Membership in WBCCI can be either as a member of a local unit or as a "Member At Large".

Members at Large pay dues directly to WBCCI Headquarters.  Members at Large may attend all WBCCI functions, but have no input regarding unit activities.

Unit members pay dues to the unit Treasurer who forwards part of the dues to WBCCI headquarters and retains the balance of the dues to support unit activities.  Depending on the individual unit, unit members may pay slightly more or less total dues than Members at Large.

All members receive yearly, ten issues of the WBCCI publication."Blue Beret", a directory of members, and a number of additional benefits including guest parking and discounted parking at participating RV parks.

In WBCCI, "Unit" is pretty much synonymous with "Fellowship".   Each unit has its own unit constitution and bylaws, elect officers and set its own unit dues.   Many units have monthly luncheons or dinners at local restaurants.   Units are required to schedule a minimum number of rallies each year and often caravan to the Region 9 Rally and the International Rally as a group.

Units are very loosely associated with a geographic area although you do not have to live in a particular area to join a particular unit.  Many times folks join a more remote unit because friends or family belong to that particular unit or because the activities of that unit are more appealing.

You may also become an associate member of a unit.  Many folks who spend summers and winters in different geographic areas are often regular members of a unit in one area and associate members of a unit in the other area.

Each unit has elected officers and appointed committee chairpersons who plan the unit activities.  Elected officers are the President,the 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and Trustees.

Members take turns in helping at the rallies and other events.  At each rally, volunteer members act as hosts to plan the meals and activities.  Generally, each member is expected to host at least once yearly.   Rallies include a short business meeting to conduct unit business and plan future events.

The units of Region 9 jointly elect the region officers for two year terms.  Region officers are installed at the International Rally in July.  To lend continuity, region officer terms are staggered by odd and even regions so that half of the regions install officers each year.  Region 9 installs officers on even-numbered years.

Elected officers are the President and the 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents.  The Secretary and Treasurer are appointed positions and have no vote on the Region Board.

Officers perform their duties on a voluntary basis.  However, Region Officers are reimbursed for certain travel expenses to specific Board Meetings and rallies in connection with their office.

Committee chairpersons are appointed by the Region President.

Region 9 of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International includes all of the state of Oklahoma and that part of the state of Texas that is in the Central Time Zone (i.e. all of Texas except for the El Paso area).  There are currently twelve units in Region 9; one unit in Oklahoma and eleven units in Texas.

The Region 9 Newsletter is published monthly, except for the months of April and July due to the Region and International Rally schedules.

The 10 issues per year are distributed about 10 days prior to the first of the month to all Region 9 Unit Presidents, Region 9 President/Vice Presidents (past and present), the International President and Vice Presidents, the current Region Presidents of all the other Regions, the 3 Airstream Parks in Region 9, the Region 9 Webmaster, and each Airstream Dealer and Service Center within the Region 9 area of Texas and Oklahoma.

About Rallies

Good food, good fellowship, interesting tours, theater, musicals, technical instruction, free time, you name it!   A rally is whatever the individual unit wishes to make it.  There are also specialized rallies such as the region-sponsored computer rallies.

Most unit rallies are three or four nights duration and are within a half-day drive.   Each unit rally is hosted by a committee composed of several unit members who prepare an agenda of interesting things to do and plan for meals, which may be a combination of pot-lucks, committee prepared meals,catered meals, cookouts, or group trips to local restaurants.

Region and International rallies are more remote and last for a week or more.  These rallies, being larger, feature professional entertainment, catered meals, and offer a variety of tours and other activities.

WBCCI sanctions a number of caravans each year.  Lists of sanctioned caravans are published in the Blue beret and on the WBCCI web site.  Caravans have several classifications; Unit Caravans, Region Caravans, National Caravans, and Overseas Caravans.  Caravans range in duration from days to months and range in size from 10 to 60 Airstreams.

Sanctioned caravans must have a minimum number of Airstreams, a minimum duration, and a minimum number of stops.  Sanctioned caravans are led by volunteers, which keeps the cost down and have the benefit of WBCCI insurance and other WBCCI support.

Scattered about the country are a number of private parks at which Airstream ownership is required in order to purchase or lease lots. Depending on the rules of an individual park, there may be anything permitted from a simple utility hookup to a substantial house with a high bay garage for the Airstream.  In some parks, "villas", as shown in the photo at left, provide for both a small to medium-sized dwelling and a shelter for the family Airstream.

Airstream parks typically offer overnight accommodations for Airstream owners while on the road and the larger Airstream parks are oftendestinations for rallies and stopping points for caravans.  There are 3 Airstream parks in the Region 9 area, 2 parks in Texas and 1 park in Oklahoma.

There are a limited number of Airstream dealers in Region 9, located mostly in high-population areas.  Each dealer is required to carry a minimum inventory of Airstream parts. There are also Airstream approved repair locations that are not retail outlets.

You can buy parts while you are at the factory. Away from the factory , you can currently buy parts only through a dealer. As of early 2009, Airstream has announced plans to put parts listings on the internet and permit owners to buy most parts directly. The exception will be external body panels.

  Not all dealers handle both motorhomes and trailers, so it is imperative to check the dealer information by phone or at airstream.com before travelling long distances to a dealer location

About International Officers

International officers are installed at the International Rally in July of each year and serve in each position for the ensuing year.   Elected International officers are the President and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice-Presidents.  

The above elected officers, the immediate past International President, the Recording Secretary, the Parliamentarian, and the Region Presidents form the International Board of Trustees  

Officers perform their duties on a voluntary basis.  However, International Officers are reimbursed for certain travel expenses to specific events in connection with their office.

Intra-Clubs provide a meeting place for members that have specific interests. Most intra-clubs meet at International and Region rallies and charge a nominal fee to support a newsletter.  Many intraclubs publish regular reports in the Blue beret magazine.