Florida Legislative Meeting

[Harvey Gordon]

Hello All,

I am sorry that I have not been able to chime in until today...I have been out of town with my wife for her birthday.

Let's get some things straight...

1. Jay was asked by the FloridaNACHI Founding Board of Directors - Greg Bell, Gerri Beaumont, and myself - to head be our Director of Legislative Affairs
2. All existing Chapter Presidents were contacted personally by me, after John Bowman and Blaine Wiley gave me their approval to begin the road to having a Florida State Chapter.
3. It was further asked that I be the Founding President of FloridaNACHI.
4. A posting was made on this Board asking for ANY and ALL help for the Florida State Chapter....NONE WAS RECEIVED!
5. I spoke with Joey Caballero (he and Greg Manning both present) stated that is was actually Greg Manning, the current FABI President, who PUSHED for FloridaNACHI to be part of the Florida Licensing Round Table....not Jay or NACHI.
6. Greg, Joey, and the rest of the Round Table personally agreed that the Florida NACHI members have been the driving force each year during the Bill times...even to the extent that Jay, Joe B and I personally in 2004 caused the Bill to be dropped.
7. Jay, as do I and I other NACHI Teams members in Chapters, has had to reach in his pocket to cover his expenses. Jay is a witness that I have had to cover personally many financial deficits in our meetings.
   
   Jay did not post that he had to pay for this himself to get pity...his point was so that each of you would not be able to "accuse" him of being on anyones payroll. Simply he was going to "support" our needs. This was evidenced in the fact that he kept his laptop open until just minutes before the group started.
8. As far as Jay being compensated for this trip...know that I will endeavorer to get his expenses reimbursed, but at this time FloridaNACHI cannot "pay" for his loss of wages. That is why when you see us out there, remember that we do this out of our own pockets.
9. I personally am VERY Proud of Jay and how he represented us, the Florida NACHI members.
10. Jay, Gerri B, Greg B, and I have had many conversations about at what point we move forward and make FloridaNACHI a separate NACHI Charter and begin the task of collecting dues. And I, as well as these current Directors, believe that time has come.

One last very important point that MUST be addressed...It goes without saying - and he who denies it, as far as I am concerned is not truthful - that being "the president" or "the vice president" or "the director of..." carries with it many advantages. And yes some directly relate to ones ego or even ones ability to add to their Curriculum Vitae. But in the case of these men that have given so freely of their time and money, I can say - because I know them and have had the pleasure of hearing from them on a personal level - that what we do here is intended for the Inspector To Come. We are simply trying to set amicable working environments that help to protect the future of NACHI and our fellow inspectors.

We understand that many of you will be affected, one way or the other, no matter what stance or position we take - or in Jay's case, he simply goes with ALL the desires and seeks to increase each individual position within the framework provided.

What is MOST concerning to us (the Directors of FloridaNACHI), is that we ONLY hear from some of you on the eleventh hour. And most of the time it is with good advice, or even a "go get 'em" statement...but sadly the ones who are most noticeably vocal are the ones who post negative twists without once stepping up to the plate and being a part of the solution.

I end this long answer with this:

1. To Joey Caballero, Greg Manning, and the entire Florida Licensing Round Table committee:
   
   THANK YOU for your invitation of FloridaNACHI to this years discussion.
   
   As evidenced by your "olive branch" gesture, we the founding Directors of FloridaNACHI seek to move forward and to be the voice of the Florida NACHI Members.
2. To all you who have posted to this thread and who are HI's in the State Of Florida, we ask that you consider serving in some capacity in FloridaNACHI and or your local Chapters. If there is no Local Chapter, PLEASE consider starting one.
3. To all current FloridaNACHI Directors and Florida NACHI Chapter Presidents and Vice Presidents, lets all agree to meet the first week in December in Orlando. Please email me and I.
   
   Greg Bell - could you please scout for a discount on rooms as well as a place to meet for lets say 4 hours?
4. Blaine Wiley, would you please consider joining us?
5. Gerri and Greg, would each of you agree to allowing me to request of NACHI reimbursement for Jay for this trip? We can possibly get reimbursement since he ALSO represents NACHI National as it relates to Florida State Legislation.

[Jay Schwartz]

Morning Harvey:

I am heading out of the door for the rest of the day. I will give you a call. No need to push reimbursement.

Later,

[James H. Bushart]

So..one chapter in Florida favoring and pushing for a licensing bill certainly invites the formation of a chapter for those who oppose such legislation. Doing nothing seems to be no longer an option, if you are a Florida home inspector.

[Jay Schwartz]

Jim:

You are way off in your thinking. I do not know what happened to you. Florida NACHI has been supported by all regions in this State. You do not live here. I have not stepped into your legislative process NH or PA. I ask you do the same.

[jmichalski]

Speaking for PA members active in legislative concerns, Jim is not a part of our process here, either.

[Carl Pennick]

Well said Jay,
This is a Florida matter, most inspectors in Florida that know about the hard work you are doing at your own expense are grateful.

I will not be going to Miami now. If you do have a have a meeting here in Orlando in December maybe we could do lunch then. If Gerry is in town as well he can pay!!

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jschwartz1

Jim:

You are way off in your thinking. I do not know what happened to you. Florida NACHI has been supported by all regions in this State. You do not live here. I have not stepped into your legislative process NH or PA. I ask you do the same.

Jay,

Do you not know that there is a large number of Florida inspectors who prefer no legislation, at all? If they mistakenly believe that your chapter is representing their interests, it may be too late for them to form an opposition.

NACHI's Legislative committee, of which I am a part, monitors and reports to members all legislative activities.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

Speaking for PA members active in legislative concerns, Jim is not a part of our process here, either.

...interesting comment, and worthy of note.

Michalski had some legislation sneak up on him in his state and (until realizing the futility) threw out the call to NACHI HQ to fight it.

Florida has a NACHI chapter that is freindly to legislation and, naturally, has been invited to share the table with FABI and ASHI as they develop a bill.

But those who prefer no bill have no place at this table and, accordingly, should not wait (as Michalski did) for a bill to be presented to the legislature to make themselves heard. Now...not later...is the time to be just as vocal and just as organized as the members who are pushing for one.

The outcome, rightfully, rests within the borders of Florida. The message board is our avenue to present all sides of the story. Sorry (not sincerely, though) to all who might object to that.

[Joseph Burkeson, CMI]

This time around it looks like Florida licensing will be opposed by the smallest contingent of home inspectors ever, from Jay's report it appears that some kind of consensus has been achieved across association lines.

The big difference from previous bills is the lack of language directed at putting NACHI members out of business, as a matter of fact from what I gleaned from the report... everyone who is in business now gets in. With the majority of home inspectors won over the battle now is to get the legislation through both houses intact then win the Governor's blessing, a tall order indeed.

I don't really see the point to this legislation but at this juncture I plan to remain on the sidelines open-minded and optimistic hoping that in the end it will be best for all concerned.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jburkeson1

I don't really see the point to this legislation but at this juncture I plan to remain on the sidelines open-minded and optimistic hoping that in the end it will be best for all concerned.

Another valid strategy. An objectionable bill (or any bill, whatsoever) can certainly be torpedoed with chaos, as we have seen in the past.

[gporter]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Another valid strategy. An objectionable bill (or any bill, whatsoever) can certainly be torpedoed with chaos, as we have seen in the past.

Correct

[Jay Schwartz]

Hi to All:

As promised, please find the attached draft. Your comments are most welcomed.

You will notice language about the advisory board. We are still in discussion who would serve.

Thanks,

[Joe Farsetta]

Jay,

I have not read the bill. You seem to have a handle on it. I would be curious to see how many of NACHI's 1000+ members are for or against licensing.

Two things, though...

Wth over 1000 members in Florida, NACHI is more than the 800 lb gorilla. NACHI is THE nspection association in your state. You need to capitalize on that fact, and need to have NACHI drive the boat. We were invited because we HAD to be there. Without our support, any effort would likely die.

The second point goes directly to the "advisory" board. First, it needs to be advisory ONLY. It sould NOT have special authority to act: only to advise. This way, objections could be made directly by any group of inspectors. This strategy will help here in NY, as our own board is presently stacked with non-NACHI members. We also know that some comments made to the Div of Licensing were already aimed at NACHI. But, as the board is ADVISORY only, no one has to listen to them.

If there was a single thing I believe you should drive for, it's this provision.

Now, I'm done. Good luck...

[Richard L. Bennett]

Jay

You are very much off base on this just being a FL issue --- NACHI is a National Org and so are the $$ players that you are working with

What we do down here has a direct effect on home inspectors nationally and thus all NACHI inspectors have an interest in FL

We also have an interest in all matters in NJ, MD, NY, etc. This is where communication of your information is needed to the NACHI legislative committee it should be on the top of your plate. Do not assume that they will catch everything off the BB. They need all the information that you can supply including your personal feelings. Maybe that will do nothing to help NACHI but at least you did your job.

Jay -- you are too close to this issue -- please start to select your replacement and or trainer or partner. Your can not run these issues all by your self

Please lets get your information to the new thread so this one can be information only --- and not a place for us or others to fill it with BS

We are making a mess of this one


My vote for you is now on hold


rlb


Time to read the new PDF file -- I am reading

rlb

[Scott Byrnes]

Jay,

Just out of curiosity, how many other Fl Licenses require drug testing and background screening before you're allowed to carry a license? I have an insurance adjuster license and never had to do a drug screening, why would I have to in order to be a home inspector? I run my own business, I am the president of the company, I decide if my employees need drug screening. Why would I want to allow the state to do this to me?