Moderators
PWNA has set up the BBS to help educating members and nonmembers alike. Since the BBS is a direct extension of the association then those that moderate on it should be members in good standing. Moderators should also be knowledgeable professional in their fields. Hopefully, members and nonmembers alike will benefit from the page.
Since PWNA began our primary focus has always been education. The BBS only help to do this.
I have seen some other good comments here on the thread and I will try to respond to them. Sorry I only have time for a couple.
YES WE DO NEED MORE DISTRIBUTORS, SUPPLIERS AND MANUFACTURES. Whether most of you realize it or not, a lot of distributors dislike PWNA because they consider it to be a threat to their market share. Not all think this way but a large majority does. They see PWNA as a place where contactors can meet there competition. This only makes it harder for us to get the word out about the association. Consider this quote from the movie Vanilla Sky "99 percent of all decision come down to one thing...........MONEY” This may be a good topic for a separate thread. And I will gladly participate and share my insight.
As a board member of PWNA we have discussed Raising and Lowering dues several times. There a many arguments to support both sides.
Requiring insurance for membership may be a little much. It contradicts our ability to educate the newbies. I don't recall of the top of my head but I think this may be a requirement for certification if not I would support it.
We are currently planning on going to one big show a year. Our hope is that this will draw more exhibitors and participants to a single event.
Benefits - this could also be another thread. This is a bit of a tough one because it really depends on what you consider a benefit to be. Do you want multiple discount programs or do you think networking with your peers is more valuable. I personally have found networking with my peers to be very valuable.
There is a new phenomena, if you so choose, that has slowed the growth of PWNA. Believe it or not it is the Internet. The internet has create or made possible the creation of the "FreeLanders". There is some much on the internet the can be gotten for FREE, especially information. FreeLanders expect to some degree the same thing form the association. And it is just not possible.
Finally, it bothers me to see anyone put off by PWNA. Most the time I think it is a lack of information that causes this. I will try to help as much as I can. And anyone can email me anytime on any subject
mike@steamaway.com or call me 817-401-1684 on my mobile.