PWNA info y'all requested, PART 1

Chris Detter

Chris Detter

New member
First of all, let me begin by thanking everyone for sharing his or her thoughts about the PWNA - whether positive or not. Every organization needs to hear things that can help it improve and, believe me; we’ve been trying hard to improve for years. Some may disagree, because everyone doesn’t see a change the same way. An improvement in one person’s eyes may not be an improvement in another’s.

When I originally went on Ron’s BBS to ask for opinions about the west coast membership, etc., I wanted to address many of the concerns I have heard raised. Someone had made comments about the organization not having enough conventions and that, if we did, we might have more members. So I figured Why not ask for some feedback? As Vice President of the PWNA (and the person whose job it is to increase membership) I knew I’d better ask - so I did. When I wrote that thread I knew very well what I was getting myself in to. Years ago I was quite active on other sites, helping and teaching others about wood restoration. No matter what was said, there was always someone out there who had to put in his two cents worth. Right or wrong, kind or unkind, some just like to see their name and comments on a board. Not a big deal; we all know there are all kinds of people out there and we can all take some heat now and then.

Anyway, with all that said, let me begin my response by hitting the points, questions and comments from those who voiced their opinions here. Anything I say here is coming from me personally and is not a prepared answer by the PWNA board or any other member. Now please understand that my answers may be too general for some and this is simply because I mean them to apply to all people and situations (not just an answer that applies to one individual or one circumstance). If you need information more specific for your own situation, just e-mail me and I’ll address your personal question.

The Power Washer’s Of North America (PWNA) at this writing has a membership of 352 people/companies.

Contractors: …….319
Distributors:… 16
Suppliers: …… 1
Manufacturers ……16
Total………………352

Not a large organization, as you can see. Still a young one, a growing one…

Someone had asked to see a list of the Board of Directors along with his or her phone numbers etc. No problem, since the board wants everyone to know that they are as close as a phone call. This list does change every year so new blood can enter and leave the board.

Someone else suggested that board members should also have a basic understanding of the industry and not look down at it. I thought I would give you the names of the board members, where they are from, and also mention their position on the board and what they do for a living. When you see what these folks do you will realize that they don’t look down at power-washers at all because they are power-washers!

Also, before I list the directors, let me say that the PWNA’s web site www.pwna.org. has been in the process of updating for some time, and did have all of us pictured or listed at one time. The pictures, biographies, and phone numbers will be back as soon as possible. The person who has been doing the updating has a full time job running his own pressure washing business - and is on the board, too. Sorry for the delay.

Board of Directors
President
Michael Hinderliter
Steamaway, Inc.
Ft. Worth, Texas
817-625-6443
Truck fleet pressure washing

First Vice President
Chris Detter
Sun Brite, Inc.
Lawrenceville, Georgia
770-277-6363
www.sunbritedecks.com
Wood decks, sealer sales,
Deckster, pressure washing, chemical sales

Second Vice President
Eric Clark
Details Pressurewash
Kennebunkport, Maine
207-967-5348
Fleets, wood decks
boats, residential washing

Secretary
Barbara Sivells
Empire Pressure Cleaning
Fairdale, Kentucky
502-375-2526
wood decks, fleets,
Deck Hand, residential

Treasurer
Daryl Mirza
Ducts Unlimited, Inc.
Gurnee, Illinois
800-39ducts
Kitchen hood exhaust cleaning

Tom Bickett
Combined Cleaning Services
Princeton, Illinois
815-872-5326
wood decks, fleets, buildings
machinery cleaning

James Hill
Jim Manufacturing, Inc.
Hardy, Arkansas
870-856-4788
“The Vader”
fleet washing

Paul Horsley
Scott’s Pressure wash
Calgary, Alberta
403-245-4020
residential, fleets

Pete Marentay
Sun Brite, Inc.
Lawrenceville, Georgia
770-277-6363
wood decks, sealer sales
pressure washing chemicals

Doc Reisman
Admiral Power wash
South Bend, Indiana
219-283-0134
Residential, industrial,
Fleets, wood decks

Greg Reveles
Renorr Dynamics, Inc.
Alexandria, Virginia
703-960-5041
Wood decks, fleets
Residential

Joseph Walters
Joseph D. Walters Agency
Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
800-878-3808
Insurance for Pressure
Washing businesses

PWNA Headquarters
Executive Director Andrew Avery, Chevy Chase, Maryland (301) 941-1064

continued in next post - too long for this BB !
 
PWNA, PART 2

continued from the first post in this thread...

I may not have listed all the kinds of cleaning they do (and I apologize for any omissions) but, as you can see, we’re all in the same boat. With the exception of one insurance guy (and he specializes in pressure washing insurance, by the way) we are all in the trenches every day, just like you. Andrew Avery’s job is to coordinate our efforts and follow the direction of the board in the administration of the organization. He does not lead the organization.

One more thing – these guys serve the membership as volunteers. No pay. No “freebies”. They work for the betterment of the membership and the overall strength of the organization. Many of them personally donate additional time AND MONEY to help where they can. These people are givers, not takers. Without their efforts, there would not be an organization.

Someone asked about the PWNA’s voting process. The voting process is the same voting process that most organizations use. They are taken from the Robert’s Rules of Order, and are attached to the packet that all members receive when they join. In this packet the Bylaws & Mission Statement are included along with the voting process. Basically, about eight weeks before the date set for the annual meeting, the nominating committee (which is made up of both board and non-board PWNA members) offers up a slate of PWNA members for nomination. All members are sent a copy of the nominees and can vote by mail or fax, or at the annual meeting. The length of terms and so on are also explained in this packet. I’m certainly not going to bore you with all that. Hope this answers that question.

Lets talk for a minute about some other comments.

One comment was the reason members don’t stick around is because they feel they have nothing to gain. The PWNA may not be or offer what everyone needs all the time. After all, we are contractors just like you who are trying to share our experience and save some other contractor from repeating a mistake. We pool our limited resources to get speakers and industry leaders to address issues like employee motivation, how to use chemicals and why they work in situations, etc. I, for one, gain something every time I go to a convention. I’ve been going for 9 years. I guess you only get something if you really want to, but there is something there for every contractor (no matter how experienced he or she is). There are specific sessions for new guys and other sessions for experienced contractors. Nobody, of course, is going to make you enjoy something your not happy with, but I have always been able to bring something home that more than saves the money I spend to attend. By the way, you could never get these kinds of speakers to address a group UNLESS it was a gathering of a few hundred interested contractors. No small group of contractors would be able to get the head of a supplier like General Pumps to send a delegation of employees to teach us how to re-build our own pumps. That’s one of the best reasons to be a part of PWNA, in my opinion.

Our attrition rate is about 43% which basically sez we lose almost half of our membership every year. Although most seem to stay 3-4 years, by that time their business is rolling along pretty well. Of course we hate to lose any members but maybe that’s just the way it is in this business. I’ve seen a few statistics about this business that suggest that there may be almost that many contractors leaving the business every year because they didn’t make it. The PWNA exists to try and prevent these casualties. We will always be there for any member who needs us. We find that most members are young start-up companies, who are hungry to learn the “How-To’s”. In order to remain an important part of it’s contractor-members’ future after this early stage, the PWNA has put together an advanced track of sessions for our conventions to offer experienced companies help with the kind of issues they face every day. This is a relatively new direction and is still in the development stage. It was implemented at the Orlando meeting, and went very well. Hopefully will be viewed as a benefit to those larger companies, and we will retain them as members. If so, our newer members will gain tremendously from learning from the “old” guys.

Real price advantages for members are important. An idea we are working on is to get suppliers and manufacturers to initiate a national PWNA discount program where members can enjoy a savings when they buy stuff.

Regionalizing / Divisionalizing, (is that a word?)
We have always played with this idea, and still are. We have even thought about having up to four regions. Regional representative would run their zones and be closer to the regional needs. Ron said one reason few west coasters joined was because west coasters have different problems than east coasters - good point. My point is that we are looking at these kinds of things because we want to represent all regions under the PWNA umbrella. No organization addresses the problems of non-members, though. That’s just not how things work. If west coast contractors don’t become a part of the process, then their issues will never be very high on the agenda.

One reader said he had been sitting around for thirty minutes and can’t figure out why he needs a national organization. Well, maybe he doesn’t. He can get all the info on the BB’s. Sorry he feels that way, but what can I say? As recently as 3-4 years ago, when you asked a question on the BB’s, if you got one correct answer out of 5 if you were lucky! An awful lot if misinformation was being tossed around, so whom do you believe? I know now that’s not the case today because as we are all a little smarter and less willing to believe everything we read posted by an anonymous sage. On the other hand, another reader said he believed in organizations in general because they boost morale and they are a common ground where people in the same profession can congregate and share ideas and techniques. I guess it’s basically an individual issue. As I said before, no one can make you get something out of your membership except your own desire to improve your situation.

I have no response to complaints about unanswered e-mails, letters or phone calls etc. I would like to have specific problems pointed out as they occur, though, so that the board can take up the issues one at a time as they happen. I do think it is unconscionable to hear that someone never received a response from the PWNA when asking a question. I’d like y’all to know that we don’t operate that way - or rather we don’t operate that way on purpose. In fact we ship out 15-20 requested info packets a day. I hope that it was maybe an oversight. Possibly, since you now have a list of members w/ phone numbers, you can call a board member for help. We all do apologize for that.

The Mentor program kind of falls under the same feeling. Man, I get 4-5 calls a week from people who have me for a wood mentor, I always return their calls. Most even have my cell number. I know of other members who are mentors they also help the best they can. Possibly this particular mentor shouldn’t be one. Not every contractor-member is perfect, though, and that’s who the Mentors are. If someone is bad, are you willing to take his or her place? There’s room for improvement, and there’s room for you.

The credit card benefit is easy to explain. One reader wrote he didn’t care for the credit card benefit because very few pressure washers accept credit cards. Well, my company does. About 30% of my customers pay by credit card. (This may be high, but we have put the credit logos on all of our paperwork and I am convinced that this move brings us sales we might have missed otherwise). I think there are hundreds of contactors that do take them. I appreciate the low service charge I have from this PWNA benefit.

As I said, my customers use credit cards all the time. Possibly that’s because most of my customers are residential. Those who deal with commercial customers might have no use for this service. It’s just another benefit our membership had asked for so we got it going.

The Online Office Supply Benefit was another point. To be honest, I was never too thrilled with it either. Sorry

I know we can beat this horse into the ground all day long. But as a closing thought from me speaking for the PWNA, I hope I have been as open and honest as y’all wanted. I know there are more issues and improvements that can and will be made in time. We, as an organization, do hear you and are striving to improve services in any way we can. We may not be what every pressure washing company needs but will try to help those who do need us. If anyone would like to contact me by e-mail at woody642@mindspring.com please do so.

Thank you, Chris Detter
 
Chris Detter,

What can I say but well said, you left no room for me to bitch about anything. BOO HOO.

But truly you pretty well covered it, there is one thing you can look into a bit for us, now this is tricky since members as well as non members have this problem.

Freight discount or not jacking up the freight cost as some suppliers do.

I know the PWNA has or had some sort of shipping discount for it's members and I do believe I mentioned very few members ship stuff but we all have to pay for shipping when we buy merchandise.

We would love to see a lower price on shipping, I know large companies get a discount when they ship in volume.

I will mention two here, Delco and Envirospecs'.

Both ship volumes of products, I am sure both get a discount from the shippers, UPS, FedEx etc. I know one adds to the cost since I always check once I get the stuff and I am quoted a lessor cost then I am charged.

Will not mention which one but most can figure it out easy enough.

So when are you going to appoint Ron West Coast Regional Manager? LOL

Ok enough, but again Chris you did a wonderful job of answering questions. Come back more often and post about your wood products.

Have the others join too as we all would love to have you guys posting here and as pressure washers without all the PWNA stuff which can and should be separate, including Michael Hinderliter.
 
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Chris, you said if we don’t get more West Coast people then issues wouldn’t be as important for west coasters.
Please notice that the majority of the board is east of the Mississippi.

Your board roster says everyone’s east of the Mississippi. The only exception is AK & TX. There fore you no and I no that’s not showing and honest interest in the West Coast. Implementing a rule that so many members elected need to be from each region would be a start. Putting those in charge of their own region members & new recruitment.


Keeping members,

if you want to keep veterans that have experiences lower the membership. Making newbies pay more is fare, most of the time newbies have less to offer. If a veteran could retain status by helping out and have his member charter reduced then that would seem to be fare. Even volunteers that do more than others should receive some benefit.

Market the thing like you would market your own business. Make us want the PWNA. Right now as it stands not one of my customers knows about the organization. You need safety manuals circulating to organizations telling them to hire PWNA affiliated washers. ( some may not like that one I realize) don’t worry that’s the one that takes big dollars and the charter would need to be 50000.

Chris I appreciate you coming to our bb and hope that we will maintain and open door for your members to take advice and criticism. I agree that communities like this are not the only answer but can help you and can increase the strength of the industry.


Thanks to all the board members, BB members and keep giving these guys impute they may change something.
 
Chris,
I appreciate the fact that you are keeping us afloat on the going ons with the PWNA. You brought up some very valid points. Your right that alot of people have different Ideas as to why or why not they need an organization. I'm the one who along with others believes in organizations. In general they do boost the morale for most people. How can they not if there run correctly.

Its interesting to read other peoples thoughts as to why there happy or unhappy about the PWNA and how we can learn from them. I think just by you responding I am leaning towards signing up again and hopefully to get more involved because your right you only get out what you put in so if one puts in nothing then they get much of nothing but if one gets involved such as going to the conventions etc. and meeting fellow contractors than they will get much more out of there membership.

Once again thanks for responding and I will be looking forward to reading any future post that you may put in this bb and others. Its a way that you can reach out to that many more contractors and hopefully others on the PWNA board do likewise.

John/Clean County PW
 
Chris,
You misunderstood a statement I made, and I wanted to clarify it, since you made a particular point of it. You understood that I said that some of the board members have no respect for pressure washing. I have met most of the board members. A few of them have the personality of a 2x4, no disrespect for the 2x4, but they all were interested in our field, and some of the board members did put themselves on, what I perceived as, a pedestal, Fortunately for you it wasn't the president or yourself. The one that I have an issue with is the administrator of the organization, Andrew Avery. I feel that he regards us as a bunch of stupid schmucks that would be pumping gas in a different life. When I met him I felt he was more than a tad bit arrogant, and unconcerned, except when Michael or Daryl came around. So my suggestion is that an administrator be found that respects the profession. That would probably solve a lot of the PWNA problems.

Scott Stone
 
No organization addresses the problems of non-members, though. That’s just not how things work. If west coast contractors don’t become a part of the process, then their issues will never be very high on the agenda.
Click to expand...

The point is the issues aren't anywhere on the agenda. We should WANT to join your organization not the other way around. If you were addressing the right issues and were a recognized authority, and I mean recognized by our customers not just other pw contractors, we would be beating down your door. I think you need to look outside the benefits of being a PWNA member and start looking for the consequences of NOT becoming a member.

If the purpose of your organization is to give information to contract cleaners then you have already lost, any information we need is now readily available on these bulliten boards. If the purpose of your organization was to ensure the ethical business practices of contract cleaners and you actually do that, then the good guys would be more than willing to join and the you would find out who the bad guys were very quickly.

Matt
 
quote

"If the purpose of your organization is to give information to contract cleaners then you have already lost, any information we need is now readily available on these bulliten boards. If the purpose of your organization was to ensure the ethical business practices of contract cleaners and you actually do that, then the good guys would be more than willing to join and the you would find out who the bad guys were very quickly."



Well said Matt. From a West coast contract pressure washer.
 
<HEAD>
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<TITLE>PWNA Exhibitors - 2002 Annual Meeting</TITLE>
</HEAD>



 


<CENTER><!--SELECTION--><!--/SELECTION--><IMG
SRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/colorpwna.GIF"
WIDTH="166" HEIGHT="85" ALIGN="BOTTOM"
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<BLOCKQUOTE>

The Power Washers of North America
is pleased to welcome the following companies to the 10th Anniversary Annual Meeting &
Exposition.
Along with these companies who have made a commitment to be
a part of the only association for the contract cleaner, the
Annual Meeting will also offer a wide array of educational
opportunities.

As an Annual Meeting participant, you will have ample opportunity
to visit with the representatives from each company represented.
Before coming to the meeting in Miami, take a moment to visit
the following companies, on the web when available, to educate
yourself on the products and services that will be available
at the PWNA show. Click on the logo for each company to view their web
sites, if available.

The 2002 Annual Meeting & Exposition exhibitors
are:</BLOCKQUOTE>


<CENTER><IMG
SRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/AmericanMade.jpg"
WIDTH="400" HEIGHT="96" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"
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<CENTER>American Made Cleaners, Inc.
Amclean@dtgnet.com
www.amclean.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/cleaner.gif"WIDTH="325" HEIGHT="48" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Cleaner Times Magazine
cyarbro@adpub.com
www.adpub.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/delcob.jpg"WIDTH="90" HEIGHT="49" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Delco Cleaning Systems of Ft. Worth
delco@dcs1.com
www.dcs1.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/elite.gif"WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="110" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Elite Manufacturing Corporation
info@elitemfg.com
www.elitemfg.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/latpage3.jpg"WIDTH="283" HEIGHT="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="0"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Environmental Cleaning Systems
latimat@ica.net
www.latimat.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/gplogo.jpg"WIDTH="230" HEIGHT="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>General Pump
shellyw@gpcompanies.com
www.generalpump.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/napier.gif"WIDTH="90" HEIGHT="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Napier Environmental Technologies / Bio-Wash
rodm@biowash.com
www.biowash.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/shenandoah.jpg"WIDTH="89" HEIGHT="93" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Shenandoah Manufacturing Company
mason@shemfg.com
www.usedoilheaters.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/sunbrite.gif"WIDTH="433" HEIGHT="81" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Sun Brite Services Corporation
marentay@mindspring.com
www.sunbritedecks.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/vader.jpg" WIDTH="50"HEIGHT="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0" NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>

<CENTER>VADER I / JIM Manufacturing, Inc.
himjill@hotmail.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/wolman.gif"WIDTH="191" HEIGHT="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Wolman Wood Care Products
info@wolman.com
www.wolman.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/knight.jpg"WIDTH="301" HEIGHT="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>Knight Enterprises, Inc.
tsickel@knightchemicals.com
www.knightchemicals.com</CENTER>
<CENTER><IMGSRC="http://www.noma.net/bulletin/pwna/2002/annual/BE1.jpg"WIDTH="170" HEIGHT="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" BORDER="0"NATURALSIZEFLAG="3"></CENTER>
<CENTER>BE Pressure Supply
be_psi@bellsouth.net
www.begroup.cc</CENTER>
 
 
<CENTER>We look forwardto welcoming you to the 2002 PWNA 10th Anniversary Meeting &Exposition in Miami, Florida!</CENTER>
 
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