<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>Hello Bill,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you for speaking up. In my enthusiasm to form a more perfect union among <SPAN>PV</SPAN> professionals (people whose livelihood comes from PV work) and my long industry perspective, I sometimes forget that PV is still an infant industry.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The I Ching (one of my sources of wisdom) has some interesting comments about the danger of factions leading to exclusion and ultimate dissolution. See <A href="http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Yijing&no=13">http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Yijing&no=13</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I would like to think that most wrenches and <SPAN>PV</SPAN> professionals not on this list, including myself, would prefer a big, strong organization rather than a splinter group. I also know that SEIA would like more members.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>So the question is what needs to be done to get SEIA to represent the solar installers' interests that Jeff Yago speaks of?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Joel Davidson</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR>--- On <B>Mon, 2/16/09, Bill Loesch <I><solar1online@charter.net></I></B> wrote:<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: Bill Loesch <solar1online@charter.net><BR>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Installers Association<BR>To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><BR>Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 8:42 AM<BR><BR><PRE>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@sbcglobal.net>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@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
> <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = SKYPE /><SKYPE:SPAN class=skype_tb_injection id=softomate_highlight_0 title="Call this phone number in United States of America with Skype: +12547519111" skypeid="0" skypeaction="call" durex2="80" durex="600" context="254-751-9111"><SKYPE:SPAN class=skype_tb_imgA id=skype_tb_droppart_0 title="Skype actions" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(https://toolbaricons.s4benterprises.com/IEPlugin/inactive_a.compat.flex.w16.gif)" skypeid="0" skypeaction="drop" skypesms="0"><SKYPE:SPAN class=skype_tb_imgFlag id=skype_tb_img_f0 style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(https://toolbaricons.s4benterprises.com/IEPlugin/famfamfam/US.gif)"></SKYPE:SPAN></SKYPE:SPAN><SKYPE:SPAN class=skype_tb_imgS id=skype_tb_img_s0></SKYPE:SPAN><SKYPE:SPAN class=skype_tb_injectionIn id=skype_tb_text0><SKYPE:SPAN class=skype_tb_innerText id=skype_tb_innerText0> 25...</SKYPE:SPAN></SKYPE:SPAN><SKYPE:SPAN class=skype_tb_imgR id=skype_tb_img_r0></SKYPE:SPAN></SKYPE:SPAN>
> www.holteksolar.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Conrad Geyser" <conradg@cape.com>
> To: "'RE-wrenches'"
<re-wrenches@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@lists.re-wrenches.org
> > [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Ken
Schaal
> > Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 3:34 PM
> > To: jryago@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@netscape.com>
> > To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@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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</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></td></tr></table>