WBCCI History
Updated: 17 May 2015
Early Airstream owners were passionate travelers with a strong desire to tour the world, but many were daunted to set out solo on an adventure to destinations unknown. Wally Byam found a thrilling solution.
In 1951, Byam organized a group of 50 Airstream-owning friends for a caravan together through Central America. Though the route was always challenging and the roads often impassable, the group safely and successfully completed the trip.
The exotic Central American caravan was a hit. Another Airstream trip to Mexico was organized a year later, then another to Eastern Canada in 1955. While Byam was busy scouting the 1956 caravan to Europe he enlisted his cousin Helen, who had never towed a trailer, to lead the Eastern Canadian trip. It was during this caravan that Airstreamers envisioned a formal organization, and the Wally Byam Caravan Club was founded on August 3, 1955 in Kentville, Nova Scotia.
As one of the founding members of the WBCCI, Helen Byam Schwamborn—WBCCI member #2—established the first WBCC headquarters office and served as the first editor of the club newsletter, the Blue Beret.
In the coming years, caravans became even more daring and spectacular. In 1956, Caravan #8 toured Europe; news and photos of the Airstreams and their owners appeared in the June 1957 National Geographic magazine. Caravan #20 made history when the fleet of Airstreams traveled 9,000 miles in 1959 to traverse the length of Africa from Capetown to Cairo. In 1963, Caravan #35 took a full year to go around the world.
Wally Byam caravans have traveled the globe, including stops near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Great Pyramids of Egypt; in 1985, a group of WBCCI members traveled in 11 trailers through China.
Today, WBCCI members continue to travel in style with their Airstreams each year on dozens of national and international caravans, and enjoy camping with new and old friends at the hundreds of local, regional, and special event rallies.
Watchung NJ Unit History
The following is documentation from Edward Ambry on the formation of the Watchung NJ Unit and its original Charter Members for historical purposes:
The basic reason, for folks living in Central and Northern New Jersey, to begin to discuss the possibility of forming a new WBCCI Unit in New Jersey was geography, pure and simple.
Our choices were to belong to an out-of-State Unit in New York or Pennsylvania or join the New Jersey Unit. Most of us joined the New Jersey Unit but very few of us ever went to meetings or rallies since these were held below the “Mason Dixon Line”. I attended one meeting so I could be presented with my “Jersey Devil” pennant.
So, as the Northerners met around the State, we entertained the idea that we should petition the WBCCI to allow us to form a North Jersey Unit. We were informed by WBCCI that the procedure for this proposal called for our informal group to enlist at least 25 persons who either held membership in another unit or who owned Airstream trailers and wished to become first time members of WBCCI through our proposed “new” Unit.
This was accomplished. A petition was drafted and signed by twenty-five petitioners in 1965. WBCCI advised us to collect dues from at least 25 potential members. (Those petitioners, if still interested, and anyone else who owned and Airstream trailer and wanted to become members of what then was named the Watchung Unit.)
Telephone and letter writing committees were formed. Contacts were made. Dues for the 1966 year were collected and mailed to WBCCI before the December 1, 1965 deadline. This deadline was for existing as well as new Units being formed in New Jersey and other States. The Watchung Unit was official and received a Charter document sometime in 1966. Our efforts produced 90 members who paid their respective dues before December 1, 1965 deadline and two members who paid dues on December 4, 1965.
Jack Brunger, who prepared the list of members, was careful and honest when he prepared the list to note that he and Will Dennick did not mail in their memberships before the 1st of December. Both of these members went on to become President of the Watchung Unit.
The date was critical since WBCCI had informed the petitioners that all new members of the new unit would be considered Charter members, if their dues were mailed by the December 1, 1965. At that time, I believe, the Watchung Unit considered Brunger and Dennick to be Charter members, even if WBCCI did not. They were really the two most important instigators of the plan to form the new Unit. They worked harder than anyone else but I guess they were too busy to get their dues to WBCCI on time.
I guess we could say that Watchung set sail in our Land Yachts with 92 members (Charter Members) in 1966.
Recently, while in Ohio, I visited the WBCCI Headquarters. I presented my notes and recollections of the 1965-66 series of events. Two of the staff agreed that the procedure used by the petitioners and the dues collectors when Watchung Unit was formed was the correct procedure in 1965-66 and, in fact, was and still is, the identical procedure used today if a new unit wishes to be formed. All members who pay their dues before November 1st (new dues date) in the formation year are considered Charter members of the new unit in its first year of operation as a unit.
–Edward Ambry
Celebrating 60 Years of the Watchung NJ Airstream Club
As the Airstream Club International commemorates their milestone this year...the 70th anniversary of its formation in Halifax, Nova Scotia...we celebrate our own milestone. The formation and official charter of the Watchung New Jersey Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club, Int’l. occurred in December of 1965, 60 years ago!
Drawing on the Watchung NJ Unit History as found in your Membership Directory and The History of WBCCI as found in the latest edition of the Blue Beret, here is the story of how our club came to be and how it has evolved over six decades of fun, fellowship, and adventure. With the help of Lea Plant 2256, our Historian, a Past President, and former Editor of the Hillbilly, we will also look at some of the highlights of those 60 years, including accomplishments of our club and the contributions of many members along the way.
According to our records, the basic reason for starting a new chartered unit of WBCCI was basic geography. For many members living in the northern areas of New Jersey, the choice of a “local” club was either an out-of-state Unit in New York or Pennsylvania or to join the New Jersey Unit down south. Records show many did join the New Jersey Unit, but few ever went to meetings or rallies. As the “northeners” met around the state, the idea to petition the WBCCI for permission to form a new unit was born. Armed with the official procedures as outlined by HQ, a petition was drafted and signed by the required minimum of twenty-five individuals. A Telephone and Letter-writing campaign was taken up to encourage potential members to join the new unit. Dues were collected from 90 prospective charter unit members and sent to WBCCI headquarters before the December 1,1965 deadline for membership. Two additional members paid their dues in December but after the deadline to be considered as charter members. The campaign was successful. The Watchung Unit was officially recognized by WBCCI and received their Charter document sometime in the new year. Chartered in December 1965 and fully operating in 1966, the Watchung NJ Unit set out with 92 members. Remember, back then a “member” was typically a family couple. In today’s definition and calculation that would be probably around 180 people/members! A copy of the Charter is included in the tri-fold frame that we display at club meetings and our Officer Installation.
Highlights through the Years
1970’s – During a gas shortage, the Watchung unit bought property in Tusten, NY. The idea was for members to leave their trailers on this property, allowing them to use their ‘smaller’, more economical vehicles to drive up for weekends. Many members helped with work around the camp and making improvements to the property. The largest ever International Rally was the 1976 Rally held in Louisville, KY with 4493 rigs! No full hookups there! Attendees were lucky to get daisy-chained water and maybe 3 amps of power! No a/c!
1980’s – Although overall membership in WBCCI started to decline from its highs, attendance at International Rallies were still high by todays’ standard, drawing between 2000 and 4000 rigs each year depending on location. It wasn’t until the late 90’s that attendance dropped below 2000 rigs.
1990’s – Work/Play Watchung Weekend Rallies were a staple of our annual rally schedule. Members would bring their trailers or go for the day to work on parade floats and Bulletin Boards in preparation for competition at upcoming International Rallies. Those weekend rallies were hosted by members Don and Johanna Bookholt 28459 for many years. Records are unclear but the property in Tusten was eventually sold.
2000’s – The attendance numbers at International Rallies continued to decline, dropping below 1000 in 2002 when the rally was held in Rapid City, SD. The low point in attendance was 2014 when the Rally was held in Gillette, WY with only 346 rigs in attendance. Attendance and general memberships have been on the increase since.
2003 - Terry Plant, daughter of Jim and Lea Plant 2256 represented the Watchung NJ Unit in the Teen Queen competition at the 46th International in Burlington, VT. (That competition is no longer held.) There were 1669 rigs in attendance at the International Rally that year.
2003 – 2016 -WBCCI Merit Award: This award was graded on such criteria as Member Communications (Newsletter), Rally / Luncheon Schedule, Full slate of Officers, Member Retention, and Community Service. Information was gathered from contributing members twice yearly and tallied to include hours volunteered and money/value of items donated to thrift stores/food pantries/church/charity, etc. Also included were our club/group contributions, including Toys for Tots, Food Bank, and other various charities throughout the year. This info would then be submitted to HQ for consideration of a Unit Merit Award. Under the leadership of every single Watchung President from 2003 through 2016 when the award was discontinued, our club received the ‘Superior Merit Award’. This recognition resulted in a certificate of achievement as well as the receipt of a gold ribbon to be displayed with our unit flag. Our flag still proudly carries all those gold ribbons.
2007 – During the terms of Steve Nehlig 4284, Fred Spencer 8790 and Lea Plant 2256, Watchung launched our first website, with Dave Morrision 6481 as Webmaster.
2015 – In January and March of 2015, we lost the last two Charter Members of the Watchung NJ Airstream Club. Pat and Ed Brunner 9013 passed in January and March, respectively, ending 50 years as active members. They are well remembered by many still in the club.
2016 - Watchung NJ Unit’s newsletter, ‘The Hillbilly’ with Lea Plant 2256 as Editor, won a1st place blue ribbon in the Unit Publication competition at the 59th International Rally held in Lewisburg, WV. There were 668 rigs in attendance that year. Lea had succeeded Marion Wooding 3863 in 2008 after her many years of service to the club as Editor.
2016 –Under club President Richard Short 1512, in October of 2016 the general membership approved the change from ‘Watchung NJ Unit’ to ‘Watchung NJ Airstream Club’. Subsequently approved by a motion brought to the WBCCI Board of Trustees, our new name was official. Caravan Leader, Past President Fred Brugmans 5638 passed the reigns to David Cahall 4058. The WBCCI started to use the name Wally Byam Airstream Club before finally transitioning in 2019 to the Airstream Club International we use today. WBCCI logos changed with the new names, with older, previous logos becoming Historical or Heritage logos. The latest name change, and new colorful logo have been well received.
2017 - Watchung NJ Airstream Club’s newsletter, ‘The Hillbilly’ with Angie Ratliff 5070 as Editor (2016-2022) won its second 1st place blue ribbon in the Unit Publication competition at the 60th International in Escanaba, MI. There were 638 rigs in attendance that year. (That competition is no longer held.) Derek Conley 16003 succeeded Angie in 2023 as the Hillbilly Editor and has continued to improve the quantity and quality of content.
2018 - Under the leadership of President David Cahall 4058, our club logo and our club flag (lovingly know as ‘Big Blue’) were redesigned, voted on, and approved by WBCCI Board of Trustees. Webmaster, Mark Ratliff 5070, completed the migration of our website to the WBCCI hosted platform.
2018-2019 - Watchung Past President Dave Morrison 6481, was elected and served as the President of the Vintage Airstream Club, an Intra-Club of the WBCCI.
2019-2021 - Watchung Past President Rich Short 1512, was elected and served as President of Region 2. During that time Rich developed the Airstream Club’s Members Benefits Program to include member discounts with Michelin Tire, Goodyear Tire, Passport America, Harvest Hosts, Griots Garage and others. Lea Plant 2256 served as Region 2 Membership Chair and Judy Cahall 4058 has served since 2019 as Region 2 Rec Sec.
To the present – Over the years the Watchung NJ Airstream Club has continued to thrive with new and established members willing to participate in the life of the club and take on roles in club leadership. Thanks to members like Chris Forster 2405, Mark Ratliff 5070, Lois Wagner 16003, Leslie DeHerde 6590 and others, we have recently seen the implementation of a digital membership directory, online registration for our rallies and luncheons, online payment of fees through PayPal, organization of group communications through mobile apps like WhatsApp and other modernizations that improve club life.