Everett Abrams

PWNA Annual Convention and Trade Show February 11-14, 2004 It has come to our attention that there are many folks that have not, or are still deciding whether to go to the Convention. It is not too late to do so. You can come to the Convention as a walk-in and register there. So if anyone was still sitting on the fence or thinking it was too late, it is not. If you have trouble with getting a room there are plenty of hotels in the area and I have heard there are still some good flying deals out there. If I can be of any help or answer questions feel free to call 1-866-440-3325.

Because we find that with each Chapter we are constantly ammending how we do these meetings. I think the fact we have been using a written plan or set of bylaws helps with the structure and success. The fact that we keep an open mind to change with the first Chapters has shown a sign of interaction and growth that we will need. By being flexible with the initial group is that we have been able to form a good script or road map to work with. The Local chapter idea and then the protocal has been approved by the Board as we move forward and have just added a Local Chapter Committee to help with the implementation of these meetings. In regards to participation there will be members on the committee. The Committee does the work and submits to the Board for approval. All ideas for the committee will be welcomed and considered. There are actually over planned 20 sets of eyes on these at this time.

Mike, Actually there is a lot of other successful contractors out there than just on the various Bulletin Boards. We do not even list them all anymore. We really have our own group and have had over 300 different contractors attend our various meetings. When we have a meeting they are e-mailed from our list. Many of the folks who call and show up now are those that were referred. It has become a great group that pick and choose which meetings they attend. The money has been put back into the local efforts. Most of the people who attend ARE NOT on the Bulletin Boards or even members when they first come. My point is that the idea and concept is probably more popular than you think. Somebody has to take the lead and then carry it out. One year we had I think about 11 Roundtables going on all at the same time. The problem is many of them did not continue the effort. It reminds me of the movie "Field of Dreams" with a different take on the line "If you build it, they will come." Instead, "If you hold the meeting, they will come." We are also looking at different ideas along the lines of attending local meetings will give you speacials on thhe convention or membership. There really is a lot of benefit that come from all sides of these meetings. My personal opinion is they are win-win for everybody.

Mathew and others, There have been a lot of successful Roundtables where conractors have gotten together and shared some valuable ideas and ways of conducting business. Beth and Rod have had a few very good ones as well Steve Rowlett and others. The difference between a Roundtable and the Local Chapters is really quite significant. The Roundtables have been very informal and everyone usually covers the price of their meal. Just a note but most anyone who attends a Roundtable usually contributes $10-$25 for food, drink, and tip anyway. It really is considerate to do so anyway. Vendors have helped pay for some costs when they attend the Roundtables. It has been very important though when having a Roundtable that more than one vendor is invited so that it doesn't appear favored in any way. Originally, vendors were not even participating and got involved as the meetings evolved. Their input and help has been greatly appreciated. The Local Chapters are being formed for many reasons and one is to provide everyone an opportunity to get information more readily and have more of a local flavor. For example, I may deal with different issues in Jersey than the contractor in California. The idea of the Local Chapters is also to provide all the benefits of the organization through out the year to local chapters that you curently get once a year at a convention. For example, speakers and seminars, educational classes, technical presentations, etc. For our Local Chapters we have had speakers on Sales, Payroll, Pump Maintenance, Chemicals, Parts and Accessories, and plans for State Regulators from the Insurance and EPA Departments. The reason it is important to involve vendors as they can offset some of the costs associated with these events. Not involving vendors means someone is going to probably pay more. This is no different than the Pest Control Industry where when you join the National Pest Management Association you are part of the State Chapter, however to attend any of the State Meetings you pay a certain price depending on the time of the meeting, speaker, meals, and so forth. They also charge a member amount and a non-member amount to help promote and offer the same information to all. Thw PWNA wants to do the exact same thing. I will tell you from experience that there is costs to putting these meetings together. We send out invitations(postage), e-mails, provide door prizes, cooridnate speakers, phone calls, meals and so on. Charges for each meeting may be different but at current they are basically to cover the costs. Just for what I listed above you can see why the current charges are really not much. From experience, I would gladly pay $25.00 to attend these meetings for the fact I learn something from each meeting that helps impact my business. That money also helps support the local effort so that the meetings continue. I actually feel that my money is even more impactful at this point because I like being able to support my local effort and by charging per meeting you can pick and choose which ones you want to attend. We currently have 6 Chapters that are forming with a lot of volunteers that have stepped forward to Start others. We wanted to grow these in a way that we worked out all the kinks first. We find that we are still doing that but we are on the right track and feel comfortable that after our convention that we can roll these out to EACH STATE. These meetings are held to support the industry first and foremost. They must always be open to non-members and members. This is the goal and any other benefits are secondary. The item John posted was from an original draft that is being updated for a fourth time now, so these continue to evolve. I metion this as some of the information is still good and some may have been changed or even deleted. For anyone who wants information on holding or having a meeting whether a Roundtable or at a Local Chapter I would be happy to help you. I do have an e-mail file of guidelines and forms we have used to make it easier. I would be happy to share with anyone. Just contact me. The neat thing about how these are evolving is that with each new meeting the bar seems to get raisedon the content and organization of the meetings. Please do not forget Beth and Rod, Steve Rowlett, Don Flory, and I am sure ither that have had great meetings as well to get ideas from.

While this may be a good subject, I feel it has too narrow a focus and offers little insight as to other aspects of organizations and the leadership. There is more at play here and this article is a one sided arguement proceeding on the basis of one point of view which is also condescending of the others who are presumed 'dysfunctional'. There is a difference between good information and information that 'looks' good.

I believe that leaders have characterisrtics in their personality and their being that set them apart from others. To be a true leader one needs to command respect. This respect is not something one can go out and get. This respect is bestowed on one by others who look to them as leaders. In others words, one can have all the qualities and characteristics to be a leader but can not be considered one until others see and believe in them. An entrepeneur MUST be a leader to be successful. This is one reason many businesses fail and many people don't get it. They have aspirations and dreams of owning their own business or being successful. Nothing wrong with that at all, the problem is if they lack the leadership quality it is only a matter of time until it catches up with them. These people are better to hold onto those dreams of success but look into another avenue to attain their true aspirations. Just my two cents.

The hardest thing for me to remove has always been a new girlfriends pants for the first time!

Hey Scott, hope you enjoyed your day!

PWNA Boot Camps-Chicago Area 11/06,11/07 Just wanted to let everyone know that it is not too late to attend these classes. We would love to have more folks join us for these Boot Camps this weekend. You can sign up at the Boot Camp as there will be extra manuals and supplies as necessary. Any questions please contact 1-866-440-3325 or 1800-393-7962. Deerfield, Illinois - Boot Camp (Near Chicago) Neighborhood Kitchen Exhaust & Wood Boot Camps November 6-7, 2004 Directions to the Hotel (Chicago) • Chicago/O'Hare - ORD (18 mi NW) Exit O'Hare and take the 294 N Milwaukee tollway, Exit at Lake Cook Road and head East. The hotel is located on the North side of Lake Cook Road. 1.5 miles from the tollway, exit on the North side of the street. The cross street is Pfingsten Road. • Chicago/Midway - MDW (45 mi NW) North on Cicero to I-55 North to 94 West. 94 West to 41 North. Exit at Lake Cook Road and head West. The Deerfield Courtyard is located 3 miles on the North side of Lake Cook Road at Lake Cook and Pfingsten Road. __________________

To all, As I am no longer a moderator on this great site(resigned) I would like everyone to know that I am available to all as a member and Board of Directors of the PWNA, as well as to non-members and the Bulletin Board Community. Any who know me realize that I believe in elevating industry standards above all else. Whether one is a member of the PWNA or not. It doesn't matter what Bulletin Boards we all visit or frequent. I would like to remain approachable to ALL in the industry and my phone number can be called or I can be e-mailed anytime. So please feel free to contact me for any reason at all, to discuss PWNA Forums, PWNA Business, or just chat contractor to contractor. Thank you.

Just wanted to let you know that you may not feel a year older, but you are! Have a great day!

Jesse, The Trex issue is a whole other issue. Trex has taken the stance that they do not or have ever sold their product as "maintenance free." They state that their suppliers may sell it that way and that they should not but, Trex does not do this. In any event, this is a link that helps with the class action suit, http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infpressrelease/inftrexlawsuit.shtm By the way, what Trex does is they send someone to clean the deck(because this is in good faith customer service, HA!) Then they have the customer sign a release document that states that they will not involve a third party. I have worked with their R&D department in the past on the cleaning procedures. It was at that time that it was divulged to me that there are two issues with the product. The first being that they used Red Oak which leached the dark black tannin that you see on these decks. The second is that they had a problem in manufacturing when they started out. When making the planks the wood content of these planks would make their way closer to the surfaces instead of evenly through the plank. This caused the wood content to be closer to the surfaces therefore making the tannins leaching more prevalent. This is a problem that they supposedly fixed with their vats and mixing system. Anyway, this is way off the IPE topic. I will simply state that on hardwoods I would ONLY use a penetrating oil product. I would not put any semi, solid, or film forming sealer on this species of hardwood. In regards to opening pores of the wood, both acids and sanding open up pores of the wood. If this deck is restored correctly you should not have to sand this wood.

Jesse, If you seal this deck, at some point you will probably do this twice in the first year. After that you will be doing this yearly, at least.Take the advice and let it age and weather first. This is a very expensive species of wood to build a deck with and probably not a good idea to "test" on this deck. Test on pieces around your shop or see what Russell says.

The Timber Oil DOES NOT form a film.

The Timber Oil is made for hardwoods but it is exactly what is recommended for softwoods, that is a penetrating oil. Cabot has tested this but, to sell it and market it as better than their 3000 series would be eliminating the whole line. All I will say is test for yourself next to other types of products and see the results for yourself. You will not need to do yearly maintenance coats if correctly applied. Their tests have shown that the Timber Oil does last longer and outperform the 3000 series. You will not find that documented anywhere, this was relayed to me in conversation only. In regards to guarantess, you have no right to change or deter from a manufacturers guarantee. Basically, your guarantee should explain that your policies and procedures are performed correctly to insure that the manufacturers guarantee should hold up. "Should" meaning that you are not responsible for product failure or a bad batch of product. Your policies and procedures are accepted as the correct procedures to insure proper longevity of the manufacturer's product. I see many contractor's offering guarantees that do not coincide with the product they are using. This is a great way to get in trouble somewhere down the road. I would also add that when referring to how long a product will last you should refer to horizontal and vertical surfaces. "3 to 4 years" is very vague and means what? I would say more like this, " about 2 years on horizontals and 4 years on verticals." That is clear and easier for a customer to understand as well.

Just so you weren't alone Paul I put a few cold ones back last night to celebrate as well!

Hey Paul, I hope you enjoy your day! Happy Birthday!

Russell, I looked at it briefly last night and again this morning. I think you have a great site and can tell it is built for much more information. Great Job!

Clarification please, for me and other readers of this thread. Stated: There is a finish that looks like crap. Question: What to use to remove the coating? EFC-38 is a percarbonated bleach product, correct? If so how can you use or call this a product that will "remove or strip" a coating when a percarbonate usually doesn't do this? HD-80 is a sodium hydroxide based stripper and most would think this the appropriate product. As a general rule we often recommend new and grayed wood to use the bleach and any wood with a coating to use sodium hydroxide. Is there more to this that I do not see and others may have the same questions or can you expand further. Thanks Russell!

Beth, Now I need clarification. Are you saying that HD-80 will remove Cabot Solid Stains? Further, are you referring to the oil base, the acrylic, or both?

Charlie, This is our fourth season. The biggest accomplishment for us is that this year in Bulington County,NJ we were voted one of the 3 Best Pest Control companies by the Burlington County Times. This was big with the "larger" name companies involved. A testament to our customer service and loyalty of our customers to support us. I agree with the lowballer comment regarding pest control but, I would say it is true of many service industry trades as well.

andye629, If this thread is posted because of the comments made on this thread you posted on, http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2279 , please feel free to call me or any of the others who volunteer to chat and discuss products and talk shop. I would be glad to speak with you. I am already starting to see a pattern here.

I subscribe to Charlie's way of thinking. Always keep amending your company and services to do something different than the competition. At times I will go so far as to tell a customer that is comparing prices that the other company IS NOT my competition. I actually give them a worksheet that compares my company to two other companies. This way they are comparing "Apples to Apples."

We will be conducting two new Wood Boot Camps! The first is on September 25th & 26th in Mt. Laurel, NJ. The second will be on October 18th and 19th in Atlanta, GA Please contact the following for more info and registration www.pwna.org PWNA Headquarters at 1-800-393-7962 Everett Abrams at 1-866-440-3325 This is four consecutive Wood Boot Camps in four months in four different locations of the country. This is just another way to show that we are trying to bring the PWNA to you!

2 Day course, hands on is not included. Tough to do in a one two day course. We will do demonstrations of the chemicals. There is also a power point presentation with pics and a slide show. A hands on course may become part of the advanved course that is in the works.