Chad Fabry Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 I've never been to an inspector "convention". So far the itineraries haven't been appealing enough to make me want to take the time and spend the money to attend. I've considered attending in the past, but only because some of you folks were going and I'd like to meet you all. That brings me to my question: What or who would make you take the time to attend?
Les Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 Chad, I have attended 9 ITA parties, and 8 ASHI and dozens of regional gatherings. Maybe 5-6 state level conventions and more chapter type meetings than I can remember. Pretty much every major inspection organization national meetings. I certainly learned a great deal in the classes, but most were too basic. Every year I learn something that makes it worth the price. I gotta tell you the Watts Training session was one of the most informative I have ever attended and I got to know several new people. I go to see people and talk about the inspection business. I look forward to seeing the same old guys and their wifes. My wife always is on the lookout for Brian G as he is tall handsome and ever so polite. Sometimes the highlight is just smokin' with JD and Paul and talking about the kids. I cruise in and out of the classes and always find that I don't know quite as much as I thought. I get to see inspectors interact with vendors, each other, and in a learning environment. I also spend a good bit of time with the study of the attendees. That mix has changed over the years. Attendance is not cost effective for me and never has been. The first few ITA events in Las Vegas and all of the ASHI events are the only chance I have/had to interact with the real pioneers of the business.
randynavarro Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 Watts. Training and info. direct from the guys making or installing the stuff is where its at. The only stuff I attend these days is the local ASHI annual in our state - and that's just to get the CEU's. There's certainly not a direct cost-benefit. I only pick up a few new tidbits over two full days of seminar. That and the cost of 3 or 4 Benjamins doesn't calculate. Kind of makes me re-think membership in general. It costs a lot of money for not a lot of benefit. As Les has said, though, there can be a lot more to just the education. Its a personal choice.
sepefrio Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 Originally posted by randynavarro Watts. Training and info. direct from the guys making or installing the stuff is where its at. Just curious, how do you find out about these besides here on TIJ. I really enjoyed the Air vent seminar and can really see the value in them. Thanks.
hausdok Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 Originally posted by sepefrio Originally posted by randynavarro Watts. Training and info. direct from the guys making or installing the stuff is where its at. Just curious, how do you find out about these besides here on TIJ. I really enjoyed the Air vent seminar and can really see the value in them. Thanks. Hi, Subscribe to everything, visit the websites of all of those publications, and check out their coming events. Then get on the phone and make some inquiries. OT - OF!!! M.
Phillip Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 East Tenn. ASHI Chapter is having a two day event on the 15th and 16th of this month. Douglas Hansen will be one of the speakers. You can go to www.etashi.org to find out more. ASHI Georgia will have a 3 day convention later in the year. They had a good one last year. I will post more info on this when I find the paperwork I have on it.
Bill Kibbel Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 I attended a half dozen early ASHI National conferences. I wasn't thrilled with them, 'cept 2 were in cities where old girlfriends reside. Once a family began, I no longer had any interest in multi-day events. Have you ever spent 3 days stuck with several hundred home inspectors? [:-yuck] I now attend one day events put on by local chapters or state associations. I look for seminars that have at least one topic covering a new building product that I am not completely experienced with. I end up with well over 80 CEUs each year. I'm not a shmoozer/networking type, so the smaller, more local events are more pleasant. I also speak at 3 to 6 seminars each year. In addition to the above, I attend several restoration conferences, preservation workshops and "old-house" expos each year. I always gain incredible amounts of information that's helpful to my clients.
kurt Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 I'm incredibly lacking in CEU attainment. I usually end up w/barely over the minimum for maintenance of licensing & association requirements. Why? Because most of the accredited seminars & classes are painfully elementary, very often taught by folks that have no right to be in front of a class other than the right given them by the (usually clueless) anointing bodies. They drive me crazy. I don't know how the folks w/the 100+ hours of CEU's can stand it. Instead, I spend time w/mfg's. rep's, related trades, and in personal research that provides me w/ the specifics of what I need to know. I read. A lot. None of it gets me any CEU's, but I don't care. I know what I know. OTOH, I've enjoyed every convention & gathering I've ever been to simply for the exposure to other folks in the business. The best stuff is talking to peers in the hallway & at dinners & gabfests that go into the night. I've always come away w/good insights & knowledge.
Phillip Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Originally posted by Phillip East Tenn. ASHI Chapter is having a two day event on the 15th and 16th of this month. Douglas Hansen will be one of the speakers. You can go to www.etashi.org to find out more. ASHI Georgia will have a 3 day convention later in the year. They had a good one last year. I will post more info on this when I find the paperwork I have on it. The one in Georgia will be September 19-21. There will be more info at www.seinspectorconference.com later on. Most of the info there now is from last year. Yes I get tried of the same thing so I look at different classes. I guess the longer you are around the more you run into the same classes. I am always looking to learn something new even if I don't get CEs out of it.
chrisprickett Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 This year was the first in 7 that I didn't attend the ASHI conference. The first year I knew no one and learned a lot. At the last one, I knew a bunch of people, many that I now consider friends, but learned very little. All in all, well worth the plane fare all six times! I went to two ITA conferences in Vegas. The first one was ok, but the last one I went to, in '06, was a very bad experience. It seemed more like a 60's Shriner convention and I was embarassed to be there.
hausdok Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Originally posted by Phillip East Tenn. ASHI Chapter is having a two day event on the 15th and 16th of this month. Douglas Hansen will be one of the speakers. You can go to www.etashi.org to find out more. ASHI Georgia will have a 3 day convention later in the year. They had a good one last year. I will post more info on this when I find the paperwork I have on it. Hi Phillip, I just checked our calendar and I see that it's not posted there. If you know someone with that chapter, you should let them know that, being a non-profit, they can post their training announcements here free. Everything that's posted to the calendar of events automatically goes out in the newsletter and will reach nearly 20,000 subscribers - some of whom are sure to be in that chapter's vicinity. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
davidlord Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 I have attended 3 or 4 ASHI conventions and find them to be average at best. Occasionally there will be some excellent education but most of the time it's subpar. I will go next year since its only about 1.5 hours away in Orlando. The state association I am a member of (FABI) has 2 day sessions every quarter at 10-11 CEU's each and that is usually my source of CEU's.
Chad Fabry Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Posted February 7, 2008 Forget CEU's Who or what would make you make the effort to attend? For me it'd be Martin Holladay or Joe Lstiburek.
Chad Fabry Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Posted February 7, 2008 Yeah, and Halle Barre. A circa 1979 Olivia Newton John would also do the trick
Phillip Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Originally posted by Chad Fabry Forget CEU's Who or what would make you make the effort to attend? For me it'd be Martin Holladay or Joe Lstiburek. Good speakers like you name on things I want to learn more about and to meet folks I would like to meet.
Brian G Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 I like going to these things, but when you travel the money goes fast. I envy the guys who have access to strong, local association chapters, where you can get a pretty good class every month or six weeks without leaving home. That's gotta be nice. Brian G. Alone on an Island [:-weepn]
hausdok Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Hmm, We did have a pretty nice training event right in your backyard last fall and it was FREE!!! Free course, free food, free hotels. Heck, even free BEER!!! OT - OF!!! M.
Brian G Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Was I there? [] Brian G. CRS Creeps On [:-paperba
hausdok Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Well, There's hope for you yet. Watts wants to do it again this year and they want to do it better. I plan to be there again this year. They want to get started on the planning - do you want to get involved? OT - OF!!! M.
Brian G Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Ah, the Watts thing. I was busy inspecting when that came along, and if I recall it was about radiant floors (?). I still haven't seen one, but if business is DOA I might go for it anyway. Will it be in Springfield, MO again? That looks like about 8 - 9 hours each way. I wouldn't call that my back yard, but about the same as a trip to the In-laws. Brian G. Title For a New Country Song: My In-Laws Are Outlaws [:-cowboy] [:-sing]
hausdok Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Originally posted by Brian G [navy]Will it be in Springfield, MO again? That looks like about 8 - 9 hours each way. I wouldn't call that my back yard, but about the same as a trip to the In-laws.[/blue] Wha?! It's a whole lot more in your backyard than it was for Kurt, Les, Ezra, Mark, or myself! Jeesh! OT - OF!!! M.
Les Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Brian would have been a real asset for the class. I would do it all over again, especially if new material was presented. Shoot, I would even pay for hotel.
hausdok Posted February 7, 2008 Report Posted February 7, 2008 Sush Les! The guys from Watts will be monitoring this board! You're welcome to pay for my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th portions at meals though! Bwahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!! [:-eyebrow
kurt Posted February 8, 2008 Report Posted February 8, 2008 I'd love to have a little input into the seminar, if Watts wanted input. It was a good gig. It was an 8 1/2 hour drive for me, and honestly, I haven't done the big drive in a while & I really liked it. I left in the evening, drove until I was tired, slept in the back of my rig w/a nice Thermarest pad & down bag, made coffee in the rest stop in the morning, and got in touch w/the basics. Yeah, it was kinda stinky, but then again, so am I.
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