A Members Shares an ASHI Experience of a Different Sort
One of the concerns we have, as a Society, involves a large portion of our Membership to participating in chapters and chapter activities. It startles many of us in leadership to discover the reasons for this lack of participation are not the ones we’d expect, such as the Chapter meets too far away, the hour is inconvenient, someone feels unwelcome or is uncomfortable with the chapter’s philosophy. Rather, we hear that many unaffiliated inspectors simply have no idea of the potential, tangible benefits that come with chapter membership—they simply don’t get the need for being part of a chapter.
Well, I must tell you, having risen through the ranks of Southern New England Chapter, and now as a Founder of the Coastal Ct. Chapter, being part of those Chapters helped me become a much better inspector, and the friendships I continue to have in both groups are incredibly important to me. I have learned and helped teach others how to better cope with problems on the job and the pressures we all experience. My involvement on a chapter level has been extraordinarily helpful to my business and my bottom line.
I met Stephen White at our recent national conference. After he related the following story to me, I asked him to put it in writing for the Reporter.
Dear Steve Gladstone,
I am writing you to share an ASHI experience of a different sort. I have been an ASHI member for about two years now, and had no interest in joining a local chapter. I would annually attend a couple of seminars to earn my MRCs. Last October I attended an excellent seminar hosted by New York Metro ASHI. During my stay, I met some guys from the Garden State Chapter of New Jersey. We were talking at length about the ASHI Branding and how it would benefit the inspector. I was impressed with these guys. They were quite knowledgeable and friendly. During numerous discussions, we talked about the benefits of joining a local chapter and how much I would personally benefit. I learned a lot that weekend about a lot of things, some I’ve used, others I’ve tucked away. About a month later, I received an invitation from Greater Baltimore ASHI (GB-ASHI) to attend a chapter meeting. I went and was warmly received. The meeting was educational, and the food was delicious. Needless to say, I joined GB-ASHI and I’m finding the experi-
ence professionally rewarding. I did not realize how much in the dark I was without a support group. My experience through ASHI has been a growth process, some of which I’ve had to grow into before I was able to understand what was in my best interest as an inspector. One thing I can tell you is I have never been steered wrong in my association with ASHI, and I am thankful to be a part of this organization.
It was a pleasure to meet you at InspectionWorld. I look forward to the new direction ASHI is going. If we look at the past as an indicator of our future, then I believe we have a pretty good indication as to how successful these efforts will be.
Warmest regards,
Stephen L. White, ASHI Member
Residential Architectural Services
Largo, Md.
I urge you to go to a chapter meeting and experience your colleagues sitting, talking, sharing and having dinner and educational experiences together. It may change the way you do business. It may alter your attitude toward other inspectors, and it may be the missing piece of the professional puzzle that gives you friends and shared experiences. Let me know how it turns out!
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