[January 2012]

The Industry Member: A Priceless Asset

Any professional organization is only as strong as its members, and our Industry members play a vital role in RCI and its success.

Although they offer the occasional free lunch and/or factory tour, this is perhaps the most insignificant support they provide.

Keeping our members and the industry informed of changes, research, and new products within their companies is critical.

Industry members and their companies play a vital role in our industry specific to performing and funding research, developing standards, and updating and improving our codes–functions that are significant and invaluable.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to find a committee within any of our industry’s various organizations that does not have representation by Industry members.

The “backbone” of RCI is our chapters and branches. Once again, it is nearly impossible to find a chapter or branch that does not rely heavily on its Industry members.

The companies that many of our Industry members work for support our conventions, our building envelope symposia, as well as numerous region and chapter meetings and functions.

RCI’s annual International Trade Show is our yearly opportunity to do the following:
•   Update our contacts and networks
•   See the latest products and systems
•   Learn about the newest technology
•   See “live” demonstrations of product installations
•   Maintain our libraries

The technical “leads” (and often, leaders) within these companies are often in attendance, realizing that technically knowledgeable decision-makers are the predominant attendees.
Their financial support to the various functions at the convention allows RCI to continue to provide a high-quality convention with excellent presentations and enjoyable, entertaining functions.

RCI currently has three Industry members to every four Professional members, while most professional associations evolve to have two Industry or support members to every Professional member. Some may think this indicates that RCI needs to recruit more Industry members; I believe it shows our Industry members are just that much better than other professional organizations.

Industry members represent approximately 36% of RCI’s overall membership, and although we do not want to increase this number just to increase our members, RCI definitely needs more Industry members similar to the ones we already have.

Regards,
Richard Cook, RRC, RWC, REWC, RBEC, RRO
President