Lisa Pate, FRSA Executive Director
Throughout 2022, this column will recap some of FRSA’s rich history, through accounts from meeting minutes and a published book called FRSA The First Half Century.
In January of 1970, the Board of Directors reported minor changes in the Association’s charter to bring it in line with Internal Revenue Service requirements for nonprofit corporations.
At the 48th annual Convention, Charles Raymond, Miami, was elected President. During this Convention, George Trask, Chairman of the Self-Insurers Fund Trustees, reported some $25,000 (the equivalent of $228,608 today) had been refunded to members who had overpaid their premium in 1966 when the fund was administered by the Robert F. Coleman Co. He also noted that members were now enjoying a 14 percent advance discount and would, in 1970, be granted the maximum allowed by law, 15 percent.
The Resolutions Committee presented a resolution urging manufacturers to consider using a new method of packaging asphalt and pitch that had originated in Europe. Rather than drums, the Europeans were using plastic-type bags, light enough to be handled by one person. The entire bag could be placed in the pitch kettle, melting along with the contents.
Jim Falkner reported his committee had studied a proposed contractors exam bill that would allow a contractor to take a proficiency examination and allow him to perform work statewide. The Board voted to urge state legislators to enact such a bill.
That spring, Laird Legg, former Self-Insurers Fund administrator, surrendered to Orlando police and by the end of the year, he would be in Raiford Prison, sentenced to five years for embezzlement.
In July, Charles King presented a report to the Board, a proposed certification program for contractors. This program would provide a means of self-regulation and professional recognition of members’ professional standing within the construction industry. FRSA’s Certified Professional Roofing Contractor (CPRC), Certified Professional Sheet Metal Contractor (CPSC) and Certified Professional Air Conditioning Contractor (CPAC) designations were born. The certification program would be very much like those used for Certified Public Accountants and a certified contractor would be authorized to carry initials after his name.
The fall meeting of the Board of Directors was held in Munich, Germany. The Association had arranged a tour of the roofing and sheet metal industry in Germany, with stops in London and Paris. One stop on the tour was a visit to the Vedag plant, which packaged asphalt in plastic bags. As January 1971 rolled around, Florida Forum celebrated its 10th anniversary. FRSA member, State Senator Lew Brantley, Brantley Sheet Metal, Jacksonville, intended to introduce a hold-harmless bill at the next session of the state legislature. Such a bill would prevent general contractors from attempting to force subcontractors
to hold them “harmless” from accidents occurring on jobs. The membership endorsed state legislation to declare broad form hold-harmless clauses as being“against public policy” and to make such contracts “void and unenforceable.”
The 49th Annual Convention, held at the Playboy Plaza Hotel in Miami Beach, had the largest attendance in the history of the Association. The combined Convention and trade show had 888 registered visitors. Risk Management Services, Inc., service agent for the Self-Insurers Fund, staged a play called “My Fund Lady,” which explained to members how the Self- Insurers Fund worked. At the conclusion of the play, $40,000 was distributed in dividends to Self-Insurer Fund members. Another $50,000 had been distributed a month earlier. Read more.