Lisa Pate, FRSA Executive Director
“Every Member Get a Member” was the slogan for the Association after its first meeting 100 years ago. It wasn’t easy in those competitive days to get the various shop owners to recruit others. As one founder recalls, many contractors felt any competitor was “a low down so and so and not fittin’ to be a member of such a fine organization.” Instead, our young Association relied heavily on the Florida wholesale house salesmen (suppliers) to spread the word about the group. These salesmen received the credit for the increase in membership that gave the Association strength in its early years. Read more.