[Morph]

All fair comments, Ross.
  As I said, I'm watching with interest.
I have no intention of rubbishing the APWC before it is able to show some results.
As for gaining credibility with commercial clients; presentation and good communication skills are the key, in my experience.
I have the credentials necessary to demonstrate & prove I am up to the contracts I apply for.
Many larger companies provide me with H&S requirements. I know whether I'm qualified or not. 
What is my point?
If I am up to the job, then I don't need extra help.
If I want the job, but I'm not well enough equipped in any way, I have enough experience to know how to get equipped, or whether I'm out of my depth. 
So I don't see how I would benefit from it...yet

I'll probably regret typing this, but I find a lot of things like this are just "talked up" by the group or clique involved.  Oh, and I hate politics.

[rosskesava]

I'm watching with interest also.

To be honest, we've only lost one contract which was a peach of a job because the bloke needed to satisfy his boss that a small business would be up to doing the work and he reckoned any trade association affiliation would have swung it.

The last contract we got was because the person who decides liked the way we spent ages going around the place and asking questions. The 2 other quotes he had to get were just a formality.

As for politics and things like this being talked up by those involved, I was involved but as no one got back to me after leaving countless voice mail messages I got fed up and thought if they want me to help, then someone will phone. No one did. So I have no vested interest at all.

I hate politics too. I also hate ..... I won't say anymore. 

Yup. It's a wait and see thing.

[24-7 S C Services]

Good evening everyone,

I do not wish to get in a debate about which association is better, that will at the end of the day, be in the eye of the beholder.

What I would like to remind people is the APWC was actually set up, because of the lack in support for window cleaners by any associations. In addition, it is window cleaners who have set the association up, where this was not the case in another association.

Pj, I am really glad you are following the APWC with interest and I am sure as we grow and progress, you will find the tangible benefits you are looking for.

Ross, I would like to think at this stage you know me well!!!! The only way the APWC is going to succeed, is by keeping its ears to the ground, listening to its members and listening to other governing bodies that could help or obstruct our trade and then acting on whatever is required. As David has mentioned – We are going to be Pro-active and not sit back and hope for the best. My personal view and what I would like to achieve whilst I am on the Board – is to create an Association that leads the way for other associations to follow. I will be releasing the Membership Fees over the weekend and hopefully you will find them acceptable.

We have put allot of research into the APWC official website, which is still to be launched and we hope that the end product will be inviting and easy to use. Not only will membership information (applications – benefits – fees) be there for people to view, but also all fees and on line application facilities. There will be a private members section, which will have all the latest industry news, valuable downloads and also in the near future, monthly live advise sessions for our members. The web site will also be designed for public – commercial and government agencies to read and learn about window cleaning for their sectors and on line searches can be made to find APWC members that can carry out the work they require in their region/ area/ postcode.

Another excellent benefit we are supplying is the free domain names (subject to availability) and website hosting. This will enable our members to have their own websites and when a member search is carried out on the APWC site, instead of just having – Joe bloggs – clean n bright – window cleaning street – Essex – 0800 000 000 . The person accessing the search will then be able to access that member or member’s websites, thus helping to sell the members services better.

Although the APWC has a central email address   info@apwc.info   the board members each have their own personal email and each have a portfolio to run – Mine is membership, so any questions regarding membership would be answered by me. All email addresses and portfolios will be advertised on the website and everyone will be more than welcome to ask the appropriate portfolio holder questions relating to that. So for example, if I was asked how much are fees, I would tell you, if I was asked what are the benefits, I would tell you, if I was asked about H&S, I would forward your question to Wayne, who would then answer you.

I think I have rambled on enough now. I hope the above provides some answers for you all.

Many Thanks

Andrew

[Terry_Burrows]

costic soda you talk a load of crap  Ross understands where I am coming from,from what I have seen in the west end just the other day its madness : thats not to say all the that use wfp are the same people,lets make that clear!  >:(we all know thats not the case, I have done more for wc publicly then any one has ever done,I am not taking sides againt wfp I am merely making a statement of what could be,you see the minute I appear to attack wfp users you are up in arms,scared about some home at heart statement,ladders can be harmful,I still see 3 part ladders on vans,you would not get me up that for all the tea in china the fact is whats scary to some is that people do listen to what I say,no I am not god,before you jump again,I just have got 30 years behind me and wfp is a new toy is this country,yes I know its been around a few years,but more people are trying to push it because hs,I do not have a proplem
with that you also got to think about the people who cannot afford such tools,just because you got wfps,it does not mean you get lots more work!

so I am not anti wfp just making a statement thats all