And now ... a word from your President

[KOWBOY]

STATE OF AFFAIRS FOR THE WHITE TRASH​

With the end of the current year, comes the urge to reflect upon the choices we made ... and the paths we followed in '07.

With the beginnin' of the new year, comes the urge to ponder the possibilities of new choices ... and new paths in '08.

So this thread is meant to try to do both ... sorta kill two chickens with one rock I reckon.

Lookin' back at '07, we had another great year of events. Whether it was our huge turnouts at the Roundup and the Ramble, or the small events at Little Sahara and Clayton ... the common thread was always present. Good Folks havin' a good time. From the ice storm at the Jamboree to the floods at the Reunion ... good Folks havin' a good time. Cruiser, Toyota, Jeep, Blazer, Buggy, or even a rental car ... big or little ... stock or extreme ... just good Folks havin' a good time.

The strength of the friendships that have been built through this silly lil' club just amaze me. I now cannot imagine life without The White Trash. We've laughed together ... and at Momma's funeral, we cried together. I thank each and ev'ry one of ya for bein' a part of it and pledge to do all I can to keep it goin' into the new year.

Speakin' of the new year ... we do have some changes on the horizon.

Our Officer staff continues to dwindle. Dearborn managed one guest appearence and then went back into hiding. Fro and Murmy have pursued other interests and put the Beater up for sale. However, on the bright side, Fireman continues to be rock solid and does an amazing job of gettin' to events. Josh is workin' week on/week off and I'm workin' two weeks on/week off so our schedules are difficult to coordinate. But we'll manage best we can.

One path we have to analize is our relationship with TLCA. As you may recall, my short stint as a delegate and then officer was enough to drive me right the hell out due to extreme differences of opinions on the direction TLCA was evolving. Mike Costello stepped up and carried the flag admirably for us as our delegate. Now he's fed up too and resigned for the same reasons I did. Therefore, we currently have no delegate to TLCA. Quite frankly, I ain't sure we need one ... or even want one. If someone actu'ly feels strong enough about The White Trash stayin' in TLCA to be our delegate ... now's the time to step up. Mike and I can warn you though ... it might give you a whole different perspective of TLCA then you want. Either way, I look forward to another year of bein' Trash.

Your humble President,

Kowboy

 

[Green Lantern]

Whether the White Trash of the Elwood Chapter participate in TLCA is really moot.
TLCA is not a local club. It's a far flung group of like-minded people that enjoy land cruisers. If you want to wheel, drink, chat, drink, camp, drink, or drink... then you have a local club for that.

Most (about 75%) of the TLCA membership DO NOT belong to a local club. They drink alone.
TLCA will do just fine if the Elwood Chapter decides to skip those gawd awlful conference calls.

BTW, WToE Member number 11 has been an elected officer of TLCA for 8 years. Y'all can run me off if you like, but I ain't going anywhere.

Keep White Trash fun. Quit thinking the TLCA has to be anything. It's NEVER been more than a loose group of cruiserheads that mailed out a newsletter.

Happy Trails! N

 

[Dirty White Boy]

Lookin forward to the next year with yall. I'm trying to get my lil brother involved, now that he's got a runnin truck.

 

[Domek]

"sorta kill two chickens with one rock I reckon."

You mean 2 birds w/ one Stone! Right?

"Josh is workin' week on/week off and I'm workin' two weeks on/week off so our schedules are difficult to coordinate. But we'll manage best we can"

Don't you all have vacations?

 

[Clutchee]

For once the Kowpoke is right.....I know once is enough.

This club has been the best thing for Ashley & I......friendships & a group of folks who WE look forward to seeing each time we make a trip.

Glad I can call yawl friends & more than that..............FAMILY.


See yawl next year....(might be without Ashley-she finishing her degree in 08)

 

[DSLTOY]

I to am looking forward to another year of sitting around the campfire with you bunch of drunks I mean fine folks. The battle to keep Tellico open may cause me to miss a run or two but I plan on being at most of them. As for TLCA I am not rerunning for a BOD position but will stay a member and STLCA will stay a chapter as the one benefit they do offer is affordable insurance. Since the family reunion is a non wheeling event, you may be able to get reasonable insurance else where but for wheeling events you can't come close to TLCA's price.

 

[wngrog]

I too got my share of the TLCA after a short stint as an elected (unopposed) officer

Stick it out. Keep the club in the club. They need the $$ to keep the Trails coming. That is worth the money in itself for sure.

As for 08. Bring it boys.....Jamboree, Roundup and Ramble are all on my must-do list.

 

[65swb45]

I will be forever grateful to the TLCA for helping me find my 'family'. But even that gratitude has it's limits.

You do whatever your gut tells you Mr. President. You done already got together the finest group of wheelin buddies a guy could ask for. That means a lot more than a name.

On the other hand, if you wanted to play devil's advocate, I'd challenge the TLCA to see what they're willing to do to keep the WT on board.

TLCA has been nothing but a revolving door for most of it's ELEVEN THOUSAND EX members, and if it can't come up with a plan to hold on to some of its finest folks, who represent the pinnacle of participation, then that's all anyone down the road will need to know when they wonder about joining.

Sincerely

The Hippie

 

[Bossman]

Since we're in a mood for reflectin... I sure am glad to call you folks friends. It's been a tough year and I appreciate the support from many of you fine fellers! Work is going to make events kind of tough in 08 but we'll do the best we can. As for the TLCA - I have no strong opinion one way or the other. Roger has a good point about event coverage though....?????

 

[KOWBOY]

Thanks to those that took the time to post opinions.

Just to clarify ... The White Trash is NOT pulling outta TLCA. There's simply no reason to do that.

The situation at hand though is that we ain't gotta Delegate no more to represent us at the meetin's and vote on our behalf, etc.

Which means, technically speakin', we'd get kicked out. Not to say that we would ... just sayin' it could happen.

Furthermore, the thought of gettin' booted from TLCA does not bother me enough to personally make the commitment to being a delegate again.

I agree TLCA does offer excellent event insurance. This directly affects us for the Reunion. However, reality is that the Reunion would be much cheaper if conducted at a facility other than the Baker Farm anyways due to the rental generator, s***ters, ice machine, etc. ... and then we wouldn't necessarily need insurance. For example, Superlift Park or Barnwell Mountain where ever'body signs a release anyhow. So maybe we just take the show on the road.

Without a doubt, TLCA existed before The White Trash came along ... and will continue to exist whether we get kicked out or not ... and remember ... no matter what happens ... there's always 5 billion friggin' Chinamen that don't give a s***.

So ... now back to the ONE point I made about TLCA:

If someone actu'ly feels strong enough about The White Trash stayin' in TLCA to be our delegate ... now's the time to step up.

Otherwise ... we'll just see what happens.

 

[offrd63]

I've had a lot of changes goin on in my life the last coupe of years. I got divorced and that really dried up my money tree. Then I got this thing called spinal stenosis and thats a real pain in the back. Sometimes I can't walk let alone drive. I guess what I'm gettin at here gentlemen, is I'm feelin bad about my lack of participation. If my do'in the TLCA thing will help out, I'd be glad to do it. It would be the least I could do for y'all.

aw

 

[chattfj40]

Not sure how the bylaws are written, but I gotta be on those god awful calls for STLCA anyway, so if'n they'll let me vote twice I'll be happy to. Judging from the opinions on BODreps over the holidays, we may not be having them anyways...

Let me know oh great one...

 

[66fj40x2]

Not sure how the bylaws are written, but I gotta be on those god awful calls for STLCA anyway, so if'n they'll let me vote twice I'll be happy to. Judging from the opinions on BODreps over the holidays, we may not be having them anyways...

Let me know oh great one...

Nope, 1 vote per person.

 

[TMAN_FJ60]

After hearing Nick and Kowboy talk about the horrors of dealin' with TLCA, no way in heck I'm goin' anywhere near it.

However, I'll continue to stick around in the WT, even if I only make the Reunion each year! Hell, the little clown car probably saw more mud there than Bodean's truck did all year, unless he threw his cell phone on the ground!

 

[KOWBOY]

I got divorced ... Then I got this thing called spinal stenosis. I'm feelin bad about my lack of participation. If my do'in the TLCA thing will help out, I'd be glad to do it. It would be the least I could do for y'all.

aw

Damnit Man ... divorces and money come and go ... ain't nothin' but a thang ... but that spinal deal don't sound good. Wish the best for ya and please keep us posted.

Meanwhile ... way to step up to the plate Sir!

Saves me from kickin' your ass outta the club.

Give it a shot for awhile Alec and see how it goes for ya.

Mike ... please send Alec a PM and get with 'im to explain what he's gotta do and also please make necessary changes with TLCA to make 'im our O'ficial-Type Delegate Person.

And the rest of you sorry bastards should send Alec a PM wishin' 'im good health and thankin' 'im for keepin' The White Trash in TLCA.

 

[KOWBOY]

However, I'll continue to stick around in the WT, even if I only make the Reunion each year!

You know damn-well you're welcome at The Reunion Boy ...

but if'n that ends up bein' your first event of the year ... then your sorry ass ain't gonna be in the drawin' for the winch again.
























Oh .... and thanks for the offer to vote for us at the meetin's Shirley ... now go back to sleep.

 

[chattfj40]

Oh .... and thanks for the offer to vote for us at the meetin's Shirley ... now go back to sleep.

Talked to Roger today, and since he's no longer gonna be the EIR on the BOD, he's offered to rep STLCA on the calls, which leaves me available if y'all need me to rep the WToTEC....

...going back to sleep before tonight's call...

 

[KOWBOY]

That's a damn-fine gesture Shirley.

We'll let Alec get his fill until he's fed up too ... and then we'll throw you back in.

Should maintain us in TLCA for a year or two anyways.

BTW ... you reckon you gonna show up anywhere's this year?

I'm startin' to miss your big ol' pumpkin head.

 

[Domek]

"I got divorced and that really dried up my money tree. Then I got this thing called spinal stenosis and thats a real pain in the back. Sometimes I can't walk let alone drive. I guess what I'm gettin at here gentlemen, is I'm feelin bad about my lack of participation."

that sounds painful in anyways divorce & back pain... Hope you get better morally and physically. Don't know you yet, but if you hang out with these fine folks you must be a good guy too!


What's the big deal about the TLCA? Sorry, I know very little!

Do they speak fluent English at this conference phone calls or is it like Kowboy's inglish? Ja! Ja!

 

[Bodean]

After hearing Nick and Kowboy talk about the horrors of dealin' with TLCA, no way in heck I'm goin' anywhere near it.

However, I'll continue to stick around in the WT, even if I only make the Reunion each year! Hell, the little clown car probably saw more mud there than Bodean's truck did all year, unless he threw his cell phone on the ground!

That's a damn good one College boy! The mud would stick if I didn't have so much wax and armor all on my rig! You better brush up on yo hand to hand combat because the next time I see you I'm whoopin' yo ass!

Later,