President's Message Summer 2002
Members of FCIA |
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We had a great meeting in Denver, CO. Thanks to all of you who made the effort to attend. Your participation made the meeting very productive. There were about 60 participants from around the country and Canada. The meeting was fruitful in addressing and discussing key industry concerns and we had a lot of fun. Call to get involved FCIA members have the option to benefit from the organization
in two unique ways: Membership provides individuals an opportunity to address issues and concerns, a forum for information exchange, tools to become a more successful contractor, access to manufacturers, and the opportunity to participate in demonstrations and open discussions with industry peers. Members also receive a certificate to display. Committee members have all of the benefits of membership and more. Committee members have the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions and to more successfully influence the codes, accreditation, standards, and educational tools. Committee members also have an opportunity to develop leadership skills. Being involved in a committee can help you develop a strong network of colleagues who can be helpful to your professional careers. There are nine committees that currently exist:
These committees need your help. As your President, I am asking that each of you, if you are not already involved, consider participating (or in some other way supporting) a committee. |
Key Initiatives During the upcoming year we will be focusing in three key areas: 1. Increase membership We will continue to work to recruit and retain active members to the organization. An active membership body is critical to the success of the organization. We will also encourage members to get their FM 4991 Approved Firestop Contractor status by providing help with QA programs and working with FM to get both testing and audit proctors more readily available for use. This will make the process easier and hopefully less expensive. 2. Gain recognition We will strive to be recognized for the work we are
doing within the industry. We will make people aware
that firestopping is not a trade that can be installed
by anybody who creates a condition. It is a fire safety
issue and has to be installed by a single source contractor
with the knowledge of what they are doing. While the timetable to pass a code proposal concept can be years, we will continue to move this practice forward. This document is critical to the industry in that it raises the bar for installation credibility. It also places requirements on our competitors to maintain the same integrity levels. We will continue to lobby and develop this proposal. Thank you, |