Full Timers Intra-Club

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, I know the website needs some work. My apologies for that. Sometimes
changes occur more slowly than we'd like.

I'm one of several on the VAC List who will probably speak to your question
about the benefits of belonging to the Full Timers Club (FTC). For starters,
there is one formal meeting per year and it's held during the Internationl
Convention. At that early morning meeting (often at a restaurant where we
are the only ones there), the usual business of an organization is conducted
(new officers elected and outgoing ones roasted), camaraderie runs rampant
(no stuffed shirts allowed) and door prizes are distributed (from the
frivolous to the fantastic). It's amazing what is donated as door prizes.

Also during the convention, two seminars are held. Topics cover everything
full timers (from novice to seasoned) need to know, want to know, have to
know and don't want to know. A vast amount of knowledge, hindsight and
timely experiences are shared at these seminars.

Throughout the year, "Get-Togethers" for lunch are held around the
continent. Some are publicized well in advance. In parts of Florida,
"get-togethers" are held monthly. It depends on who steps up and take the
initiative. Others occur spontaneously, i.e. in Guadalajara where a group
families just happened to show up at the same time in the same park.

Since 1996, the Full Timers Club has been trying to develop a way to work
with the Red Cross as Airstream Angels when disasters occur around the
country. At the last International, this goal came to fruition with many
Full Timers becoming Red Cross Disaster Response qualified.  Coincidentally,
the Red Cross asked for help from these newly trained Airstream Angels
almost immediately. It was a resounding successful experience for each of
those families. This program is sure to expand and become a most 
significant part of the WBCCI FTC.

What other benefits? Members of the FTC have sponsored caravans during 
the weeks prior to the International Conventions (as do many WBCCI  Intra-Clubs).
Other times, caravans are sponsored as part of specialty events. One year,
Sandie and I led a caravan from the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Glens Falls,
New York to the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Alburquerque, New Mexico. All FTC
caravans are organized and run by WBCCI full timers who have taken WBCCI
Caravan Leader training (available yearly at the International Convention)
and became Certified WBCCI Caravan Leaders (with our framed certificates).

There has been a Full Timers Intra-Club Newsletter since 1986. It's a 22
page, quarterly publication called DOWN THE ROAD. As one of the Editors 
for seven years, Sandie and I gathered and printed stories about the joys of
living full time in Airstreams. We included anecdotes about the creative
ingenuity used by members as they solved the special challenges of this
exciting and adventuresome lifestyle.

There was a steady stream of articles about enjoyable campsites and
not-so-hot spots, special events in local areas, hilarious travel
experiences, insights gained from a myriad of problems solved and more.
Dozens of members contributed articles throughout those seven years.

While we were Editors, each issue of the newsletter was compiled and printed
in a different city or town by a specific model Xerox machine. One time, we
had it done in Guadalajara courtesy of the local hospital's printing press
and members of an Aztec Trails Tour group (mostly WBCCI & SKP Full 
Timers).  I mention this only because the job of Editor can easily be done 
anywhere in the land. It doesn't have to interfere with being an active, enthusiastic
full time traveling Airstreamer.

The current Editors of DOWN THE ROAD are David and Lori Peirce
<dkpeirce@juno.com>. They have recently published their first issue as
Editors. You might drop them a note welcoming them to their new job. If
you'd like to receive a sample copy, ask them for their address so you 
can send $1 with a SASE.

Why do I mention a dollar and SASE? Like many WBCCI Intra-Clubs, newsletters
are by far the most significant expense. Each copy costs a minimum of one
dollar. It's impossible for me to know how many of the 900+ members on this
VAC List might read my post and request a copy. It wouldn't make sense for
me to be the cause of a money hemorrhage on the FTC treasury. I'd be
thoroughly roasted and toasted at the next annual meeting.

Jeff, if you have specific questions about full time RVing with an
Airstream, I'll gladly offer my perspectives. If I don't know the answer,
I'll say so and offer to help figure it out with you. Although Sandie and I
have been living several variations of the full timers lifestyle in one of
our Airstreams for the last 15 years, there are always new questions or
problems to solve as well as new adventures and exciting experiences to
enjoy.

See what happens when you ask a question? Sometimes you get more than you
asked for. That's the breaks. Sorry about that. Hope I haven't scared you off.

Terry
WBCCI 6477