[RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Association

Mon Feb 16 08:42:06 PST 2009

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: <holtek at sbcglobal.net>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
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" <conradg at cape.com>
> To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> 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: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> > [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Ken
Schaal
> > Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 3:34 PM
> > To: jryago at netscape.com; 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" <jryago at netscape.com>
> > To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> > 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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