Contractors in drought areas

Russ Spence

Commercial Pressure Wash Expert
Hey Russ,

I'd post there if I could but I quit posting on that forum a LOOONG time ago, then found out I was banned just like many others.

I've known Carlos for quite some time now and I really believe that he is trying to do something for the contractors in the industry.

Why the focus has been switched to a national org over the contractors suffering from the drought's? I don't know. I wish we all had more insight on what he/they are doing so it would be possible for everyone to make an educated decision on whether they should join or not. I guess everyone is going to have to wait and see what happens first. Unfortuanetly contractors don't like to wait and that could hurt anything Carlos is trying to do.

There are a lot of contractors out there suffering due to the media's actions and the lack of forsight of the cities themselves, I've sent letters to officials, newspapers and tv reporters and even posted on articles that are on the net even though the droughts don't effect me.

I've offered work to a few of the contractors in the drought affected areas, in my area if they were able to come up and work and I will continue to do so as I take on some large contracts I've got coming up.

At this point there really isn't much more I can do to help out. If someone comes up with some ideas that will actually benefit the companies that need it, I'd be happy to help out. Sending money to them won't help in the long run, there's just too many companies that need it. The RFW was a great concept but it would have never been able to help out financially like many thought.

There's just too great a need, for too many people, in too many areas for too long for it to have worked... How could anyone decide who gets the money from the hundreds of affected contractors? It would take hundreds of thousands of dollars to be any real benefit at all and judging by the amount of money that was recieved, there weren't many contractors in a position to send money anyway.

If there is anyone in a drought affected area that has experience with cleaning new brick with sureclean (I don't know if it's a chem or chem manufacturer since I don't do new construction brickwork) let me know. I've got a building company in my area looking for someone and I'd be happy to refer you.

I'm in the process of working on a few things that I believe will help the contractors in the industry but they won't be ready for months.
 
Henry, the ham sandwhich for every table thought was dropped way back in the beginning stages of RFW. You are right on point. There would be no way to properly dispense funds without some or many being left out.

The goal of the initiative is to get PW'ing companies to help themselves through the power of unity, education and guidance. No one has to join or buy anything from anyone. I cannot stress that enough. RFW will provide a game plan for contractors to start local chapters. What is needed are donations and man power. It seems ludicrous to ask contractors to donate money when they may not be working but if each person in the afflicted area were to donate even a small sum, or an hour per week to the cause, RFW can become a powerful voice of the industry.

I don't blame anyone for adopting a wait and see attitude. The actions of a few have tainted the attitudes of many. More and more companies are coming forward and are asking questions. That's a positive thing. Russ, thank you for having the guts to bring forth the questions many have on their minds. While RFC has a game plan and outline, nothing is cast in stone.

All thoughts are welcome. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email: contact@reliefforwashers.com
 
No need to redirect over to TGS Russ. The below comments "tie" in the Relief for Washer and the UAMCC initiative.

I want to thank everyone for their comments both here on the boards and also privately. Thanks to the handful of contractors/distributor that personally called me and offered some very good feedback as it relates to this particular topic. Your suggestions that you offered certainly make sense and true to my word I am here to expound a little further on this particular subject matter.

I also am confident that for the ones that did speak to me over the last couple days walked away from our conversations with a sense of understanding and assurance that we are compelled to go the extra mile to makee sure that contrators do believe that the new organizations will be guided and anchored by contractors. I was asked to repost to make sure that the industry hears in the most simplistic terms of the opportunity for us ~ meaning contractors ~ has in establishing a new organization.

1. The current workings and infrastructure of the UAMCC will be totally overhauled so that all aspects of the new organization will be contractor oriented.

2. Complete control of the UAMCC has been passed on to me for the establishment of a new organization for contractors.

3. The current BOD's for the UAMCC will be phased out.

4. A Transition Team of 7 contractors from our industry will assist the new UAMCC in establishing it's new framework. When I say framework I mean newwebsite, BBS, By-Law review & MODIFICATIONS, membership fees, and the establishment of how and what our services will be for the membership base. The 7 contractors that make up the Transition Team will be determined by: ** note the 7 members must represent the entire U.S. ~ meaning that we can't have 6 members from Hawaii and 1 member from Alaska - Evenly distributed.

1. their ability to Volunteer;
2. not a bod or founder of any other pressure washing organization;
3. Not a power washing/equipment distributor
4. Must be a power washing contractor.
6. Must be able to work with a group of 6 people to ensure that organizations infrastructure is established with the contrators needs put in the forefront.

Establishment of state chapters.

The new organization will agressively recruit a contractor or several contractors to represent their state. State chapter will relay to the Tranistion Team 5-7 points/request of what they want to see in a new organization. **this will help the Transition Team form the "services" that the new organization will provide. The forming of new "services" or benefits for the members will be ongoing all the time as we all know each state is different and have different needs at different times.

Also,

THIS WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AND TRUE AS THE NEW ORG WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS AND OFFER SOLUTIONS TO OUR CONRACTORS IN THE DROUGHT REGION.

This is where the RFW initiative comes in. The framework and I stress only the framework of the RFW initiative is in place today. **The RFW is not where we want it at today BUT the chapters in that region can help this initiative but offerning suggestion and/or recommendation. The UAMCC NEW ORG. will serve as a catalyst and/or vehicle to get the necessary resources and tools out to that Region - How will we do this - THROUGH THE STATE CHAPTERS.

Please understand that the Transition Team will not be able to implement every single request that comes from all the states. What we are looking for here is the 4 to5 most requested service that establishes a common theme from our chapters. This will be the beginning of the "establisment" of the new organization. Again - this is coming from contractors.


Does the new org need to have all this in place before we announce that we are open? Certainly not. This dialogue and/or commuication will be ongoing between the states chapters and the UAMCC main location. - I don't know where this location will be. Maybe thats something you contractors can decide.

CONTRACTORS AND PARTICPATION FROM CONTRACTORS NEED TO CREATE AND ESTABLISH THE NEW ORGANIZATION. That is why involvement today is important.

Distributors - The new organization will NOT endorse any one particular distributor from the next. The new organization and it's chapters will not encourage or discourage it's members to purchase a particular piece of equipment. If a distributor wishes to showcase their products at a particular RT - they must co-sponsor the RT with the understanding that the new org will not endorse any products that they are dispaying. The new org. will announce the distributors sponsorhip on the UAMCC website and at the state level.

Manufacturers - **see above.

The new organization will convert to a 501(c).

I have and will continue to contact individuals/contractors for the Transition Team. If you feel that you can contribute, add value and put your fellow contractors needs first....please send an email to me at newlookpowerwash@aol.com
 
Russ,
Appreciate the redirect. :)

Henry - just use one of your other logins... ;) There are two others that I am aware of. Both work just fine. :)

Beth
 
It may run Carlos ragged having to post and answer questions on all the boards but it will increase the exposure for it too. I'd like to suggest that we keep this thread running just in case people visit this BBS more, or prefer to comment on something that's already been said here.

I hear Carlos could use some more excercise anyway...
 
I hear ya Russ....Thanks for all your questions and the questions that you received from others.

Now I have one question for you?

You recall that I emailed to you a 'partial list of not only what the new organization will provide to your state but it also included our expectations in a state rep. as it relates to help further the cause with DROUGHT RELATED issues.

In this email sent to you, we also ask for your service as a state rep. - You represent AL.

Over on another board you reference the list that I emailed to you:

"These are the ones from the list that have my concern, I am posting these here because I have had several calls from concerned parties that have issues with these, so I feel its best served to allow all to see the answers and not be handed down second hand by me so I wont be misquoted."

You noticed a portion above is in Bold. - Not trying to split hairs here so bear with me ~ How could concerned parties call you about the "list" that I sent you when only one other person in the industry had the list? That other person has not shared that list with anyone else. It is impossible for "concerned parties" to have called for obviouse reasons.

If we as an industry want the general public to believe and trust in us - we first must believe and trust in ourselves.

I am not trying to "clown" anyone but in order for the new org. to have the opportunity to get off the ground there is a much higher expectation placed on people that are being considered for state chapter roles and more importantly the Transition Team

Russ your questions about this whole thing is right on and I am gratified that at least you jumped in with the questions - regardless where they came from.

I have been upfront with you and others as much as possible....I ask the same courtesy!

We do look forward working with you and others!
 
well Carlos if you look back you will notice that this email was sent to more people than myself , I dont know how others got it , I myself did forward to 2 people after this all started but these are not the ones I am speaking of , I would probably look at who else got the emails as well but it has been mass circulated and not by myself
 
7 counties in Florida are in stage 3 water restrictions now and it is illegal to pressure wash. Specifically the ordinance says No pressure washing for cosmetic reasons, only for health, safety or warranty. and it specifically says, "Deed restricted communities can not mandate pressure washing during stage 3 restrictions" They have specifically named PRESSURE WASHING now and made it illegal.

AC
 
This is in the news today for Tampa:

Code:
[URL]http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/city-of-tampa-imposes-tighter-lawn-watering-restrictions[/URL]

They mention Pressure washing for once a year.
 
7 counties in Florida are in stage 3 water restrictions now and it is illegal to pressure wash. Specifically the ordinance says No pressure washing for cosmetic reasons, only for health, safety or warranty. and it specifically says, "Deed restricted communities can not mandate pressure washing during stage 3 restrictions" They have specifically named PRESSURE WASHING now and made it illegal.

AC


Does this mean that Soft Washing w an electric or air diaphragm pump would still be allowed???
 
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