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APSP Volunteer Leadership Forum Highlights Issues, Develops Leaders

The APSP Volunteer Leadership Forum (VLF), held October 25-27 in Alexandria, Virginia, brought forth key issues and developed new leaders in a three-day event attended by association leaders from around the country. Attendees were engaged in the process, offering thought-provoking questions, dialogue on key issues, and lessons learned from shared experiences. Topics included APSP’s initiatives for the coming years; APSP councils, including the Hot Tub Council’s Industry Growth Initiative; the APSP Career Institute; consumer safety; communications; government affairs; chapters; and ethics.

The program began Thursday with an overview of both planned and recently implemented initiatives for APSP presented by Bill Weber, President and CEO of the association. This was followed by the Hot Tub Industry Growth Initiative presentation, which includes close collaboration and reporting from all the various APSP councils and their plans for future growth.

Progress on the APSP Career Institute was presented. The Career Institute came about as a result of an education task force and has a goal of offering more education and additional venues for existing education programs so members will find it easier to take advantage of valuable learning opportunities. Presently, APSP is creating a Board of Regents and soon will be developing new online courses, as well as having councils divide current courses into modules to allow members greater flexibility when participating.

Helen Bloch, the new Manager of Consumer Safety for APSP, presented information on safety initiatives, including an exciting development through which the APSP will be working with the International Code Council (ICC) on its Safety Week programs. This collaboration was made possible by the extraordinary work of Carvin DiGiovanni, Senior Technical Director at APSP.

Lauren Stack, APSP Director of Marketing and Promotion, familiarized participants with the great progress that has been made this past year in the area of communications, a major issue at last year’s forum. Much has been accomplished, including the weekly Industry Currents; a redesigned and recently launched website, APSP.org; and a brand-new association quarterly magazine, AQ, which will debut at the Expo.

Friday was government affairs day. Walter Perry, Region 9 Manager, and Pam Vinje, Region 3 Manager, presented a creative and lively discussion on the differences chapter members face in their businesses depending on where they live. This was followed by Bill Weber’s overview of the federal Pool & Spa Safety Act, which has passed the full House, and a slightly different version of the bill, which the full Senate is voting on. He explained the continued work that needs to be done to complete the goals of this legislation. Steve Getzoff, an attorney working with the APSP, gave an informative presentation on suction entrapment and the legal side of the legislation.

Other subjects presented that day included drought issues, licensing, working with entrapment and code officials, and the proposed energy-efficiency legislation. Participants broke into small groups to discuss and report their ideas on suction entrapment, drought, licensing, and standards.

Saturday’s discussions were led by Ralph Bloch, Region 5 and 6 Manager, who presented an update on the chapter manual and issues being discussed for chapters. Guest speaker and association attorney Michael Deese gave an informative talk on the legal implications of chapters and chapter member activities, which was followed by a lively question-and-answer period. Terry Mayfield, Region SW Manager, facilitated a discussion of ethics and membership. Shirley Lester, Region 2 Manager, lead a lively panel of chapter leaders discussing successful chapter activities.

Thanks to all who participated and helped make this event such a success!