Change will come from a large number of people joining the current system and bring positive attitudes. The key would be to bring multiple new members in a short period of time.
That's exactly what the IICRC did to affect the positive changes you're starting to see. The CA hasn't been in place for a year yet, so is all new. That's at the top though, plenty of people still involved in the IICRC that are actively trying to damage the organization. Being inclusive has its drawbacks.
We would need the assistance of the 2 major distributors and 8-10 of the top manufactures. A high functioning industry would do nothing but benefit those companies profits.
Yep. We're actually running to get tradeshows off the ground because those industry leading companies begged/demanded that we do it. They are a vital part of the industry.
Its obvious lots of mistakes have been made. The question is how to correct them.
See the answer to the first question.
Here are my ideas
These are directed toward the Institute
1. Buying property in Vegas. They should have located more central to the largest population centers. Dallas
St. Louis & Chicago would have been stronger communities. More centrally located and all cities have the largest distributors regional offices. All have locally many major companies that operate in the industry. Most in our business are small family business. Vegas is not the panacea for a vacation.
Vegas was chosen for several reasons: They were one of the hardest hit real estate markets, so more building for the money there; Vegas is a relatively cheap flight from everywhere; Vegas is the center of the tradeshow biz, so we're more likely to be where our member organizations are having their indvidual events. Vegas does have things to do outside of the casinos, so you don't have to wander the Strip.
And, it can be affordable. For example, the IICRCA has suites at the Rio for $79 a night, far less than Chicago or Dallas hotels (or Clearwater) charge for lower level rooms.
2. Not setting up a online renewal system for certified firms and individuals prior to the move.
A little management change went along with the move, so setting this up prior to the move would have been a waste of time. One of the primary reasons they chose Metacred as the management company is that they're experts in the field of testing, training, and on-line services, so the pace of this change will pick up quickly.
3. Not reworking the 3 basic classes to a online training and testing at a local testing center. Then you could go to a 2 day hands on qualification. Many professional organizations do this already. Financial testing for your series 6 & 7 license happens this ways every day. This should be relatively easy.
The plan is to take the first day of the cleaning courses, fibers and chemistry and other book-lernin and put it on-line. This class would then be a prerequisite to other courses that can then be more involved in the particular subject. The technical part is easy, but allowing all of the instructors and schools to change all of their methodology without tearing their arms off takes more time.
These seem more directed toward the association
4. Not being peace makers and working to unify the factions to one major trade-show and business training event.
We're on our way to that, with 23 industry organization joining IICRCA already. We want to be as inclusive as possible, and I have a concept that I think will work well for most, but we also get to be discerning about who we work with. What if you could come to the show and get your basic class. What if
SFS was a 3 day and you could get 2 days of the trade show. What if you could do a 2 day advanced drying class. What if helpful classes like constant contacts training, quickbooks training, HR classes from a legal consultant where given?
All of these are great ideas. Our local has done what you suggest without the tradeshow and had mostly good results, so the IICRCA will be offering to help our regional groups do the same. What if you did not hear infomercials for other businesses disguised as work shops
That was the biggest complaint from the last years of Connections and previous Experience shows, and is why the trade associations wanted to do their own show.
5. Negotiating with the top online communities to do town halls. This would allow open dialogue with those that currently lead local businesses. If those attending can not dialog professionally. They are dropped from the online access.
Great idea! Although some "leading" on-line communities are already bar fights or have been set up to be divisive, and who wants to bother with that?
6. Setting up regional representation to the board. This would allow interaction with a board member by more owners. It would also allow someone to hold smaller regional events or round tables.
Regional representation is already the basis of the organization, and we'll actively help with the already-produced-by-regionals local meetings and events, or help them put on events that they can have a hand in.
7. Restricting a majority percentage of board seats to members currently operating a company.
Who do you intend to exclude?
8. Hire a CEO / General manager that is not from the industry but has significant experience leading in a corporate setting. Not many in this industry possess those qualifications. Bring in a expert leader. Give this person the authority to lead and implement change. Have a small 2-4 person executive committee that works with this person.
Sounds great in theory, in practice this type of leadership has proven to be a disaster for the organizations that try it. Well, unless you're the Bono-type of non-profit where all of the profit goes to the leadership and you just don't care if anything is actually accomplished.
9. Raise the standard of a
certified firm and raise the cost to be a
certified firm.
Are you pro or anti mom and pop Tom? You want events where you can sleep in your car to save money but want to charge more to get in? 
Just a few of my thoughts for improvement.
Thanks Tom, nicely done
