or Linda Fishel know and they will help find someone to carry it to International for you. Every unit participating at the International also needs to keep a record of what their Region contributes and the totals passed on to our Region 3 leadership.

As of now, arrangements have been made for barrels & money containers to be placed in the convention hall.  This may be changed as the amount of food grows.

As you know the need is great and a great organization such as this is up to the challenge. Let’s all see how much we can bring, to help WBCCI collect one ton of food for the Madison food bank. Remember, non-perishable and not out-of-date. Thanks.

AIRSTREAM MOSTLY VINTAGE AIRSTREAM ALL STATE FAIR RALLY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009 – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2009  EFLAND, NC

Bert Kalet is planning a great rally to coincide with the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. The rally is open to all Airstream owners and will be a fun time for all.
It will be dry camping, water available, level grass parking, room for only 20 units, lots of food and door prizes, and plenty of fun for all ages.

For information and registration CONTACT:
Bert Kalet
3132 Gladstone Street
Winston Salem, NC 27104
336-768-5942

email him at bertkalet@zero.net

The March 2009 edition of your newsletter, The Tarheel Traveler, is now posted on the website.  You can read a fine report by Linda Fishel about the March luncheon,  and read about the upcoming rallies for your Unit.  This and more are in the March edition of The Tarheel Traveler, hot off the presses.

Please click here or select the Tarheel Traveler from your menu on the screen, then select the month you would like to read.

Compliments to Lynda Brown, Newsletter Editor, and Bob Clark, President, and Linda Fishel, 1st VP.  Complaints to Jim Cocke, Web Communications Chairman.

Thanks!

Jim

Pictures from February and March 2009 Luncheons are available for your viewing.  You can view them here or by entering this address:  http://picasaweb.google.com/carolinasnc

South Florida Unit recently proposed an amendment to the WBCCI Constitution [membership requirements section] for further consideration by the International Club.

Article VI, Sec. 2, Part D, if approved, would read as follows:

“Regular members, who own a motorhome manufactured by Airstream and who were in good standing as of the date of this amendment, may purchase a Class A Motorhome manufactured by the Four Winds International Division of Thor Industries, Inc., and retain their membership in WBCCI.”

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If the membership numbers in WBCCI do not meet the finanicial obligations, what happens? Worst case, we could all join a Thor Travel Club with Dutchmen, Aero, Four Winds and others. I was researching an attractive Avion fifth-wheel we saw in the campground today. You remember their silver ones, I’ll bet. Later on Fleetwood bought Avion and started labelling them, “Avion by Fleetwood”. Avion Travelcade Club membership diminished over time. What happened next? The Avion Travelcade Club became . . . Fleetwood Travelcade Club, open to owners of any Fleetwood product “including Avion”. Search on [avionclub] for the sad description in the search result, or here’s the link to the Avion Travelcade Club: http://www.avionclub.org/

The goal is to increase WBCCI’s financial viability. The simplest way apparently is increase membership as it generates revenue to support staff, publications, and other operations costs. Any actions which reduce membership will reduce revenue and cutting expenses could further reduce appeal of the club to members and prospective members. Airstream Co stopped manufacturing Airstream motorhomes. Unless Airstream/Thor can create another Airstream motorhome, this will reduce membership. WBCCI members are proposing best guess ideas to save the club. The solution, short of resuming branding of Airstream motorhomes, seems to involve alienation of existing WBCCI motorhome members or to alienate some percentage of WBCCI trailer members.If the Club doesn’t support existing motorhome owners who are WBCCI members, then those members and perhaps all WBCCI motorhome members may become sufficiently offended to leave the club. If the Club agrees to allow another brand motorhome into membership in WBCCI, then a percentage of the Airstream trailer owners in WBCCI will become sufficiently offended to leave the club. Further, if the Club agrees to allow another brand into membership in WBCCI then how will the Club prevent the Paradise Park effect, where an exclusively Airstream membership was undermined through legal maneuvering? Is there no middle ground, which will less offend both groups and preserve the single-brand integrity of the Club?No one can unequivocally state they have THE solution. We each have to try to think what is best for our Club and act accordingly. What can you do? Recruit new members now. Approach owners of any un-numbered Airstream with a friendly smile, talk with them and introduce them to the friendliest WBCCI members they could ever meet. Oh yes, and invite them to join your unit or any unit, just join and enjoy all the fun we have with our Club. More members is A solution.

Let your Unit President know TODAY, if you have not already, whether you support or reject this proposed amendment to the WBCCI Constitution.

Jim