International Hybrid Camper Association
Founded: St. Louis West (Eureka) KOA, June 2000
IHCA
The International Hybrid Camper Association (IHCA) is a relatively informal international association of people who are devoted to traveling and camping in their unique hybrid trailers. ("Unique" refers to their having full stand-up headroom, being fully self-contained and have one or two foldout canvas-enclosed end beds.) The purpose of IHCA is to provide opportunities for fellow hybrid owners to meet others through the annual IHCA rally, to exchange tips, tricks and ideas and to assist one another in solving camper problems while enjoying good fellowship, camaraderie and making new friends.
IHCA Membership
Anyone who owns a hybrid camper can be a member of IHCA. With the arrival of an adequate number of bumper stickers for members, a formal membership list is in the works. There are several other forums who have hybrid members not participating in the HybridRV forum, so they will be contacted too as well as an effort made to contact those who are not "wired" and may be interested.
IHCA Operating Structure
There was one. It wasn't needed. With formal membership in the offing, we may also need an operating structure again. The role of administrative organizer (?) could be included here. It's all up for discussion by members..
Rallymasters
Preferably two to three couples to co-ordinate efforts to plan activities of the yearly IHCA rally scheduled for the 3rd. weekend in June.
Planning consists of locating and reserving campground sites, notifying members (and somehow, non-members) of location via email, on-line RV bulletin boards, webpage, promotional flyers, etc. Recruiting and co-ordinating volunteer assistance from members to assist in carrying out rally functions.
In reality, IHCA has no president, vice-president, secretary treasurer, convenors, lawyer, accountant nor a CEO. We are not indebted, being sued, paying administrators dubious amounts of members' monies (as a matter of fact, we have no money) - in short, we're too busy camping and planning trips. This too, is up for discussion by members.
IHCA Rallies
IHCA rallies are held in a different location each year to foster camping camaraderie in different parts of the continent. Past rallies have been held in St. Louis, MO., (the inaugural rally in 2000), Estes Park, CO., (2001) and Niagara Falls,ON., Canada (2002), Gatlinburg, TN. (2003), Gettysburg (2004). Currently, there is a set date with flexible locations. It has been suggested that the date be flexible also. As with nearly everything else, this is up for discussion althought for the purposes of stability, I would suggest that the arrangements for 2005 remain as they are.
Regional Associations
Since 2000, regional camper associations have been formed.They and their members are members of IHCA if they say so. They are:
Great Lakes Hybrid Campers; Mark Moore, Pres. (MI).
Nor'easters; Greg LaCourse, Pres. (NH).
Southern Hybrid Camper Club; Chuck Corley, Pres. (GA).
Mid-America/Heartland Hybrid Campers; Charles Morris, Pres. (KS).
Mid-Atlantic Hybrid Camper Association; Paula & Dawn, Co-Pres.
Noted is the deletion of the Texas Hybrid Camper forum and therefore the regional association.
Links
The HybridRV bulletin board has become the main form of communication amongst IHCA members. It can be found at:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/HybridRV/
Also: http://www.geocities.com/luv2cookout/southernhybridcamperclub.html http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/SouthernHybridCamperClub/
Rallies 2004
Regional rallies will be added as the information becomes available. Let johny_maple know on the forum site or at [email protected]
News
We are into the 2004 camping season and for some of us, the annual IHCA rally is the beginning. The rally in Gettysburg was very enjoyable as usual, especially finding out who the people are behind their forum 'nom de plumes'/'handles'. As mentioned throughout this document, IHCA is in for some changes. How many, how they differ from the current set-up and where IHCA is going are all up for discussion, debate and at some time, conclusions and decisions. This will include current members only, both certified (!) and on the HybridRV forum. As noted, many members have started their camping seasons so there is no rush nor deadline to finalize everything. I suspect the best discussions will take place during the winter months as an antidote to cabin fever.
The two photos above are of some historical significance. The first is of Kelo and her husband, Steve. Kelo was responsible for organizing the first hybrid rally in 2000. It was during an impromptu "business" meeting that the IHCA was formed. The second photo is of the 2004 rally group representing the 5th annual hybrid camper rally and the 4th annual IHCA rally. A third photo I was unable to place on this page would have shown Mark Moore, one-half of the Duelling Dictators (thanks, Chris) who started the second HybridRV forum after the original was starting to be infiltrated by spammers. Between the original and the current forum, there have been approximately 30,000 postings by forum members helping and entertaining each other. Good stuff, Kelo, Mark and forum members.
j_m
Last update: June 25, 2004
