PWNA has changed there membership dues.

[Clean County]

Hello Everone,
It is my pleasure to announce that the PWNA Board of Directors has just approved a revised dues structure for the organization. My personal thanks to the board for allowing this restucturing to finally take place.


Effective January 1, 2003, annual dues for PWNA members will be as follows:

Professional Membership / Contract Cleaner Firms

1. with gross Sales under $150,000...........$195.00
2. with gross Sales under $500,00.............$250.00
3. with gross Sales $1 million and under.....$350.00

Associate Membership,
Distributors, Suppliers, Manufacturers.........$399.00


Corresponding Membership
Organizations or individuals such as libraries, consultants, accounts, engineers.....................................$195.00

New members will be invited to join at these levels. Renewing members will begin paying dues at these levels for the 2003 dues.

This action is an outgrowth of an active board of leaders who have responded to suggestions and input from members,
Thanks again

Chris Detter/ President PWNA

 

[Scott Stone]

Oh fine, now they want to audit our books to see how much we are making. IF it is totally honor system, then the change is useless.

Scott

 

[Everett]

F.Y.I.

That is actually how MOST organizations operate i.e. International Franchise Assoc. , National Pest Management Assoc. ,etc. I see nothing wrong with this , it is a start.

 

[Dan S]

hummmmmmmm what if I gross over 150,000 but what if i only report 100,000?

some body else wants to see our books ...... gezzzzzzzzzzzz

okay I make just enough to pay 195.00 a year ...(lets say)

okay what is that 195.00 going to do for me ?



oops I better keep my mouth shut .. dont want any-bdy thinking thats all I do is complain ,,,,,,,,.............;;;;;;;''''''' shhhhhhhhh dont tell anybody I just posted here ........

 

[charlie]

Dan S.
What do want a organization to do for you? If it is to get better insurance rates that won't happen to many variables. What I look for in an organization is ideals on how to better my business.


Charlie

 

[Clean County]

Good Question Charlie.

A Friend of mine owns a pool business and he also belongs to an organization that represents his type of business. I believe he pays around $500/yr to be a member. He wasn't always a member due to some of the same reasons that some here aren't a member of the PWNA.

His business this year grossed over $1,000,000 for the first time. Which brought me to ask him the question "Why did you rejoin the Organization that you first thought was a waste of time and money?"

His answer plain and simple was that through networking and belonging to a group of similiar like contractors and getting involved has really helped his business grow immensely over the last 3 years. Having fellow members support you and helping you out and sharing idea's etc. was according to my friend worth its weight in gold.

Sometimes its not just worth joining a group to get something in cash value that equals to your membership dues to consider it worth joining. Its the intangibles such as networking with fellow members and believing in each other that is worth a ton more then what the dues cost.

Some may never understand that just like the way my friend thought initially. Now that he meets with these people at conventions who share his beliefs in supporting one another his business has really grown.

Of course you have to put something into it to get something out of it which is the key.

This is my take on why Organizations can help your business bottom line which is $$$$.

 

[Dan S]

check this out.....................

















NO-COMMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dan Flynn]

I agree to a point. I also feel that the PWNA seems to be heading in the right directions. But as far as networking. You'll get more of that here than you would at the PWNA!

 

[Paul B.]

Local organizations will benefit a business more than a national organization with 1 headquarter (as it relates to networking). A local may have monthly meetings that are more accessible than one that's 200 miles, 500 miles, 2000 miles from a business. It's a bit harder to network once a year, than 12 times a year.

 

[charlie]

Paul


I agree that is one of the reasons why I started to switch to local organizations to help me grow in my business. NARI and looking at going into the Chamber next year.



Charlie

 

[Clean County]

Yes
I agree that joining local groups is benificial towards your business but there to, you have to get involved somewhat to reap the rewards. OF course you can get some calls that may lead to $$$$ in your pockets but the more involved there the more fellow business people get to know you and the more potential work that you can get. I would never disagree with anyone that wants to join a local group to help there business grow.

I think on a national bases to join an organization such as the PWNA which represents Powerwashers there is a certain mindset that one gets out of it because everyone there believes in there SIMILIAR business and that postive energy can rub off on you.

Yes again I agree that BB's such as this one you can network and learn a ton. Which is why I come here in the first place. But I know from talking to guys like Mike Hughes there is a big difference when you are around fellow powerwashers discussing business and passing on idea's. ITs like a confidence booster. And like I said they all have somewhat SIMILIAR types of business so the positives will rub off.

If I had to rate Networking it would go in this order and ALL of it is good.

#3- bb's but anyone can hide behind there computer and say anything. I get most good info here and I weed out the negative things.

#2- Phone calls- Harder to do and more time consuming then bb's but you get to talk to each other and learn from each other.

#1- Face to face especially if all on the same page. This is where being a PWNA MEMBER and going to the Conventions would be a real booster to your psyche. MOTIVATIONAL to the MAX.

This is the way I see it.

 

[ARC]

I believe that the PWNA is working on securing discounts for its members from some of the suppliers that are also members.

Some of the ones I have spoken with are offering up to 10% off for PWNA members.

 

[Austin]

I really agree with you here John T. Interacting with people face to face is where people will benefit the most. I think you get to see whos who in the business. Whos fake and whos real. I've met a few people in my area over the inter net who talked it up about how they knew alot and did alot only to find out in a face to face meeting that they were what we call in Texas all Hat and no Cattle. Its easy for someone to paint you a picture over the net and then meet in person only to be let down by the guy who talked motivation and sucess.
There is only a small minority of people in this business for reasons other than that it is one of the easiest self employment opportunities to get in on. I will admit I got into the business because it didn't require alot of capital investment, it was an easier step to self employment for a guy without big funds as opposed to say buying a franchise which requires alot of capital not to mention the requirements to have a net worth of xxx amount of $$$ like most require.
The local orgs are great for helping add some accounts and I would join one but I also think it is very important to interact with people in our line of work to get ideas on how to grow and mature our business's.
I know a guy in this area that added work faster than the business grew and went bankrupt with anual revenues around 1,000,000 because it came too quick and he couldn't keep up.
The PWNA is there to help. I doubt everybody on the board is there for self fullfilment because they are nominated and elected by other members. I'm glad that these people donate their time to improve the industry.

 

[Douglas Hicks]

I am a charter member of OR-FED, Oregon Fire Equipment Distributors. Our goal is to increase the professionalism of our trade by education, training and a state lisencing requierment. We tax ourselves a % of portable fire extinguisher sales and service to support the organization. I think it is 1/10 of 1% of sales. Our experience has been that the ones who will cheat on their dues, will cheat on everything else and won't be interested in joining up anyway. It does give us a chance to meet each other, face to face and realize sometime our competitors are not all scum and low-ballers. I have realized extra income, sources of supplies, business oportunities and most of all, good contacts with people who face the same problems day to day as I do. Now I can make a phone call and ask questions of some of these people and get real help with my questions and problems. I can also refer customers who may have moved or opened up branch offices in other areas.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

 

[Dan S]

No Justin it's not just you ........

and I want to say sorry for all the confusion you have been reading ..( not quite sure which Dan you were referring ) but I answered anyways.

There is alot of mindless post on the BB .. and for the most part it is an addiction ........ That I for one need to slow down ( That comment just put a smile on some one) .

and I spend too much time while Im @ my dexk blabbering ... all the while not paying any attention to any new comers.

so with that all said >>>>>>>>> How are you doing?

What kind of cleaning do you do?
And how long have you been in this business?

okay no-more Q.

sorry again dude !!

keep in touch .......... It will get better <<>>+<<>>

 

[Mark]

Justin,

Excuse my bad manners!
I thought I had gave you a good old fashioned HOWDEE already!

WELCOME TO THE POWER WASH NETWORK!

Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Mark of Easy Clean Systems / www.PressurewasherZone.com

We are a Cleaning Equipment Distribution and service business based in Sacramento California. I personally have been involved with the Pressure Washer industry since 1977, first as a contract cleaner and then as a Distributor / Service Center, we have had an internet presence / online store for about 3 years now.

Weare proud to be a Sponsor of www.PowerWashNetwork.com and have been for several years now, as well as serving as a moderator for this board.

Feel free to call or e-mail me if I can be of assistance.


Once again: Welcome to the PowerWashNetwork!

 

[Aplus]

John,
I'm not a member of the PWNA, but I still went down to the Pittsburgh convention. I didn't attend any of the seminars, but there were a couple good ones that I should have.

However, I was still able to meet quite a few great contractors, I attended the trade show, and hooked up with some good vendors. It was nice to meet people from *delco* *sunbright*, *extendawand*, etc. I was able to attend the product demos they had. I even got to meet and talk with Pierce about *readyseal* products. All this didn't cost me a dime for membership.

All it cost me was the travel (260 miles), and a couple nites in the hotel, which I didn't mind, because me and my wife got a few days away by ourselves, which was nice for a change.

I think local roundtable meetings could be every bit as beneficial as spending a couple hundred dollars for PWNA membership.

I don't know everything about this business, but I know enough to wade thru the fact and fiction that passes thru these boards. After awhile, I have a pretty good idea who knows what, and who doesn't.

I suspect that is the case for you as well, because you've been around the block for some time.

I'd be interested to know what there really is to gain from membership if you don't attend the conventions.

 

[Larry L.]

I can see alot of you standing and looking though the window and not seeing the whole room inside.Most any group can help you if your in that group but I think the wholesalers are making a mistake by offering a discount if you belong to any group,if they can do it,they can also give it to anybody or lose business from the nongroup.

 

[Walter]

Dues

The new dues structure is at least an effort. I think they should have made a pricing structure for new business's. I joined the PWNA right off the bat when I started my business. I did not renew my membership because they had nothing to offer me.
Now that Im making enough money to afford the dues and the trips they still don't have anything to offer me.

 

[Jon]

Walter ask yourself this, what do you have to offer the PWNA to make it the organization you feel it should be?

An organization is can only be what the members want it to be, the more members the more it grows, the more it grows the more it can offer the membership.

So do you still ask yourself "what can it offer you? NOTHING unless you first offer it your membership.

Remember it is slowly changing, and it wants more change but needs help, the current board knows that and is working to improve it.

I know that when all of us in this profession talk about organizations we compare the PWNA to others, well others might have started off with people who started it to help all instead of a few. Past mistakes aside stop being greedy, stop asking what's in it for ME and instead say what can I do for it.

Oh well there will always be those against things, I am guilty of that too, there are groups/organizations I feel are not worthy of my money/time etc.

So re-join and ask them can I help make it better?