Three accomplishments highlight the last six months of 2011: the new VAC Newsletter, membership recruitment, and the VAC Calendar. The VAC began a monthly newsletter in July that will publish nine months of the year. A copy of the October issue is attached. The newsletter is the third point of a communication triad including the VAC website and Vintage Advantage magazine. The magazine comes out quarterly and provides in depth articles, while the newsletter, being monthly, is similar to the coverage you are used to seeing in Unit newsletters. The website provides interactive communication among members via the forum along with traditional website content. This communication triad results from membership surveys in the winter of 2011 that exposed a need to keep timely information available and encourage VAC activity.

Sustaining and growing membership is a challenge. The VAC has always drawn vintage trailer owners into the club, and as a result into the WBCCI. In the last year we initiated two efforts to draw from within the WBCCI. At Du Quoin a free one year membership was offered to any International attendee who owned a vintage trailer. This resulted in twenty-two new members. The club followed this by offering a free year to new WBCCI members who owned a vintage rig. At this moment we don't have summary data on how many were accepted, and it will be next year before we know how many renew.

The VAC Calendar can be viewed on the website (vintageairstreamclub.com) under Rally Home. It has room to grow, and it has been a challenge to learn what is going on throughout the country. In this regard, the WBCCI Region Presidents have been a great help. They were asked if there were rallies planned in their regions that would be of particular interest to VAC members. Many replied, and their rallies are listed in the calendar.

Looking at the future, the VAC will be participating in International at Sedalia, changing its constitution, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Around The World caravan in 2013. An International highlight for VAC members will be the June 23rd caravan to California , Missouri for a tour of the Eitzen Historic Mansion and a brunch provided by Region 12. The traditional parade will occur the same afternoon, followed by an open house Sunday the 24th. There will be the usual well attended VAC seminars, and of course, the evening happy hour.

At the VAC business meeting in Sedalia, changes to the constitution will be proposed to the membership. The changes to the Constitution and Bylaws will be two fold. First clarification of wording and readability will be proposed. Second, will be changes that will allow the club to better operate in the future. These will make online meetings of the Board and membership possible, and reduce the restrictions on date and location of meetings.

2013 is the 50th anniversary of Wally Byam's Around The World caravan. Four trailers participating the that caravan are currently owned by VAC members. These members and the VAC plan to conduct a celebration rally at a central location, and other simultaneous rallies across the country. Ideally the central rally will be at the 2013 International, but that will depend on the International location. The club hopes to link the simultaneous rally online and share key events. This is a year and a half off, but planning has started.

Is it appropriate to mention concerns for the future? I will. There are three. First, the VAC has no position on the Motor Home issue, but many members do. The issue is a distraction and fragments our membership. Second, membership growth is a big concern. By definition the VAC draws its members from within the WBCCI, and that is a declining pool. Additionally, new WBCCI members tend to be owners of newer trailers and motor homes. The result is that the VAC potential membership pool is decreasing. This is why free membership offers have been presented – we see the need to try harder. Finally, it is hard to entice VAC members to support club activities, fill open leadership positions and create VAC events. Again, we are trying harder with efforts mentioned above.

Thank you for your time in receiving this report. I hope it has presented a picture of the VAC's recent activities, and what the near future has in store.

Jim Cooper
Vintage Airstream Club President