Western States Roofing Contractors Association

1. Who is Western States Roofing Contractors Association?

Western States Roofing Contractors Association is a nonprofit regional association of roofing, roof deck and waterproofing contractors and industry related associate members. The association’s close and frequent contact with members and its programs and services are vital to the successful operation of member companies.

A. What is a non-profit association?

The organization you serve is not the typical type of business you may be accustomed to. Nonprofits belong to the “third sector”, which means that they are organizations that exist solely to provide a service to the community. Because of their tax-exempt status, nonprofits must operate in the public interest. No matter what else the mission statement says, the bottom line is service to people. If a nonprofit puts its focus on anything other than this, it will be in jeopardy of losing its tax-exempt status.

Although an organization can earn revenues through its programs, it will be subject to tax on substantial income derived from an unrelated business. All tax exempt organizations with annual income of $25,000 or more must file with the Internal Revenue Service a Form 990 tax return. WSRCA hires a tax accountant on a yearly basis to file all necessary returns. The privilege of tax exemption should be guarded and not abused.

B. How does WSRCA function as an organization?

Western States RCA policy is developed by the Board of Directors or, in its absence, executive committee. WSRCA’s various programs and services are derived from its committees, which are appointed each year by the WSRCA president. Committees are established to recommend programs and services for the association. These committee recommendations are subject to approval by the board or executive committee, and from these recommendations new programs and services are initiated. Task forces are assigned specific task within a given subject and are usually active for a limited time until the specific task is completed. Subcommittees are formed to assist a standing committee with a particular area that needs specific development and monitoring. All committees have committee chairs and co-chairs, including subcommittees and the president appoints these positions.

As the nonprofit continued to grow, an administrator was hired (executive director) and took on more and more of its daily management. The board moved into a policy-making, planning and monitoring role…and out of the daily management.

C. How is the WSRCA staff organized?

The chief paid executive is the executive director and an officer to the executive committee. The executive director manages the association and its staff. Each staff person has specific assigned areas of responsibility and may work with several committees, attending board and committee meetings when necessary. Directors or committee chairs may assign projects to their staff liaison, but the executive director must prioritize these projects in accordance with the staff’s other duties.

2. Statement of Purpose

The Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) was formed in 1974 to preserve and promote the roofing industry in the western region. WSRCA’s purpose is to provide assistance to enable its members to operate successfully and competitively.

WSRCA members recognize that the perpetuation of such a healthy business environment is greatly influenced by their professional conduct. The association strongly supports the following practices and encourages their members to do the same.

Professional roofing contractors:

Are honest and straightforward in their dealings with clients, submitting reasonable proposals and answering all questions pertaining to those proposals
Stand behind their work, offering warranties or guarantees where appropriate
Enter into contracts that are fair and equitable, and that clearly assign and delineate responsibilities
Offer evidence that their companies are bonded, insured or licensed in locations where it is appropriate or required
Recognize that the employee’s health and safety are of paramount concern to the company and its employees
Support the education and training of their employees

3. Confidentiality

Nonprofit leaders may find themselves challenged to find the right balance between transparency and confidentiality. Nonprofit organizations are required by law to disclose certain information, such as their IRS Form 990 or 990-PE. In addition many states have sunshine laws – open meeting laws – that require certain nonprofits to make at least some portion of their board meetings open to the public.

4. Davis Memorial Foundation

The Davis Memorial Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization administered under the auspices of the Western States Roofing Contractors Association, a 501(c)(6). The foundation was established in 1996 in the memory of former WSRCA board director Larry Davis and his wife Mary, who perished in a private airplane crash returning home from a WSRCA board meeting in 1995. The Davis’ were owners of State Roofing Company in Modesto, a family owned business, which included their son and daughter. Larry had always expressed concern that the industry needed more and continuing education for contractors.

When WSRCA decided to organize a foundation in their name to represent the concerns of Larry Davis, Pacific Coast Building Products offered a five-year contribution plan to enable the foundation to get off the ground.

For the first five years, the foundation presented donations to the Ronald McDonald House in various western states. After that time, it was decided that the foundation would increase the scholarship program and use its funds for educational purposes. Because of the IRS status of the foundation, they are able to fundraise to contribute to the scholarship fund.

Mission Statement

WSRCA is dedicated to promoting professionalism by providing leadership for the benefit of its members. The success of each member is continually enhanced by providing:

Industry education, specific to the western United States
A forum for information exchange
A means for industry problem identification and resolution
Regular communications through newsletter and trade publications
An industry liaison between manufacturers and contractors
An annual convention and trade show, the Western Roofing Expo
The pursuit of the highest industry standards for the West

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