Another interesting note that came from the NFRC recently was they announced the hiring of a lobbyist named Clark & Weinstock.
Clark & Weinstock, according to their own website is:
Clark & Weinstock is a consulting firm that specializes in reputation and crisis management, regulatory issues, mergers and acquisitions, public affairs, government and financial relations, and investment community relations.
Our work involves the positive positioning of clients and their important issues with the institutions, individuals, and audiences that will influence the outcome of client objectives.
Wow I love the line "reputation and crisis management" See because I have been told my efforts on this issue are a "joke" but yet I did not need to hire a firm that specializes in reputation management!
This is fun... the NFRC said in their release that C&W have a history of representing "non profits" and I am sure they do. But when you look at the list of companies that these people rep, sure don't look like non profit to me...
Microsoft, AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Xcel Energy, New York Life and so on. Yes they do handle some non profits but its surely not in the same light that they handle these folks.
So why does NFRC need them? In his release Jim Benney noted that federal funding of fenestration related groups have been declining. And in the NFRC's case IT SHOULD! Any money that the DOE or federal govt gives NFRC is $1 more than it deserves. So really our tax payer money can go to people like Potomac? Or how about a cool 60K to a NFRC Board member for "research." They get money from DOE already and who knows what is done with it- getting anymore is simply insane.
Not only that, the NFRC with its fees and charges is having no problems making money. If they need to make money, here's a novel idea:
How about charge the people like WestLab and Keystone, WHO MAKE MONEY because of their relationship with NFRC more than $400? Maybe those firms who stand to make money on inspections and testing and the various procedures enacted by NFRC should start paying more for the privledge.
So they hire these guy.. Obviously there's something more there. But then again anyone who is inside the NFRC thinks that all is merry and I am just nuts. Which I am for the most part, but logic would win this battle and believe me any logical human would look at this group and just shake their head.
So Clark and Weinstock, welcome. You won't have nearly the opposition that you have when you represent Microsoft, or the Pharmaceutical Research folks, but you will a find a few with passion to at least raise their voices.
By the way one more item... What sounds more expensive:
Las Vegas in February at $109 per night or Hawaii in March or Quebec City in July.. At dramatically more. Ok just curious.
1 comment:
I'd love to copy it here but knowing my luck and the lawyers at NFRC (Scott Meza) they would hammer me for taht. In a nutshell it was in one of their quick letters that Potomac writes and sends out under Jim Benney's name. (I guess they do these instead of actually keeping minutes... another story for another time) Anyway, the reason was because they feel like the funds being raised for Fenestration related groups is dwindling and this group will help. I guess they can lobby congress and get them to give more money to the NFRC so they can pay Potomac more to make up their own versions of what happens in the meetings.
In my opinion, there is NO JUSTIFICATION for this move really. They hired this group to protect their reputation, and protect them against the opposition.
As for measurements, I'd love to see that too, but then again it may make me ill like when they approve big money to a board members special interest group to do education on a program that is not done yet....
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