| INTERIOR DESIGN PROTECTION COUNCIL |
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| Recalling a lesson |
 While reflecting on an important event that led to our country's valued liberty - the Boston Tea Party - I was surprised to find many comparisons that could be applied to the current push for interior design regulation.
Like Great Britain of old, ASID is large, powerful and militant. Both chose to serve as the partner to select businesses and groups useful to accomplishing their purposes. Both dismiss the injustices they create as collateral damage for the "public good," while refusing to acknowledge the destruction of lives they leave in their wake.
Great Britain's Tea Act was supposed to solve problems, not inflame them. But passing the Tea Act granted exclusive marketing privileges and created a monopoly. It was a violation of freedom, and resulted in the mobilization of large segments of merchants, traders and activists.
Interior Design Practice/Title Acts would create a similar negative environment. They would put hundreds of thousands of designers out of business or place them at an unfair competitive disadvantage. These laws would create a monopoly in which only a small handful of elitist insiders would have control of all the business. Such laws are anti-competitive. Plainly put, they are unAmerican.
We need YOU to join us in standing united against anti-competitive and totally unnecessary practice and title acts. |
| Renaming the strategy |
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In their June 18 statement, ASID denied that they'd had an "official" meeting with IIDA to outline their future strategy to impose practice act regulation in every state. This is a moot point because whether an official meeting took place or not, ASID did not deny that they intend to pursue practice acts in EVERY state, only that they have not "officially planned it" in conjunction with IIDA.
To further split hairs on this issue, Allison Levy, IIDA Managing Director of Government/Regulatory Affairs sent a June 19 email to their members confirming that there indeed was an IIDA internal agenda item called the Parker Plan and that open discussions were held "including the position [of] enacting enforceable legislation nationwide." What does "enforceable" mean? Simply this: if you don't meet a certain criteria (which incidentally is the same criteria to become a "professional" member of ASID or IIDA), legal action will be taken against you! Don't believe me? Check out this website which lists a multitude of Cease and Desist orders filed in Florida (one of 3 states with a practice law) against many designers, including nationally recognized, successful designers such as Kelly Wearstler (Case No. 2007-067706), Phillip Sides (Case No. 2004-043524), Juan Montoya (Case No. 2004-055870) and several others. If these high-profile designers have been prohibited from practicing, what makes you think a not-so-famous but still successful designer like you will escape attention? You WILL be stopped from earning a living! See this article on Joni Webb's blog: ASID: An Agency Out of Control. Pay particular attention to the excellent post near the end from an Allied ASID member. So if you don't want to end up in the unemployment line, NOW is the time to join IDPC and help us protect the rights of all designers to practice. In 1773, the Sons of Liberty issued a name for the punitive measures of the British government: THE INTOLERABLE ACTS
We are "borrowing" this ingenious name to describe the push for anti-competitive regulation in all states! We will not tolerate the repeated attempts to put us out of business! Join us in resisting the Intolerable Act and launching:
PROJECT: DESIGNING FREEDOM
as we defend our rights to occupational freedom and free speech! |
| Realizing what's going on NOW |
- NY - an amendment to restrict the use of the title "Interior Designer" has passed both Houses and is on the Governor's desk awaiting his signature
- CA - An effort is underway to "gut-and-amend" the practice act bill that was withdrawn in the Senate, and sneak it into an Assembly bill to be passed in August; a countermeasure to strengthen the CID program has also been introduced
- MI - an article was just published which indicates Rep. Meisner will attempt to revive the practice act again in the fall.
- TX - a hearing will be held on July 16th involving which professions should be licensed
Don't see your state listed? Think you're safe? WRONG. It's only a matter of time. . . We are aware of potential 2009 plans to introduce or revive legislation in AL, AZ, CA, HI, MA, MI, MN, MS, NE, NH, ID, IN, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA. And no doubt there are dozens of additional under-the-radar efforts being planned that we have yet to uncover. Join us to be kept informed of legislation in your state. | |
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Coming soon... |
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Look for my article "Designing Freedom" in the upcoming Summer/Fall issue of Design Trade magazine.
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| Quick Links |
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Rebuttal to ASID Message Guide & Strategy
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Freedom to Design! |
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Interior Design regulation violates your Constitutional rights to occupational freedom and free speech.
Join the growing resistance movement to stop this infringement on your rights as a U.S. Citizen!
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| Please forward this email to every designer and interior design student you know who want to protect their right to practice!!! |
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| Reclaiming your profession |
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We can help you keep regulation out of your state. So far, every state with a grassroots opposition has been successful in keeping legislation from passing.
Our services include:
- Information on grassroots activism in your state
- Complete information on how to set up and maintain an effective grassroots organization
- Samples of letters to legislators, governors and other officials
- Bill analysis and talking points specific to the bill in your state
- How to run rallies, town hall meetings, and fundraising events
- How to testify and organize others to testify
- How to reach out to students
- How to network with other national organizations
- Website design and implementation
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Reinforcing the resistance |
 Your membership dues will fund important programs such as:
Grassroots training in all 50 states
Student outreach
Town hall meetings and anti-legislation rallies
Advertising/PR campaigns to reach independent and Allied ASID designers
Future National Conferences
Just as the Boston Tea Party triggered a major change in the political climate, so too can you be a part of the resistance to the modern day INTOLERANCE ACT. |
| Rescuing our students |
 It is widely believed that nearly all of ASID's new members are students. I have to admit, ASID has done a great job of brainwashing students into believing that interior design regulation is something they should support.
The truth is that government-sanctioned regulation will hurt not help students. The key to defeating regulation over the long haul will be to re-educate and mobilize our student population to help save their profession.
Your membership dues will help to create a new program of outreach to students, including a Power Point presentation outlining the facts that have been hidden from them. We'd like to begin this program in Fall, 2008, but need your help. Join us in rescuing our students from a lifetime of indentured servitude and from ever reaching their fullest potential. If you are an interior design instructor at the college level and would like to participate in presenting the program, please email me at pmorrow@IDPCinfo.org. |
| Reaping the benefits |
 Thanks to the dues of our members, here's what we've been able to accomplish this year alone:
- Assisted CA and OR to set up new grassroots opposition groups
- Actively worked to defeat or sidetrack legislation in CA, CT, MA, MI,
MN, MS, NE, OH, PA, SC, TN, and WA
- Contacted legislators in many states to educate them on the negative
impact regulation would have
- Published articles and opinion pieces in magazines and newspapers to
increase awareness about interior design regulation
- Published many Letters to the Editor in response to propaganda pieces from the proponents,
exposing a great number of misleading and false statements
statements in the ASID strategy document. |
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Rewriting "future history" |
 Fellow designers and sympathizers,
ASID believes they have been annointed to write the future of interior design. They have not. Never, ever underestimate the motivation and enthusisam that drives those whose liberties and livelihoods are threatened, and whose backs are up against the faux painted, wallpapered or textured wall.
This is YOUR chance to be a part of history. I am just the catalyst (think of me as the present-day "Sami Adams"). YOU are the true patriots, the current Sons and Daughters of Liberty, who can save our profession and our fellow designers from economic disaster. With your help, we re-wrote the 2007 chapter, and have taken our red pen to 2008. To close the book, we need more people like:
- Wendy Hoeschetter and Thora Tam, who gave much time and enthusiasm to squash the recent practice act in California
- Bill Barrett, whose opposition to the single-entry method into design sheds much needed light and focus on educating students
- Mark McKiernan and Pam Pollack, whose hard work in Ohio derailed a title act in April
- Vawn Greany, who helped to mobilize the resistence group that defeated a practice act in Washington state in January
- Donna Boerner, whose testimony and mobilization of students were vitally important to the overwhelming defeat of a two interior design bills in New Hampshire last year
- Suzanne Davies, who has decided to take up the mantle in Virginia, and pro-activley begin to organize a grassroots organization before they are hit with legislation
- Brian Horne, who worked tirelessly to organize the South Carolina opposition to a practice act in January
We need more people like... YOU. Please join us. The future of interior design depends on it.
Enjoy the upcoming holiday celebrating the freedoms we so love and wish to maintain!
Executive Director | |
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