[Robert T]

how many of you are members of ALCA? What benefits can I really expect for the membership fee?
Do you feel it is worth the investment and Why?

[Bill Schwab]

Robert:

We are not members of the ALCA. I have put a bit of thougt into joining, and concluded this. If you have a well run, well organized state organization ( we have the California Landscape Contractors Association) yuo are really doubling up on the benefits they would offer. Where the state organization would deal with issues directly related to you on a state level, the ALCA is more the national front. Our organization has a national lobby group, and brings much if not all of the stuff ALCA offers into our view.

If your state organization is some what lame, like others I have been a member of, then it makes perfect sense to drop the coin and join.

And I am speaking for trade organizations as a whole, in general, I think if a particular organization has things that are specialty items, such as ICPI, then it makes perfect sense to join. I have many friends and peers in trades all over the country, and I think a plumber told it best on a visit back home.

He had belonged to 9 various chamber of commerces, 7 trade organizations, and 9 associations. This company was huge...Out of all that, he only considered 5 he found to be worth while, so, he dropped all the others, and saved thousands..

I think of his story when I consider joining any organization, and look at the return first before investing in membership.

So, with that, I would ask yourself how worth while your state organization is and what do you get back out of it, and would dropping the $350.00 or more for ALCA enhance your base of knowledge and support that much more?


Food for thought!

[diginahole]

Interesting... It works a little different up here in Canada. Membership in the provincial association buys you a membership in the national association. The board of directors at the national level is comprised of representatives from provincial associations. The bigger member incentives and benefits such as GM and CAT discounts and Hort-protect insurance are administered by CNLA and available nationwide. The GM discount alone (as much as $5000) has made membership worth the small price of admission for many.

[cutntrim]

I took advantage of the GM discount last September .