News – Keystone Kourier – 2012
Prez Says
Well folks, Spring has sprung and flowers aren’t the only thing blooming. Along with the daffodils are the dandelions, clover and wood sorrel. Besides the sweet aroma of the season are the itchy eyes and sneezin’. Now we must attend to our garden which I will discuss in the next paragraph. First, I must congratulate Don and Phyllis Harrington on a successful Irish Spring Luncheon, complete with cabbage and ham, beef stew and green punch. Joining the Harringtons were George and Peg Spahn, Vaughn and Caryle Brayton, Sharon Fitzgerald with her daughter, Emily and granddaughter, Andrea. Karen was in Florida visiting her 94-year-old mother, so I arrived solo. This was the Harringtons’ first hosting event with our Unit. Many Thanks!
Now to the fun stuff. As you know, Karen and I have attended the past two International Rallies as the Unit Delegate and Alternate in place of the Unit President. This year I will be attending officially as the President and a seasoned Delegate. I expect this year’s meeting to be a little more involved because of the voting on the Constitutional Issues. There are some members who have already voiced their opinion regarding the amendments and unless I hear differently, those opinions will be honored by vote at the International Meeting. Those of you who want your vote to go for or against the amendments must let me know as soon as possible so I can go prepared. The more important proposed changes levels out the playing field for Members at Large (MAL). One amendment allows them to run for International Office without first honing their skills at the Unit or Region Level. Another amendment requires individual member voting on International issues presented annually, either by mail or electronically, thereby eliminating the Delegate System. The Nominating Committee would also be selected by the members instead of the IBT. Some believe these changes are for the better, since the WBCCI is consistently losing members every year over the past decade without any sign of it reversing course and that the old way of doing things is no longer working and that the current ways of the Club are obsolete. Others believe that the declination of membership has more to do with outside issues beyond our control and that these amendments are simply a radical proposal that will hurt the club far more than weathering the storm of declining membership. In any event, you must decide how you feel about these changes. I have only been a member for three years and joined for the traveling experience and a chance to meet people with the same love of adventure. My philosophy on organizational structure is the same as it is with my Airsteam. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but if it is dragging on the ground and sparking, do something! I have carefully reviewed the proposed amendments and have given them much thought and discussed them with other more experienced Unit members. My belief is that most of the amendments seem to streamline the administrative process and allow freedom of individual vote on every issue. So, if I don’t hear otherwise from you, I will most likely vote FOR the amendments.
On other fronts, we plan to have the Installation Rally at Muddy Run Park October 12-14, 2012. I contacted the campground and they need to know how many rigs will be there and the size of the rig, so please contact me by the Maintenance Rally so I can make the reservations and put down the deposit. I have never been there, so if there are strong objections to Muddy Run please let me know.