In the main...a professional ORG justifies its existence by supporting and contributing to the prosperity of its membership. Not withstanding the limitations of the GUILDs Non-Profit Charitable Org status...Public Education is a modality it can utilize to achieve, or at the least pursue that objective.
The failure to adequately utilize IP (Intellectual Property) Mike B. refers to, combined with the "high importance" emphasized by DL of producing tangible ($profitable$) benefits of membership, both reside in the realm of Public Education, which is a mandate of the GUILD Charter and Mission.
As a focus of rebuilding and/or recreating the GUILD going forward, a better understanding and plan for this single objective should be considered a primary ingredient. Learning how to educate the segment of the home building marketplace who is NOT looking for or even AWARE of TF homes is an option worth exploring; and perhaps more germane to our existence, relevance and prosperity than any other challenge. There are ways to achieve this which are available and accessible to all ORGs associated with the building industry. They include options for joining other ORGs such as the Building Systems Council of NAHB. This allows the TFG / TFBC to be in the "room" with Architects, Builders, Contractors, Attorneys, Planners, Suppliers and others associated with building nationally. The introduction could be very beneficial in educating the "Professional Public" on a larger scale than five architects at a time at a LOG and Timber Frame Home Show CEU class.
Combined with a similar imperative by the TFBC and individual TF companies in their outreach and advertising...we may for the first time connect to a broad spectrum of the home building marketplace who doesn't even know we exist. The very good news is that we have 99% of the marketplace (TF is lumped into the category of "alternative housing" which represents 1% of sales nationwide) to educate and stimulate. There are few vendors of any product who can claim that advantage.
Should our National Orgs commit to a strategy of accelerated outreach and Public Education, our membership will benefit by increased market demand...and our ORGs will benefit by increased participation. It's a WIN / WIN scenario.
As a supporting member of the TFG and TFBC, I believe there is no better way to sustain the Craft and its Crafters and the ORGs which represent them.
Jack Costantino, TFU
TFBC, BoD
