2009 Summer Conference
"Glad I was there! Glad my competition wasn't!" was an interesting comment at MEA's Summer Conference. Here were some of the reasons:
- Steve Sviggum, Commissioner of Labor, paid a surprise visit to our education and government action committees. It was great to have him discuss unallotments, the future of training, and more.
- NFPA 70E enforcement was addressed by Tom Joachim, the head of the Construction Codes & Licensing Division and Bob Durkee, OSHA Consulting.
- Bill Glahn, Assistant Energy Commissioner, spoke about how to get energy grants for implementing the state energy mandates.
- Ways of getting new business with "stimulus" money and rebates for energy efficient projects were discussed at seminars. Rob Olson of EESCO United flew in experts Jason Bondra (Pittsburgh) and Jim Paplaczyk (Chicago) to talk about the best-selling trends in green projects.
- The names of companies that do the paperwork for rebates and grants for FREE.
- How to get new business by being able to "talk the sustainable (green or energy efficient) business practices" talk with customers.
- The newest ways distributors will help contractors save money on inventory and close new sales.
- The hottest selling products were displayed at the product show and the big truck and equipment lot. MEA member Pat Vlaminck created excitement with his new hydraulic trailer, which allows electricians to safely load big spools of wire by themselves.
MEA hired full-time Senior Training Specialist, Paul Krmpotich... and he was there to meet with the education committees and talk to the members. Paul has over 25 years of experience in training electricians and writing curriculum for all levels of expertise.
At the business meetings, the leadership made a number of decisions including creation of classes for 8 hours of code credit for unlicensed apprentice electricians, meeting with the electrical department to discuss solar installations, explaining the expansion of the Contractors Bill of Rights to residential work was important to the industry; an annual authorization for the chair of the board and president to sign for loans on behalf of MEA, that our lobbyist and president have done excellent work and give them a raise; price key man insurance for MEA on Judi Rubin, approval of financial reports, and the hiring of a senior training specialist.
Families also had a great time shopping at the Albertville Mall, and kids were kept entertained by our favorite clown, Suzi Helgeson, doing face painting and animal balloons. Bingo, rolle bolle and golf tournaments left people holding lots of prizes and fun memories. Hope you will join us next year.
