My son Brent recently graduated from college with a history major and is capable of writing 40 pages on any era. Luckily for you he didn’t inherit that skill from me. But the history of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry goes way back and is worthy of mention. I am the 81st president and the association’s roots extend back to its 1918 start— 95 years is something we all can be proud of.
A couple years ago Bill Carroll (1930–2013), a long-time AWCI member from New Mexico, was kind enough to write an informative essay on our formational years. It all started with the Contracting Plasterers’ and Lathers’ International Association. At the end of World War II along came the drywall people, quickly taking over the majority of interior plaster work and forming the Gypsum Drywall Contractors International. The two organizations were at odds for many years before realizing the benefits of merging forces when they created the iAWCC (International Association of Wall and Ceiling Contractors), which eventually became today’s AWCI.
It’s important we give credit to our founders and continue in the spirit that got us here. They realized the importance of a national organization working together to further our trade so that we all benefit, putting their individual agendas aside.
I’m fortunate to be writing this article aboard a cruise ship sailing the British Isles with 16 of the AWCI’s most devoted members. Each year’s trip is organized by the Continuing Study Committee at AWCI, which formed in 1962. The CSC can be considered a travel club paid for by the members who travel on the trip, with an agenda that includes brainstorming meetings to develop ways to better the AWCI’s future while visiting some pretty cool destinations. It’s both fun and inspiring to spend so much time with this group of like-minded individuals.
You may want to consider joining in on a future CSC trip as it is a great way to see the world, do some strategic thinking for you and your association.
I look forward to working with many of you to carry on the spirit of our founders!
In addition to being 2013–2014 president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Daley is president of Daley’s Drywall & Taping, Inc., San Jose, Calif.
