Building, Design and Remodeling Associations: To Associate or Not to Associate
Fitzpatrick-Well, you’re partially right Peg. I will give you grief for not networking—but not with other building and design folk at building, design or remodeling associations. How do we procure more business and acquaint ourselves with new vendors and subcontractors if we’re in a room full of our competitors—oops, peers? People in our lines of work need to be out there meetin’ n’ greetin’ in other industries, where we can educate the ignorant about our professions and cajole them into being our clients (can’t you see Peg at the Lion’s Club). Most remodeling association gatherings deteriorate into venting sessions; but it seems like you needed of one of those!
There are many building and design professional associations and trade groups. I belong to three: the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC). Of these, NKBA does by far the best job of educating and providing services to its members and outreach to the public. Their meetings are well worth my time, since even at the local level, they are organized and offer a variety of Continuing Education courses. That's right, to keep my membership with NKBA, I must complete ten, yes count them, ten hours per year of CE. If you are a homeowner just beginning a kitchen or bath remodeling project, their website is one of the best for consumers. And the link is to the right.
There are many building and design professional associations and trade groups. I belong to three: the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC). Of these, NKBA does by far the best job of educating and providing services to its members and outreach to the public. Their meetings are well worth my time, since even at the local level, they are organized and offer a variety of Continuing Education courses. That's right, to keep my membership with NKBA, I must complete ten, yes count them, ten hours per year of CE. If you are a homeowner just beginning a kitchen or bath remodeling project, their website is one of the best for consumers. And the link is to the right.
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