Are you committed to this industry?

By Mike Fabishak

Most people are committed to vital aspects of their life.

They try to improve their family lives, strengthen their businesses, develop their careers, work on being more fit — it goes on and on. We do it to make life better for family, friends, co-workers, employees and
ourselves.

So why is it that, with this desire to seek universal improvement, there are still individuals who do not support the very trade associations that help make our industry strong and vibrant? Why are there companies that reap the benefits of the fine work that many associations do but let their colleagues and competitors do the volunteer work, support the initiatives and pay the bills? Why indeed?

Entering my 20th year of association management, first with the Metropolitan Builders Association and now the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee, I have had an opportunity to see it all. During those years, I had the pleasure of seeing extraordinary individuals make extraordinary sacrifices to improve this great industry.

Most begin their commitment by simply joining an association. Many, however, do even more. Their passion leads them to give of themselves and their companies in ways that serve both to better the industry and their businesses.

That is not surprising in itself. Many of us get fulfillment helping others and supporting institutions that help us succeed.

What I find unusual are the individuals who feel no compulsion to participate. They offer no association participation; they provide no support to the industry they derive their sustenance from. Frankly, they do nothing.

Now, they might have their reasons. Perhaps some association executive neglected to acknowledge them at some event, or maybe they didn’t like the direction of the association. I heard of some who don’t believe that associations are of any benefit to their company or the industry. Who knows, maybe they can’t afford it.

There comes a time, however, when one must make some commitment. Maybe it’s with the AGC, maybe not — there are many associations to choose from. If one doesn’t meet your individual company’s needs choose another.

I have had the opportunity to work with many collateral associations, and they all do good work to improve the construction industry. And the work they do is not only of considerable benefit to their membership but to the industry as a whole.

So how do associations affect those who don’t join and participate? Well, let’s look at legislative initiatives. When there is a piece of legislation that is supported or possibly opposed by the construction industry, it is the associations that mobilize their resources — many times as a coalition — to pass or defeat it.

On work-force development issues, an area of considerable concern for the construction industry, almost all construction associations have aggressive strategies in place to deal with this very significant problem.

How about safety? It is usually the individual associations that work with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop protocols for the most appropriate safety models and prevention programs.

New technology also is an emerging area of interest, and, again, it is the associations that do the appropriate research and embrace the strategies that provide the most benefit to the industry.

There are many more areas where associations have profitably impacted people in the industry, whether they belong to an association or not.

Perhaps it’s now time for those companies that benefit from the work of associations to look within and determine whether they should support the organizations that help make their companies successful.

Perhaps it’s time to start contributing to the industry that supports you and not subscribe to the dictum of one noted industry participant who said, “Why should I belong to the AGC or any other association when I can get many of the benefits without paying?”

Perhaps it's time to make a commitment to the construction industry. Perhaps it's high time.