The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

Some may have seen my posts last week when so many questions were being asked about becoming a paid member. Sometimes, being the new kid on the block means you just sit back, take some things in and listen. From the day I found RCIA one of the very first things I noticed was the wealth of information. One of my first questions to myself was, why would all this great information be out there for EVERYONE to see? Some of it surely should be in places where the general public couldn’t get to it for obvious reasons. As I read, read, and read some more, I learned that I found a place where a bunch of guys really cared about what they are doing and willing to help the next guy to do all they could to see this somewhat new industry/profession becomes something to be proud of. I quickly found people willing to help and at times I was even thanked for reading and searching before I posted. Yes, searching can be a daunting task but I learned even more because I would always find something different, something I wasn’t looking for when doing that search. It was suggested that I join as a paid member. That was an easy decision for me to make. Just like many here in this lousy economy, I don’t have any extra money to throw around but, it was my way to help RCIA get to the next level.

There is a mission statement that has been posted that details what RCIA stands for and will be doing in the years to come. The cost for joining is just part of my start up cost. Less than a 55 gal drum of SH. RCIA needs to get to the next level and the only way to get there is with member support. Not one person who puts in extra hours of work each week gets one dollar from the membership dues and they themselves are paid members. The work they do as board members and moderators at times is above and beyond the call of duty, to see this organization become the one that will set the rules when some government bureaucrat decides it’s time to regulate us. As you all know from being in business, it takes money to make money. The only way RCIA can get software to have a better site, to navigate and search easier, to have a member side, a guest side and a customer side does not come cheap. I can see that the benefits out way any reason not to join. I am confidant that it will come back to me in more ways than I could ever imagine.

If you look at my profile, you will see that this is day 12 for me as a member. I’m not sure if that includes the days I wasn’t a paid member but, I haven’t been here long. The hours I have spent here, reading, networking, searching, asking questions, getting FREE advice seems like an eternity. I am determined to make this work and so are the guys who have spilled there guts into RCIA.

Before finding RCIA I purchased a "roof cleaning" product. When I posted what I bought, I had no less than three people tell me that it wasn't the right product. One told me what the chemical was and all said I would be unhappy. This was the first thing (of many) that saved me money. Why did they respond? Because all of them used it and learned the hard way. That product cost me $140.00 but thanks to the knowledge here, it was returned for a refund. I was only out the $12.00 to return it. It could have been much more costly in the end. Without the help I found here, unsolicited, I could have been up the creek.

Give it some thought! Membership isn’t all about what will I get out of it right now. The question is, what can I do to help benefit both RCIA, my fellow members and me?