As I was saying...

Groucho Marx famously said he wasn't interested in joining any club that would lower its standards enough to accept him as a member. Happily, Marx never applied for membership in NRCA and forced us to evaluate our standards. We must, however, be sure all professional roofing contractors belong.

Here's why it matters. A good deal of what NRCA is about is acting as an advocate for roofing contractors. Unfortunately, much of the work NRCA does goes unnoticed. It's hard to take credit for all the bad things that didn't happen as a result of our work with government agencies, code bodies and standards-setting organizations. Simply, and obviously, we have much greater clout when we speak for a larger membership.

And there's more. Members learn from one another, and one of the most unique benefits of belonging to NRCA—one that doesn't appear in our membership brochures—is members have the opportunity to share information with peers who are not direct competitors.

Membership matters for the constant improvement of the industry, as well. Imagine how much better off we'd be if all contractors followed the practices contained in The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual, Fifth Edition, or followed proper safety practices on every job. That's not going to happen all at once, but even gradual improvement will mean we'll have more appreciative clients and a more favorable insurance environment, for starters.

Membership also matters because it enables us to build a more cohesive industry. We always do better when contractors, manufacturers, distributors and consultants talk to one another and work toward common goals. That's why we're especially grateful for steps taken by GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J.; Owens Corning Corp., Toledo, Ohio; and Elk Premium Building Products, Dallas, to either require NRCA membership for their top contractor customers or provide incentives for joining.

Ours is a tough industry. Outsiders marvel at how much competition there is, how fragmented we are and how complicated buying decisions for roof systems have become.

Many members tell us there is comfort just in knowing they are not alone in their daily struggles. We tell them: That's why you have NRCA.

It's easy to become an NRCA member. Just go to www.nrca.net, and click on "Join NRCA."