Read a CES self-funding article written by FSPA member Alvaro Mendoza, CES. The article describes a self-funding project for a community association. Published in the Florida Community Association Journal http://pubs.royle.com/publication/?i=259704&p=20
Keep your pool running with pool maintenance. You can use the Find a Florida Pool Pro search engine to use a professional. If you do it yourself read up on some useful information. Chlorination, conditioner, alkalinity, pH scale and other topics can be found at www.floridapoolpro.com/pool-care/pool-maintenance.
Entry forms and information for the 2016 Design Awards competition are now posted at FloridaPoolPro.com/programs-design.
The annual Florida Swimming Pool Association Design Awards program gives members an opportunity to enter their pools, spas and water features for judging on workmanship, soundness of design, beauty, practicality and safety. Categories customized for Florida pool construction divide the entries by size, type of construction and features.
Pools are awarded a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Award of Merit based on a panel of industry judges’ review. Each award winner receives a plaque with a mounted photo of the pool or spa so they may display their accomplishment to prospective customers.
Award winning pools are submitted to national industry magazines for publication and also distributed to the winners’ local media.
A special logo is available for the winners to use in ads, business cards and on company letterhead.
*FSPA membership must be paid in full to participate in Design Awards.
Visit www.KeepSafePools.com for details and to sign the petition.
Sign the petition to keep the Department of Health inspecting all safety items on public swimming pools!
Florida is known as the Sunshine State. With the abundance of sunshine and great weather, Floridians and tourists alike flock to our pools to enjoy time in the sun. When you jump in one of the 37,000 plus public pool and spa facilities our great state has to offer, you want to know that you and your loved ones are safe. For almost a century, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has ensured that public pools are safe environments. Currently DOH provides biennial inspections checking over 40 items in and around public pools to safeguard the 100 million tourists who visit our state annually and the 19.5 million citizens who call Florida home.
Interpretation by the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC) is removing the ability of the DOH to inspect items such as:
The Florida swimming pool industry tried to reinstate the authority to DOH during the 2015 Legislative Session but some legislators believe these inspections aren’t necessary.
| 1. | Time it takes to build Dig to swim: Varies based on scope of project, your contractor and things out of everyone’s control. But it is always a good time to do it! Keep in mind that Florida’s rainy season and holidays can cause delays. |
| 2. | Permits / Inspections Permits will be pulled by your contractor and inspections scheduled as necessary. A contractor cannot guarantee they can get an inspector to come out the moment they have completed a portion of the project that requires an inspection. |
| 3. | Weather One day of rain can delay a week plus. If forecast is for rain it can still affect progress. |
| 4. | Change orders / materials Any time you change what you want for the project, including materials and finishes, the project will be delayed and additional costs may be incurred. |
| 5. | Production Should be based on weekly progress, not daily |
| 6. | Utilities When digging, waterline, utilities many underground, obstructions not able to be located, old sewer lines, septics, etc. – Speak with your contractor to understand what possible delays and costs could be incurred if an issue arises. |
| 7. | Access What is required beyond ability to get in the backyard – what is around the project? Building a pool is a big project! |
What do the membership dues you send to the Florida Swimming Pool Association do? All members should understand the basic answers to this question. If you don’t know where your money goes then it is hard to justify spending it. The majority of your dues go to your local chapter, a percentage of your dues go to government relations and an administrative fee stays at the state office.
The money for government relations (approximately 25%) covers the costs associated with Jennifer Hatfield, FSPA government relations consultant. She spends the legislative session in Tallahassee and deals with legislative and regulatory issues year round. Without dedicated personnel fighting these battles, legislative and regulatory changes could be made which would affect the way you build or service every pool, impacting the expenses you incur on each job. Keeping you informed on what FSPA is fighting, any changes pending, and what you need to do to comply before you are caught off guard can provide a return on your investment of more than your annual dues. She also assists members with local issues and has relationships with the DOH, CILB and FBC.
Local chapter funding (approximately 65%) is used to help pay for meetings, local continuing education, local pool safety activities, supporting PIPAC, encouraging the community to use FSPA members through referrals, and pays for a chapter coordinator.
An administrative fee (approximately 10%) which is held at the state office covers your monthly newsletter Florida Pool Prosm and weekly e-newsletters, the consumer website promoting FSPA members, the industry website as a resource, membership processing and renewal, and many other things
The annual trade show is the primary revenue source for the association and, along with insurance dividends, provides personnel to run the association as the Board directs. Just to name a few things, staff at the state office manage the continuing education program, production of the newsletters, updating the websites, industry promotion, printed publications, the arbitration program, expansion and management of member benefit programs, and answering your questions and consumers’ questions at the other end of the phone line.
While the above is a quick version of what your dues provide to your company, hopefully it helps makes your decision to renew your membership for another year easy. Now is a great time for a renewed commitment to the swimming pool industry.
I have been around the industry now for more than 20 years and one of the many lessons I have learned is on customer follow-up – specifically, a returned phone call or just a personal contact to “check-in.” Over the years I have tried many ideas I came up with or learned about and there are a few points which have worked for me…maybe they can work for you.
So much of the pool business, being service or construction, is by word of mouth. People refer you because of the quality of your service or product, but also because they like YOU and/or your employees and how you interact with them and visibly go that extra mile. Building a relationship with your customer/clients is a key to future success. Here are a few ideas:
There are many ways to communicate in a personal way with your clients. It has been my experience that if you follow some of these basic ideas you can easily differentiate yourself by showing that you care about them by making the effort to follow up with your prospects and clients.
By Jerry “Splashman” Scott, Splash Man Pool Service
When making a major purchasing decision you shop around, ask friends, and family for referrals, and weigh your options. When it comes to investing in your home by building and maintaining a pool or spa, choose a company committed to superior quality, innovation, and customer service. Of all the home improvements you can make, the […]
Reading contracts is an important part of building a pool. Be sure you understand what you are paying for and what you will get. So you are getting ready to build your backyard oasis and you couldn’t be more excited. What exactly does that all look like anyway? First, make sure you carefully review your […]
The following is from the Florida Swims Foundation’s Blog: By Mike Madry, FSPA/The Florida Swims Foundation Staff. Dr. John Doherty knows first-hand how dangerous the water can be if you can’t swim. At age 11 he witnessed it firsthand, rescuing a young boy from a crowded and lively community pool during the middle […]
