Hi Holt, et al, I thought the chronology of associations was first a big group to wield the voice / bargaining power of the entire industry. Only when some group gets (at least perceived) short shrift does it break off and form it's own group. I am late to the party of the 80's but I haven't seen the big group yet.
Unless I and Holt are missing something why isn't a consolidation the way to a stronger industry? Bill Loesch Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: "RE-wrenches" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 9:21 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Association > 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 > >> > >> _____________________________________________________________ > >> Netscape. Just the Net You Need. > >> _______________________________________________ > >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine > >> > >> List Address: [email protected] > >> > >> Options & settings: > >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >> > >> List-Archive: > >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >> > >> List rules & etiquette: > >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > >> > >> Check out participant bios: > >> www.members.re-wrenches.org > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > > > List Address: [email protected] > > > > Options & settings: > > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > > > List-Archive: > > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > > > List rules & etiquette: > > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > > > Check out participant bios: > > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > > > List Address: [email protected] > > > > Options & settings: > > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > > > List-Archive: > > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > > > List rules & etiquette: > > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > > > Check out participant bios: > > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.25/1955 - Release Date: 2/16/2009 6:55 AM > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
