With the recent passing of Mr. Charlie Raymond, 87, of Florida, the roofing industry lost a titan. Out of the day-to-day business of being a roofing contractor for over 20 years, he never really “retired” from the roofing industry.
My good friend, Tom, caught me by surprise the other day. My pastor needed some help with the storm-damaged roof on his home and I was on the phone with Tom discussing how he might help out. He said something to the effect of, “You still writing the ‘good news’ editorial in the roofing magazine?” I bit my tongue, and instead of responding with, “Yeah, why the hell are you not reading it every month?” I asked what he meant with the “good news” comment.
Since 2007 when the nation’s economy began sliding into recession, warning signs started pointing to the kind of thing that happens when unemployment begins to rise. Notably, there has been an increase in “shrinkage” - everything from break-ins to white-collar theft.
It was March of 2001 when Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley introduced “an energy code for Chicago that promotes efficiency and protects the environment.” Part of the code set forth requirements for new roofing systems and repair and replacement of existing systems relating to insulation and reflectivity. The code in its original form virtually eliminated most of the most common low-slope roofing systems that were being specified and installed at that time.
Earlier this year the National Safety Council (NSC) declared that driving while talking on a cell phone puts drivers at four times greater risk for an accident and should be banned. The first time I ever heard of such a concept as cell-phone free driving was when I visited Hong Kong in 2001.
The mass media continues the assault our psyche with endless reports of “the worst economy since the Great Depression.” Each new report makes me want to work even harder to point to great opportunities existing for roofing contractors today.
I just spent the last few hours researching statistics about the dangers of falls in roofing. This research took me not only through statistics but reams of rules and regulations on fall protection from state and federal agencies, as well as those of several other countries.
When you consider all the good things that can
come from a down cycle in the economy, it is hard to be depressed about it. I
am not referring to silver linings, but golden
opportunities.
It
would be business as usual for me to add a P.S. to this editor’s note reminding
you that it is not too late to sign up to attend the International Roofing Expo
(IRE), which runs concurrently with three days of the NRCA convention next
month. Most of you would agree, however, that business is anything but “as
usual” right now.
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