May was quite a month for the Association, with the anchor event being our annual convention this year on the big island of Hawaii. The event far exceeded any hype and was enjoyed by all who attended. I won’t repeat a play-by-play recap, which was described in some detail in this issue, words, and pictures. That being said, let me share that one of the things that makes a CMSA convention unique, in the opinion of many, is the feeling of friendship that permeates every aspect of the event. Many members may talk to each other via phone or email but only have that in-person contact at the convention. Having those strong industry relationships can be very positive for us personally and professionally and help us feel that we are not alone on an island (pun intended) when issues arise.

I am grateful for all the members who participated and made our convention successful in many ways. Special thanks to our volunteer leadership at both the board and chapter levels, who play a significant role in continuing to keep the CMSA in position as the preeminent state association in our industry. Our experienced board of directors, members, and officers stand ready to address industry issues in an ever-evolving environment.

The Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS) conducted its first Advisory Council meeting of 2024 virtually and in its Sacramento office. I attended the meeting in person because of its importance to CMSA. I was pleased to learn that the governor had reappointed me to serve on the Council for the next 4 years. We continue to be pleased with BHGS's work supporting the moving public and the regulated industry, but we do not take the positive impact of continual engagement for granted. Advocacy is an important part of our Association, and while we have had many successes, we can’t rest.

If you have yet to link to the BHGS Connect system, I would encourage you to do it today. Most members have found it easy to do, and it will allow you to pay your quarterly fees online and hopefully on time. Additionally, as a result of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) data dump, they continued to manage our data for the last 5 plus years. To the Bureau, there is a lot of record cleanup needed. Your review and notification of irrelevant records to BHGS will help the moving public to have a more accurate picture of your business.

June 2024 - CMSA Communicator