This story is long and complicated and it has a potentially end line that the Power washing Industry can call there very own. The potential here is huge. But even without that IMHO this is a win across the board for many and also gives plenty to see that unity does matter.
Basically this is where we are today. My company did a small job for the Ruth family and that alone is an interesting story. Allison from the online mag has that story if I can ever get around to put it together but the goal here was for me to take an opportunity and give it back to this industry and also pay it forward for some others.
The story for most to know that got us here today is this. Its coming straight from what the mindset is concerning the Houston crisis and how where reacting to it. Joe Walters calls me one day on a different matter and then we start talking about the industry and why things happen the way they do. He knows at this point that Ron M and Mike Hilborn had this falling out. What Joe didn't know was that Mike just resigned and he was saddened by that. I was unhappy because many know that Mike Hilborn was doing a good job as the PWNA ED and he does what he does and then resigns. Mike, we wished should have thrown himself at the mercy of the PWNA BOD and let them decide what he should do but most know for what Mike does he did it out of his passion for the PWNA and the industry at large. He makes enough money with his business and much of nothing as the PWNA ED. He took that job because he cared and the money was not there no matter how you look at it. So Mike Hilborn has enough and says the headaches aren;t worth it so he resigns.
Another good man leaving. Many have left like that because at the end of the day no matter what there passions are they get warn out and they leave. Brian Penney did it, Cujo Cooley, Jim Grady,Jean Hendricks Scott Milen and on and on. Some left because of internal differences but most leave because of the mental anguish they go through on there time to help many others. Volunteering is a tough business.
There is no point to in debating why some quit because that's not what this is about. Whats done is done.
Now Joe and I talk about the UAMCC and how good it was doing and how it fell apart. Joe Likes Carlos Gonzales as some others do and he was surprised how that played out when the Convention went so well. I know that Carlos didn't have any hidden agenda or evil idea's on what he was going to do with this org. if it made it. Carlos went in with his eyes wide open and any that was involved in the beginning know that this org. should have worked. It was setup not to fail.... but it does and since Carlos was the Leader many including myself initially started to blame him for anything and everything... I regret that and I blundered there tremendously and along the way I let many people down... because I quit which I hardly ever do. Others didn't do what they were suppose to do either because like in a lot of this volunteering stuff when one guy does so much others just watch and do much of nothing. I'm not saying all did that but the way the UAMCC was cracking at that point and with Carlos doing everything it was now in the position to fail and Carlos did what he thought was right because he was losing his shirt. What happened there you can debate and argue it to death but since I was there and saw it I along with some others should have dealt with that differently. A sit down with all of us in one room that org. could have been saved at that level and Carlos could have made decent money building the org. while us others could have done our jobs by working to make the org. valuable to the membership. That's the way that should have worked and it was set-up to do that. Carlos was most definitely the right choice to be the UAMCC first choice to be the ED which he was. Then some of the parts has to work to for this whole piece the UAMCC to work.
Most people I have spoken to all agree that Carlos was the right guy for the job back then and he had the right intentions..... it failed and that one hurts but just about all of us moved on.
Now with a lot of stuff going on that shows that many in this industry is at odds with each other just by whats going on in Houston it just looks terrible for this industry. This is all my opinion only. This is not about who should go to Houston or what the real story there is... but its solely how where reacting to each other about this.
Tough and sad call to have with Joe because he has seen it all and he has done a ton in and outside of the industry. He's volunteered and worked for many charitable groups so he seen a lot of things when it comes to volunteering but he stays true and does not waver in his beliefs on what the right thing to do is. Joe has always came thru in my experiences for anything that was asked of him. He's donated when asked, He's MC'd when asked, He has shown up when asked... He is who he is and in my life he is a stand up guy as many others are that I know.
So a few days later something goes down by me which is Allisons story but from that thru many calls and emails me and Linda Ruth Tosetti bond. She is the Granddaughter of Babe Ruth and the family blood line. We open up to each other about many things. She tells me so many interesting things about her family and what she does and what bothers her. She has some story to tell and there are books written about it. If you search the net you will see she is who she is. She keeps her Grandfather legacy going because of a promise she made to her mother and she also does it so Babe Ruth's legacy can live on thru the children today and she does it all not for the money and on many occassions she spends what money she has to keep doing what she does which is work tirelessly to preserve his legacy and where not talking about just his baseball prowess. She is an amazing woman who if you talked to her you feel like you have always known her. She has her Grandfathers outgoing and kind personality and also has some of his looks. The pictures I have of her and her Grandfather at certain ages is mind boggling to see it.
With all of this she lets me turn the tables to talk about what bothers me in this industry and the problem I see is similar to what I see in this country in general. There are divisions and we are our own worst enemies yet on all sides there are so many good people and they have done amazing things. Its the Division that is puzzling.
Along the way she ask me to send her something that shows some of the good we do and I oblige by sending her the Cleaner Times Magazine when we cleaned the Coopers town Hall of fame stadium for free. She was blown away but that and she now puts me on her website first page
The Official Family Site of George Herman "Babe" Ruth I never asked for that and I had zero imput what she says there. She calls me on that and asked if that was OK and even though I hate the spotlight and for the ones who really know me know that's true and all you have to do is ask my wife kathy who was disappointed that I never celebrated my 40th or 50th b-days and many other things, I told Linda what ever she put there was fine with me. Do nothing and I'm good with that.
This is where the ball starts to really roll. She feels that she should do something for our industry and she asked me what can she do. I first said nothing. Do nothing cause these guys don't want or ask for anything. She keeps asking me there has to be a way for her to do something... and then bing the light bulb goes off in my head. I asked her that many of these guys do so much good and they should be recognized some how. She says OK how many are we talking about...so I throw out a number to her thinking that she would say that's to many. That number is 25. She says ok lets do it.
To jump ahead I can't do it. There are just to many good people. I asked her if we can do 35 and maybe honor around 3 above and beyond then maybe I can do it. I also asked her if she could recognize TGS, PWI the PWNA the UAMCC the Cleaner Times and also Allisons new online magazine and she says if that's what I think needs to be done then she will do it. Simply amazing. She loves the fact that so many in our industry help each other, Do Volunteering power washing work, Help each other online by giving advice thru the bb's etc. This woman is amazing and I am truly humbled and honored that she has bestowed upon me to do this.
And all of this comes right after the blowup about the Houston problem. Just simply unbelievable. Its like a gift from....... and even though this is going to be very time consuming and mentally draining and the bashing I'm going to get for the people I picked because there is no time to form committee's etc I just feel blessed to take this on. Its a heavy burden because I have a very busy life that is spread thin but to give back with absolutely no strings attached.... She gave me an offer I just couldn't refuse(sound familiar).
So I set off to take my list and pick the most diversified bunch of guys and gals that I can find. To me there all good people but some of these people may have a tremendous dislike of each other. To me that doesn't matter but I had to make this bullet proof. There is nothing like doing something you think is good and you give it to someone else and they now are mad at that group so they throw in the garbage what you gave them. This here has to be bullet proof and after twisting and turning with that I found a way and Linda thinks its great so we do it.
Each and every person picked is going to get an 8.5x11 picture of Babe Ruth on a plaque and on those pictures she is going to write there name and business and thank them and there business for the good they do. So for the people who get this and then they see someone else getting the same thing they most likely will not throw it out because its only about them and there business and if they toss it then its like throwing there business down the toilet.
This make this a win for all. Of course I am heart broken over the ones that I didn't pick because some of them are probably more deserving and some I just over looked but time was a factor on this for some specific reasons and also I tried like heck to get this done before the 7/21 meeting in Houston. The goal was to get this done and if I got lucky Linda maybe could have went to the Tamp RT to present these Recognition plaques of gratitude but as fast as I moved from the time this was green lighted there was not enough time in the day to do it considering all else I was doing and all the people I was exhausting.
If you know how far along I am I have now in person Both George Bush SR and Jr's personal aid contact info. Linda herself has had presidential contact herself. There is a very large story in here and if it ends here at least I was able to give back while paying a few things forward. If it goes further in the future then this industry very well may be credited with something that each and every one would be so proud of,,, but that one is for another time and that one will leave a huge legacy for this whole industry if it can be done.. which I think it probably could.
Back to where we are now. Linda and her Husband came to my house this weekend and along with my wife Kathy we hammered all of this out. Then I took them to some of our best joints and introduce her to some people that has left her with an everlasting impact of how gracious these people are.
So now its done. I am truly sorry for not picking many and overlooking so many others but I did the best I can. I am going to release all of these peoples names very soon. Starting with a few right now. Also Linda and her husband are contemplating on going to the PWNA convention and personally doing a meet and greet while handing these plaques over to each individual. The only reason why the PWNA was picked was because I could not get the Tampa RT done in time and believe me I tried and the only other set scheduled thing I had to show her was the PWNA Convention schedule. She may go there because she wants to meet these guys and everyone else and also since she is a country music fan she has never been to Nashville so that also excites her and her husband Andy.
Either way if she decides to go to the PWNA Convention, there's another opportunity to do a photo op for your business. Remember there are no strings attached and for anyone who does not go I will personally mail each and every recipient there plaque afterwords because I have all of them. As for the big 3 who are going to get something more no matter how hard anyone tries those names are in lockdown until the day she hands these out or I do and once again they do not have to be at the Convention either because I have there special stuff already so I will mail it.
As for who I picked no one was given the choice to pick for me and no one even though some gave me there honest thoughts have swayed me to do something different. Everyone of these recipients have been contacted except for maybe 2 or 3 of them which I couldn't get them but some others did for me. I will also tell you not one person was upset or turned this down. Most were humbled and felt undeserving but as shocking as this was to them they were deserving. Remember this came and went fast. Like an opened window that stayed open and then shut. I am excited and happy for the ones I reached out to before the window of opportunity closed....and I am drained.
So here is a picture of a plaque that all will receive except for the special 3 who's names are on this list..
This was exhausting and humbling and if you knew me well enough the only reason why I did this was to give it back to you.
