Should I run for the UAMCC VP slot??

[John-Clean County PW]

I'm contemplating on running for the VP slot. I think Ron can do a good job as the president and I'm thinking what would be best for this org. If I ran for a position. I have a very good understanding of the bylaws, I have the time(this is big) to commit since I am 3 weeks out from retiring from my other job and I always keep myself busy with relative ease. I have experience from every position within the union from bottom to top. I served 3 yrs on the PWNA board and left as treasurer with a certificate of a job well done.

I started with a few here to search out someone to lead this org. When it was about to start it's new beginning. I donated to this org the day it open it's doors which I think Don Phelps might have been the only one who donated more because he won a free membership if memory serves me right(if I new it was for a free membership I would have donated more:).

I can give this org. 110% because my Powerwashing business pretty much runs itself every year for at least the past 5 yrs so I won't be bogged down at all.

I know Ron for probably 12 yrs or so now and I have always been a good team worker but I would never roll over if a guy is determined to do something if the majority is against it which could cause the non profit to collapse... Another words stay close to the bylaws and if Ron has the correct vision then we could be an unstoppable pair.

To me it's always the sum of the parts that comes first. I carry no agenda's except one.. Does what we do benefit the members.

If Ron is right I can stand up and defend him probably like no other here can because I know how to fight those battles. If Ron is wrong, again I can stand up to him and get him on the right track.

Ron and I talked all the way thru our bad time this year. He's never afraid to back down from any and I'm never afraid to talk to anyone.

When people ask me to do something... I do it...I've always been like that and sometimes I over do it because I was asked but the people or in this case the members would and have to come first.

The drawbacks to some is I support the PWNA. To me that shouldn't be because relationships yes even in the org. Business is important. Tearing any of them down or any individual down is a negative approach and that attitude is predestined to fail... Especially if your looking for also crossover members which should be a no brainer.

Another drawback is how I handled the fallout here with Carlos. What some may not know is I spent countless ours to get Ron and Carlos to iron out there differences including taking calls from both and going back and forth as a mediator relaying there
Thoughts. Why? Because I gave a darn.

My biggest drawback was what I did on the Internet with some people backing me. I did not want to take that approach and I said all along that we should fly down to Cali and talk to Carlos. The net doesn't work. So since no one did that and I mentioned that numerous times I stand here and I'll say it again.. I should have went there on my own then and sat down with Carlos.. It was IMHO a tremendous mistake in my part and I don't fault others because they didn't go.. I should have because remember its what would have benefitted the members the most....and in a not for profit that is paramount!

If I run it will be in that position. The same position that me and Mike T. Wanted to run for back when but in that case I looked at what was better for the membership and I stepped back to take the Secretary slot...before all heck broke loose.. . That was a bad experience but as I outlined above..I'll take alot of the blame for it because if you can't admit blame then your most likely helping no one because where not perfect.

I do have some friends and I'm sure I have some people that can't stand me. Personally I don't have any enemies but I did get into it with a few and it was always over being passionate and trying to do right for the membership at large. Those people that I went at it with... We all have benefitted from it today because we stayed connected.

I think most people will tell you that when I say I'll do something...I do it. I will also support things within this org because I believe in it like I did when we had our last convention. If I have extra cash I tend to give it away if it helps the members. I've done this for the PWNA in the past where my teenie tiny PWing company sponsored a dinner in Memphis at one of there conventions.

I also was the lead in inviting Wrapi with Russel Cissel who had some huge supporters in Carlos, Celeste, Beth to come to our board meeting in Tenn. Back then because I believe in making a bond with many orgs. Where not each others enemies. Yes we should prove we can be the best.. But not by taking others down. When you become the best you still want to align yourself with many other groups and never be steered away from that because of personal dislikes a person or two may have against one or two others.. It's all about building and it's all about what benefits your members the most...and personal gain as good as that can be...still goes on the back burner if it doesn't benefit your members the most.

So that's what I'm contemplating and let me have it. I like honesty no matter how brutal it can be. Ron talks about death threats somewhere...well being a soon to be ex law enforcement I've been told to my face that I was going to get killed and it wasn't pleasant but besides that... I'd appreciate any thoughts.
Thanks,
John T.

[John-Clean County PW]

I'm not looking for who would vote for me.. Or who would vote against me.. Feel free to say you would never ever ever vote for me..all that's good. If you say you would for me...cool. What I'm looking for really is do you think I should. For the betterment of the org. The more hats in the ring the better it is which I get... But if you can keep that thought out of your head because that makes it completely biased... Would you recommend from what you know about me to run?

That's what I'm trying to figure out... Also I am not political so what you see is what you get..and in politics that kills which is why I always like to stay in the board room but not be out there trying to sell something if I don't completely believe in it... And in board cases on non profits I've been voted down by large margins at times but I was happy to be able to express idea's in there especially the ones that worked.

[offdutyfireman]

I am no longer a member here and am not planning on renewing my membership until I am certain that Carlos is not going to be a board member. But, here are my thoughts. I believe that the PWNA is the biggest threat to pressure washing contractors at this point in time. I hope that the UAMCC can be a thorn in the side and maybe counter act some of the damages that are being created by them and those that are trying to force unfair reclaim practices on washers. I don't think that someone that is a member of the PWNA should be a Board member. Nothing against you. You have the rights to your own business relationships and thoughts. This is just my take on you, or anyone else that is a PWNA member, having any control of this org.

[ApexDeckSavers]

The direction the UAMCC will need to take under the new BoD is to drive as far away from the PWNA as possible in goals, mission, actions, communications, etc, etc. If someone is just a PWNA member for the sticker that is one thing but if you honestly fully support both in principal and practice what the PWNA stands for and what their intentions are I dont think you belong in the UAMCC Board, but that's just me

[JL Pressure]

I am no longer a member here and am not planning on renewing my membership until I am certain that Carlos is not going to be a board member. But, here are my thoughts. I believe that the PWNA is the biggest threat to pressure washing contractors at this point in time. I hope that the UAMCC can be a thorn in the side and maybe counter act some of the damages that are being created by them and those that are trying to force unfair reclaim practices on washers. I don't think that someone that is a member of the PWNA should be a Board member. Nothing against you. You have the rights to your own business relationships and thoughts. This is just my take on you, or anyone else that is a PWNA member, having any control of this org.

I follow Williams thoughts too.

John, I am just not sure I would want you on the BOD or not for a few reasons.

Should be interesting to see who the 9 BOD members will be.

Whatever you do have FUN.......Go UAMCC

[PressurePros]

As a friend..No, John. With respect to the org, the UAMCC is too volatile now and the people getting involved are taking huge leaps that are going to require thick skin, no baggage, and a major commitment of time. The fluff and hype are easy to buy into but you know as well as I do that this isn't a part time thing. You have personally shown yourself to be too emotionally involved (its the Italian in you). You're a passionate guy, but that gets in the way of making good decisions sometimes. Ultimately, the decision is yours but the sideline are where its at right now.

[John-Clean County PW]

Jeff we battled for sure.. And always appreciated your honesty. You and I had some different philosophies and the breakdown of communication that came out about it.. The thing now is I can finally give more then I did in the past. Today the clock is ticking and I know what I'm capable of doing when I commit. In this industry I belong to a parking association and I have to get current there.
I expect to get knock down here because of my PWNA ties. The bottom line is I dont believe in everything any org represents. Nothing is perfect.

There are contractors and members here that belong to both the PWNA & the UAMCC. I believe Ron does also..or he says he does. He's got crossover friendships also.

So far the consensus is not to run. Keep it coming because it helps me to make a decision since I support the UAMCC but if the majority think I shouldn't.. Thats the part I want to hear most because as Kathy says.. I have a hard time turning things down if I think I can help in a positive way a group or even one person.

[Thad.]

John, please do it so I don't have to.

[John-Clean County PW]

As a friend..No, John. With respect to the org, the UAMCC is too volatile now and the people getting involved are taking huge leaps that are going to require thick skin, no baggage, and a major commitment of time. The fluff and hype are easy to buy into but you know as well as I do that this isn't a part time thing. You have personally shown yourself to be too emotionally involved (its the Italian in you). You're a passionate guy, but that gets in the way of making good decisions sometimes. Ultimately, the decision is yours but the sideline are where its at right now.

Ken your right on about alot in there. The commitment as a BOD if you want to make things fly is a huge commitment. On the outside I stuck to most things I ever started. The glaring failure in my commitments is the UAMCC.

On the outside I served 4 yrs in the Navy and then just about 25 yrs serving the public in law enforcement. I also been Powerwashing going on to my 17th yr. I served as a Union delegate on up for upwards to 15 yrs and hit the top there and then moved on but to this day I stay in touch with many past presidents and also some politicians. Someone actually wrote a book about raising kids and they asked me what I thought about it and along with around five other people my quote was put on the back cover with the title Union president.. So I guess I was OK there.

I never quit on anyone or anything because I followed thru.. I've been on the cover of the NY post when Al Sharpton and his cronies tried to shut down NY city(I was at the right place at the wrong time or the wrong place at the right time..depends who you talked to back then).

I can't recall quitting to often in my life. I did quit varsity Hockey for my HS because yup as captain many of us had a problem with our coach who didn't know squat about hockey except to play his sons.. Who basically sucked.. So I did quit that after confronting him with the team behind me.. And the best thing to do then was to walk..long story but having a real job at the time kind of swayed my decision plus facing potential school suspension..also was a factor.

Everything else quitter is not part of me and now I have the time....but yes I agree if I did any good serving the UAMCC back when they had there convention and being a part of that in a positive way... What people remember is the negative thing no matter what happen.. And that negative for me was to not only quit but also to strike out at Carlos when he shouldn't been left alone on the blame game... That one was fixable.. And it's in the past...

Thanks for your honesty Ken.. You guys make my decision easier.

[John-Clean County PW]

John, please do it so I don't have to.

Lololol. Your going to have more competition if your running for a VP slot and it's not just me... Hahaha.. But without calling in some big guns for support.. Guys like Ken and Jeff and a few more like that who know me and give it to me straight like they are.. I'll just do what I always done and that's support the UAMCC like I've already done with updating my membership and let the young guns take a run at the board slots.. If your short on time then energy levels are vital and some of these young guns have alot of energy. No problem moving on to other things.. There's alot out there..and can't afford the boat I want just yet to just hang around and do much of...nothing and liking it:)