The Membership Committee of the Portable Sanitation Association International is comprised of individuals who greatly value their connection with this organization — so much so that they feel an obligation to share the benefits of membership with other portable restroom operators.
The committee’s goal is to grow PSAI membership through increasing awareness of the organization’s benefits, not only to the industry as a whole but, more especially, to individual companies. These benefits are substantial and are outlined in PSAI literature.
Another function of the Membership Committee is to make sure all new members are properly welcomed and introduced when attending a PSAI event. Everyone remembers some level of jitters attending their first event, and we want to make sure everyone is comfortable. Our past presidents are active in this endeavor as well.
We believe some of the best companies in this business belong to the PSAI. The knowledge gained at our roundtable discussions and seminars, along with knowledge shared during the social functions, when put into practice, may have helped make these companies the successes they are today. All this is from the personal testimony of many owners and their employees.
Typical Membership Committee projects include planning PSAI advertising schedules and developing the text for various mailings. The committee also coordinates sundry membership drives and other programs intended to encourage current members to discuss the merits of PSAI with non-member companies. Committee members represent PROs of all sizes and from every region around the world, as well as associate members (suppliers).
Currently, membership in PSAI stands at approximately 750 companies. This represents 23 percent of PROs nationally. At the international level, we have several members from most continents.
PSAI has a very good level of participation. This is especially true considering that many PROs do not use the Internet and a significant number still do not have fax machines, thereby making them more difficult to reach. Also, people in the portable sanitation industry tend to be an introverted bunch, although you’d never believe it after attending one of our socials. Evidently, once someone comes to a PSAI function and realizes that others share in their trials and troubles, they become very talkative.
In more than 35 years, the PSAI has done many things to raise the value of the industry, and this has greatly benefited all who provide portable sanitation services. These gains have been made through the efforts of association members working together under a spirit of cooperation and respect, both for each other and the industry.
While too numerous to list here, an accounting of PSAI’s accomplishments is impressive. The committee believes that by educating PROs on the benefits of membership — on working together — we can attract those operators most interested in improving our most challenging and essential industry.
Ron Crosier of Crosier’s Sanitary Service Inc., Lansing, W.V., is the chair of the PSAI Membership Committee. For more information on membership, go to www.psai.org.
