Yet More On FACTS

[Ron Eggers]

Some of those FACTS threads are getting pretty long, so here's a new one to chew on. If you're bored with the whole thing, you can't say I tricked you into reading.

Greg Fremstad from Frame Tek has been the patron saint of FACTS. He just posted a couple of significant messages on the PPFA HH and I asked if he would either repeat them on The Grumble or allow me to. He chose the latter. Here's the first one:

I've read a lot of posts in the last few days about the FACTS mat board standard. This is a very powerful and important document, but did you
realize that FACTS has also created a similar standard for Glazing? Equally as important is the fact that all of the glass manufactures involved in helping the committee develop these "consensus standards" agreed upon
"standard" terminology. You can't write standards if you don't have standard, agreed upon terminology.

I would agree that these standards, written just like ASTM standards, are a little difficult to read. They have to be written that way to close
loopholes for product claims. Either they meet the standard or they don't.

Don & Kris have spent thousands of hours (as unpaid volunteers) on this monumental effort. (Along with lots of other non-paid and even some paying volunteers). They also spent thousands of their own dollars. There are several committees still 'kinda working along on other standards but without an active director, they are more or less direction-less.

The money is needed to hire a staff to promote and maintain the standards, develop new standards as they become necessary, oversee the committees, pay for phones, web hosting, postage, etc.

If you haven't actually taken the time to look at the FACTS web pages and read all of the material already there, I can understand why you would just "wait and see".

Please take a fresh look.

Greg Fremstad
FACTS Sponsor and Volunteer
Frame Tek, Inc.
Eugene OR

PS: I'm a member of a new FACTS committee to help determine what other
standards are wanted/needed. Any ideas? Let me know.

 

[Ron Eggers]

Here's the second message from Greg Fremstad:

Don Pierce, Director FACTS asked me to post this information to help answer some of your questions about FACTS:

"Why FACTS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization: because it works for the public, has no special ties to manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or any group that might have a vested interest in the standards it develops. As an independent organization FACTS is free to work with any source of reliable information.

The sole work of FACTS is to seek out the truth, examine research, disseminate all information and publish the results of this work without bias or prejudice, so that everyone can have faith in the reliability of the standards it produces.

A trade organization is formed to promote the products and interests of its members. This is perceived by many to be a conflict of interest for the development of reliable standards because those who most benefit from them write them. Just as when an employee of a company, or anyone who has a direct interest in a material or product, represents it to be the best on the market.
Standards of conduct for any profession are the responsibility of a trade association. Standards for methods and procedures that may impact the public are not. To be believable these standards are written by independent organizations free from undue influence by any individual or group.
Today there are more than eight hundred standards-setting organizations. The most recognized is ASTM organized in the late 19th century. ASTM sets
standards for products and safety. ASTM standards can be found on almost any product you buy - they are your guarantee that the product meets a standard for content, safety, and/or use. While these standards cover a wide variety of products from steel to clothing, none are written by a trade association.

FACTS is one of the eight hundred standards-setting organizations and the only one currently working in the arts. FACTS was patterned after ASTM¹s successful operation and has worked closely on the research project on the aging of paper. FACTS projects can and should extend beyond picture framing into other much needed areas of art.

ASTM sells their standards as a way to fund its programs while FACTS has freely shared the results of its work with everyone. FACTS felt the lack of reliable information was so great that it wanted to make its research available to as great a number as possible.

Now for the FACTS organization to continue it needs to have more than the volunteer labor that has taken it this far. It needs to be funded so that it will have permanent staffing, without which it is not eligible for grants since relying on volunteers is considered to be unstable.
For picture framing to grow it needs standards: those set by its trade organization as well as those set independently by a standards-setting
organizations like FACTS. Standards bring security to any industry. No longer is personal opinion the major source of information, but the
collective knowledge and research of the total industry. Everyone benefits through the clarity of standards. Client confidence as well professional integrity is strengthened when everyone can find a continuity of information.
FACTS future will not be decided only by one thousand framers, but by the industry¹s desire to support a standards organization. Free office space has been offered, all necessary office equipment donated. FACTS has the support of PPFA and many of your industry leaders, but FACTS wants to know that the picture framer is willing to upgrade from a craft to a profession. This
means supporting your trade association and developing industry standards for your profession."

Posted By Greg Fremstad,
FACTS Sponsor and Volunteer for FACTS Director Don Pierce

 

[JPete]

"FACTS is one of the eight hundred standards-setting organizations and the only one currently working in the arts." OK that did it. Count me in.