About

Learn about the club and our history

In 2003, BOCI (“BO-CHEE”) was first registered in California, USA, as an I.R.S. authorized non-profit 501 (c) (7) Member-Benefit Corporation, to function as a social club for Bigfoot RV owners. Since then, the Club has added a Business Member category, available to qualifying companies approved by the BOCI Board of Directors, who provide products or service of interest to our Owner Members. It also offers a 3-month Trial Membership for Bigfoot owners who are unsure about joining or those who do not own a Bigfoot RV but are actively considering purchase of one.

The Club’s mission is to provide information related to Bigfoot products and Club activities in addition to numerous other features of interest to the Bigfoot Owner. This information is mainly provided through its members-only website. The Club is governed and staffed entirely by dedicated member-volunteers spread throughout the USA and Canada. They work remotely except for the week they spend together at the Club’s Annual Rally.

The Annual Rally is a five-day affair that includes its annual Business Meeting, open to all members, at a venue selected by the Board of Directors. The Rally includes informative workshops from local presenters, interesting side trips, catered meals and other social activities. At the Business meeting, Owner Members vote on various matters including Bylaws amendments and election of members to the Club’s Board of Directors.

In addition, Mini-Rallies may be held throughout the year on a smaller scale at locations selected by the members.

History

Adapted from a note by Ric Allen, BOCI’s founder, to attendees of the Club’s 20th Anniversary celebrated at its 2023 annual rally in North Bend, Oregon.

In 2002, Ric and Linda Allen purchased a 2003 Bigfoot 30MH29SL motorhome. Wanting to learn more about this new lifestyle, Ric asked the dealership if there was a Bigfoot club. To their knowledge there was not but suggested that he contact Bigfoot’s western U.S. regional sales manager to see if he was aware of such a group. Ric called him and got the same response, “not to my knowledge”.

About two weeks later, Ric called again: “Linda and I would like to start a small club but want the blessing of the manufacturer in order to not step on any political toes.” The manager’s reply of “doubtful” meant that not only was permission unlikely but that two people, with no previous knowledge or experience in the RV lifestyle would be able pull that challenge together.  Still, he agreed to run it by the corporate office for their opinion. 

About a month later Ric got a phone call from the general sales manager at Bigfoot with not only approval, but an offer to pay the club $7.00 for every Bigfoot sold going forward, plus Bigfoot would include a free one-year membership to every buyer.  Ric believes that Bigfoot also donated $1500 to help cover club start-up expenses such as legal fees, website design, etc.

Then, with the help of Jack Willoughby, a retired judge and Bigfoot owner, he developed our club’s initial bylaws, received federal 501(c)(7) non-profit corporation status, and registered as a non-profit, Mutual Benefit corporation with the State of California.  We remain as such today.

Ric remembers placing some teaser notes on the internet such as “Bigfoot Owners Club to launch soon”. The response back was very supportive, which led to his next challenge: how Bigfoot owners could meet each other.  His small team decided that a rally would be a good way of doing this, which meant figuring out just what such a rally involved.

The first BOCI rally was held in May 2004 at Pechanga Resort Casino RV Park in Temecula, California.  Ric believes 32 rigs attended, plus representatives from the Bigfoot corporate office and several product reps.  The original music group ‘The Tornados’ performed.  BOCI was truly “born”.

Some of the original members who attended that first rally remain with us and their contributions have been immeasurable. They and others are responsible for thousands of hours of volunteer time and effort to create and maintain this club as it is today. 

2025 Board of Directors

From left to right:

  • Norm Rector, President
  • Chuck Scherbaum, Secretary
  • Bob De Vries, Director
  • Jay Rutherford, Treasurer
  • Mike Laney, Vice-President

Our organization is supported entirely by volunteers. The club could not exist without them.