Legislative Action Committee

Archive Public Archive
21

Originally Posted By: jmyers
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Chris,


I would have to say set it up under our dedicated audience for now. If we deem it necessary to seperate it later it would not be that hard to do, right? How long will it take you? One or two days? ![icon_biggrin.gif](upload://iKNGSw3qcRIEmXySa8gItY6Gczg.gif)

We absolutely need that dedicated audience for now.


On another note...I just finished speaking with our fearless leader. He has assured me that since his visit to the northwest part of the US we have pretty much wrapped up that part of the US. NACHI rules out there, as he put it! He wants everyone and anyone that can get him a meeting with a state realtor association, state legislature or any inspector association to know that he will fly there and speak with them.

Nick has also ok'd the formation based on Chris' recommendation. One member form each association will form the leadership. Those recommendations at this point are:

1) Greg Bell - NACHI
2)Lorraine Hutton - ASHI
3) OPEN -----NAHI

The only position that remains open at this point is for a NAHI member. If you are a NAHI member and are interested please speak now or forever hold your peace.

Lorraine has been elected by default. I believe her experience in NJ makes her a valuable asset to all of us. Now, who wants to break the news to her? ![icon_biggrin.gif](upload://iKNGSw3qcRIEmXySa8gItY6Gczg.gif)

Joe Myers

22

Originally Posted By: gbeaumont
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Hi Chris,


I have re-read your last post several times and can put up both arguments with equal conviction.


Doing something within this site, has the obvious advantage of the existing message board users, but because of the politics may top some potential users from participating.


Starting up a new site would get away from some of the political issues, but would it generate enough traffic to warrant it ? I am going to contact a couple of people that I know of nationally and get their input.

–
Gerry Beaumont


NACHI Education Committee


e-mail : education@nachi.org


NACHI phone 484-429-5466


Inspection Depot Education
gbeaumont@inspectiondepot.com

"Education is a journey, not a destination"
23

Originally Posted By: gbeaumont
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


I hope this will help get this much needed resource started. I will start collating the current and proposed legislation for these states immediately, so I have the information available as soon as we have decided on where the forum will be held. If any other member in any of the states mentioned feel they would like to take on their home states. I will be happy to support them with that.

–
Gerry Beaumont


NACHI Education Committee


e-mail : education@nachi.org


NACHI phone 484-429-5466


Inspection Depot Education
gbeaumont@inspectiondepot.com

"Education is a journey, not a destination"
24

Originally Posted By: Chris Morrell
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Gerry and anyone else collecting information:


Please also collect any contact information about your state's senators. This information will be very useful later.




I think that it's a good move keeping it within NACHI for the time being. If we need to move, like Joe said, it'll only take me a day or two. We have to figure things out a little more before I build the system, but I think we're pretty close. I haven't read all of her posts, but is Lorraine Hutton an ASHI member? If so, I'll contact her and see if she's interested. I believe that we should also let state organizations have representatives. I'm not quite sure how to do that though, because there would be possibly several reps from each state in that case. Perhaps those reps would contact the watchdog for their state who would in turn contact the leadership committee... not sure.

I gotta run. I think this is going to work out quite well, though.

--
Chris Morrell
Director of Information Technology
http://www.nachi.org/

![](upload://z6s9gGbUAlpSndjvbPhSxsZ25H9.html)

25

Originally Posted By: jmyers
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Chris,


You know me, I already informed Lorraine that I volunteered her to fill the post. I am still waiting for a reply. I would also have to assume that while maybe not her personally she would be representing ASHI since most of those guys she represented in NJ are indeed ASHI members.

I believe a general statement to the public inviting those associations to join would do. Neither I nor anyone else here that I know of would want to discount any person(s), we need everyone that will help.

Joe Myers

26

Originally Posted By: gbell
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


For anyone who would like to be a board member and cover a specific region please e-mail me your contact information and what areas you can cover. I will put together a list and post once I have heard from enough people. Thank all of you for your help and I look forward to us working together on this issue.


info@bellinspection.com

--
Greg Bell
Bell Inspection Service

27

Originally Posted By: Chris Morrell
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Joe,


Although I feel that Lorraine would be a great person to have on the committee, I also feel that ASHI representation should go to an ASHI member that can speak on behalf of the association. Preferably someone with some "power," although I doubt we can get anyone in ASHI interested. I think that the leadership positions should be offered first to people in authoritative positions, or else the leadership committee will just feel like a bunch of members with little say in what actually happens with the association that they represent. The NACHI rep is a little different, because any member who's willing to take on a position like this can get their voice heard, but in an association like ASHI, if you're not the right person, you have little say in what happens.

I know that many members (you included, Joe) wouldn't want ASHI National to have any say in the committee's decisions about legislation (and this is well-founded based on their previous and current legislative actions), but without them the committee wouldn't represent a large portion of home inspectors.

I just think we should try to turn this into a real cooperative action of the various home inspector associations, rather than an effort of a few members from each. If we can't get the support of the other associations, then we'll have to go about it some other way, but if we can use this to bridge the gaps between ASHI, NAHI, NACHI, SPREI, et cetera, all the better. It might not be realistic, but we should try first.

--
Chris Morrell
Director of Information Technology
http://www.nachi.org/

![](upload://z6s9gGbUAlpSndjvbPhSxsZ25H9.html)

28

Originally Posted By: jmyers
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Chris,


Clearly we must place the people there that represent the majority of the association. I do believe Lorraine fills that need, whether she is acutally an ashi member or not. I believe this is being caused by a very small percentage of their membership and the rest of them are just too darn afraid to speak up for fear of reprisal. Very valid in my book, I have seen them at work. What we do need is someone that is not afraid to speak on their behalf and share their thoughts with someone they trust. They already trust Lorraine and I see no reason to break that trust and at least allow them to speak through her. Maybe over time that barrier will fall but for now it is one we have to deal with as best we can.

To place someone there of a high up figure would almost guarantee failure because it is apparent what their true goal is. That would be like saying you are against abortion but you will put an abortionist first because he is higher up on the authorative scale.

I believe that all of the associations have pretty much the same criteria for membership. All the assocations decided that you must at least have this to be a member and a good inspector. I don't think the goal here should be to regulate licensing or inspectors. It should be to help develop our current standards into legislation. To be seen as a valid profession we all must agree that it is not in the bests interests of the consumer, the inspector or the professional to place restrictive legislaton which will limit competition or place a higher value on one inspector over another.

How about the rest of you. What is your opinion on Lorraine in this position?

Joe Myers

29

Originally Posted By: gbeaumont
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Hi Joe,


I have to say that I agree with Chris on this one, any national organisation should have the chance to put up a board member of their choice if this thing is realy going to be non-partisan. There is no doubt that Lorraine’s comments have spured us into action after a long time of talking about this in private but I do not feel that she is the right person to represent ASHI.

–
Gerry Beaumont


NACHI Education Committee


e-mail : education@nachi.org


NACHI phone 484-429-5466


Inspection Depot Education
gbeaumont@inspectiondepot.com

"Education is a journey, not a destination"
30

Originally Posted By: Lorraine Hutton
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


I emailed Joe Myers on these issues, and now in reading this board I need to clarify a few things. First and foremost, ASHI has only a mere 200 or so members in NJ, only half of which are full “members”. However there are in excess of 1000 practicing Home Inspectors in NJ at this time.


Therefore, although ASHI, for a small group, has indeed managed to make quite a bit of noise, they are, nevertheless, small.


Second, if any NJ ASHI members are lurking on this board and happened read the suggestion that I represent ASHI, they would have most certainly choked upon reading such a suggestion. I am indeed persona non grata with ASHI. In addition, the NJ Legislature is well aware of our opinion of the behavior exhibited by ASHI, and would rightfully laugh at us if we now tried to claim that we represent ASHI in any way.


The President of Creative Solutions, John Cagliostro, has resigned his membership in ASHI (although they still can’t seem to manage to remove his name from their web member list) so as not to be tainted with their actions in our legislative efforts.


That said, perhaps you might want to consider John as the National Director who represents NAHI, since he is NAHI Member Of The Year, 2003. He is also the President of the somewhat loosely knit NAHI Chapter here in NJ.


I, on the other hand, could represent the group that most certainly would need representation in this endeavor…the consumer. That is indeed the group that ASHI fully ignores, and I believe that our message will be heard head and shoulders above the rest in making certain we also represent the interests of the individuals who, without which, there would be no Home Inspection profession.


Thoughts?

Lorraine Hutton

31

Originally Posted By: jmyers
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Lorraine,


Run the name by them. I thought it had a good ring to it.

Ok, we need some ashi members to step forward. Please!

Joe Myers

32

Originally Posted By: kbliss
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


I remember seeing the prior post on the NJ legislation topic before Lorraines and I cant remember what it said. I see my state,Fl., is now trying to pass Legislation on “regulating” the business. Could someone tell me what is going on in NJ. Are they trying to force new inspectors to join an oganization or apprentice ship or what.


Kurt Bliss

33

Originally Posted By: jfarsetta
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Kurt,


NJ's law puts lots of established HIs out of business. Newbies are forced into hish-priced training and servitude to "licensed" inspectors for three years.

Joe/Greg,

I'll take NY


JF

34

Originally Posted By: gbeaumont
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Hi Kurt,


If you hit the search button at the top and search “new Jersey Legislation” you will find links to the previous posts on this topic. icon_smile.gif

–
Gerry Beaumont


NACHI Education Committee


e-mail : education@nachi.org


NACHI phone 484-429-5466


Inspection Depot Education
gbeaumont@inspectiondepot.com

"Education is a journey, not a destination"
35

Originally Posted By: gbell
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Hey Kurt,


Florida has already passed the laws. Now it is just a question of what requirements they are going to have. I have spoken with my senator Bill Posey. At this time he is not sure what the final draft will look like. It is in committee right now. It would not surprise me if our law looks similar to NJ law.


With that being the case you will have to do 250 inspections for someone who has a license once the law goes into effect. More than likely you will have to pay that person for allowing you to do the inspections for them. Only in America.

--
Greg Bell
Bell Inspection Service

36

Originally Posted By: Chris Morrell
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Joe,


Though it might seem to be counter-productive to offer ASHI National a part of this coalition, I think that in the end it would do more good than not. By excluding a large association such as ASHI, we're throwing away respect. Though it might cause problems at first, I hope that in the end having a true ASHI representative would help the bring the entire inspection industry together and give the coalition a chance to make real changes.


Lorraine,

Thank you for your offer. It didn't even occur to me, but having someone to represent the consumer would be extremely valuable. I'm not sure that John Cagliostro would be the best choice if he is no longer an ASHI member, but maybe... what do others think?


I think finding an ASHI rep can wait -- we need to figure out the deails of the coalition and have a clean idea of what our goals are. Once we've got the details figured out we can contact the other associations with a clear proposal.

I'm having trouble focussing right now... TV blaring in the background. I'll repost when I have a little peace and quiet.

--
Chris Morrell
Director of Information Technology
http://www.nachi.org/

![](upload://z6s9gGbUAlpSndjvbPhSxsZ25H9.html)

37

Originally Posted By: Lorraine Hutton
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Here is the idea for the name of the group that Joe recommended that I run by all of you for review.


Home Inspection Consumer Action Group.

It does not connotate any one trade organization, thereby warding off accusations of bias. In additon, it includes the consumer as an integral part of our mission, which in my opinion, is as it should be if we are to have the type of effect that we expect to achieve with the various state legislative bodies.

Any and all thoughts as always are most appreciated.

Lorraine Hutton

38

Originally Posted By: Lorraine Hutton
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


[quote=“Webmaster”]Joe,


Though it might seem to be counter-productive to offer ASHI National a part of this coalition, I think that in the end it would do more good than not. By excluding a large association such as ASHI, we're throwing away respect. Though it might cause problems at first, I hope that in the end having a true ASHI representative would help the bring the entire inspection industry together and give the coalition a chance to make real changes.


Lorraine,

Thank you for your offer. It didn't even occur to me, but having someone to represent the consumer would be extremely valuable. I'm not sure that John Cagliostro would be the best choice if he is no longer an ASHI member, but maybe... what do others think?


Chris,

You are welcome. As I mentioned in an earlier post, John would be an ideal representative of NAHI, as NAHI's current Member Of the Year and the President of the loosely knit NJ Chapter of NAHI.
The ASHI inclusion will prove to be interesting, since any ASHI member who is willing to become invoved in this endeavor will have to openly oppose ASHI's position on legislation. However, I'm sure that there is more than one brave ASHI member out there, willing to work from within to make ASHI the organization that they hoped it could be; this is a great opportunity to do so.

Lorraine Hutton

39

Originally Posted By: kbliss
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


So basically all the money I have spent on setting up my business could all be for nothing? This is definitely wrong, how can someone already be in business be forced to go to work for someone as servitude.


I want to help this cause in any way shape or form. Count me in. I am going to contact my senator.

If it comes to this I`ll get my paid inspections one way or the other. How are they going to regulate a person?

Kurt Bliss

40

Originally Posted By: Lorraine Hutton
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


There seems to be a problem wit the website. John registered in order to post, but for some reason he can’t log in successfully; consequently, he will now post under my name.




I would like to take this time to introduce myself to my brothers and sisters whom are all aware of the Home Inspection Licensing crisis looming over many states. My name is John Cagliostro and I am the President of Creative Solutions of NJ, Inc. Lorraine Hutton, myself and a handful of other NJ Home Inspectors were able to get the grandfathering extended to June 30, 2004 as passed in the Senate on March 20, 2003. Hopefully it will pass the Assembly and signed by the Governor. Since ASHI took credit for this, I am almost sure it will pass. This was a tedious battle in that we were up against ASHI Chapter's Lobbyist and ASHI National's Legislative Agent. I feel this was a great victory for all HIs in all states in that this happened with NO MONEY, just blood, sweat and tears. Just think what we can accomplish when we all collectively build a solid bond for a common goal. The GOAL is to strike an equitable compromise between protecting the CONSUMER and the HI industry.

To all I would ask you for your opinion on the following;
Accepting the task of Representative Director of NAHI is a great concept and I personally have no qualms with executing the position. But, I believe its only fair to consult with NAHI National first in order to get their blessing.
I feel this is appropriate since I am simply only a member I am not in the position to make these decisions for them. So I think it is only responsible for me to discuss this concept with NAHI before I make any commitments to represent them.

Regardless of what they may say you can count on me to work along with this group for the common cause. I will try to contact NAHI tomorrow and let everyone know the outcome.

John Cagliostro
Creative Solutions of NJ, Inc