Is a National Org Neccessary or Achievable

[PressurePros]

I posted this with my commentary on my BBS. I will be brief with my opinion and let a discussion ensue as to how a national org can either benefit its members or even get off the ground. I feel a national org is too big of an undertaking. It will lumber in the planning phase for eons. I think smaller organizations of local geographies have a far more realistic opportunity for success and quicker launch. Here is why:

Local Orgs:
1. Know their market and can react to it quickly.
2. Have an interest in their membership because management lives there as well.
3. Have members that will participate actively as the org issues tend to coincide with issues that can affect individual member's businesses.
4. Will hold meetings and conventions with high attendance rate. No one has to jump on a plane and lodge for days at a time. This also translates into higher frequency of gatherings or functions.
5. Don't have too many hands in the soup. Less members = less need for large management team.
6. Have less chance of separation and debate between management and members. The members know who their leaders are because they have access to them.
7. Can accurately discuss pricing strategy (not price fix) because everyone involved knows that particular market.
8. Can have a much better success rate offering education due to less travel and lodging. It will be easier to establish labor-for-learning modus versus high dollar training programs.
9. Require less revenue stream to maintain daily operation. With less costs to operate, the need for vendor/manufacturing dollars is decreased.
10. Can keep local economies flourishing by promoting local vendors.
11. Can have much smaller marketing campaigns and perform low cost, targeted membership drives.
12. Can actually make a difference by having concentrated public awareness campaigns.

Once we have a few years of smaller orgs establishing and refining themselves, someone can step up and link them together to form a national org.

[Ron Musgraves]

YES!!!!! That sounds familiar. well said Ken

[Mathew Johnson]

Originally Posted by PressurePros

I posted this with my commentary on my BBS. I will be brief with my opinion and let a discussion ensue as to how a national org can either benefit its members or even get off the ground. I feel a national org is too big of an undertaking. It will lumber in the planning phase for eons. I think smaller organizations of local geographies have a far more realistic opportunity for success and quicker launch. Here is why:

Local Orgs:
1. Know their market and can react to it quickly.
2. Have an interest in their membership because management lives there as well.
3. Have members that will participate actively as the org issues tend to coincide with issues that can affect individual member's businesses.
4. Will hold meetings and conventions with high attendance rate. No one has to jump on a plane and lodge for days at a time. This also translates into higher frequency of gatherings or functions.
5. Don't have too many hands in the soup. Less members = less need for large management team.
6. Have less chance of separation and debate between management and members. The members know who their leaders are because they have access to them.
7. Can accurately discuss pricing strategy (not price fix) because everyone involved knows that particular market.
8. Can have a much better success rate offering education due to less travel and lodging. It will be easier to establish labor-for-learning modus versus high dollar training programs.
9. Require less revenue stream to maintain daily operation. With less costs to operate, the need for vendor/manufacturing dollars is decreased.
10. Can keep local economies flourishing by promoting local vendors.
11. Can have much smaller marketing campaigns and perform low cost, targeted membership drives.
12. Can actually make a difference by having concentrated public awareness campaigns.

Once we have a few years of smaller orgs establishing and refining themselves, someone can step up and link them together to form a national org.

Interesting insight Ken, I know there is a small group in contractors in Maryland doing this (Henry Bockman has it) it is informal, but the same theme as you described, Celeste is gonna pull it off in North and South Carolina, I am working on it in New York, I have licensed NYPWC.net and NYPWC.org (New York Power Washing Contractors - don't know which one we will use). I have spoken directly with several Ny contractors about many of the things you listed and have genuine interest. I hope I can get it going... free time is a barrier

2008 will prove to to be an interesting year.

[Ron Musgraves]

This is the way, build a small network, round table with people close and have a regional ones when able. from this a strong networking can be built.

[Ron Musgraves]

Now could be create a plan that other can use so that melting them together later will be easy.

Of course you realize many may not want to join the national. I think it will still not have much to offer if the local orgs are successful.

[Ron Musgraves]

Maybe we should establish this from the begining and have those set up independant locals and have a national that charges nothing for the first two years because the locals have all the expense. Have a plan in place that when they reach a certain size they can contribute to the national association.

Its will be years and lots of work before a national could have any impact. The locals can build and benifit almost imdeadiatly.

[fullthrottlepower]

Ron , I like your thinking and not too off base.
It would be beneficial perhaps to set up a little rap seesion,
call-in perhaps, where we have an impromptu conference call

I have to agree with you with regards to locals.
Being in the northeast we need to be creative in the winter months
when there isn't much viable work. (decks, housewashes, freezing temps)
and so on
vs. other climates that allow year round work.
where they can concentrate on different aspects of their business that are important in their neck of the woods. (droughts, fires , etc.)

[Windowcleaningresource.co]

I like this idea Ken. I would be much more interested in participating in a local organization specifically due to the reasons you stated.

[CarolinaProWash]

I, for one, am excited about the positive feelings of the PWNC. We held a meeting in Myrtle Beach, SC last weekend with an attendance of just over 20 and there will be another held in Raleigh, NC the latter part of February or 1st of March.

The PWNC has already achieved some recognition by the press in North Carolina due to participation in water restriction conversations. Local contractors are helping to solve the problems! No national group has done anything.

I also think it is accurate to say that smaller groups can manage themselves much more effectively than utilizing "outsiders".

Celeste

[MMI Enterprises]

Amen to that Celeste!!..Tiz all a about 'lifeboating' everything. Everything from yer own personal household all the eay to the top of things..