Region 3 Office

President: Rick Bell
330 Puddin’ Ridge Road
Moyock, NC  27958
252-435-2337 Home, 757-377-3727 Cell
Email    3485RWBell@embarqmail.com

Region 3 had a good showing at the International Rally in Gillette, Wyoming.  We had a wonderful luncheon at the Prime Rib restaurant with 112 people attending.

There was an award given for the first time to the Region with the largest increase in membership, I am proud to say that this award went to Region 3.  It is a beautiful trophy with our region engraved on a plaque as the first recipient.   Thanks to Julian, Frank and all the units for keeping the WBCCI spark alive and bringing new members into the club.

The Region presented our outgoing president Julian and first lady  Lynne Clements with gifts as a token of our appreciation for all the efforts that they have extended within the Region and elsewhere to help WBCCI and Region 3 continue to be strong and viable.

On July 5^th I took my seat on the International Board of Trustees as the representative for the Region.  Being president of the largest Region in WBCCI is quite a responsibility as it is my duty to see that I bring your wishes and desires forward.  The difficult part is to understand the needs and desires of such a diverse region as ours as these are not always the same for each unit.
Looking at the units and the Regions it seems that there is difficulty in getting members to step up to the role of leadership.  We are having units merging as a result of no one coming forward to fill these positions.  Without presidents and other officers these units and regions cannot keep their charters. 

The repeating theme at both IBT meetings and the Delegates meeting was fiscal responsibility.  The membership let it be known that they considered the travel and expenses of the Region and International officers to be out of line considering the budget deficit.  I was also told that many regions only have their region rally once every two years.  Hearing this repeated time and time again I have decided to take two actions; the first is to only do installations at state rallies, the second is to only have one region rally.  As everyone is well aware Region 3 is the largest region in WBCCI and one that is increasing in membership.  This is a wonderful situation to be in but there is a downside as well. 

To the best of my knowledge we are the only region that does not have any Vice Presidents or the prospect of interviewing any candidates.  Units have the ability to install their own officers I assisted Eastern North Carolina last year as there was a conflict in schedule and was told that it went well.  The year before Piedmont North Carolina installed their officers again as a result in conflict of schedule and as something that they wanted to try.  I provided them with the outline and they conducted the installation without any problems.  I thoroughly enjoy going to the units, meeting the members and doing installations however that is becoming more and more difficult without help.  My tentative schedule for 2010- 2011 is as follows:

• September 17-19 The Virginia Commonwealth rally. Harrisonburg, Virginia
• October 13-17   the Carolinas Mountain Jamboree Rally, Cleveland, South Carolina
• January 24-28 mid Winter IBT Robstown, Texas
• February 15 -20 Florida State Rally, Sarasota, Florida

Region 3 rally will not be held in 2011

The Region 3 rally will be held in 2012

Tentative site is Ocean Lakes, at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

posted 25 Aug 2010 Jim

The link is:  www.blueberetonline.com

Also, would you contact and or forward this request to all of your Unit Presidents and ask that they do the same thing on their websites.  This is a milestone on getting the word out to folks who are potential members that own Airstreams.  This is also an added benefit to potential marketing partners in the Blue Beret. (Important!)

Sincerely,
Fred Richardson, Chairman
Special Marketing Committee.

Region 3 WBCCI Board Meeting

Exchange Park, Ladson, South Carolina

April 28, 2010

President Julian Clements called the 2010 Region 3 Seminar and Board Meeting to order at 9:33 AM.

Charles Fishel from the Carolina Unit of North Carolina gave the invocation.

First Vice President, Rick Bell, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

President Julian Clements called for the roll call.  Secretary Elaine Ulrich recorded the roll as follows:

President Julian Clements                                            Present

1^st Vice President Rick Bell                                            Present

Recording Secretary, Elaine Ulrich                            Present

Corresponding Secretary, Lynne Clements           Present

Treasurer, Shirley Pratt                                                 Present

Unit Presidents:

Big Bend Florida, Mac Palmer                                     Absent

Carolinas Unit of North Carolina, Linda Fishel       Present

Coastal Georgia, Gordon Howell                                               Absent

Eastern North Carolina, Mac Cassell                         Absent

Everglades Florida, Roy Dalrymple                            Absent

Florida, Randall Godfrey                                                               Absent

Florida Springs, Sonja Meistrell                                  Present

Florida Sun Coast, Donald Obert                                                Absent

Florida Treasure Coast, Jerry Lipps                           Absent

Georgia, Warren Fore                                                    Present

Northern Virginia, Bill Williamson                              Present

Palmetto State South Carolina, Bernie Dufort     Present

Piedmont North Carolina, Charles Porter              Present

Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Paige Landes       Present

South Carolina Coastal, Jack Brooks                         Absent

South Florida, Susan Quintana                                   Present

South Georgia, William Findley                                  Absent

Tampa Bay Florida, Dale Edwards                              Present

Tidewater Virginia, Harry Simpson                            Absent

Virginia, Richard Bartelt                                                 Present

Western North Carolina, John Plaxco                      Present

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The following delegates had credentials and were seated to represent their units:

John Duncan - Big Bend Florida

Ann Sinclair - Eastern North Carolina

Allen Strickland - Florida Treasure Coast

Jimmy Lassiter - Tidewater Virginia

A quorum was present.

President Julian Clements acknowledged Past Region 3 officers.  He recognized Past President

Don Shafer and wife, Ann; Harold Kerns and wife, Martha; Tom Tisdel and wife, Jackie.  Jean Gilbert, Past Vice President.  The following were also recognized:  Barry Heckenswiler, International 2^nd Vice President and wife Lesley.  Betty Kenney and Don, Past International Recording Secretary.  Jack Glouner and B.J., Past International Treasurer.  Loretta Moss and Jim, Historian for Standing Committee.  Herb Quade and June, Safety.  All Past Unit Presidents were then asked to stand and were recognized.

Bill Williamson, President, Northern Virginia Unit, made a motion to dispense with the reading of the 2009 board meeting minutes.  The motion was seconded and the vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.

Shirley Pratt, Region 3 Treasurer gave the Treasurer’s Report.  The balance as of March 31, 2010 is

$35,l85.72.

Correspondence Secretary, Lynne Clements reported that she had no report.

President Julian Clements commented on the pleasure he has had in setting up the rally this year.  He thanked Arleigh Wells and his committee for the great job of setting up the parking.  He acknowledged Marie and Gordon Syrett in the pre-rally planning and help.  He asked everyone in the South Carolina Coastal Unit to stand and thanked them.

First Vice President, Rick Bell reported that the Region 3 Rally for 2011 will be held in Virginia Beach at the Holiday Trave-L-Park from May 9-15^th.  The Park has five swimming pools, a shuttle bus to the ocean and several State Parks nearby.  The rally will do away with some of the evening entertainment to allow everyone to enjoy the Virginia Beach area.  Rick recognized his wife Carol as being a helpmate in this endeavor and a hard worker.  Carol has planned the Region 3 dinner at International.

Marie Syrett announced that the Community Service for this year is the Callen-Lacey Center for Children and the Tri County Ministries which prepares 250 to 300 meals daily to feed the indigent and needy.  Checks, cash and food will be greatly appreciated.

Howard Sloan, Ethics & Grievances reported that he had no report.

-3-

New Business

President Julian Clements reported that we did not receive a quorum on the ballots received for officers of Region 3 for 2010-2012.  Rick Bell was on the ballot as Region 3 President.  Therefore nominations would be open to the floor.

There were no nominations from the floor for Region 3 President. Rick Bell was elected President.

There were no nominations from the floor for 1^st Vice President of Region 3.

There were no nominations from the floor for 2^nd Vice President of Region 3.

President Clements stated that if we didn’t get officers at the end of Rick’s term Region 3 would be abolished and Units would be assigned to other Regions.

Rick Bell asked President Clements if he could make a comment.  Rick said he would not be able to visit each Unit separately and to attend each Unit’s installation.  He will see the Units at State Rallies.

Don Shafer asked to speak and President Clements gave him the floor.  Don said he had been both Region 3 President and the International President and he felt that he and Ann enjoyed being Region officers more than any other position he held.  He hoped that everyone would consider being a Region 3 officer.

President Clements reported that we have received two nominees to serve on the Nominating Committee for the years 2010-2012.  Jean Gilbert from the Georgia Unit and Tom Carmichael from the Northern Virginia Unit have been nominated.  We need three to serve on the Nominating Committee.

No nominations were received from the floor.

The vote taken from the board was unanimous for the two nominees, Jean Gilbert and Tom Carmichael.

Announcements

Galax Fiddlers Convention, Galax, VA - August 9-15, 2010

Virginia Commonwealth Rally, Harrisonburg, VA - September 17-19, 2010

Carolina State Rally - Palmetto Cove, Cleveland, South Carolina - October 13-17, 2010

Florida State Rally - Sarasota, FL- February, 2011

Region 3 Rally -  Holiday Trave L Park, VA Beach, VA - May 9-15, 2011

Tickets for the June 29^th Region 3 luncheon in Gillette, Wyoming will be on sale here at the rally on Saturday.

Gifts brought by each Unit will be talked about and distributed on Thursday night at this rally.

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Barry Heckenswiler, International 2^nd VP will sell tickets to the Gillette Rally. Rally bags are available to those who registered by mail. He will give specifics during the WBCCI program at 3:00 on Thursday.

The Carolina Unit will be celebrating their 50^th anniversary in Winston Salem, NC at Tanglewood Park, October, 2010.  Please see Linda Fishel.

Rally plaques will be sold at the Flea Market for $2.00.

See Gordon Syrett regarding the Hunley tour.

See Tom Carmichael regarding golf.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 AM.

Respectfully submitted.

Elaine Ulrich

Recording Secretary

Addendum

After the meeting Mart Plaxco and Greg Ray were appointed to the Nominating Committee.  Jean Gilbert was removed because she served last term and cannot serve two consecutive terms.  Tom Carmichael was elected Chairman of the Nominating Committee.

posted 2010 May 3, jmc

What’s next?  INTERNATIONAL in Gillette, WY.

See you there!

posted 2 May 2010 jmc

If you have never been to Charleston, this great Rally will be the time to go.  Charleston is the last bastion of southern charm and gentility.  There are many guided and walking tours that should not be missed.

Charleston is the place to visit to see what life in the Carolinas was like long ago.  And if you like to eat,  you’ll have choices from a multitude of restaurants.  Steeped in history and undeniably southern, the city is unquestionably the epitome of southern charm.

Print the registration form, bring it with you, and come along.  You can view and print the Region Rally 2010 Flyer HERE.

[Adapted from Carol Bell’s article which was slightly edited and updated by Joe Kolb, #1060.]

rev 4/21/2010

Vehicle owners can be cited for the offense and, after Nov. 30, 2010, fined $100 for the violation.  [https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/pio/releases/details.aspx?r=3104]

Here is an abstract of the new North Carolina law, SESSION LAW 2009-456, HOUSE BILL 67:

AN ACT to prohibit the covering of the State name, year sticker, or month sticker on a State license plate by a LICENSE plate frame and to direct the joint legislative transportation oversight committee and the revenue laws study committee to study the authorization of special registration plates.
[see the NC statute here ]

North Carolina is not the first, and likely is not the strictest in this law.  I did a brief survey of other states’ requirements regarding license plate frames and easily obtained this partial listing:

Arizona prohibits covering the state name at the top of license plate
A.R.S. 28-2354(B.)

Illinois requires license plates not be obscured by frame  625 ILCS 5/12-610.5

Massachusetts laws state a number plate frame that obstructs any part of the plate is illegal, and you could be fined for having an obstructed plate.Michigan prohibits covering any registration information, per Michigan State Police

New York and New Jersey apparently also have similar legislation, but I did not find specific source for this.

Oregon requires plate frames or holders must not prevent the numbers, letters, or stickers from being readable (See ORS 803.550 for more information).

Texas has had similar legislation since 2003/2007, per Snopes article

The wording of Arizona’s statute, in particular, seems intended for enforcement only for Arizona plates.   Some other states’ rules don’t specify what state name must remain unobscured, so their law might easily be applied to out-of-state drivers.

It is highly likely most states have legislation requiring owners to maintain readability of the license, or registration, plate.  What use is the license plate if it isn’t clearly readable?

Debbie and I stumbled onto this requirement two days ago (maybe while we were researching truck weighted tags — another story entirely).  We took a quick look at our license plates (truck and trailer) and realized the trailer’s plate frame (from Airstream store) covered almost 1/3 of state name “North Carolina” at bottom of license plate.

We easily lengthened the license plate’s holes to allow sliding the frame down almost 3/16 inch.  North Carolina’s name is clearly legible, and the stickers at top corners still aren’t obscured.  Our license plate frame rides lower on the license plate and still looks great on the tag.  I’d rather spend a few minutes on a small fix than a few hours fixing a small ticket.

See You Down The Road,

Jim Cocke

Located in Berkeley County, SC, the Callen-Lacey Center for Children provides a safe and secure shelter for children during their time of need.   Click here to see their website for more information, and please read below for the wish list for their children:

Callen-Lacey Center for Children-Wish List

Birthdays and Activities

• Wal-Mart gift cards
• Blockbuster gift cards
• Mall or Outlet Gift Cards
• CD players and CDs
• Boom box
• Gift cards to local restaurants
• Gift cards to kid-friendly activities within the local area (Historical tourist attractions, sporting events, movie passes, bowling, skating, miniature golf, etc.)
• Items for Trips to the Beach or Water Park

Household Needs

• Items for Media Center: DVDs, CDs, Play Station and Wii Games
• Dining Room Table and Chairs (10)
• Subscription to Magazines
• Throw pillows for couch (need to coordinate with navy blue)
• Bathroom mats (blue)
• Laundry Detergent
• Paper Towels

Hygiene Products

• Female products
• Hairbrushes
• Face cleanser
• Underwear

Miscellaneous

• Cordless Drill
• Digital Camera
• Hand Soap
• Shampoo
• Blankets
• Towels and wash cloths