There were 18 agencies in the start-up of SCCA from across the State. In the first year of it's organization the Unit won the educational award for units of 30 or less members. Just two (2) years before the formation of the SCCA, the FDCPA PL 95-109 had come into effect. There still was a great need for training of the membership about the new law that governed their operations. Professional Telephone Technique and the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act was the number one educational classes scheduled across the state. Starting with the 1980 awards for Units of 30 or less, the SCCA Unit, won the Educational Award for 5 consecutive years.
In the ACA year 1981-1982 Dalton Sheppard announced his candidacy, and was elected Treasurer of ACA. In 1982 with Dalton on the Executive Committee, Cosmo Brockington become the President of SCCA.
In 1983 the ACA Convention was held in Seattle Washington. Rickman, as the National Director attended his second National Convention, and after the convention, Jay Rickman Sr., traveled to Ellensburg, Washington some 40 or so miles from Seattle to the campus of Central Washington State College and attended the Washington States Business Week program, as a company adviser and observer. When Rickman returned to South Carolina he made a proposal to the Board of Directors of SCCA, to pursue the starting of a Business Week program in South Carolina. With the Board authorizing the expenditure of $350.00 to develop material for presentations to the following organizations, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, State Department of Education, South Carolina Bankers Association, South Carolina Council on Economic Education and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. Then Rickman went to Presbyterian College located in Clinton S.C. and made a presentation to The President of the College, Dr Kenneth Orr. With the intervention by Dr. Orr, the South Carolina Business Week program held its first class at Presbyterian College in July 1984 with 206 students from all parts of the State attending.
The memberships of SCCA are proud that they're Association. The Association only five years old had a member become the President of the National Association. In July 1985 Dalton Sheppard Jr. become the 47 th President of American Collectors Association in Boston Massachusetts.
In the early 90's Dalton Sheppard was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. With Dalton in the House the Unit had introduced a bill called the Right of Assignment, which failed in the House by one vote. From that point on the unit become active on the political front by attempting to pass a garnishment law and a number of other legislation. With South Carolina, being one of four States in the US that did not have a garnishment law, the membership thought it would be an easy process to get a garnishment bill past. They repeatedly went to the well and come back empty. The Unit saw a need to hire a lobbyist to help assist in getting legislation passed and help control the anti-industry legislation being repeatedly introduced in the House and Senate. In 1995 the Unit hired the Capital Consultants a lobbyist firm to assist in getting the garnishment legislation passed, an blocking negative legislation.
In 1999 Gary Williams of Rock Hill the president of Williams and Fudge was elected to the office of Treasurer of the now ACA International. Gary becomes the 65 th President and the second member of this Association to become ACA International President in 2003.
In the ACA year 2002-2003 The South Carolina Collectors Association was a winner in the first year of ACA International awarding the Unit Certificate of Excellence.
The Unit becomes the winner again years for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. In the ACA year 2003-2004, this Association was the winner of the first ACA Political Action Committee (ACPAC) award for the heights percentage of the membership to contribute to ACPAC.
Neil Welborn was a winner for the second time of the Red Coat award in 2004 for bringing in 7 new members into SCCA.
Members of the Unit have won a number of The National Association awards. From Member of the year Award (Formerly known as Paul Bunyan), Continuous Services Award, Unit Leader of the Year Award and the International Fellowship of Certified Collectors Executives (IFCCE). There have been a number of members that have become Certified Instructors, some teaching over 35 classes in the life of instructing.
A number of members of agencies in the South Carolina Collectors Association have been and are very active in their respective community's, serving as BSA Scoutmaster and setting on the Board of Directors the Scouts. Being Deacons in there church, and serving as officers in a number of Civic Clubs. Also being part of festivals and fund drives that have raised thousand of dollars for their respective community's. |
