Hold the Mirror Up to Nature by Arthur Raybold

I went to Easter sunrise service atop Mt. Helix in East County this year, anticipating that Pastor Goodperson would fill my soul with the Holy Spirit. Instead, I was harangued for an hour about how I would probably miss the trip to the eternal dwelling place because I simply wasn't ready for the spiritual journey. Pastor meant well and he was sincere, but many went home chastened, not converted.

Suddenly I saw myself in the role of an evangelistic painting contractor, passionately carrying the word to the great unwashed-the association management Philistines. In my passion to educate these guardians of husbandry, I accosted them on their doorsteps, especially when they were going to and returning from lunch; I was forever inviting them to wine-tasting events at exotic watering holes; and sometimes, in cooperation with several other vendors, I would offer (as an inducement to join these bacchanalias) expensive vacations to faraway places.

And just like Pastor Goodperson, my good intentions were often misunderstood. I heard through the grapevine at a billiards social that I had been bodily removed from the reception area of a prestigious management firm. A recent cocktail party for property managers that I was part sponsor of was boycotted by three of the finest association management companies. Finally, a management company that I had performed much work for warned me that if I did not cease sending them my company newsletter it would remove me from its bid list.

What's a peddler to do. At one extreme you have association management people that suggest to vendors that certain gifts, inducements and even cash donations be made in order that contracts be awarded; at the other, you have management companies that have five contractors on their "landscaping" bid list and that's it for all eternity.

Nor does it help that the associations that vendors are asked to support, not only by annual dues but by generous sponsorship of numberless events (accumulating into the thousands of dollars) often take for granted the largesse of vendors who join and underwrite these organizations in order to make contact with managers.

But help is on the way. The Affiliates of CACM now have a Steering Committee with high goals, one of which is to grapple with the whole problem of ethics as it affects the relationship between vendors and managers. Establishment of guidelines for acceptable conduct on both sides of the aisle will go far towards helping this growing and significant industry establish a comfort level of behavior we can live with.

In the meantime, we would all do well to practice the bard's words: "Hold the mirror up to nature," meaning look in the glass and ask ourselves how others would like to be treated by us and act accordingly.