ASHI Leads Legislation Drive In Michigan

[Peter C. Russell]

James, I know all that, as I have been knee deep in BS in NH, especially with the coalition. They in fact tried to recruit me. My question is one of facts. Where was this actually successful? how many new ITA schools have started up in these states and how many ASHI leaders are now running the courses and are members of the state boards.

Don't mean to pressure you but I'm a numbers guy and like to know the statistics.

[dharris]

Originally Posted by prussell

James, I know all that, as I have been knee deep in BS in NH, especially with the coalition. They in fact tried to recruit me. My question is one of facts. Where was this actually successful? how many new ITA schools have started up in these states and how many ASHI leaders are now running the courses and are members of the state boards.

Don't mean to pressure you but I'm a numbers guy and like to know the statistics.

Truth is... ITA started as school in AZ over 1 yr ago.. To date I don't think that have had any more than 1 or 2 classes due to a shortage of new inspectors signing up..

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by dharris

Truth is... ITA started as school in AZ over 1 yr ago.. To date I don't think that have had any more than 1 or 2 classes due to a shortage of new inspectors signing up..

Are you a new ASHI instructor?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by prussell

James, I know all that, as I have been knee deep in BS in NH, especially with the coalition. They in fact tried to recruit me. My question is one of facts. Where was this actually successful? how many new ITA schools have started up in these states and how many ASHI leaders are now running the courses and are members of the state boards.

Don't mean to pressure you but I'm a numbers guy and like to know the statistics.

I cannot use the states I have already mentioned as examples, Paul, since we have (with the exception of Florida and New York) successfully defeated their efforts.

I do not have his permission so I cannot use his name, but the ITA connection was shared with me by an ASHI director who is very high placed in their association.

He explained this connection to me in the context that ASHI, as an association, does not push licensing...as some think. They actually oppose it for, once licensing becomes the "credential", they lose members since ASHI offers nothing else for its members. But instead of the association pushing it, it is members of the association pushing it with the assistance and backing of ITA.

He then brought my attention to ITA's website which happens to be the only educational provider that actually tracks and maintains an update on the status of HI legislation throughout the country. Instead of waiting for laws to happen, they are proactive in making them happen and tayloring them around their offerings. It is no accident that some unwitting congressman somewhere just happens to always come up with "60 hours" or "120 hours" or "80 hours" of education...yet, they cannot come up with an SOP or any specifics that the HI needs to learn.

Reading the various bills tells you where they came from, if you read them carefully. They are not being written by legislators or consumers.

It is no accident that, in every state that is presently unlicensed/unregulated, there is a "coalition" of home inspectors claiming to represent all of the inspectors.

With the majority of inspectors not belonging to ANY association, it has to raise suspicion that virtually all of these "coalitions" consist mainly...predominantly...of members of ASHI and NAHI, with a few NACHIs thrown in here and there as "tokens".

Again...for the successful model...look at PHIC in Pennsylvania. They have all used them as a model, for they took total control over the state and are presently...and exclusively....forming the upcoming law that will govern PA inspectors.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by jbushart

I cannot use the states I have already mentioned as examples, Paul, since we have (with the exception of Florida and New York) successfully defeated their efforts.

I do not have his permission so I cannot use his name, but the ITA connection was shared with me by an ASHI director who is very high placed in their association.

He explained this connection to me in the context that ASHI, as an association, does not push licensing...as some think. They actually oppose it for, once licensing becomes the "credential", they lose members since ASHI offers nothing else for its members. But instead of the association pushing it, it is members of the association pushing it with the assistance and backing of ITA.

He then brought my attention to ITA's website which happens to be the only educational provider that actually tracks and maintains an update on the status of HI legislation throughout the country. Instead of waiting for laws to happen, they are proactive in making them happend and tayloring them around their offerings. It is no accident that some unwitting congressman somewhere just happens to always come up with "60 hours" or "120 hours" or "80 hours" of education...yet, they cannot come up with an SOP or any specifics that the HI needs to learn.

Reading the various bills tells you where they came from, if you read them carefully. They are not being written by legislators or consumers.

It is no accident that, in every state that is presently unlicensed/unregulated, there is a "coalition" of home inspectors claiming to represent all of the inspectors.

With the majority of inspectors not belonging to ANY association, it has to raise suspicion that virtually all of these "coalitions" consist mainly...predominantly...of members of ASHI and NAHI, with a few NACHIs thrown in here and there as "tokens".

Again...for the successful model...look at PHIC in Pennsylvania. They have all used them as a model, for they took total control over the state and are presently...and exclusively....forming the upcoming law that will govern PA inspectors.

So are we talking 1 out 30 states they have been successful in?

[James H. Bushart]

A few more than that. Go through the list...look at the required number of hours to get a license and look through the course list. That is ITA's involvement. They used "coalitions" to get these things passed.

Like I said...PHIC was their most successful and inspired the others to model after them.

[dharris]

Originally Posted by prussell

Are you a new ASHI instructor?

No.. Not at all.. The only thing that I do close to teaching is teach a Mbl Hm course for a local school, [that now only offers CE courses] , once or twice a year.
A few years ago ITA did offer me a chance to do their Mbl Hm course, I declined due to my commitment with the local school.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by dharris

No.. Not at all.. The only thing that I do close to teaching is teach a Mbl Hm course for a local school, [that now only offers CE courses] , once or twice a year.
A few years ago ITA did offer me a chance to do their Mbl Hm course, I declined due to my commitment with the local school.

Good for you. My son has just completed 2 years of building trades where they have built 2 modulars and have donated them to Katrina victims.

Teaching is a great thing, just as much as learning.

[dharris]

Originally Posted by jbushart

A few more than that. Go through the list...look at the required number of hours to get a license and look through the course list.

Like I said...PHIC was their most successful and inspired the others to model after them.

Geez crips busshy, have you ever considered that ITA is NOT the only school that has to jump thru hoops and meet financial requirements just to meet a states requirements.

Take AZ as an example... for over three years after AZ required HI
training ITA was not an approved school

Truth is other schools including real estate and internet based schools are the ones that lowered the standards that ITA and a few others including Dan B, Chuck B [ both are members of your org] worked had for to raise the level of HI training across the country.
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[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by jbushart

A few more than that. Go through the list...look at the required number of hours to get a license and look through the course list. That is ITA's involvement. They used "coalitions" to get these things passed.

Like I said...PHIC was their most successful and inspired the others to model after them.

I can see the info. on their web site and have for awhile now.

What I want to know is some definitive numbers as to how serious a problem this is. You say that ITA and ASHI are pushing this agenda throughout the country and are setting up sweet jobs for all their ASHI hierarchy. What I would like to see is the factual numbers that back that up.

Believe me when I say I understand this problem first hand, but I'm not an alarmist, I would like to know statically what's going on and how successful are they?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by dharris

Geez crips busshy, have you ever considered that ITA is NOT the only school that has to jump thru hoops and meet financial requirements just to meet a states requirements.

Forget AZ, dan.

You guys don't even require continuing education, do you?

I am referencing ITA being proactive in pushing legislation that sets up boards that their "coalition" leaders (as in New York, for example) sit on and decide what courses are approved and what courses are not.

[Peter C. Russell]

PS, when did this ASHI coalition start and how does that reflect on states that have licensing?

My understanding is the coalition thing is fairly recent.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by prussell

PS, when did this ASHI coalition start and how does that reflect on states that have licensing?

My understanding is the coalition thing is fairly recent.

Not too recent, although a few have just popped up in states like MO, KS and MI. PHIC has been around for several years. Florida starts one every year, then dissolves it after the bill fails, I think. Once the law is passed, the "coalition" shifts gears and its leaders take positions on the state licensing boards and the "coaltion" dies away.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Forget AZ, dan.

You guys don't even require continuing education, do you?

I am referencing ITA being proactive in pushing legislation that sets up boards that their "coalition" leaders (as in New York, for example) sit on and decide what courses are approved and what courses are not.

James, Pro active and successful are two different things.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Not too recent, although a few have just popped up in states like MO, KS and MI. PHIC has been around for several years. Florida starts one every year, then dissolves it after the bill fails, I think. Once the law is passed, the "coalition" shifts gears and its leaders take positions on the state licensing boards and the "coaltion" dies away.

Can you name a few examples of the states, the boards and their ASHI leaders?