MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC) announced plans to provide local services to members who are in areas not serviced by chapters or regional groups. The plans are a result of the board of directors approving the local service delivery fee and revised policy guidelines for chapter affiliation for the 2005-06 membership renewal period whereby HRAC-Canada collects local chapter dues, now labeled "local service delivery fee" on behalf of chapters and regional groups. The fees, $100 per member, are forwarded to the chapter or regional group, provided that the local group meets some minimum criteria.

"The most important of these is the groups' ‘Plan of Service', which addresses what the organization intends to do for members at the local level in return for their fees," reported Nancy McKeraghan, HRAC board of directors' chair. "In areas where there is no active chapter, HRAC-Canada, as part of its objectives for 2005-06, will implement a plan for those members."

The plan for nonchapter areas includes placing ads on behalf of the local members in community newspapers that distribute to areas without chapters. In addition, HRAC-Canada will organize membership meetings in five locations across Canada where chapters do not exist.

HRAC-Canada will also establish a message board at www.hrai.ca for chapter executives and other interested members to discuss issues and provide a forum for electronic input.

Publication date: 10/10/2005