Dear Affiliated Association Leader,

ACCA leadership has been carefully considering the future of the association and our industry. We want to make sure that contractors continue to get the national representation they deserve, and that ACCA remains the strong, respected organization it has become over the past fifteen years.

The Board convened a high-level Membership Model Task Force that has been working over the course of three years - first chaired by Past Chairman Joe Nichter, then by Past Chairman Laura DiFilippo - to carefully consider every facet of the ACCA membership structure with an eye toward answering one question: Given that ACCA's members are contractors, how can we provide the best possible service to contracting businesses in the most efficient way?

As part of their work, the Task Force flew in a focus group of affiliated chapter executives, conducted surveys of both member contractors and chapter staff, and reviewed extensive membership statistics compiled over the past several years. We have learned a number of very important things, including:

-- As member companies transition to a new generation, the old reasons for joining an association are no longer compelling. Too many of our current members are led by Baby Boomers who belong because they think it is "the right thing to do."

-- Our dues structure, which features well over 100 possible dues levels for contractors alone, is unsustainable. We spend so much time administering dues that it detracts from our ability to provide valuable membership benefits.

-- Our surveys consistently show that contractors value standards development; national advocacy; state advocacy; and education programs.

-- As independent contracting business owners, we believe strongly in local control and oversight, which is why ACCA affiliated associations are wholly independent.

-- However, as independent contracting business owners, we also understand the power of a brand, and it is impossible to maintain a brand when it can be used, or abused, by organizations over which we have no control and little influence.

-- Chapters have consistently told us that there are contractors in their areas who would like to join the chapter, but do not wish to join the national organization. And, many contractors tell us they will not join ACCA because they desire to be part of the national organization, but do not want to join an affiliated chapter.

We are excited to tell you that, today, the Board has approved a new path forward for ACCA membership that we believe will serve contracting businesses best - at every level.

Effective June 30, 2015, we will no longer require that affiliated chapter members join the national association. And, contractors joining the national association will no longer be required to join any state or local associations.

Contractors will be able to choose which organizations they wish to belong to - or not - and national, state and local contracting associations will be required to create tangible value for contractors in order for those associations to succeed.

In order to move ahead with this new path, this letter serves as notice that we are terminating our existing affiliation agreements effective June 30, 2015.

This means, after joint membership ends, you will be able to sell membership in your chapter - and issue your own dues renewal notices -- without charging for national membership. You will no longer need to notify National of members, collect national dues, or be restricted to your current zipcode jurisdictions.

ACCA will continue to bill and collect dues from members that expire through June 30 for the proper dues amounts, including your chapter dues, and remit them electronically to your chapter bank account - unless you wish us to stop sooner. If you would like the national office to end billing for your chapter sooner than June 30, they are happy to do so. Contact Kimya Cajchun at kimya.cajchun@acca.org and let her know what earlier date you would like the joint billing to end. Please do so by March 25, 2015.

We know that many chapters changed their DBA names to "ACCA [Chapter]" to comply with our affiliation requirements. Now, you may revert to your original name or any name of your choosing that does not conflict with our trademarks.

The "ACCA" wave logo will be reserved for national use and we ask that all existing chapters phase out use of that logo over the next six months.

We want to make this transition as easy as possible by providing rosters, answers to any questions, refunds on prorated D&O insurance coverage; and information from our counsel on any specific operational questions you may have in preparation for the June 30 deadline.

As always, reach out to Kimya Cajchun and she will coordinate any support from the national office. Kimya will be following up this letter immediately with a memo explaining how the transition will work. 

ACCA National desires to maintain good relations with state contracting associations, for the purposes of supporting state advocacy efforts that are important to our members. We will be reaching out to state contracting associations to develop potential MOUs on a case by case basis, including current ACCA affiliates and others.

We believe that the joint membership requirement was the right decision in 2002, but the world changes and ACCA must change, too. This new membership path offers the best way to provide contractors with solid value by ensuring that contracting associatons - at the national, state and local levels - earn contractor membership in the marketplace.

As contractors ourselves, that is as important to us as it is for all of ACCA's members.

Sincerely,


David Kyle
Trademasters, Inc.
2014-2015 ACCA Chairman

Phil London
Thermal Concepts
2015-2016 ACCA Chairman