It's worth it

A new year has begun for NRCA. Chairman of the Board Jim Barr worked until the last day of the fiscal year (May 31) as he once again traveled back to his home in Texas after spending days working for you. And, wow, did he work! Jim has crisscrossed the U.S. on your behalf, donating more than 100 days away from his business so he could help you build yours. Where do these selfless leaders come from each year, and why do they do it?

Well, if you asked Jim, he would say because somebody needs to! Our industry is large and diverse. Our members serve their customers every day and sometimes in climates that are unfavorable—and I am not talking about the weather. NRCA is, in many respects, an advocacy agent for you. We help write the rule book you follow, and we do so with you in mind, including those who may never join us. Leaders like Jim and current Chairman of the Board Kent Schwickert understand the importance of a national association that has the resources to be in your corner 24/7, 365 days per year.

But Jim and Kent also do their work with a servant's mind. They believe deeply in you and your employees. And their service makes your life and business better in ways you may never see. The most difficult things to communicate are the building codes, regulations or taxes that never happen because NRCA was advocating on behalf of the roofing industry.

For example, NRCA's enterprise risk management team works directly with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to help the agency understand contractors' desire to keep workers safe and the efforts that go into making that happen. NRCA also is in contact with other regulatory agencies in the federal government before new regulations come. Many times, the most important thing we accomplish is the very thing you never see because NRCA's staff prevented something from occurring.

This also is true with NRCA's technical services team of experts, which helps keep building codes, ASTM International, FM Global and others as fair as possible. I can only imagine what the roofing industry would be like without NRCA's technical team. Have you ever paused to consider that? What rules would the industry be facing? I suppose you could hire someone yourself, but you save thousands of dollars per year because the cost of NRCA's staff is distributed across our thousands of members rather than you bearing that cost alone.

And imagine what would happen if we never had representation in Washington, D.C. Four people go to work every day for you sharing their expertise and your stories with members of Congress, federal agencies and other stakeholders. For the first time in my lifetime, our trade was included in tax reform. Our team in Washington, D.C., worked long hours to make sure key policymakers knew and understood your business.

I agonize over every call I receive or conversation I have with a member asking me what is the return on investment on dues? I desperately want members to see what I see every day. I see incredible leaders like those men and women on our board of directors who volunteer countless hours to give back to this industry. I see our staff of dedicated advocates and educators working long hours so your life and business can grow.

So what is your return on investment? It's in the tens of thousands of dollars. Imagine if you had to hire just one person to attempt to do what these professionals do every day on your behalf. Your dues make it possible for 63 people to get up each day and fight for you. Your dues make it possible for us to set up a system of hundreds of volunteers that direct our efforts. Your dues allow us in ways small and large to make your business life more profitable, enjoyable, safer and better. The larger we become, the more influence we have in helping write the rule book that governs your livelihood. We are the industry, and we are better because you are a part of it.

Reid Ribble is NRCA's CEO.
@NRCA_CEO

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