Boots on the Ground

The following is a review of the first year since the NCSA separated from the ASA of the Carolinas as written by Margaret Drummond and submitted to the National Subcontractors Alliance quarterly newsletter:

This July, the North Carolina Subcontractors Alliance celebrates our first year as a subcontractor group independent of the American Subcontractors Association. Twelve months ago, our meager fellowship (then as the Charlotte Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association of the Carolinas) unanimously voted to disassociate from ASA and rename our organization. Under the leadership of our devoted Board of Directors, we have spent this first year working toward our renewed goals of community leadership, unity, and support for our subcontractors.

Though we changed our name when we disaffiliated with ASA, we have not changed the strong tradition associated with North Carolina subcontractors. We are still a member-driven association and proud of our accomplishments. In March, we proudly joined the National Subcontractors Alliance. Having made contact with Executive Director Lynne Black in our early days, the NSA has nurtured our first year and provided the NCSA with continued support and encouragement. Even prior to joining officially, members of the NSA have offered their guidance and experience to help our local chapter re-establish ourselves as a stronger organization for our subcontractors. NCSA knew from our first encounter with NSA that this was where we were meant to be; an affiliation with a group of like-minded, trustworthy professionals whose goal is the betterment of our businesses.
NCSA membership has continually grown since our formal disassociation from ASA; and our membership is much more active and engaged. The positives have far outweighed the challenges already. We are confident with the help of NSA our membership will continue to grow. Our current benefits of Networking, including our Business Information Exchange meeting, Educational Materials & Programs, Monthly Newsletter, Government & Industry Legislative Advocacy, and Mentorship will continue, but joining NSA will help our members to boost their bottom line. As an NSA member, they are now eligible to receive valuable discounts that include: FedEx Shipping Services, YRC Transportation, UPS, OfficeMax Advantage Program, TSYS Merchant Solutions, Lenovo Affinity Program, Intercall, and AchieveLinks. One member has already reported the advantage of reaching out to an NSA member in another state to exchange notes on their experience with a national General Contractor.
I have discovered firsthand that if we work together and rely on one another, we are less likely to feel isolated. It is comforting to not have to “reinvent the wheel” every time we try something innovative, because through NSA, we are working together with other leading associations who freely offer their experience. Moving forward will be nothing short of an adventure. After a year we are a more successful and stronger association and are looking forward to our new relationship with NSA to continue that growth. Our membership has already been priceless.

The momentum must continue because much still needs to be done. We cannot allow our progress to stagnate. We have actively been attending local meetings, participating in the North Carolina level construction legislation, networking to keep our interests on the front line and partnering with other associations across the country with the same interests and more. For NCSA change is the new status quo. Everyone owns the responsibility for making the changes work. By joining NSA we have chosen to be a part of a national organization that is leading the construction industry into the future. “NCSA is a part of those that lead and not those that follow”…and we are very excited to see what’s next.

Margaret Drummond
North Carolina Subcontractors Alliance
PO Box 30604
Charlotte, NC 28204
ncsubcontractors@gmail.com
http://www.ncsubcontractors.com