I expect most businesses looked forward to putting 2009 in the rear view mirror. Enduring the collapse of the housing market as well as our financial institutions and the ongoing recession has challenged our industry beyond most people’s imagination and anticipation.
In 2008 America voted for change, and, boy, did we certainly get a good dose of that. Our political leadership is currently engaged in a fierce debate on healthcare reform that could bankrupt our country. With the “good ol’ boy” barter system still alive and well in Washington, the complete overhaul of our current healthcare system proposed by the House of Representatives just might succeed in the Senate exclusively along partisan lines.
Our association teamed up with the health care coalition created by a number of construction associations and other similar groups to defeat the healthcare reform bill. The objective of the coalition is to convince Congress to start over and get healthcare reform right by focusing on cost. I urge you to join with us in supporting this effort. Here are two Web links that you can use to find contact information for your representatives and senators: www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_state.shtml and www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.
Speaking of joining forces, I would like to welcome the Texas Lathing and Plastering Contractors Association (TLPCA) as a new chapter in AWCI. The association was established in 1952 to promote quality practices in the wall and ceiling industry. I want to congratulate AWCI Executive Vice President/CEO Steven Etkin and TLPCA Executive Director Eddie McCormick on their efforts to bring the two associations together.
All in all, I believe Americans will continue to seek change and perhaps the mid-term elections will bring more balance to the political landscape in Washington. Strengthening infrastructure increases economic capacity, which lays the foundation for growth in the future. As an eternal optimist I am hopeful that we have seen the bottom of the recession and that the only direction now is up. As business paradigms have changed, it may be a slow ascent back to prosperity to get where we were before the recession began. Only time will tell.
I am hopeful and optimistic that 2010 will have a modest yet positive impact on the economy.
In addition to being the 2009–2010 president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Weber is president of Island Acoustics LLC in Bohemia, N.Y.
