E-news Oct-2008

IDLCPA NEWSFLASH!!!
ISSUED: Monday, Oct 27, 2008

<<Click here for a full color printable PDF>>

RUMOR RESPONSE

Many of our members and legislators have been seeing emails and newsletter articles from opposition groups making outrageous claims stating that the interior design licensing bill will put “everyone out of business except for a handful of elite designers.” They also argue licensing the profession is a violation of free speech claiming that drawing a sketch on a napkin will get you prosecuted!

The IDLCPA has put together a Fact VS Fiction document that addresses many of the unsubstantiated claims and the actual truth to dispute these misconceptions. Please use this document to become comfortable with the issues so you can talk to colleagues and legislators that are hearing and possibly believing the opposition. Please also share this information with the industry  representatives who are also targeted by these claims.

The simple facts are that:

• The Interior Design Practice Act is meant to protect the Health, Safety and Welfare of the general public
• There is a difference between an Interior Design Professional and an Interior Decorator. Although both job categories are needed in today’s society, there are many projects that call for a professional that has the education, experience and testing to address space designes regulated by Pennsylvania building codes.
• There are specific exemptions in the bill to ensure that decorators, contractors, architects, kitchen and bath specialists, retailers and related industry fields will still be able to practice within their scope of expertise.
• There are clauses in the bill to ensure that designers who have been successfully practicing for years will be able to get licensed regardless of educational background.

If you or anyone you know has a question about the bill, please contact an IDLCPA board member so we can provide answers.

2009 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE AND DECAL GIVEAWAY

Can anyone believe it’s almost November? Which means the Holidays and New Year are right around the corner! Before we all get caught up in the craziness of the season, now would be a great time to get those 2009 Membership forms filled out and mailed in. Please look for email reminders or go to the website and download a membership form at www.idlcpa.org.

Memberships are critical to our cause. Along with showing the legislators how many people are dedicated to licensing, the memberships also help us keep track of constituents in certain districts, so that when we hear that a representative is having
second thoughts, we can get his or her voters to send emails and make phone calls directly to him or her.

Due to the economy, the prices for the memberships are staying the same as last year. These rates are very reasonable compared with other professional organizations and all the money stays in state to protect our right to practice!

For an added incentive, IDCLPA will be mailing one decal per membership this year that you can put on your car or workstation showing your support for licensing.  The decal is a simple black and white box that states “Support Interior Design Licensing” and the website. Can you imagine if legislators started seeing these decals all across the state? That would sure get their attention!!!!!