My two cents:
It seems another splinter group is counter-productive to the overall goals
of the industry.
In the "hearth" industry 20+ years ago, there was an alphabet soup of
organizations (WEI, WHA, FPI, were "national" entities along with a plethora
of regional associations). These were coalesced into a single association
that has a manufacturing caucus, retailers caucus, technical caucus, etc.
This focused the assets - monetary, personnel, PAC's- into a much clearer
picture of goals for the industry. Of the many positive results of this
union was a week long convention that offers not just a place for
manufacturing to exhibit, but also training in all levels of doing
business - technical track, managemanet track, sales track to name a few. (I
know, the national solar show is getting close) This trade show has grown
into a rather large meeting of all principles in the industry with the
caucuses (cauci?) in each area setting goals for the coming year and then
presenting these in a single venue to the entire organization. My thoughts
are that this is a much more efficient way to promote the good of the entire
industry rather than the fragmented associations that are currently in
place.
Instead of energy spent on building a new group, how about going to SEIA (?)
and presenting a new format for a unified front for all concerned using the
template of other industry associations that give an equal voice to all
aspects of our industry? That, IMHO, is a more synergetic approach.
To Scott Sklar - is Carter Keithley still in the association business? - (he
helped put together a strong association for the hearth business). Thinking
out loud - if we could find someone like that to help lay out and instigate
a new version of what we got, I'd be willing to pony up..........
Holt E. Kelly
Holtek Fireplace & Solar Products
500 Jewell Dr.
Waco TX. 76712
254-751-9111
www.holteksolar.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Conrad Geyser" <[email protected]>
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 7:32 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Association
Hi all,
SEBANE, Solar Energy Business Association of New England, which is an
ongoing concern, would fit the parameters of the national trade
association
that you describe. I support SEBANE and would also support a national
organization.
Ken, you have to be a little careful with "CommonWealth Solar" as it also
happens to be the name of the Massachusetts state PV incentive program,
without the capitalized W. It was this agency under a prior name that
provided the seed money for SEBANE, so I guess you might say that they too
support a trade organization!
Conrad
Cotuit Solar
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ken Schaal
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 3:34 PM
To: [email protected]; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Association
Count CommonWealth Solar among those supporting this effort.
Don't most of these groups support themselves with various business
offerings? Like contracts and insurance ? Priority 1 ?
Thanks for stirring this up.
Ken Schaal
----- Original Message -----
From: " Jeff Yago" <[email protected]>
To: "RE-wrenches" <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Association
I think bringing life back into this early start of a solar association is
a very good idea. As a first step, I have been working on a suggested
installers contract and have already received emails from many on this
list
with suggestions and prior horror stories that could have been avoided
with
better contract clauses.
I do not have time to start a new association by myself, but can either
help others get this going, or wait until next year when many of my
current project obligations should lighten up. I also have a friend that
may soon have her job elliminated at a national trade asociation due to a
major drop in their membership, and she has far more experience than me
in
the day to day issues of keeping a trade organization going. This might
be a good fit once this thing gets started and can stand on its own.
Anyone else want to help me make this happen?
Jeff Yago
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