Fellow Members,
LaVerne and I wish you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with joy, warmth and good health. May the spirit of the season bring you peace and happiness, and may you find moments of rest and rejuvenation. Here’s to a safe and healthy holiday season, surrounded by the love and support of those dear to you. Take care and cherish the moments that matter most.
Keep Your Ideas Coming
I hope you all know I LOVE to hear your ideas – either during one of the popular Quarterly Campfire Chats or over email. I regularly get feedback (and questions) on our Club initiatives and new programs, but also innovative ideas from members about places and opportunities. For example, our newly announced Courtesy Parking partnership with Harvest Hosts resulted from an email to me from two ACI members in May 2023. I brought it to our International Board of Trustees during our Strategy Meeting, and the concept was immediately adopted as a key new benefit to our members.
Thanks, Leigh Ann (BRN #20509) and Steve (BRN #1649)!
Similarly, two members contacted me after our latest Campfire Chat with the idea of reaching out to motorsports and aviation venues for potential medium-to-large ACI events. What a great idea; we know many of us are “gearheads” (smile) and would love to have an event situated around a racetrack or airport, watching related events.
Thanks, Jim (BRN #1374) and Jeff (BRN #10258)!
Finally, I received another great idea about ACI “door hangers” that can be available Club-wide for our members to say “Hi” to Airstream owners. This has been done locally by some Clubs, but the idea was to expand availability. This dovetailed with an initiative already underway by HQ, and it looks like it will happen.
Thanks, Ed (BRN #12632)!
Airstream Explorer Program
We are in our fourth month of the Airstream Explorer membership program, in partnership with Airstream, Inc. Essentially, this new program is designed to help introduce our Club to purchasers of new Airstreams, offering them a free one-year membership in our Club (thank you, Airstream, Inc!). Their welcome to our Club is being coordinated at the Region level, working with our International Membership Standing Committee. As always, please take a few minutes to welcome any new attendees to our events – it makes a huge difference. Check out the new advertising and dealership signage.
What’s Your Favorite: Trip Planning Tool Preference
If you haven’t already, let us know what trip-planning tools you use. This helps us evaluate potential partnerships. Check it out on our Blue Beret Blog – which runs through Dec. 15.
Reminder: Top Priorities and Initiatives for 2023/2026
Our International Board of Trustees adopted five strategic priorities during our three-day strategic planning meeting last year. As the years roll forward, you’ll continue to see the focus of our International Board of Trustees, our Headquarters office, and our investments aligned with these priorities. I’ll keep sharing these, and we hope these will trickle down beyond the Regions and into our Local Clubs.
- Internal Communications
- External Communications
- Welcome and Retain Members
- Infrastructure
- Training at all Levels
Upcoming International Rallies
- Signups are going strong for our Rally2024 in Sedalia, Missouri. So far, we have nearly 1,000 Airstreams registered. Have you never been to an International Rally before or has it been a while since you’ve attended one? Consider coming; these events are relaxed and fun-packed, with no large club business meetings. The entire focus of the Rally Planning Team is offering members a memorable and enjoyable experience.
- Note: Check out the Rally website (AirstreamClub.org/rally2024) about reserving group bike tours on the Katy Trail and the Missouri Quilt Shop Hop that you may want to incorporate into your trip plans.
- Press Release: Rally2025 in York, PA (August 2025)
- Rally2026: TBD
- Rally2027: Due to popular demand, “Back to Rock Springs,” WY (June 2027)
That’s it for now!
Looking forward to seeing you all down the road, and let me know if you have ideas for our Club.
Eric McHenry
International President / BRN 153 // Amateur Radio callsign AA6EM
