[RE-wrenches] NABCEP

[Michael Welch]

Off list, please...

I hope that everyone that wants to chime in on this will do so in the next few days.

Michael Welch wrote at 10:16 AM 2/13/2009:
 
>Hello Wrenches. As always, please contact me off list about this subject if you would like to weigh in. 
>
>This is your list, and I run it by a consensus of your wishes. If any changes are to be made, I have tried to at least come close to a consensus among the Wrenches (not manufacturer reps) on the list. We now have a proposed change in policy before us.
>
>I am being placed under pressure by Ezra Auerbach to add an otherwise nonqualified NABCEP staff person, Rebecca Eaton, to the Wrench list so she may respond on behalf of NABCEP if Wrenches are discussing anything to do with the org.
>
>First, I often receive membership requests from nonqualified individuals. Unless they are technically proficient, they are respectfully turned down, and have included (among others): the general public, casual installers, academics, trade organization staff, union staff, and now NABCEP staff. I think you have clearly and appropriately drawn the line that we want pros on this list in order to keep the discussion quality high. 
>
>Second, the only exceptions to this have been "technically proficient" representatives of the companies that manufacture the equipment that you Wrenches install -- and some time ago, we reached consensus to allow any fully NABCEP-certified individual, working pro or not. Ezra believes that the manufacturers' privilege should be extended to the NABCEP staff person.
>
>Third, I have offered Rebecca, and she accepted, the same thing I offer other nonqualified individuals that might some time want to post to the list: send your post to me, and I will post appropriate messages on their behalf. I have done this several times over the years and in fact, did it for Rebecca once already.
>
>Fourth, there are at least 3 NABCEP board members on this list. While they may not be prepared to respond with the nuts and bolts of NABCEP workings, it seems to me to be good representation on the list. At a minimum, these members could alert their staff, who could then respond through the already-available mechanism mentioned above.
>
>Until now, my efforts had been behind the scenes, but now it has come to a head and I need to involve you because this morning I rejected a list post from Ezra that was an end run around my off-list efforts. Here is that post:
>
>>Hello Wrenches,
>>
>>I'm writing to you all wearing my "Chairperson of NABCEP" hat and wishing to seek your collective guidance.
>>
>>The question is: Should the Executive Director of NABCEP be able to post to this list on matters germain to the organization?
>>
>>Following the NABCEP Rant thread our ED tried to get posting access so she could issue a timely and factual reply. She was turned down and as it stands today she can not post relevant and informative replies.
>>
>>A very long time ago this list allowed designated representatives from manufacturers on to this list so they could speak directly when appropriate and we all have learned good stuff from the ensuing dialogue.
>>
>>It seems ulitmately silly to me that NABCEP Certification "qualifies" for list posting access but being the ED of the organization does not.
>>
>>Please weigh in with your collective thoughts.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>
>>Ezra Auerbach