[bkwelker]

Very good points by Mr. Kramer and Mr. Allison.

My business is about 60/40 window cleaning/pressure washing and I happen to currently sit on the board of the IWCA as well as serve as President of the Association of United Window Cleaners. While both of these organizations seek out and welcome associate members (manufacturers & distributors), their membership does not carry voting privileges, nor can they sit on the board in anything other than an advisory capacity.

I can tell you personally that as a matter of policy both organizations bend over backwards to not show even a hint of favoritism of one associate member over another even if it means passing up what may have been an attractive opportunity of some sort - exclusive sponsorships, etc.

I think that policy has proven itself to be directly responsible for some measure of both organization's successes and would seem to be only appropriate.