Why All This Travel? Pounding the Pavement for ASHI

Last month, I wrote about the lighter side of traveling for ASHI, specifically people-watching in airports and commenting about what a zoo air travel can be. This month, I want to tell you why we do so much traveling for ASHI. “We” generally includes Executive Director Frank Lesh, Assistant Executive Director Russell Daniels, Director of IT and Internet Communication Mike Rostescu and me.
Things don’t just happen for ASHI in our headquarters near Chicago. ASHI events and activities are going on across North America, and we travel to support these chapter events, conferences, government meetings and allied association meetings.
When we go to ASHI conferences, it’s to meet directly with our members, listen to their needs and answer their questions. When we attend conferences for other organizations, we promote ASHI and what we stand for. ASHI membership continues to grow because of our outreach efforts.
Here’s a brief travelogue spanning the past few months: First, Frank, ASHI Manager of Marketing and Business Development Dave Kogan and I attended Mike Crow’s Millionaire Inspector Community event in Dallas. Mike Crow and his staff treated us like honored guests and allowed us to speak to the group about ASHI and our efforts in Washington. Afterward, Mike asked his members to lend their support to ASHI’s work on inspection issues in Washington. Their financial support for ASHI through INSPECTPAC was overwhelming. Some attendees joined ASHI as new members, and our booth was constantly busy with people thanking us for our efforts on behalf of the inspection community and profession. Our thanks go to Mike Crow and his staff for inviting us and giving us the opportunity to reach out at the conference.
Next, Mike Rostescu and I met up on Long Island for a joint conference between the Long Island ASHI chapter and the New York State association. I was asked to address this group of inspectors and during our two days at the conference, Mike and I spoke with many ASHI members and nonmembers about their specific regional issues.
The next stop for Russell, Mike, ASHI Treasurer Tim Buell and me was a three-day conference presented by ASHI’s Ohio chapter. Then, after some rest and inspecting back home, I was off to Toronto, Ontario, to meet up with ASHI Past-President Alden Gibson. Alden and I met with Mike Holmes’ group (of DIY Network fame) and Alan Carson, ASHI Past-President and owner of Carson and Dunlop.
This is just a short list of my travels for ASHI to date. Frank, Russell and Mike have attended many more conferences than the ones I’ve listed. As you can see, they are busy guys inside and outside of the office. I speak for us all when I say that we appreciate these opportunities to meet inspectors from across the country.
In closing, I’d like to mention a more personal trip that Frank, Harry Rosenthal and I made to attend the life celebration of Blaine Illingworth III, an ASHI board member who recently passed away. This celebration was attended not only by Blaine’s family and friends, but also by his fellow ASHI chapter members, inspectors from adjoining states and ASHI Past-Presidents. It was obvious from the attendance of so many inspectors that Blaine’s knowledge of inspection, which he shared with the local community, media and fellow inspectors, will be missed. Frank and I presented the Iron Man Award to Blaine’s family. (Alden Gibson had announced that Blaine was the recipient of this award at InspectionWorld® 2016 in January, but unfortunately, Blaine could not be present to personally accept the award.) The Iron Man Award recognizes an ASHI member who has given his or her time, energy, talent and knowledge to ASHI for a long time and with little recognition. The Iron Man Award recipient lives by the principles of what makes a professional home inspector and is dedicated to high-quality inspection services and consumer protection. This description fits Blaine Illingworth to a T. May he rest in peace.
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