When asked to write a testament to my association with ABC of Arkansas, I stare at the keyboard and ask, “Gosh where do I start? How can I put into words the passion I feel towards this organization?”

First, let’s define the organization. ABC is made up of people and firms that touch the construction industry in one way or another. It is the people and firms with their desires to improve the industry as a group that defines the whole organization. As an individual member I embraced all that ABC has to offer to make my company and its employees successful. Remember always, that ABC and its staff is not responsible for the success of its members. It is the membership that directs the wishes and needs, and ABC is the vehicle to bring the resources together for the benefit of the members. Without membership involvement on all levels, ABC by itself can do nothing. That’s why it was organized fifty years ago and embraced by firms in Arkansas twenty-five years ago.

I have attended seminars on all kinds of subjects that directly affected my business. Some seminars I attended dealt with subjects that I had not considered, but should have been considering all along. I thought I knew all there was to know about some subjects only to find out that I was lacking. Some of these speakers and motivators cost thousands of dollars. It would have been completely unaffordable for me alone to obtain this quality of information. However, the resources of ABC provided this information at an affordable cost. These seminars, to name a few dealt with subjects such as customer relations, employee relations, finance, safety, governmental requirements, how to be a more effective leader. I could go on and on.

Another area that could not be completed on an individual basis is the apprentice training of our work force. ABC members have the broadest training programs and resources available to them. The members who use these training resources do so for different reasons. Some of the members’ employees are required by law to receive training, some use the training to pay lower rates on prevailing wage jobs. Others, myself included, use these resources to better the skills of our employees. Employees, who have been motivated correctly about their training, brought to my firm respect within the industry for being professional, confidence that installations are correct, and pride in a job well done. There are some firms that give the following reasons for not training: I can’t afford it, I train them and they go to work for my competition, I don’t have the time, etc. One of the seminars I attended showed me the facts backed by the figures that made it clear why training my employees added to the bottom line and never takes away. I could not have started a training program by myself.

Since I have been limited to space describing my passion for ABC, I will name other subjects that are just as important and cannot be accomplished by one’s self: The attention of politicians on a state and national level, resources for the safety of my employees, the protection of the free enterprise system of doing business, the vehicle for people to come together to socialize and share ideas, to make a difference on a local level by performing community projects, and, for those that know me, I could go on and on.

In summary, if you are not taking full advantage of all the resources ABC has to offer you are missing out in a big way. I decided in 1981 that joining the ABC team would make my firm a winner. A coach can’t win if he leaves half of the team at home. It takes a full team to win and ABC helps us to do just that.

Here’s to the last 25 years and here, to the next 25 years!

Grinnell Fire Protection