The Flooring Contractors Association (FCICA)

more people. Many non-members also attended the meeting, in an effort by the association to educate as many people as possible within the industry. According to Church, the emphasis was on helping everyone out now, especially during COVID. “It was also a way of trying to get more non-members interested in joining the association.” For Church, the October 2020 virtual meeting provided insight into different ways that the association can help its members. However, she did stress how members still need to meet in person. Successful as the virtual meeting was, attendees noted that nothing beats meeting people in person for networking purposes. An added benefit of becoming a member of the association is that it means a substantial discount on the cost of the CIM program. Church says that membership almost pays for itself for anyone wanting to become a certified installation manager, thanks to the discount offered. Also, new members can benefit from the various webinars offered by the FCICA, of which one a month is strictly educational. A further two of the webinars each month are product-focused, with associate members doing presentations regarding the products they manufacture or distribute. These product webinars can be for new products, as well as how-to demonstrations regarding popular or existing products that installers might have the most questions about. The networking provided by FCICA has been especially positive and even reassuring for members during the upheaval and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not surprisingly, business in both the commercial and residential sectors was adversely affected by COVID. Church emphasized that the industry was affected in different ways according to how states had reacted to the crisis with resultant lockdowns and other measures. “It’s not even across the board, it’s location-based,” she noted. For example, commercial jobs were more likely THE FLOOR ING CONTRACTORS ASSOC I AT ION ( FC I CA)