Hey, Aaron.

I didn't disagree with Scott. In fact, I think I agreed by stating that the best way to find out about an organization is to join it. In some cases there are no local chapters. That could be an influencing factor. In my case, one of the problems that I had with CREIA and ASHI is that I desperately wanted to volunteer, for two reasons:

(1) I simply like to volunteer. I've been a volunteer all my life--Circle K in high school, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity at Texas A&M University, SPCA volunteer (especially enjoy rescuing pets and wildlife after wildfires), Red Cross, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Special Olympics, American Heart Association, and many more.

(2) In analyzing the continuing education credits (CEC), I determined that I could get some of those credits by volunteering at events. As a newbie trying to create a viable and profitable business, and with the ASHI convention being in Orlando, or New Orleans, or some other three-time-zones-away-location, I could not afford to have to get CECs at the end of the year by basically shutting down my company for a three-day convention with two days travel time to and fro. And with the liability that I have in California (4 years direct, 18 months discovery, 5½ years absolute total), I was about to go off and leave my employees on their own; I proof every document or communication that goes out of this office. Consequently, I wanted the convention to be a desired event rather than a have-to event. That was impossible unless one volunteered or was elected an officer. A newbie elected officer? As my wise ol' grandmother said, "Yeah, right." However, since I was never called on to volunteer, the conventions became a "have to go" event in order to get all my CEC's for the year. I could not accept that. Shutting down a business for five days was unacceptable; still is.

The final straw, though, was when RE/MAX had their state convention here in San Diego in January 2002. I volunteered to work the CREIA/ASHI booth all three days, particularly during hours that typically are difficult to fill, i.e., early morning and late evening. Nada. No call to arms. No nothing. Then, at the February 2002 CREIA/ASHI dinner meeting, the two presidents got up and spent 30 minutes chastising us because "the same people volunteer time and time again." Huh? That was the end for me. I had spent seven months volunteering, never to be called but then to be chastised. I never went to another CREIA/ASHI dinner meeting until April 2003, and I do go fairly regularly now so that I can keep track of how many of my competitors are exiting the industry.

NACHI allowed me to spend my days and weekends running my business, and my midnight hours (about 90% of my NACHI posts are done between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m.) posting helpful information for other NACHI members. Granted, many people here at inspectionnews.com don't like the fact that NACHI verily is an Internet organization. That, of course, is what attracted me to it because, after my first year, I had already determined that there is no branding in this industry, contrary to what CREIA and ASHI might say or want. I have one office that "only uses CREIA inspectors." Well, that's their official position, anyway. All seven of the Realtors use me for pre-listing inspections and buyer inspections. I even do WALK inspections, MAINTENANCE inspections, and WARRANTY inspections for their Clients. They are by far the most customer-service-oriented business I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

Anyway, yes, indeed, the best way to determine whether or not one fits in with an organization is to join it. Of course, that means spending money on membership dues, CECs, etc., and many home inspectors, especially newbies, don't have all that money available.

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Active Rain
Russel Ray, San Diego Home Inspector