[Ken Wainwright]

Doug

No I'm not. You don't have to be approached by Board members. It can happen that way though if someone with a talent is spotted.

And if you re read the end of my earlier post (05.27pm), you will see in my last sentence: "All Presidents (and Board Members) are voted in by the membership at AGM."

Speaking for myself, The board did not approach me.  I approached Pawlo quite a few years ago and offered my services. I served as a Co-Opted Direrctor for a while and helped out where I could. I organised the inaugral Technical Roadshow with Derek Bolton, helped with setting up/down the stand and manning it at the NEC, I attended Board Meetings, listened alot, made contributions too. I was then asked if I would consider the role of Membership Director if I was nominated. It was put to the vote at AGM and I was elected to the board by the membership.

IMO, the Co-Opted Director route is a good way to introduce candidates to the board. Not long ago, we had a new, talented co-opted member who attended a few board meetings. For various reasons he couldn't make it work for himself so withdrew.

Because of various legal obligations, Directorship is not something to be entered into lightly. For example, although I have now left the board, I still have certain legal responsibilities and obligations for the next SEVEN years.

Do any NCCA Members reading this want to be considered for the board? Just let yourself be known. It's voluntary, unpaid, will probably actually cost you for the priviledge, will demand quite a bit of time and commitment, distrupts your working day with phone calls from all and sundry. There are quite a few emails every day so good keyboard skills are an advantage. It is often necessary to be diplomatic, at other times confrontational. Oh, you must be thick skinned too

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[mark shannon]

Fair play to you Ken i think you guys do a great job  Membership certainly works for me and many higher end custys are aware of the NCCA.

[David Ware]

I would like to echo Marks last post, any time I have needed advise or help people like Ken Wainwright,Paul Pear,Derek Bolton have always helped without hesitating. Never saying call back latter I'am working. I have been a member for the since 1997 and I can count on one hand the jobs I've received as a direct result of being a member. The reason for staying as a member is not what I take out of the association but knowing the the advise is accurate and people judge me as a professional.
''Theres no alternative.''

David Ware

[mark_roberts]

Ken

What about the website.  Can it be improved to ensure its at the top of search engines?

Mark

[Buster Ingram]

Well I have sat and read all the comments with mixed feelings, many of you know my views on what or what not the association stands for. When Paul Pearce said to me one night in a crowded bar at one of the NCCA meetings whilst vigorously shaking my hand he said “to make thinks work you have to be part of the team”.
And I’m sorry to say after reading many of the comments tonight there seems to be a lot of Me! Me!  In the comments.  I was always taught that there was no “I” in team!
You have got to ask the question, why do people join the NCCA, is it for them or is it to help our industry.
Many on this forum who go way beyond the call are not members of the NCCA   I’m not going to name names you all know who they are. They do it for one purpose and one purpose alone and that is to help others and hopefully raise standards in our industry.  Sadly I was unable to attend this year’s day out at Goodyear’s Pavilion from what I could see it was a well spend day for many that attended. It’s nice to see how these events have gained popularity  from the early days when Glyn Waterworth , Lee Gundry and me included use to generate mayhem in the name of a Sunny Day Out.
What puzzles me is there was no mention of a stand for the NCCA there, what an opportunity there was to recruit more members,   after all the place was bursting with carpet cleaner!
I have been in the industry longer than I can remember and nothing has changed only the machinery.
Maybe it is time the NCCA listened to the many voices that aren’t members instead of deciding what this industry needs.

There  now I’ve had my rant

[Neil Grainger]

Dave,

I think the NCCA and CCDO stand for 2 different things, NCCA is run like a golf Club, lots of members without any say even though they have a vote on things that only the management want to happen.  I think there is great opertunity for the CCDO to do things that the NCCA should be doing,

Working with Carpet manufatures to issue a cleaning standard for all carpets sold to the customers. Should be doing this as as Trade Body. why not? Warranty void if carpets not cleaned yearly.

Gaining the management of insurance work from insurance companies that dont even no a Trade body is around.

Why is their no Trade logo on Furniture sold in this country pushing people in the direction of a NCCA member via a central number, If they could get figures on how much this will cost I am sure the membership would pay for this because the work they would get would more than pay for the extra cost.

I here the NCCA say 'we are not here to get people work, we are here for the members and to inform the public about our standards'. Whats the point if nobody outside a small group no who you are. How many years has the NCCA been going and they are lucky if 2% of people that get their carpets cleaned no who they are. Why is this, what have the NCCA been doing all these years?

I think the NCCA needs to have a total rethink about its direction and the first thing they should do is talk to people within the CCDO about what things they should be doing to make the NCCA a force to be recound with, some of these guys have amazing insight into the business that should be tapped into, rather than a directors club that it is today.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Neil's Golf Club analogy is right on the money, my local Con club runs on the same basis, people are invited to be co-opted and then when elections are held they are known and election becomes a near cert.

This allows the ruling clique to have their mates on the committee and as most of them are mates of mine I could be co-opted tommorow if I wanted.

The downside is that new people are vetted to see that they fit in, the status quo is protected and everything carries on as usual.

The NCCA will not change if the type of people don't change but various restrictive practices, such as not allowing me and others to join because they did their training years ago, in my case 1982, Ron Tilley at Prochem.

I raised all this publicly and privately with the NCCA some years ago but nothing was done, so I don't normally comment on their matters as they are largely irrelevant to me.

As I have staed on several occaisions the rise of the internet is inexorable and a new organisation will happen if the NCCA does not move into the 21st century.

As for Ken , I have a lot of respect for him and he is the one high profile member who has the guts to come on the forum and this is in no way meant as any attack on him, personally.

I feel it is a real shame that the industry cannot pull together but it needs forward thinking , not bunker mentalities.

Off to work,

Cheers

Doug
 

[mark shannon]

Dave the NCCA works for me but i do see the larger team picture.

On every quote i give out an Ncca leaflet and tell the custy if they do not choose my company then please make sure who they do pick are NCCA member.

I explain that at least they will have the security of knowing the company is fully insured and have at least minimum training.

So in this way i feel i am promoting the organization as a whole and obviously my own company.


I am aware there are many great cleaners who are not members but believe i for one should support our industry's trade association.

[stevegunn]

Ken

Whilst I appreiate your reply but your statement about

"So Steve your reference to "...a lot of jobs for the boys or ladies..." is certainly true. You have to prove yourself as a valued and trusted Board Member and willing to take on the role of President in order to be nominated. As far as I am aware, a President, or other Board position, will NEVER be offered directly to a member. The route is 1) Member, 2) Co Opted Director, 3) Board Member 4) President.   I will repeat. All Presidents (and Board Members) are voted in by the membership at AGM."

Still never heard of June Frankum. Having met most of the old boys at some stage of my 5 year membership yet never ever heard of her.As Doug states for the NCCA needs to move into the 21st century to progress.

[*paul_moss]

Im not a fan of NCCA as ive said before, but I have got to applaud Ken and in the past Derek as they put a lot of time,effort and energy in something they believe in.

This is the main point, wheather you want to be a member or not, thats your own choice. Some organisations suit some and not others, but what nobody can knock is the focus and effort people like Ken do day in day out FREE just for the cause and to help us all out.

Ken hope this thread does not knock down your confinence in any way regarding us none members, I for one have been very glad of your contribution and help over the years, and please pass the sam on to Derek.
My rant over

[Straker Cleaning]

Perhaps i may forgive myself for not rejoining  :

[Shaun_Ashmore]

  I thought you were in love with the NCCA? is this now divorce?

Shaun

[Roy Edwards]

I keep reading how you  should keep pushing the NCCA  logo and i think its finally worked,custy last week had heard of NCCA  first one ever .

If i had a pound for ooooooooooo is it like  CORGI

Roy

[Straker Cleaning]

Shaun, Each year i have to search for insurance docs and end up sending off for copy ............ it never arrived and i forgot to chase it up!!! I got back this morning from 25 day jaunt to Algarve and had 2 letters from NCCA ....... 1 was to remind me again that renewal was outstanding and 2nd was to tell me my membership was cancelled 
Cannot be arsed to to sort it out now as worn out from 1550 drive so easier to remove NCCA logo from websites  :
Ethical junction logo is same dimensions so may get Mark to display that ..........seems more people recognise that and definitely more people searching for it lately 

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

I take it you are a sickeningly bronze colour now Chris after nearly a month in the sun 

Steve

[Straker Cleaning]

Ever so slightly 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Straker Cleaning]

ps .............. was taken very late on last night  after 1 or 2 SuperBock's  :

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

You should post that pic on your website - may attract a whole new class of client 

[Straker Cleaning]

Well used straw hat shows my commitment to recycling