June began with a meeting of the National Council of Moving Associations in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Our group included association executives from state moving associations, the International Association of Movers (IAM), the American Trucking Association Moving and Storage Conference (ATA MSC), and the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM). The Council officers are Steve Weitekamp of CMSA, Chair; Tracy Denora of NJWMA, Vice Chair; and Nancy Irvine of CAM, Director. The Council, which has met informally for the past 57 years, gives association leaders a forum to share information on issues facing our industry and our members, while also exchanging best practices in association management. For those in attendance, it is an invaluable two-day meeting: a source of timely information and a safety net of colleagues who have faced similar challenges before.
For many members, June thankfully looked more like a traditional peak-season month than we have seen in the last several years. It was not a return to the go-go years of the pandemic, but it was significantly better than the years marked by the GHC and rising home mortgage rates. For the first time in a couple of years, military movers seem to be leading the race, at least in terms of volume. In support of our members, we are very pleased that military leadership finally came to understand that the GHC was a failed experiment—one that damaged both military families and the loyal cadre of movers who had successfully supported the DP3 program, as well as the programs that preceded it, for many years and often across multiple generations.
The common practice of calling around to see how others are doing can frequently lead to less-than-reliable conclusions. First, those conversations almost invariably lack a baseline: Is the mover across town busy because business is up, or because they have reduced crew size or modified their pricing? As someone who once made those calls, I always understood that the person on the other end of the phone might be a glass-half-full optimist or a glass-half-empty pessimist. And, of course, some may believe that keeping you in the dark gives them a competitive advantage.
The month also included a celebration of life for John Lance, former Chairman and current board member from the Ventura/Santa Barbara chapter. John was a mover’s mover and a man who always wanted to help. The celebration, planned by his wife, Bernie, was held on a beautiful day and included many memories of John shared by his children, NMS team members, former employees, CMSA chapter members, and movers from northern and southern California. The event ended with a toast to our good friend.
As we move further into the summer season, I remain grateful for the commitment, perspective, and generosity that define this industry. Whether we are sharing information with colleagues, navigating changing business conditions, serving military families, or honoring those who helped build our community, we are reminded that our strength comes from staying connected and supporting one another. Thank you for all you continue to do for your teams, your customers, and CMSA.