I want to congratulate our newly elected government officials. They have some big tasks ahead of them. As an association and even as individuals, we should try to schedule time to meet our local and even national representatives to discuss our industry’s role in their plans over the term in office. We have an obligation to make them accountable for the promises they made during the campaign. We can’t make a difference if we are silent.
Meanwhile, things have been progressing on fronts within the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry. For example, several years of negotiations between AWCI the Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association have come to a close. We will be making a joint announcement to our respective memberships about the outcome of those discussions. My appreciation goes out to all the people who persevered with those discussions.
Another move by the AWCI, which we believe most of you will applaud, is the association’s plans to develop new education programs for our contractor members. At this fall’s AWCI Industry Executives’ Conference & Committee Week, one of the main themes voiced by delegates from all parts of the country was the scarcity of skilled labor. Because it is such a widespread problem, we have decided to develop more programs that will come on stream over the next 12 to 18 months. Along with technical courses, we also hope to address such subjects as business marketing, risk management and some of the technological advancements in our industry that we all should be getting familiar with.
On a final note, I would like to thank the people who have contributed time and energy to the AWCI. We’re in a strong financial position and are negotiating the purchase of an office condominium space for the permanent headquarters of AWCI and the Foundation of the Wall and Ceiling Industry.
