Originally posted by Susan N.:
.......I am hoping I can make the leap from $25 to what it is now until I can see some benefits for me..........
Susan,
You are sounding a bit like the orignial poster to this subject,
Ian, aka
Printmaker, with this "what does it do for me?" attitude.
I hate to say this,
but some people will never get it!. The truth is that we've all received PPFA benefits regardless of our support and membership. It occurs through forums like this and PPFA's Online Exchange, it occurs in the education that magazines and distributors have hosted over the years, it occurs in the quality of writing in the trade journals that we have in the U.S. and Canada, often penned by strongly commited PPFA members. The whole industry standard is raised when the elements within that industry have a common association, and that association's activites provoke professionalism, through education, certification, trade shows and individual pride.
You don't think that framers are better framers due to their competition raising the bar? It happens, and PPFA has been a BIG Part of that improved standard. As my cross town competitor,
Ron has stated, "If you are so inclined, you can view those funds as charitable contributions.........You may not even expect a lot in return - though I believe you'd get plenty." He's absolutely correct, in that you won't always see those benefits in unique perks for your personal benefit.
I am currently conducting Mat Cutting Workshops in Italy -- You know the country, that produces all those beautiful mouldings that we use everyday. In my classes, the majority of framers here are cutting paper (pulp) matboard for fine original etchings; putting prints sandwiched between glass so that the wall shows behind; Cutting mats on 16x20 inch images that are about 1-3/4 inches wide, and other delightful techniques that are equally poor in mechanics and desgin. Did I also mention that they tend to price their products about 1/3 to 1/2 of where our retail pricing would be! No Trade Association exists here in Italy for retail framers.....coincidence? No, I don't think so.
I've taught framing, marketing and mat cutting seminars in eleven countries now, and can tell you that the countries without a trade association produce the poorest framing.
Countries that have a Framing Trade Association in place tend to produce better framing or improving framing. (US, UK, Spain, NZ and Australia.)
You belong to PPFA (Regardless of the Dues) because you are committed to the industry succeeding. I subscribe to Decor, I subscribe to Picture Framing Magazine, I attend trade shows, I am a member of FramerSelect, and I have been a member of the Professional Picture Framer's Association since 1978.
Yes indeed if the dues were raised, I'd be looking for more tangible benefits, but at the small price of PPFA membership today, I'll settle for the better industry that it has created.
John (Bologna, Italy)
[ 05-10-2003, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: John Ranes II, CPF, GCF ]