Traveling

A good deal of my ASHI life is visiting chapters, helping with the public relations program and leading meetings (both on the phone and in various board of directors and committee locations). I will admit I do enjoy the chapter visits. They give me the opportunity to stay in touch with the individual Members and to stay grounded with their opinions, satisfactions and frustrations.  Hardly a month goes by that I don’t get passionate e-mails and letters that explain how we have lost touch with the membership. Fortunately there are the good ones as well, thanking us for being receptive to new ideas and protecting old ones.

Sadly, the frustration level is worsened by some who are taken by surprise when they happen upon a change or a new program that they didn’t read about or find out about until after it occurred. It’s frustrating to us because we do report new programs and changes as soon as we can. As the leadership, we try to get your feedback right from the get- go, and we react to that feedback. You can be confident your board debates every action, and it relies on the answers you submit to polls and information you give to your chapter president and your representatives on the Council. Everything we consider when planning both our short- and long-term planning…our strategic plan…takes this feedback seriously. The plan drives the Society.

So, when directors or officers visit your chapter or attend your educational conference, make a point of having a conversation with us so we hear what is important to you. We want to understand what you want from the Society, and how you feel we can fund additional projects. Over the last two years, we have taken on the massive task of trying to drive more business to you from the Web site; we have developed business tools for you to use and training to make it work for you…but if you do not put the effort into making the ASHI difference, we will have wasted your money on programs you won’t support.

As I travel, my message is to tell the real estate professionals, consumers, stakeholders and clients with whom I come into contact  that there is a big difference between licensed inspectors and ASHI Inspectors, that we are the real deal, and that we will do what needs to be done to protect the consumer and give exceptional service. If you are not mentioning ASHI at least three or four times on an inspection or when you make a presentation, you are not helping the cause. Do your materials reflect the ASHI brand? Do you offer exceptional customer service? Are you one of us, or just a pedestrian watching The ASHI Experience from the sidelines?

I’ll be in Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh and Philly, in Illinois, then Las Vegas, Florida and California over the next few months…I hope you will chat with me and tell me how we are doing and what you are doing to be successful.