NULCA... no more?

**Karen** · February 10th, 2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Pittsburgh

Now Karen for being behind a desk has a pretty good idea of what it is all about. $$$ talks! Unfortunately the locator will remain at the bottom of the food chain. Sad but very true!

we have to do this at the government level. The government can chage the rules. Whatever effort we organize has to be directed towards our representatives directly. Talking to our bosses will never work. We can do a national petition everybody chips in to hire a consultant/attorney and take some real action. Going to expos won't solve this. I can start by setting up a national petition right here right now. Tired of talking and nobody does nothing. Who's in? I'll start making some phone calls in the morning.

**Karen** · February 10th, 2009, 11:03 PM

Billions are coming down the pipeline for infrastructure and I want in on it dammit!

**TheCableVine** · February 10th, 2009, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by Karen

Billions are coming down the pipeline for infrastructure and I want in on it dammit!

I thought you decided against becoming a locator.

**Karen** · February 10th, 2009, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by TheCableVine

I thought you decided against becoming a locator.

if they locator certification becomes mandatory by law, then I will locate. In the meantime, I'll stay at the desk with my beautiful long hair and clean nails. Our bathroom is clean. I wouldn't be caught dead in a portable.

**TheCableVine** · February 10th, 2009, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Karen

if they locator certification becomes mandatory by law, then I will locate. In the meantime, I'll stay at the desk with my beautiful long hair and clean nails. Our bathroom is clean. I wouldn't be caught dead in a portable.

I think locator certification is a ways off. You probably won't see it nationwide for a couple of more years, probably longer.

**GWJ_CAS** · February 11th, 2009, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by Karen

I don't want to sound like Im flinging mud at the CGA event, but it's a marketing event. It's all set up to show expensive equipment, trends saftey equipment, etc. I mean they make it sound so interesting and call it a 'round table' to make it sound intimate. But it's not about you, it's about business and pushing product through the pipeline.

You network for business. No utility contractor there will be interested in hearing you rant about becoming certified by law so you can make more money as a locator. There is no incentive in it for the contractors at the event to go fight for your labor efforts. The event is just for showcasing products and services in my honest opinion. Someone might listen to you yap about certification, but after the event , you will fly back home to make $15 bucks an hour closing out 45 tickets or more a day.

The best solution is to find another source of income. In the end, that's what it's all about

It is actually an educational event with a marketing component. There are numerous educational seminars including a locator training course, a course in damage investigation and so on and so on. There are product demonstrations and hands on demos of current technology.

Thursday, February 19th is "Safety Day", with free admission to all who register. There is going to be safety demos including trench/confined space rescue techniques by the Orlando Fire Dept and other valuable items.

The "Locator Certification" round table is a continuation of the same entitled meeting that was held in Marco Island last August. All the major locate firms attended and weighed in on the issue and their respective feelings. This meeting promises to be even more lively and better attended. The meeting specifically preceeds the NULCA Summit so that the NULCA Board Members can attend and get a flavor of what NULCA needs to do concerning this issue, and as an organization moving forward. The new Executive Director of NULCA is co-moderating the discussion and we will take hard looks at the three states that already have some form of certification requirements.

I sincerely hope that folks like you would participate in the round table and make sure the NULCA board hears your concerns. Without participation from the locators themselves the issues will not be heard and general apathy will remain the staple...and you will continue to get what you are getting now and less as time marches on.

**Karen** · February 11th, 2009, 09:24 AM

We are meeting right here right now on this forum. It couldn't be more perfect. This is the appropriate medium to discuss this. After all, this is where locators are hanging out. I don't think flying all the way to Florida to sit with old contractors and businessmen will accomplish anything other than looking at my ass and collecting business cards. No one at that meeting can change the law. They can only talk about the issue and hopefully our " organization leader" will have the resources and will power to fight for our labor efforts and compensation while thousands of us hide behind him/her. This method has been tried and it hasn't worked. Two years have passed and we are still discussing CGA meetings. No one cares enough. Time to go to the source. A national petition submitted to Washington. We can meet on gotomeeting.com -promo code "RUSH" LOL or right here in this forum is perfect. I couldn't think of a more perfect place to discuss this issue than here. Every locator on earth can drop in ideas. Meetings in person were necessary before the internet. Now, it is pointless, unless you want to sell products and make business contacts. Being there in person would benefit me because I can demonstrate my products and get the check. But to discuss this issue is pointless. No one there have any power to do anything for us other than advocate. So why not jump over those slow contractors and go to the source? CGA sounds good, but it's just a title. Names and titles don't mean anything anymore. Take away the names and titles and all you have left are old white guys trying to make a buck. We put our faith on another to do what we should be doing ourselves. We can organize a petition without waiting around and paying someone dues to do it for me. The next best choice is to find another source of income. In the end it's all about the money. And there's alot of easier ways to make money than trying to motivate locators to join in on a greater cause.

**ifinditunderground** · February 11th, 2009, 09:46 AM

Anybody else smell John Spruce? Or is it just me?

**OVUS1** · February 11th, 2009, 11:23 AM

Who would you approach in Washington to get attention? You can't just walk in off the street and expect action. You have to have someone that can not only get in the door, but can also convey the concerns and solutions in such a way that Washington will respond. We can write all the letters we want to our leaders and will rarely ever get a response. You let CNN or Fox News show up at their door with a camera and microphone and you will see who these politicians actually work for (the media). I say we focus on media outlets and see where that takes us. Most people don't even know about our industry and when they find out what we do it might play a critical role in our progress.

The problem with using this forum or the internet is nobody seems to be who they say they are. If what we see on the web is true, the women are all 19, have blue eyes, weigh 105 lbs, and are drop dead gorgeous. All the men are 24, millionaires, have 8 pack abs, and a full head of hair. Without seeing the person and the passion behind their convictions, words are just words - they never get anything done. It's action that gets it done Karen.

I understand why you feel the way you do. We have been betrayed so many times it's easier to give up. We can put all the words here that we feel in our hearts, but ultimately our actions are going to define who we really are and how seriously we will be taken.