14 February 1981
1981 COUNCIL OF COUNCIL MEETING
The 1981 meeting, hosted by Florida Van Council, was held February 14, 1981 at River Ranch Resort in South Florida. Representatives from Florida Van Council (FVC), North Carolina-South Carolina Van Council (NC/SC), Hoosier Van Council (HVC), Southern Van Council (SVC) and Southern Van Council - Texas (SVCT) were present. An attendance roster was circulated.
Pat Costello, president of FVC, chaired the meeting. The meeting was called to order and minutes of the 1980 meeting in Birmingham were read. The following topics were covered:
1. Support for Council Events. FVC noted mixed support by its members; some events were well supported, others were supported poorly. SVC noted trouble getting support both within and outside their council. The economy was cited as the biggest problem, inflation and the closing down of businesses, which cost jobs. NC/SC noted that they have a fair turnout but very few pre-registrations, causing the usual "front money" problem. SVCT gives a 10% discount for club pre-registration with 5 or more vans. HVC noted that they get a little flak about people having to pre-register to enter the "show and shine" but people quickly cool off when they explain the reason.
2. Membership In general, membership is down from last year. FVC has 420 members, HVC has 268 members, NC/SC has 168 members and SVCT has 900 members (80 clubs). FVC noted that there is more enthusiasm, even with the reduced membership. HVC agreed and it was concluded that we are down to the "hard core" vanners. The people who joined as a fad have gone by the wayside. HVC noted that vans used to be unique, which may have attracted people. Now, the van is common place and has almost replaced the family station wagon. HVC and FVC noted that there is a decrease in new young vanners. The average age in clubs is on the increase. It was noted that the young people can’t afford a van as easily as they could a few years ago. SVC noted that one of their clubs has had an average age drop due to the influx of young single members.
A lengthy discussion followed regarding membership and voting policies in the various councils. SVCT had a club split due to letting wives have a vote. The single people objected. One NC/SC club gives every van two votes. Stoplight Vans has one vote per van and the vote can be split. Central Florida Vans solved the problem by allowing wives to vote only if they were dues paying members. In one council the husband registered the van in one club and his wife registered it with another club. Some clubs allow members to be active in only one van club.
On the topic of voting one SVCT club defines a quorum for voting by the number of vans, not members present. SVCT gives each club two votes in council matters and the independents (as a group) get two votes. In HVC each individual member gets one vote, including each independent. FVC and SVC do not allow independents and each club gets one vote.
All the councils noted that agendas are proposed in advance so that representatives can come prepared to vote. FVC and SVCT noted that they will allow proxy votes. FVC noted that having its meetings in the campground environment had increased enthusiasm due to the parties before and after the meetings.
3. Communication Between Councils FVC suggested that swapping published meeting agendas would help each other out. Some ideas from one council meeting could help another. HVC suggested that swapping by-laws would also be useful. FVC noted that swapping truck-in booklets could also help each other in "improving the quality of council sanctioned events", FVC will have the list of attendees, with addresses, typed and distributed to each council to assist in sharing newsletters, etc. Georgia Van Council did not attend this year due to a communication delay.
4. Campgrounds HVC noted that one club lost money because two other events had been held prior to this event and it was the only decent campground in the area. FVC noted that they are losing some good campgrounds; they are going "condo".
5. Cost of Events. After a short discussion it was concluded that it generally costs the host club $4.50 to $5.00 per night per van for the campground expense. It also appeared at least $10.00 above that cost to ensure putting on a high quality event. SVC suggested that the gate price be high, with no discount to council members at the gate.
6. Promoter Backed Events HVC noted that there are some good promoter promoter backed events in this area: promoter backed events are not necessarily bad. SVCT noted, in response to a question about Sonny Mac, that he had planned a good event but didn’t get much support. They did not plan to sanction it again.
7. Vanning and the Economy SVC wants to promote "doubling up" due to high fuel costs and pitch tents for the extra people. If the host club charged $5.00 per head extra over two adults everyone could make out. The topic of large camper trailers and the space they take up was discussed also. HVC noted some people need tents because the kids are now teenagers. One solution suggested was to buy the kids their own van; it also solves the problem of not having enough young people in the movement.
8. Open Discussion
T.O. Wynne suggested we should get around to see more people at events and not just sit with our clubs. NC/SC said the only way they could get their club out of the campsite was to hold a liquor wagon raffle.
Cypress Vans (SVCT) noted they have a Halloween costume judging like FVC.
SVCT asked if anyone had put on multi-club events. FVC and HVC replied that they have.
9. 1982 Meeting The 1982 meeting will be hosted by NC/SC and is tentatively set for Charlotte, NC.
10. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned and the various officers utilized the tables to swap such tradeables as dash plaques, window stickers, etc.
JOHN M. CUNNINGHAM Secretary
Florida Van Council
1981 COUNCIL OF COUNCILS ATTENDANCE
COUNCIL |
NAME/ADDRESS |
PHONE NO. |
OFFICE |
FVC |
John M. CUNNINGHAM 2137 N. Hampton Circle Winter Park, F1 32792 |
(305) 678-3281 |
SECRETARY |
SVC* |
Bill ATKINS P.O. Box 200A Donaldsonville, La 70346 |
(504) 473-9238 |
VICE PRES. |
NC/SC VC |
David CALDWELL Laneece CALDWELL 206 Winecoff Sch. Road Concord, NC 28025 |
(704) 786-0264 |
VICE PRES, SEC/TRES |
SVC |
Don Hawkins 600 So. 84th Street Birmingham, Ala 35706 |
(205) 836-0684 |
VICE PRES. |
SVC* |
Jim Bellott (Cypress Vans) P.O. Box 836 New Iberia, La 70560 |
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NC/SC VC |
Sam Andrews Jr. 1550 Hermitage Ct. Durham, NC 27707 |
(919) 489-4129 |
PRESIDENT |
NC/SC VC |
Rick Bass & Terrie Bass 3610 Colemill Rd. Durham, NC 27712 |
(919) 383-6808 |
NEWSLETTER EDITOR |
FVC |
Tony King Treasurer P.O. Box 15881 Orlando, F1 32808 |
(305) 295-0792 |
TREASURER |
FVC |
Pat Costello 436 Wekiva Rapids Dr. Altamonte Springs, Fl 32101 |
(305) 869-4431 |
PRESIDENT |
FVC |
Dave Taylor 7934 Madeira St. Marimar, F1 33023 |
(305) 961-1260 |
EDITOR |
FVC |
Ralph PETERSON 746 36st Ave. Vero Beach, F1 32960 |
(305) 652-2511 |
VICE PRES. |
SVC |
Wayne Perry Rt. 11, Box 366A Carrollton, Ga 30117 |
(404) 832-1982 |
PRESIDENT |
SVC |
T.O. Wynn Box 3714 Jamestown Dr. Huntsville, Al 35810 |
(205) 852-8189 |
Past Pres. |
SVC |
Chuck Cramer 749 85th St. So. Birmingham, Al 35206 |
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HVC |
Dick & Candy Jones P.O. Box 76 Oakford, In 46965 |
(317) 453-4427 |
PRESIDENT SECRETARY |
HVC |
Bob & Mary McIntire |
(317) 459-5048 |
VICE PRES TREASURER |
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Harold Willis Mark Thompson |
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SVC* |
Amy Bellott Rita Atkins |
(318) 364-7259 (504) 473-9238 |
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SOUTHERN VAN COUNCIL – TEXAS
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SOUTHERN VAN COUNCIL – TEXAS 336 Horrell Dr. Lafayette, La 70503 |
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GVC |
Jean Ferland 1228 Daniell Dr. Smyrna, Ga 30080 |
(404) 434-0183 |
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