Steven Hockstein

Manometer sounds like something that the cast of Sex in the City could use.[:-bonc01]. Can anyone tell that this has been a long week for me and I am getting punchy? I have not even had anything to drink (yet).

Kurt, No problem, I have no problem taking a back seat to Dr. Seuss! I would rather read him as well. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish....

I use a Nikon Coolpix 5700. It has more bells and whistels than I need but it allows me to install a wide angle lens. You can also get a macro lens for great closeups. It is a little bigger than I would like but it takes great pictures. The battery does not last too long so I keep a charged spare in my camera bag. Most of the shots on my website were taken with this camera.

Mike, Since the NJ-ALPHI meeting has been posted on this site, I have already received 4 calls from people that told me this is where the first heard about our New Association. I am sure that I speak for many in thanking you for providing this Forum. [:-bonc01][:-slug]

Kurt, I hope they learned their lesson and the presentation at the convention is clear and not just a lot of smoke and mirrors. This is their last chance to pull in the members that are still on the fence.

Now that this poll has been up for a few days, it is clear to me that ASHI members are very divided (almost evenly) on this subject. It is a shame that this whole thing was so poorly thought out and presented to us without a clear plan and a membership vote. If it was shown how divided we all are about Branding, the program could have been altered in such a way that more of us may have accepted it and possibly changed our positions. Roy makes a good point that we need to unify but Branding has actually caused a division between many members and ASHI. In the end, many of us will leave and it will weaken ASHI.

The prospect of licensing in every state has ASHI running scared. It is fighting to remain relevant with this whole "Branding" garbage and is going to end up shooting itself in the foot. One of the reasons that I joined this forum is because I am going to be kicked out of ASHI (because I won't pay for "Branding") and I enjoy these discussions online.[:-slug] Mike-Thanks again for putting this together! I would like to see a real poll of ASHI members about how many of us wanted "Branding" and not one of these vague survey questions that ask things like "Would you be willing to pay $250 to increase your business?" and have that twisted into us stating that we asked for "Branding". (of the many ASHI members I know, I still don't know any that were asked any survey questions) How about this question: Do you want ASHI to help you run your business, get involved in your company marketing, borrow money to help pay for this program, put together the program and keep the details a secret until after it is a done deal, raise your dues in an attempt to develop and increase public awareness of ASHI and do all of this without a clear plan? How many of us would agree to that?