By Walter Arnett

The HVAC/R Associations in all of Florida, as well as the entire USA, have been very important to our industry in the past, and will continue to be in the future. From the beginning, when the first association was started, a group of dedicated contractors gathered in order to figure out how to make the HVAC/R profession a respectful and well accepted organization in the eyes of the public. They also wanted to work together to make their finished product for their customers safe and comfortable in every way. As of today, they continue to increase the efforts of this goal in the right direction with success.

These groups, in the many cities and areas they are located in, have joined together to form major associations to gain strength in numbers for the purpose of making, not only the public, but the law makers, listen to them about safety, new laws needed, old laws that need to be changed, or thrown off of the books, rules on who can perform the work, and any other needed requirements that make our profession and industry better for everyone.

To do all of this, these associations must continue to recruit new members to grow or replace the loss of any existing member. in order to maintain the strength that they now have. Members, don’t let your association dwindle. Recruit from the existing prospects that are in front of you. They could be real estate reps, distributors, insurance reps, even prospects from your own company, etc. Don’t overlook any possibility. The HVAC Insider will continue to give full support to all qualifying groups in their efforts.

A last comment is due. Happy anniversary, Peter! Peter joined the HVAC Insider in March of 2003 and is still going strong and making a difference. Congratulations, Peter, and keep it up for many more years to come. We’ll talk again next month.