Pwna Tech Sem. Yes Or No?

Barry

Supreme Power Wash
I been giving the PWNA sem. in Pits. Pa. some serious thougt, However I have been reading several posts that its a good place to meet people. Not to be rude or anything but I can meet people in the pet store and talk about lots for less then what its going to cost me to drive seven hrs. and cover the cost of my room at the hotel, not to mention the cost to attend.
Is it somethig that others in the field would not want to miss or is just somthing to check out once and then you can say that you have been there.
I have been doing decks and houses along with flat work and anything else that comes my way for the past 2.5 years now.
Will I get alot out of it or is a just a place to meet other that do the something that I do.
What im trying to say in a round about way is cost -vs- whats being offered.
Another thing, who will be attending this year.
Your help will enable me to make make the right choice if I will be going or not.
 
Barry,

I think your missing the big picture here. Meeting someone in a pet store, is not the same as meeting an entire assembly full of people who do the same thing you do for a living. At the last one I attended.........I had dinner with three guys (all three were perfect strangers before this conference). Collectively, these men have over 50 trucks on the road, between the three of them. Did I benefit? You bet.

I go to one of these things every year (they hold two every year). I would not consider missing it. I always learn something, meet people who I still stay in contact with throughout the year, and also, it always gets me pumped up about my business and the year ahead.

Thats my thoughts on it.


P.S...............I just booked some majorly cheap airfare out of philadelphia last week to go to pittsburgh for the show.......$78 round trip!!! I believe they also had a decent price out of one of New Yorks airports too.
 
Thanks to all that responded. I know that one can always learn
from others and I think I will be attending.
I just didnt know what to expect, and was not sure if it was worth it. After reading the posts which have given me some imput from those that have attended will help in my decission.

Thanks..
 
I have been with PWNA for 4 years and I have been to two shows. It comes down to your location vs. the show and most of all your expectations. If the travel is short and your expectations are not too high you will do just fine. I expected more and was disappointed. However I am still a member with little participation on my behalf.

Part of my concern with PWNA is that the West Coast is for the most part left out of the loop. Plus many issues that concern the West are not issues that face the Mid West and the East. The people who have the control of PWNA have molded the body into a tool that makes money off the members.

I find that the knowledge that comes from bb like this one serve its members better than PWNA.

David
 
Hello Barry,

I have attended many PWNA conferences in the last 10 years. I will not be attending the conference in Pittsburgh.

I agree with David Saulque's statement "The people who have the control of PWNA have molded the body into a tool that makes money off the members".

With that being said, if you are in a position of being new to this industry and still have much to learn, you may find the conference useful. If you listen and participate you will bring back some new ideas, and that is what it is all about!

Dave Olson
 
A question to all who are members of PWNA, I did not renew so I will not comment.

If as has been mentioned you learn more from a BBS such as this one and others what is your reason for spending the $250 a year to be a member?

I went to the convention (seminar) two years ago in Las Vegas and I do admit it was good and I did attend seminars put on and yes I came home a bit wiser so go and learn.
 
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And here is Jon, grinding his axe on the PWNA. :D
 
"The people who have the control of PWNA have molded the body into a tool that makes money off the members".


I would have to disagree both Dave and David on the above statement. I have seen the financial numbers from PWNA. I think it is very hard to make money from its members when the organization has been in the red for sometime. This year could be the first year PWNA may have the opportunity to work with a positive cash flow. Unfortunately with the “Attack on America” incident may prolong its goals. The next question that should be asked is if the PWNA is running in the red how are they able to operate? One is they make payments like we do in our businesses when we can not choke down the lump some and second, there is a member that has contributed his own money to help PWNA. Many members expect, yet see little connection between expectations and the money it takes to get the end result. I know that more then $25,000.00 has been given (not a loan) to help make things run more smoothly and look more professional; from the Water Works to web pages. I know this individual also donates much of their time to improve PWNA; I think that shows some serious love and dedication to the membership. I am a new board member and am impressed with the amount of work the board does; trying to find new ways improve PWNA and make its membership happy is a tall order.

I would agree that PWNA is not a perfect organization but when members think that a $250.00 membership is too much money well I call that “stinking thinking.” My company is a member of 2 other organizations and we get far less from them and we pay about the same amount.


Doc
 
Jon wrote:
They did not even have the common business sense to reply to my mail I sent to them. That tells me more then anything else.


I will bring this up at the next board meeting. Please do not confuse the company that is hired to handle the day to day activities (answering phones, mailings etc.) of PWNA with its board. The board is made up of those within the industry. If the company that the board has hired has short comings please let someone on the board know so they may correct it. I know it is very frustrating to get poor service. I would be mad too.
I know it is not your role to find the right person to tell but as I tell my customers if you have a problem with me or my work don't tell your friends, tell me because I am the only one that can fix it.


Doc
 
What is "stinking thinking"? We have ask some good questions of two PWNA Board members and have yet to get a reply that would get me eager to get involve with the program.

All I want is for someone to convince me that we need a national group of Power Washers. This comes from a member in good standing with a certification

David
 
Doc and all other board members of PWNA,

To clear up my remark about not returning phone calls, replying to Email or US Postal Service mail, I am not referring to the board but the company hired to handle the day to day operation of the PWNA.

I have spoken to a few of the board members and it comes down to this if I understand them correctly, they were not totally aware of how some of the day to day things were being run and have and are taking steps to correct those problems.

I would hope they have given Mr. Avery a certain time frame to shape up or ship him off and find another marketing company.

Since talking to Chris Detter and Michael Hinderlither I have a good feeling that things will change for the better.

Time will tell but with new blood going in and old blood out improvments can happen.

I will be watching for those changes before I do more.

Doc I too belong to another organization and it does offer much more, to much to post here but if you would like me to fax a list of those things just Email me your fax number.
 
All I want is for someone to convince me that we need a national group of Power Washers. This comes from a member in good standing with a certification



You may or may not agree with me but I don’t think you or I need PWNA. I think a lot of people don’t need PWNA. I think each person has to decide for him or herself. I would not let a salesperson sell me a box of tampons; just as I wouldn’t try to sell the organization to someone who cannot see any benefits of membership.

Just as I remind my employees, do not expect things to run perfectly around here, there will always be problems to overcome. For those of you who have attended a PWNA conference and did not feel they got their moneys worth, I am truly sorry. I equate conferences like buffets, we can eat and eat until we are ready to pop but do we really get our moneys worth? For those who have a preconceived notion of what PWNA has to offer but have not attended a conference, may I suggest going to one. Haven’t you ever been told about someone (who you may work with or is within the same circle of friends) in a negative way? For example, don’t talk to that guy he is a jerk. But being the polite person, you engage the individual in conversation and find that what you have been told is off the mark.

It is easy for me to speak positively about PWNA because I have experienced nothing but good. Many of the successful members that attend PWNA go specifically to help people like you and I; as all of us grow our businesses and move to a higher and higher level of understanding and income our peers change. The one aspect of the organization that I did not expect was the friends I have gained. Not just acquaintance but true friends that will help anytime. Ask Chris Detter about how many times I called his cell phone over a weekend trying to get advice about a project I was doing for my parents.


Doc
 
Jon says:

Doc I too belong to another organization and it does offer much more, to much to post here but if you would like me to fax a list of those things just Email me your fax number.



Could you fax me the organization info? I am always interested groups that can improve the look of my company or increase the bottom line.

Currently we are members of:

PWNA
BBB (Better Bussiness Bureau)
FIAI (Fire Inspectors Assc. of Indiana)
NFPA (National Fire Protection Assc.)

We are looking at becoming members of the ISHA (Indiana Environmental and Health Assc)


Also I am not sure if you are aware but corporate companies sometime call PWNA to find pressure cleaning contractors in certain areas. One such company was directed to us through PWNA. An unexpected perk that has helped to generate a small additional income each year.

Doc
 
Hi Doc,

I will gladly fax a copy to you this morning so be on the lookout for it.

Can you explain something to people here and please I am only asking a question, not picking on people.

Why is it that a few PWNA boardmembers open a forum and post then do not come back on and reply, I am sure they are here reading what others say about the post they started so why no replies?

I do agree with you about attending a convention (conference) and I did leave with more then knowledge then I arrived with so yes attend one before deciding if it is for you.

I will be clobbered for this remark but I truly feel if the membership cost was cut in half more would join, or it could be done like another organization I belong to, the more money a business grosses the more it cost to join, I am not saying that is how it should be but one does charge that way.

My local Chamber of Commerace charges by how many employees a member business has rather then a flat rate, again not sure that is the best way for the PWNA to do it.

Now a bone to pick, Ah Jon just could not stop while he was ahead you say, this I mentioned to Chris also, when a business goes to the hard to find list of members to find a pressure washer in the state they are in something is missing there, the CITY they pressure washer is located in, what good is it to know such and such a company is in California, Texas, New Jersey etc. if it does not list the city.

I doubt you would call number after number till you found one located in your area would you? So why not list them by state then city?

Check it out if you can find it on the PWNA web site, it is not easy to find which is bone number two to pick on.

That is enough for now.

PS: tried to fax but you listed wrong area code for fax, a typo I am sure.
 
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Doc

Part of the problem is that many of the member who are disenchanted over the governship of PWNA are from members who have been to one or more shows. The member that have posted for the most part were not pleased. We have been cleaning hoods since 1980 and I am not sure what is in it for the people who have a seasoned operation.

The menu of benefits are directly related to the newcomers. Give me a reason to stay a member-that is all most of ask. I am looking for solid programs.

David
 
David,

I would image you have seen a ton of things in the 20 plus years you have been in business. There is a local guy who has been in the pressure cleaning industry for about the same time as you. He has told me a similar complaint; that PWNA has nothing to offer him. Who can argue with 20 years of experience? You would not be in business for two decades if you were not doing something right. And as you say, PWNA seems to cater to the newer members.
The last conference, I thought, was very good. Andrew had found a speaker that had given 2 seminars on business. Joe the owner of Commercial (KEC) spoke on knowing your business numbers (very good.) There were also some new venders at the show. I guess I come from a different mind or approach when attending the show. I am there for a few reasons. One is to interact and find new people who may have a different perspective and may give me that key idea to make something work. Two, I am there to look at the venders at the show because they may have a product to save me money. Do you know I would not use Sun Brite products for almost 3 years? I thought Chris was full of ………. well you know. I finally tried his sealer and it saved me about 35-40 hours of labor. I can be pretty stubborn when it comes to trying new things. I go for the seminars; I feel that this is one aspect that is being improved. Lastly I go to drink some beers, Have a great time with people who can actually relate to me and what I do, wake up hung over and do it all over again. Sitting at the bar trading war stories is probably one of the best times I have other then being with my family (just in case they read this.) Where else can I get the whole bar to laugh about the first month my partner and I were cleaning a house, found a wasp nest, did not have spray, so my partner cut it off the limb with a zero and punched himself in the nose to get one of the little critter that was stinging him off.

Those are my reasons unfortunately they are not yours. Do me a favor, please. If you have any ideas that you would like to see in PWNA give them to me and I will take it to the board. I cannot promise your ideas will be used but I do promise to let them be heard. I hope to still see Dave Olson at the conferences. Dave was the first person I was introduced to by Joe Walters in his hospitality sweet. I remember Joe telling me, “this gentlemen has been in the industry for many years and if you have questions he is the one person who can answer them.” That was at my very first PWNA conference. I cannot describe how good that made me feel to know people like Dave were there for me if I needed help.
 
I am sure Dave Olson will be pleased that his name is being used in a positive point for PWNA. Being a member in good standing I still would like to see more buying benefits with true dollar savings. Having been to two shows, I was not leaping with joy. This is not to say I didn't pick up any new ideas. I get new ideas out of this BB and the Network without paying $1500 plus, so that I can hear Joe, network for new cleaners.

David
 
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