October 2011 Volume 35 #9
Table of Contents Features 14 11 European Countries Represented
P.14
as NCSG and CSIA Host 2011 ESCHFOE Meeting
18 NCSG Innovation 2012 25 Wills 28 How Facebook Can Help your Chimney Sweep Business
30 Seven Tips for a Successful Chimney Service Company
32 Call for Nominations: Board of Directors P.28
Departments 3 Moving Forward 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Industry Watch 10 Technical Q&A 12 The Coach’s Corner P.37
33 Progressive Perks 34 New NCSG Members
Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology (ISSN# 10416692) is published 11 times annually, by the National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Annual dues to the National Chimney Sweep Guild are $459 for Voting Member Companies and $689 for Supplier Member Companies, of which $80 goes toward a subscription to Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology. Additional annual subscriptions are available for $80 by contacting the National Chimney Sweep Guild at the office of publication (NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168
36 Dates & Events 37 Perspective 39 Darwin Awards 39 Display Ad Index 40 Classifieds
OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 1
ResourcePage
NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD
COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND TASK FORCES FOR 2011-2012 Bylaws Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Governance Randy Brooks (805) 646-8961 hearthhunter@aol.com
NFPA 211 Representative Randy Brooks (805) 646-8961 hearthhunter@aol.com
Convention Site Selection Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Government Affairs Phil Mitchell (603) 659-7776 sootski@aol.com
NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Discussion List Marge Padgitt (816) 461-3665 margepadgitt@comcast.net
International Relations Victor Imgarten (636) 477-9966 stlswp@accessus.net
NFPA 54 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com
Ethics Mark Stoner (615) 459-2546 ashbusters@aol.com
Long Range Planning Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneygal@aol.com
Public Awareness Task Force Marge Padgitt (816) 461-3665 margepadgitt@comcast.net
Finance Mark Maynard (920) 830-1920 mark@chimneyguy.com
Membership Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 fluesbrothers@yahoo.com
Technical Advisory Council Dennis Dobbs (256) 845-9814 info@fireplaceservicescenter.com
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (317) 203-0088 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question: Dennis Dobbs Technical Advisory Council Chair Installation or Service of Direct Vent Gas Appliances 317-203-0088 x: 1 Chris Prior Masonry Construction and Restoration and Priorfire Fireboxes 317-203-0088 x: 2 Jim Brewer Gas Venting and NFPA 54 317-203-0088 x: 3 John Pilger Oil Flue Sizing, Relining or NFPA 31 317-203-0088 x: 4
Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves 317-203-0088 x: 7
President, Region 3 Jay Walker (850) 562-4692 • president@ncsg.org Vice President, At-Large Diane Pilger (631) 863-2460 • chimneygal@aol.com Treasurer, Region 5 Mark Maynard (920) 830-1920 • mark@chimneyguy.com Secretary, Region 1 Phil Mitchell (603) 659-7776 • sootski@aol.com Region 2 Bob Fleer (410) 544-7600 • bobfleer@aol.com Region 4 Marge Padgitt (816) 461-3665 • margepadgitt@comcast.net Region 6 OPEN SEAT FMI: Randy Brooks NCSG Governance Chair (805) 646-8961 • hearthhunter@aol.com At-Large Directors Jeremy Biswell (913) 236-7141 • fluesbrothers@yahoo.com
Jay Walker Dryer Vents 317-203-0088 x: 8
Dennis Dobbs (256) 845-9814 • info@fireplaceservicecenter.com
John LaBrosse International Residential Codes 317-203-0088 x: 9
Fred Joy (785) 986-6432 • joyfredm@live.com
Randy Brooks NFPA 211 and Customer Communications 317-203-0088 x: 5 Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining, Video Scanning and Narrative Report Writing 317-203-0088 x: 6
Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry 317-203-0088 x: 10 Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining 317-203-0088 x: 11
Be advised that advice given by NCSG’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry. However, we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental, physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace and/or chimney. Additionally, local laws and ordinances may govern and/or supersede the information and any recommendations provided. Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with first-hand knowledge of the situation, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC. By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms.
ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or SweepingAds@indy.rr.com Design by Laura Houser Design • laurahouser.com • (317) 213-7497 NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press release and articles to Melissa Heeke, Sweeping Editor at mheeke@ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format. In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release. NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publications’ standards. Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers. © 2011 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500
2 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
NCSG BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012
Supplier Representative Edmund Poplawski (570) 504-7107 • epoplawski@olympiachimney.com
STAFF 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365 Mark McSweeney, CAE Executive Director mmcsweeney@ncsg.org
Megan McMahon Office Manager mmcmahon@ncsg.org
Melissa Heeke, CAE Director of Communications & Marketing mheeke@ncsg.org
Sara Sichting Certification Coordinator (CSIA) ssichting@csia.org
Ashley Eldridge, COI, CPP Director of Education ashley@ncsg.org
Debbie Cornelius Membership Development Coordinator dcornelius@ncsg.org
Candice Bradbury Director of Finance cbradbury@ncsg.org
Donna Lee Kasmer Program Coordinator dkasmer@ncsg.org
JAY WALKER NCSG PRESIDENT
A
lmost eight months have passed since we met in Hartford for NCSG Innovation 2011. Very soon, we will be gathering in Orlando, Florida for our annual convention and trade show with members from around the country and around the world. Since our last board planning meeting in May, staff and committee chairs have been making progress. I am writing this just before our annual budget meeting at the Guild’s headquarters where we will review our long-term plan and goals and reprioritize if needed to meet our immediate goals. Once we have those goals updated, we will move on to the budget process to allocate funds appropriately and diligently. By the time you read this message, the National Chimney Sweep Guild will have a longterm lease agreement in place with the Chimney Safety Institute of America and will have a plan in place to continue to work together for the long-term to benefit each organization and NCSG members for years to come.
Moving Forward
this great organization. Past-Presidents in attendance (terms as NCSG President in parenthesis) included: Mary Ann Beaufait (1986-1987), Jim Brewer (1991), Victor Imgarten (1992-1993), Jerry Isenhour (1994-1996 and 2001-2004), Jim Conant (19992001), Steve Pietila (2004-2006), Howard Rowell (2006-2008) and Randy Brooks (2008-2011). Also having a week to communicate to various leaders from abroad help me understand the pros and cons of industry regulation, but also the need for us to focus on efficiencies and performance of the appliances that we service every day. My thoughts regarding the Europeans technology and service leads me to believe that, in the United States, our industry may be behind the curve. However, I learned from
As the organization’s President, I had the honor and pleasure to represent the United States during the European Federation of Chimney Sweeps meeting that took place in Indianapolis this August. It was indeed a pleasure to meet and converse with leaders in the chimney sweep industry from across Europe. In the past, my involvement with this group has been basically mingling with our international guests during our annual convention. The meeting that NCSG and CSIA recently hosted showed me just how important and beneficial our networking on a global scale is to everyone in this industry here and in Europe. It was a pleasure being able to talk with many of the Past-Presidents of OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 3
Hans-Gunther Beyerstedt, the President of ESCHFOE, that our businesses here in the USA are “miles ahead” because of our free trade in this great country. This is one aspect I feel we all take for granted. As Americans, we can grow our businesses as big as we want or stay a single owner/operator – we have a choice. I would like to thank our Executive Director, Mark McSweeney, and International Relations Committee Chairman, Victor Imgarten, for helping to bring this event to the United States. Victor has been involved with our European colleagues from day one. He is to be commended for his diligence and follow through. Also, we need not forget the NCSG staff and onsite instructors for all the work and planning that made the ESCHFOE event a success. I was humbled to be able to represent NCSG as President during this event. However, staff was ultimately responsible for the outcome and success of this event and recognition should be given to them – and rightly so. After spending the week with our colleagues from Europe, I made my way to Washington D.C. where I once again had the great honor to serve with a team of sweeps to help service the chimneys and fireplaces at the White House. Want to guess where I was when the earthquake rumbled on August 23? Yep, you guessed it. I had the pleasure of riding out the earthquake
4 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
while on the roof of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; the great house that has housed our nation’s leaders for centuries. Once returning back home to Florida, many people had questions about the earthquake. Friends and family wanted to know how the earthquake felt. My response was “If you could, imagine what it would feel like if you were standing on an off-kilter washing machine during the spin cycle.” If you haven’t made plans yet, please visit www.NCSG.org/ innovation and register for the upcoming convention and trade show in my home state of Florida. The NCSG Innovation 2012 convention and trade show will be held February 15-18, 2012 at the Buena Vista Palace in Orlando. This year’s lineup offers an impressive mix of business and technical education specifically for chimney sweep companies like yours. It’s beginning our very busy season to help educate and provide services to the public. Please everyone stay safe on the rooftops! As always, sweeps luck to you and your family and God Bless. Jay Walker NCSG President
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Editor’s Letter
G
MELISSA HEEKE NCSG DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
reetings! Hopefully you have more than a few moments to enjoy this month’s issue of Sweeping magazine. We have a fantastic lineup for you this month; from the recap of the European Federation of Chimney Sweeps meeting in Indianapolis to the introduction of a new feature (Coach’s Corner with Past-President Jerry Isenhour). Also, in this month’s issue is the next article from Brian Noe, a featured speaker at the NCSG Innovation 2011 convention in Hartford. I’ll admit that the information that Brian is sharing with us is not the most uplifting information, but it is some of the most important long-term information that we have shared with you in quite some time. Please stop and have the conversation with your loved ones this month.
I know that you have a lot on your mind this time of year. Not the least of which is your legal well-being. Here’s one more thing to plan for! Now is the time to plan ahead to attend the NCSG Innovation 2012 convention and trade show in Orlando, February 15-18. Orlando + February + education tailored to your chimney service company = A BIG WIN for you and your company. Registration is now open and the complete lineup is available online at www.NCSG.org/innovation. Happy October!
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Industry Watch Nine Manufacturers, Distributors Announce Consumer Recall of Pourable Gel Fuel Due to Burn and Flash Fire Hazards September 1, 2011 - WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with nine manufacturers and distributors, is announcing a voluntary recall of all pourable gel fuels made or sold by these companies. Due to the serious risks of flash fire and burns when consumers add pourable gel to an already burning fire pot, consumers should immediately stop using the pourable gel fuel. The recall involves an estimated 2 million units of various pourable gel fuels packaged in one-quart plastic bottles and one-gallon plastic jugs and sold in scented and non-scented formulations, which were sold since 2008 for between $5 and $20 by the companies listed below. Consumers can contact these firms to obtain instructions for a refund of the product and for returning unused bottles and jugs: • Bird Brain Inc., of Ypsilanti, Mich. • Bond Manufacturing of Antioch, Calif. • Sunjel Company (2 Burn Inc.) of Milwaukee • Fuel Barons Inc. of Lake Tahoe, Nev. • Lamplight Farms Inc of Menomonee Falls, Wis. • Luminosities Inc (Windflame) of St. Paul, Minn. • Pacific Décor Ltd. of Woodinwille, Wash. • Real Flame of Racine, Wis. • Smart Solar Inc. of Oldsmar, Fla.
The pourable gel fuel can ignite unexpectedly and splatter onto people and objects nearby when it is poured into a firepot that is still burning. CPSC is aware of 65 incidents resulting in two deaths and 34 victims who were hospitalized with second and third degree burns of the face, chest, hands, arms or legs. Of the 65 incidents, 28 of them, including 37 burn injuries and two fatalities, occurred with fuel gel products made by Napa Home & Garden, which conducted a recall of its products in June 2011, in cooperation with CPSC. Also in June, CPSC issued a press statement alerting consumers to the hazards of pourable gel fuels. All pourable gel fuel, regardless of manufacturer, poses flash fire hazards. Consumers should not attempt to use or fix pourable gel fuel bottles with homemade remedies, or replace the fuel with other flammable materials. Retailers should stop sale of existing inventory and immediately remove all stock of pourable gel fuel from shelves. Some firms are working on a design for caps that may prevent flash fire hazards. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on www.saferproducts.gov Industry Watch Policy NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases to Melissa Heeke, Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology editor, via email at mheeke@ ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format. In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release.
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8 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
Technical Q&A
Q
DENNIS DOBBS, NCSG TECHNICAL ADVISORY CHAIR
My customer wants an insert and liner but doesn’t want to spend the extra cash to fix the water leak in his chimney. What do I say?
A
Well, it is his chimney and his money. If he is willing to spend the money to have a new appliance and professional installation then you could make a list of things that could go wrong (such as the insulation wrap around the lining getting water logged, the rusting of his new insert, his top plate becoming unsealed from the top etc.) and have the customer sign off on this before doing the install. But you had better be prepared to deal with the consequences.
10 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
Or you could take the high road and explain that the highest priority on his list is completely different than the highest priority on yours. Yours is the leak and future damage prevention and his just wanting to be warm momentarily. Also explain to him that your idea of a professional installation requires leak repairs because you realize that any future problems he has will end up being your problem down the line. Most contractors put a one year warranty on labor and workmanship. In this case, more than likely, the problems created by leaving the chimney leaking will show up well before one year’s time. My suggestion would be to look at things long-term and take the jobs that you know will be profitable with the least long-term anxiety. By looking at things this way, you may potentially lose a few customers. But by not lowering your standards, you keep your dignity and your sanity. As a salesman once said to me, “One happy customer may bring you ten customers. But one unhappy customer could lose you hundreds.”
The
Coach’s Corner
BY JERRY ISENHOUR OF CHIMNEY & VENTING CONSULTANTS IN CONCORD, NC
Let’s Talk “Lean”
T
oday one of the success words used by manufacturing businesses around the world is the word “Lean”, or more commonly referred to as “Lean Manufacturing” . This due to the economic conditions and the competitive world of being able to do more than just survive, but also to prosper and grow in today’s “challenging” economy. Other terms commonly heard focus on just-in-time inventories (commonly referred to as JIT). But the word Lean, and the processes involved with Lean, are principals that any company who values the bottom line, and in fact their very survival, must look at. Those who do will be the companies that prosper and many times grow in a failing economy. Growth is not intended to be associated only with a larger company. Rather our goal is the growth of the bottom line, this being the overriding goal and desire for any company. To put the process of Lean into effect can be something done with in-house resources, but there is a problem, all too often due to simply being around it every day. To formulate a strategy for Lean we actually may need to have another set of eyes. An old saying that affects many is that quite commonly we just cannot
see the forest as the trees block our view. The use of an outside person will usually quickly give us the proper perspective and view. One respected resource that has been very successful with industry members is Hope Stevenson of Dave Pomeroy Signature Training. Hope understands and is a resource you may want to call upon for this assistance. She has done classes on the subject and can come into your business to assist you in this endeavor. She also works with many of the MIX groups (also a way to gain needed insight into lean). As I researched this article, I came across an earlier term for Lean, that being the word “Fordism”, based upon the principles as established by Henry Ford in the formative stages of the automobile industry. Many will credit Ford with the invention of the automobile; actually he is credited with the assembly line. Ford set an early example of the use of Lean Manufacturing principles that should be familiar to all of us with a product that changed the lives of so many all over the world. Lean is also commonly associated with Japanese construction methods; Lean is the set of “tools” that assist in the identification
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and steady elimination of waste. As waste is eliminated, quality improves while production time and cost are reduced. There is a second approach to Lean Manufacturing, which is promoted by Toyota, in which the focus is upon improving the “flow” or smoothness of work. The use of Lean principles brought the quality of Japanese goods to a leadership position in the world manufacturing arena many years ago. It is also the method by which the Japanese rose to the top of the automobile industry, the electronics industry and others.
The business must be studied for the elimination of any and all unneeded steps. Time is money, and to have a high performance company, we must operate each and every day in a high performance manner. We are also faced with an industry that all too often is seasonal in nature. Our workloads can rise or fall depending on simple weather changes or the day of the week. Operating in a way that serves the consumer in the most efficient manner is how profit builds. Lean goes hand-in-hand with cash flow management and proper budgeting.
One of our forefathers, none other than Benjamin Franklin, was an early proponent of Lean methods, and wrote of such in Poor Richard’s Almanac. Franklin also authored a book The Way To Wealth where Lean was also discussed in regards inventory levels and where unneeded inventory robbed the company of profits. Some commonly mentioned goals in the Lean methodology are:
Even though the Japanese may be well ahead of us in the manufacturing world, , it is quite amazing when the originator of the Toyota system of Lean and Just in Time was asked where he got the ideas to develop it. He just laughed and said “I got it all from reading Henry Ford’s book”. So even in Lean, the Americans once again top the charts.
• I mprove quality: To stay competitive in today’s marketplace, a company must understand its customers’ wants and needs and design processes to meet their expectations and requirements.
About the author: Jerry Isenhour is an industry consultant and coach who is authors Coach’s Corner each month in Sweeping as a service to the industry. For more information about Jerry and how he can help you in your quest for success, take a look at his web site at www.chimneyandventingconsultants.com He can be contacted at jerry@chimneyandventingconsultants.com If you have a question that you feel would be a good one for Jerry to explore in a future issue, let him know.
• E liminate waste: Waste is any activity that consumes time, resources or space but does not add any value to the product or services. It is imperative that the product be made right the first time, there is no space in Lean for flaws to be repaired and no time to have the control systems down.
Let’s do our part to make the USA the world leader once again!
We’re not just blowing smoke.
• R educe time: Reducing the time it takes to complete an activity from start to finish is one of the most effective ways to eliminate waste and lower costs. • R educe total costs: To minimize cost, a company must produce only to customer demand. Overproduction increases a company’s inventory costs because of storage needs.
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Efficient scheduling is vastly important. All too often we are an industry that actually spends more time driving many days than actually at job sites. Just as airlines do not profit with planes at the terminal, neither do our service trucks derive profit except when at the job site.
merry design
As a service-oriented industry, our business’ management must look at the loss of time as the major factor. The matter of inventory also is extremely important, as is working with our sights on the present sales and not on targeted sales. Lost time, excess inventory, materials not on hand in a timely and as-needed manner, all of these are the profit robbers of the service industry.
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BY MELISSA HEEKE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
11 European Countries Represented as NCSG and CSIA Host 2011 ESCHFOE Meeting
T
he National Chimney Sweep Guild and the Chimney Safety Institute were honored to host delegates from eleven countries and the United States for the 2011 European Federation of Chimney Sweeps (ESCHFOE) Technical Meeting this August 18-20 at the CSIA Technology Center and in Indianapolis. National delegates hailed from Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States for three days of workshops, presentations and socializing. Traditionally, this event is held in Europe where many chimney sweeps are busy learning how to market their services in a time of deregulation of the sweeping trade. However, with deregulation happening in many European countries, having the ability to be exposed to American customer service and marketing techniques warranted the trip to the United States. “It was a great honor to host this event,” stated Mark McSweeney, NCSG Executive Director. “We been involved with the organization for 20 and we are pleased to help fellow ESCHFOE members learn to compete in the marketplace.” In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, Hans-Günther Beyerstedt, President of ESCHFOE and the German Chimney Sweep Guild, stated that deregulation which will begin in 2013 in Germany will mean that “quality will become better but prices will become higher” as competition becomes a reality in his country. He added that “sweeps are beginning to be less afraid of changes; they see advantages of the new system.” On Thursday August 18, the delegates began their journey into the American chimney sweeping industry with a mostappropriate trip to the CSIA Technology Center, headquarters for the National Chimney Sweep Guild and the Chimney Safety Institute of America where they were able to see America’s tools and techniques. While at the Tech Center, the delegates were separated into groups for tours of the facility and to visit demonstration stations including casting a crown with Terry Dearborn of Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration in Illinois, factory-built fireplaces with Jim Brewer of Magic Sweep Corporation in Virginia and chimney swifts with Paul Hempel of Brushes & Brooms in Illinois. A mini-exposition was held in the classroom of the
14 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
Tech Center with displays by Ahrens Chimney Technique, A.W. Perkins, eka-edelstahlkamine (a German chimney company), National Chimney Supply and Wohler USA/Wöhler.
proved to be just as popular among the international delegates as it is among the National Chimney Sweep Training School students.
The delegates were delighted to tour fully-outfitted American chimney sweep service vehicles which were displayed by Jim Baynes of Expert Chimney Services and Joe Sauter of Your Chimney Sweep in Indiana, Paul Hempel of Brushes & Brooms in Illinois, Kevon Binder of Doctor Flue, Inc. and Thomas Rhines of All-Chimney Cleaning & Maintenance in Michigan and Victor Imgarten of Clean Sweep Chimney Service in Missouri. The owners of the service vehicles were happy to share their jobsite customer service techniques and marketing tactics with the delegates. It was obvious that the concepts began to sink in as the vehicles were regularly referred to by delegates throughout the remainder of the conference as “rolling billboards”.
Thursday concluded with a trip to The Rathskeller, a German restaurant in downtown Indianapolis, for dinner and live entertainment where the delegates proved that talk of chimneys and beer are common denominators regardless of your nationality.
Delegates went to Chateau Thomas Winery in Plainfield for a tour and lunch before technical presentations on Thursday. Dr. Dieter Stehmeier presented on European Standards and Ashley Eldridge presented on standards in the United States before returning to the Tech Center for additional rotations among the stations and for a chimney fire demonstration. A controlled chimney fire in a demonstration chimney at the Tech Center
On Friday, the technical program picked back up at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis. The retreat house’s residential facilities allowed for several demonstrations to be held including dryer duct cleaning with Joe Sauter of Your Chimney Sweep in Indiana and Jay Walker of Jay Walker Enterprises in Florida, waterproofing with John Meredith of SaverSystems in Indiana, high efficiency boiler/efficiency testing with Peter Cullen of Wohler USA in Massachusetts and scanning and sweeping a fireplace with Victor Imgarten of Clean Sweep Chimney Service in Missouri and Tom Urban of Estoban Chim-Scan in Iowa. Sweeps weren’t the only ones who took notice of the event. The presidents of the European Federation of Chimney Sweeps, the National Chimney Sweep Guild and the Chimney Safety Institute
The Challenges for the European Chimney Sweeping Industry and What Can be Learned From the US Colleagues A Typical European Chimney Sweep
A Typical American Chimney Sweep
• Government-assigned territory or district – residential and commercial • Business and territory rights can be handed over to future generations. • No competition • The chimney sweep is the “Authority Having Jurisdiction” • Annual chimney sweeping is mandatory • Business is protected and recession proof • Annual sweeping fee collected by government and paid to the chimney sweep • Not allowed to sell products
• Territory is self-assigned – mostly residential • No protection from competition • The chimney sweep is a craftsman and consultant without any official authority • Annual chimney sweeping is not mandatory • Business is fully exposed to economic up and down turns • Allowed to sell products
Business Environment • Limited, but virtually constant market • Limited growth potential • Residential and commercial • Size = number of chimneys • Expansion difficult • All customers are pre-defined and known – no “potential” customers • Revenue generated from service fees
• Unlimited market • Residential and some commercial • Size = number of chimneys, dryer installations, gutters, etc. • All customers are known, but potential customers may not be • Revenue generated from service fees, product and service sales
Pricing • Firm – established through government granted monopoly • Collection via local tax bill
• Determined by market and services offered • Collection directly from customer
Excerpted from a presentation to the ESCHFOE Conference of Presidents on August 20, 2011 by Steen Hagensen of ENERVEX, Inc. (formerly EXHAUSTO Inc.). In additional to his role as President of ENERVEX, Hagensen has also served as the Chief Advisor of the Danish Federation of Crafts and Smaller Industries, Vice President of HYDREMA North America and General Manager of Citius USA. He has degrees in Marketing Management and Economics (AUC Denmark and INSEAD France) and sits on the NFPA 54 technical committee. OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 15
of America, along with working sweeps from the United States and Sweden and Mark McSweeney were interviewed for an article which ran on the front page of the Indianapolis Star. Friday ended on a distinctly American note with several American sweeps joining the delegates and their families for dinner and an Indianapolis Indian’s baseball game. While baseball is our “national pastime”, it is an uncommon sport among most Europeans. Abridged versions of the rules of baseball were shared with the delegates on the way to the ball game to help add logic to the evening. With a win for the Indians, the evening ended with a brilliant fireworks display over downtown Indianapolis. Saturday’s programming opened with ESCHFOE’s traditional Conference of Presidents business meeting. During the meeting, member countries presented their submitted reports with updates since the last meeting. The ESCHFOE delegates also voted to strike the Turkish organization from its membership due to inactivity before voting to accept the membership of a new Hungarian chimney sweep organization, a new Italian chimney sweep organization and voting to accept UK’s Guild of Master Sweeps as a full member (from guest membership). Following the business meeting, Steen Hagensen of ENERVEX (formerly EXHAUSTO) presented a highly-anticipated marketing seminar titled “The Challenges for the European Chimney Sweeping Industry and What Can be Learned from the US Colleagues” (see SIDEBAR for an excerpt of the presentation). Spouses and family members traveling with the delegates joined the group for lunch and the traditional presentation of gifts to the host country and later for a trip to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum. Saturday evening, the group had a picnic dinner and took in an outdoor performance by the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Symphony on the Prairie near Indianapolis. “Our European colleagues have held the advantage of a moreestablished industry, bringing hundreds of years of tradition and experience to the table, “states Mark McSweeney, NCSG Executive Director. “I was pleasantly surprised near the end of the conference when one of the delegates announced that sweeps in the United States had made as much progress in 30 years as those in Europe had in 150.” The ESCHFOE meetings are held annually with political meetings being held on even numbered years and technical meetings being held on odd numbered years. In 2012, NCSG’s President and Executive Director will represent the United States at the business meeting in Austria. Generous support for this event has come from the following sponsors and ESCHFOE partners: Ahrens Chimney Technique, A.W. Perkins, Chimney Saver, eka-edelstahlkamine, Jeremias, Lindemann Chimney Supply, National Chimney Supply and Wohler USA/Wöhler.
16 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
NCSG Innovation 2012 Buena Vista Palace • Orlando • February 15- 18
Learn How Angie’s List Really Works and Master Your Consumer-Driven Marketing
Mike Rutz of Angie’s List to Present Closing NCSG Innovation 2012 Keynote With the advent of social media and consumer-driven rating services coming to the forefront, Angie’s List and similar homeowner recommendation and rating services are becoming increasingly important to your bottom line. Join us in Orlando on Saturday, February 18, 2012, as Mike Rutz,Vice President of Advertising for Angie’s List and sweeps who have mastered the service in their markets share techniques to keep positive customer feedback in front of your prospective customers. We will learn How Angie’s List Really Works as Rutz and a panel of sweeps from around the country will bust myths about how the service works both from a service provider standpoint and a consumer standpoint. Whether you take away one idea or dozens, NCSG Innovation 2012 in Orlando is the place to be to advance your chimney service business. In addition to learning about consumer-driven marketing, attendees will also learn the Pros and Cons of Selling Your Company to Your Employees (Presented by Joe Spoden, President and Operations Manager of Jack Pixley Sweeps and Masonry) and Russ Dimmitt of Copperfield will help you determine the answer to an important question “Do You Run Your Business or Does Your Business Run You?”
®
Mike Rutz joined Angie’s List in 2006 as Vice President of Business Services and was appointed to develop the company’s health care category offerings in 2008 before being asked to serve as Vice President of Advertising. Prior to joining Angie’s List, Mr. Rutz served as President of a local private ambulance company, Care Ambulance. He has also served as a key strategist in political and advocacy roles. His experience includes strategy and fund raising for several political campaigns ranging from mayoral to congressional to statewide contests, including holding a key role in the successful campaigns for Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. In 2000 as part of the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, he advocated for school reform in Indiana and was part of the successful effort to enact a charter school law.
These are just a few of the sessions that will be held in Orlando this February. Attendees can also look forward to technical sessions which will help improve skills and learn new techniques.
Visit www.NCSG.org for more information and to see the complete convention lineup!
NCSG Innovation 2012 • February 15-18 • Orlando NCSG MEMBER RATES Primary Spouse 1st Additional 2nd Additional 3+ Additional Single Day Banquet Only Tradeshow Only Senior Members
Until 12/9/11 $399 199 349 299 249 179 69 49 $100
®
12/10/11 - 1/6/12 $449 249 399 349 299 179 69 49 $100
After 1/6/12 $499 299 449 399 349 179 69 49 $100
COMPANY INFORMATION Company___________________________________ Address ____________________________________ City, State ZIP ________________________________ ® Phone ______________________________________ Fax ________________________________________ Email ______________________________________ Check here to opt-in to email from exhibitors.
STANDARD Until 12/10/11 After RATES 12/9/11 - 1/6/12 1/6/12 Primary $499 $549 $599 Spouse 299 349 399 1st Additional 449 499 549 2nd Additional 399 449 499 3+ Additional 349 399 449 Single Day 279 279 279 Banquet Only 89 89 89 Tradeshow Only 79 79 79 New Member Since 2/15/11? Use PROMO Code NEW11 to save $100. OR First time attendee? Use PROMO Code FIRST11 to save $100.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Reservations are now being accepted at the Buena Vista Palace.You can call (866) 397-6516 and mention that you’re with NCSG or register online at www.NCSG.org to lock in rates starting at $139/night. There is an additional $10.95 daily resort fee which includes wi-fi access and parking during your stay.
REGISTRANT INFORMATION Please write name as you would like it to appear on your badge.
® First time attendee? Yes Name _____________________________________________________________ Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ First time attendee? Yes Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ First time attendee? Yes Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________ Name _____________________________________________________________ First time attendee? Yes Registrant Type ______________________________________________________ $ ___________________
GETTING THERE
We will likely be driving.
We will likely be flying.
2012 CONVENTION PATCH
Registration Total $ ___________________ $3/each - Limited edition. Available for pickup on-site. Qty: ____________ Patch Total $ ___________________ PROMO CODE _____________________ GRAND TOTAL $ ___________________ MAIL TO: National Chimney Sweep Guild
2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168 FAX TO: (317) 837-5365 CALL: (317) 837-1500 REGISTER ONLINE: NCSG.org/innovation NCSG also accepts direct debit payments. Please contact Candice Bradbury at (317) 837-1500 or cbradbury@ncsg.org for more information.
For Office Use Only O2CR C2F AUTH _____________ COID ________________ iMISID ___________________ REC’D BY _____________ DATE ____________________
PAYMENT INFORMATION Check # ____________________ Payment Method: Visa MC AmEx Account # __________________________________ Card Security Code _____________ Exp. __________ Name on Card _______________________________ Signature ___________________________________ Cancellations must be made in writing and sent to: NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Refund Policy Prior to 12/09/11, 90% ; 12/10/11-1/6/12, 75%; No refunds are available after 1/7/12.
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CSIA Update Publication for CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®s
What’s This?
The Chimney Safety Institute of America has contracted with the National Chimney Sweep Guild to run this four-page newsletter in Sweeping each month as a way to keep CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps better informed of the happenings within the organization. We hope to engage you on a new level by asking and answering questions, explaining programs and introducing new ones on these pages. Please drop us a note at mheeke@csia.org with story ideas or suggestions.
CSIA Courses Approved for VA Benefits The following courses held at the CSIA Technology Center near Indianapolis have been approved for U.S. Veteran’s Administration (VA) benefits: • Chimney Physics • Installing & Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances • Installing & Troubleshooting Woodburning Hearth Appliances • Inspection & Report Writing • National Chimney Sweep Training School This means that course registration and housing costs may be covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill (Active or Selected Reserve), the Reserve Educational Assistance Program or the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, depending on personal eligibility. Since individual benefits are based on a complex formula including the dates and length of service, veterans must contact the Department of Veterans Affairs directly for personal eligibility information. Vets can call the National Call Center directly at (888) 442-4551 or visit the GI Bill website at www.gibill.va.gov.
www.CSIA.org
Do I need 9 CEUs to Recertify? Effective with credentials earned on or after September 1, 2009, CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep®s must earn a minimum of nine (9) continuing education units and sit for the certification exams every three years to maintain the credential OR by earn CEUs in specific categories as outlined in the CSIA Renewal Guidelines online at www.CSIA.org. Earning nine CEUs is easier than you think! CSIA’s online Certified Chimney Sweep review is worth ten (10) CEUs a nd the in-person CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep review session is worth six (6) CEUs. CEUs can also be earned at many state and regional events, online through CSIA and NFI or through a variety of other methods. If you are currently in a certification credential cycle (renewed in years 2007, 2008 or before September 2009) you are not required to have the nine (9) CEUs to renew until your next credential cycle.
Subcontracting Opportunity for CDETS Attention all CDETs: Let your CDET designation bring you more work. We have a contract to clean clothes dryer vents for a national chain of hair salons. We need subcontractor CDETs to help clean dryer vents for this new program! This is a great opportunity to help your cash flow by scheduling work during your slowest months of the year! If you would like to be considered for this work, please go to http://DryerVentCleanersOfAmerica. com/sub.html and tell us about you and your company. Thank you, Alisa LeSueur, CDET #14, Dryer Vent Cleaners of America PS: Organization membership is NOT required.
Get a Free IRC! Now when you purchase the three study manuals needed for the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep exams (2009 Successful Chimney Sweeping Manual, 2010 NFPA 211 and 2006 International Residential Code), from CSIA, you save $80. That’s like getting a free copy of the IRC! The CSIA 3-Book Study Set can be added to your registration for the National Chimney Sweep Training School, in-person and online review sessions or you can buy the 3-Book Study Set on its own. Don’t need all three? No worries. The manuals are still available for sale a la carte.
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Annual Certification Fees Reduced - AGAIN! The Chimney Safety Institute of America Board of Directors recently voted to approve the 2011-2012 budget which includes an additional reduction to the Annual Certification Fee paid by CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps. The reduction is effective with annual fees due on or after September 1, 2011. The annual certification fee has been reduced from $219 to $209 (and from $169 to $159 for employees of National Chimney Sweep Guild member companies). The reduction does not change the initial credentialing fee of $469 ($269 for employees of NCSG member companies). This is the second year in a row that the annual certification fee has been reduced. The opportunity to decrease this fee for CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps comes at a time when many sweeps continue to feel the impact of a weakened economy.
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Congratulations to Our New CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps ARKANSAS Korey King • Top Hat Services • Springdale
Mike Koshivas • Master Chimney Sweepers • Natick
MARYLAND CALIFORNIA Scott Day • London Chimney Services, Inc. • Mill Valley
COLORADO Patrick Navin • Consider It Done • Alma
Glenn Jolie • Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps • Waldorf Christopher Link • Magic Broom Chimney Sweeps • Waldorf Oscar Dela Rosa • XL Home Improvement • Germantown
Dylan Waschkowski • River City Chimney Sweep • Council Bluffs
TENNESSEE
Thomas Mosley • Evergreen Hoime Solutions • Ellsworth Dana Larrabee, Jr. • Pickett;s Chimney Service • Scarbourough
Tim Wilson • Ashbusters Chimney Service, Inc. • Smyrna Daniel Melchiorre • Chim Chimney • Hermitage Bryan Jeffreys • Woodheat Specialists, Inc. Dba The Chimney Doctors • Jackson
MICHIGAN
TEXAS
Forrest Hancock • Hancock Chimney Service • Grandville Earl Koorndyk • Hancock Chimney Service • Grandville
Correy Timmons • Hearth House • Arlington
Dave Markey • Hancock Chimney Service • Grandville
Jeremy Morgan • American Chimney • Purcellville Dejuan Hemsley • Winston’s of Northern Virginia, Inc. • Arlington
MAINE IOWA
Chimney Sweep • Middletown David Geer • AAAA Dave’s Chimney & Handyman Service • Narragansett Jude Enos • Island Chimney Services, LLC • East Greenwich Dan Donnelly • Ocean State Chimney and A1 Chimney • Wakefield
ILLINOIS Ryan Derler • Lindemann Chimney • Lake Bluff Shaun Peters • Lindemann Chimney • Lake Bluff Grant Roanhous • Lindemann Chimney • Lake Bluff Cole Miller • Miller’s Up The Chimney – Sweeping & Inspections • Quincy
NORTH CAROLINA INDIANA Terry Reed • The Cinder Box • Zionsville
Kerry Burlinski • All Out Chimney Sweep • Charlotte Richie Baxley • Environmental Chimney Sweep, Inc. • Fletcher
NEW JERSEY
VERMONT Mark Gunkel • Brattleboro Duane Austin • National Chimney Supply, Inc. • South Burlington Francine Austin • National Chimney Supply, Inc. • South Burlington Carrie Wilcox-Leduc • National Chimney Supply, Inc. • South Burlington
Andrew Couch • Bridgewater Chimney Sweeps, LLC • Bridgewater
WISCONSIN
PENSSYLVANIA
Tanner Thorne • Chimney Mechanix LLC • Shawano
Mark Hamby • The Chimney Man • Mayfield Wade Northey • Reed’s Chimney Sweep • Brookville
Please visit www.csia.org to verify that your contact information is correct.
KANSAS Ed Sullivan • The Flues Brothers Chimney Service • Overland Park Brian Chestnut • Home Safe Hearth & Chimney • Wichita
MASSACHUESETTES Todd Ramsay • Above and Beyond Chimney & Masonry • Cohasset Pedro Bonilla • Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep • Boston Chad Wilson • Boston’s Best Chimney Sweep • Waltham Brad White • DM Storrs Chimney • Foxboro Ryan Sexton • Four Seasons Chimney Service • Stoughton
VIRGINIA
NEW HAMPSHIRE Darin Qualters • Tri-State Chimney Sweep, LLC • Winchester
RHODE ISLAND Philip Rondina, II • A Colonial
Chimney Safety Institute of America Presents
Chimney Physics ONLINE In this five-day self-guided program, a daily quiz will follow a daily presentation about issues that adversely impact naturally-aspirated combustion appliances. This online program includes problems related to fireplaces, furnaces and hearth products of all fuels. This class provides procedures that will allow a technician to diagnose pressure problems accurately and propose solutions to frustrated clients. The program also includes information about stack effect, adverse pressures and how they are created, as well as indoor air quality solutions.
Registration is only $199 for 5 class sessions! Various venting systems are described, chimney location is discussed and students are introduced to terms that relate to “the house as a system�. Daily quizzes help reinforce the concepts learned throughout the online program and a library of supporting files is also included as an additional resource.
CEUs Available Upon Completion - CSIA: 1.5 Tech, 1.5 C&L, 1.5 H&S, 1.5 C&L NFI: 5 Tech
CSIA OFFERS THIS COURSE EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE Presented by the Chimney Safety Institute of America
(317) 837-5362 or www.csia.org/PhysicsOnline This institution is regulated by The Indiana Commission on Proprietary Education 302 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2767- Toll Free Number (800) 227-5395 or (317) 232-1320
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CSIA Code of Ethics Revisions CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps will be asked to sign the revised CSIA Code of Ethics at the time of their next annual certification fee. The CSIA Board of Directors voted at their May 2011 meeting to revise the organization’s Code of Ethics to read: I fully acknowledge that certification by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) carries with it certain responsibilities and obligations which may hold me to a higher standard of performance and professional behavior than applicable laws, rules or regulations. In this regard, I pledge: 1. To learn and utilize all chimney and venting safety practices and techniques that are promoted by CSIA. 2. To render my services in an honest and fair manner and to refrain from engaging in unfair or deceptive practices or making any unfair or deceptive statements including but not limited to with regard to use of the CSIA logos. 3. To comply with all applicable building codes in the areas I service, with the manufacturer’s installation instructions for the products I install, and with recognized chimney and venting practices. 4. To promote and educate consumers about safe chimney and venting practices.
5. To strive to continually update my knowledge, skills, and technique with regard to currently accepted chimney and venting safety practices. 6. To conduct myself in a decent, respectful, and professional manner when serving in my capacity as a chimney sweep, or when attending a function or event of an organization in the chimney or hearth products industry. 7. To comply with the proper usage of all CSIA Registered Trademarks as defined in the CSIA Trademark Use Guidelines documents. I agree to accept and abide by the CSIA Code of Ethics as a standard in rendering services as a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep or CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician. By agreeing to this Code of Ethics, I understand that it is my responsibility to remain abreast of any changes to the Code of Ethics, that my actions may be reviewed by a committee of my peers, and that failure to abide by these ethical obligations is a violation of CSIA policy and, in accordance with the CSIA Code of Ethics Violation Procedure, may result in disciplinary action by the CSIA or its delegated committee. I agree to hold harmless CSIA and its committees from any and all liability resulting from any disciplinary action taken against me.
28.71 Referrals in Four Months
“I learned so much about an industry that I was supposed to be an expert in.” Discover new techniques – and profit – with CSIA education. Now get all of the education, with none of the travel, thanks to CSIA’s new online courses at www.csia.org! Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel: ONLINE – NEW!
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CSIA CEUs: 3.5 T, 3.5 C&S, 1 H&S, 2 C&L, 1 B NFI CEUs: 4:5 T
CSIA & NFI CEUs: Vary by topic selected
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CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps will easily gain thousands of referrals from www. CSIA.org this home heating season. When you break it down, last year (September 1- December 31, 2011) CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps each averaged 28.71 referrals EACH from www.CSIA.org. Check out www.CSIA.org to verify your contact info and to see who is getting referrals in your area. That number will continue to grow as CSIA remains the go-to chimney resource for national media outlets. CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps will easily gain millions of dollars in national media exposure this year. National media exposure has repeatedly welcomed CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps into the spotlight and we expect this year’s heating season to be no different. We have already heard from writers of upcoming features in Consumer Reports, Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV and Angie’s List magazines. When your potential client judges your knowledge against your competitor’s, their best gauge is the CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep credential.
BY BRIAN NOE, ChFC®, CLTC
Wills
A
fter last month’s article on Health Care Directives, we should now continue with a discussion on Wills and estate planning.
A will is an individual’s directive regarding the distribution of assets after death. If the will is deemed valid by the probate court of jurisdiction (which may differ by state), the court orders the will to be carried out by the executor (or personal representative). A will can also include other individual directives such as choosing a guardian(s) for children, making bequests of family heirlooms and other non-financial wishes of the deceased. Individuals who do not have wills at passing, however, are considered “died intestate”. If this is the case, the probate court will distribute the deceased’s property as directed by state statute.
other family member(s) or a friend(s) to be their executor. The executor can also be a professional, such as an attorney, or institution. It may be wise to consider using a professional for a complex estate with a wide-ranging and diverse set of assets. It is important to provide your executor with a copy of your will, other legal documents such as a health care directive, power of attorney, trusts, etc., financial account information and other information that will help your executor settle your estate. Also include the location of any property that may be in storage, located at a business, with a relative or friend or held in a safety deposit box. Imagine being an executor of a will with little or no knowledge of the deceased wishes, assets and liabilities, or other property of the estate. Not keeping your executor up-to-date with all of your property will make it harder for them to make sure your wishes are carried out.
Dying intestate creates several unintended consequences, the foremost being the unlikely result of the state not disposing of your estate as you would have wished. If married, your surviving spouse may not receive all of your assets. Without heirs (such as a spouse or children) your assets will likely pass to remote relatives or even to the state. In addition, a court appointed administrator will charge fees to your estate to dispose of your assets and wrap up your estate affairs. Dying intestate can be a big mess that may cause distress and disappointments for your loved ones, friends, business associates or your favorite house of worship or charities. Therefore, if you care about your loved ones or care about how your estate will be distributed after your passing, it is never too early to have a will drawn up. Choosing an executor is an important part of the will. Consider selecting an executor who can handle legal, financial and administrative duties. For married couples, the surviving spouse is usually the executor of the will, but people also tend to choose OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 25
It also may not be a bad idea to create an ‘ethical’ will. An ethical will is a non-legal written statement, audio, or videotape memorializing your goals, desires and intentions when you created your estate plan so that children, other family members and friends, understand why certain things were done and what you may have expected. Ethical wills are not common but are gaining popularity. Making sure your will is deemed valid by the court is one of the most important parts of creating a will. If you create a will only to have it deemed invalid, your estate may not be dealt with in the way you wished, as was mentioned in more detail above. This can also create significant legal and professional expense charges against your estate. Therefore, it is wise to strengthen your will to make it less likely to meet resistance by a court of law and also by any other undesired parties that may have interest in your property.
Failure to complete a proper will (including but not limited to meeting legal requirements, or the events mentioned above) can open the door to legal challenges in probate court to heirs, nonheirs and other parties interested in your estate such as creditors. Two other methods to help strengthen an estate plan are completing a Transfer on Death (TOD) or Payment on Death (POD) document on your non-retirement financial accounts and the titling of property in the name(s) of heirs. For example, I completed a TOD on my motor vehicle registration to have my vehicles transferred to my son after I pass. Check with your financial institution or state agency if a TOD/POD is available for you. Adding your heir(s) to the Title of your property/properties or accounts is another option to help strengthen a will but be aware that this could create liability and tax issues for the coowners of your property. As with all these matters it is prudent to consult a professional before adding heir(s) as owners of your property.
In most states, the individual completing the will must be of sound mind and at least 18 years of age. It is also required that the individual was not forced to sign a will under duress or signed a will under undue influence or in the event of fraud.
It is not difficult to revoke or amend a will but be aware of unintended consequences based on your action OR inaction regarding your will.
Be sure to disclose all assets and liabilities and also be sure to include your spouse in the process. Have at least the required number of adults witness your signature and have them sign your will. This can help avoid future legal battles by heirs and others.
Revoking an existing will can be as simple as tearing up or defacing the will. However, it is essential to legally and formally make this known to other parties to avoid a big mess after your death.
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It is possible in some states that your existing will may be revoked by state statue if you marry, get divorced, annul a marriage, have a child (or adoption) or other changes in your family structure. Thus, inaction may revoke all or parts of your existing will. This is why amending your will after major changes in your life, such as marriage, divorce, having children, remarrying, retirement, moving to another state, buying or selling a business, significant changes in assets or liabilities or other life milestones is imperative. It is also important to be up-to-date whether there are changes in your state’s statutes regarding estates. Amending an existing will can be completed with a Codicil. Codicils are a supplement modifying a will or revoking some provision of a will that must comply with the same legal formalities as drafting a new will. Establishing a Health Care Directive and Power of Attorney are the basic elements to providing those who love you with the legal ability to care for you. For your estate after you pass, a will is the first step in establishing an orderly distribution of all you have worked so hard for to help continue to provide for those you love and wish to support. Next month we will look at adding a Revocable Trust that may help you create more for your heirs and may help make the responsibilities of your executor a bit easier.
About the Author: Brian Noe of MW Financial Group, Ltd. was a guest speaker at the NCSG 2011 convention held in Hartford, CT where he discussed How to Get Out of Business and The Economy and Animal Spirits. Brian has a son Eric who served four years in the U.S. Army who is currently completing his degree in Computer Science with Honors. His daughter recently graduated undergraduate school with distinction and is planning to attend Medical School to become a Physicians’ Assistant. Brian thoroughly enjoys helping others spend more time with their families and friends while becoming financially successful. He can be reached at (860) 606-0834 or Brian_ Noe@MWFinancial.com Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032, 860-677-2600. Securities products/services and advisory services are offered through PAS, a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. MW Financial Group, Ltd. is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. PAS is a member FINRA, SIPC. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents or employees do not give tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult a qualified professional to evaluate their individual circumstances.
OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 27
BY GRIFFIN DAVIS
How Facebook Can Help your Chimney Sweep Business
Y
ou can’t afford to ignore social media any longer. Social media has become a major staple of our modern world. In a time where everyone is looking to be constantly connected, updated, and informed, social media has served as a perfect medium for these needs. Moving one step further, Facebook has become the gold standard of social media. Over 150 million people in the U.S. have a Facebook account, nearly half of all Americans. This means that 71% of the entire U.S. web audience is a Facebook user. Many Americans are obsessed with social media and Facebook in particular. Now, you may be thinking, “Why do I care about all of this and what does it have to do with my chimney sweep business?” To start, integrating Facebook into your business will help improve your client interaction and customer service. Creating a Facebook page for your business allows your existing customers to communicate with you – by giving you instant feedback on your services, ‘liking’ your Facebook page, and talking about your business with their Facebook friends. A Facebook page allows you to build long lasting relationships
28 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
with customers that go far beyond basic transactions. Most importantly, positive client interaction helps solidify client retention. Facebook is a fantastic way to build word-of-mouth referrals and promote your company’s reputation. You can add customer reviews, referrals, and photos of your work to your Facebook page. A well-built page will make you look more professional in today’s business world, and will help you maintain a positive image of your business. A Facebook page will also help increase your Search Engine ranking and get you more word-ofmouth referrals. Finally, simply having a Facebook page can help you get new customers from the web. 69% of consumers say that they are more likely to use a local business if they can find it on a social networking site. Social media is being used more and more as a search engine and you can’t afford to not be found. In a survey of 1,132 small businesses conducted by Webs.com, it was found that 70% of business owners were using social media. Furthermore, 76% of these owners said that they plan
to increase their social media use in the upcoming year. This data shows that social media is becoming a more integral part of small business marketing. The study also mentions that 25% of social media users update their accounts more than once a day. It is evident how important it is for small business owners to use social media to reach out to customers, market their services to new prospects, and maintain strong relationships with existing customers. Once you develop a Facebook page for your chimney sweep business, there are certain ways that it should be handled. For starters, it is important to reach out to customers who become ‘fans’ of your business, or ‘like’ your page. As a small business, you have the ability to interact with your fans on a regular basis, whereas larger companies and corporations lack the resources to do so. If you build a personal rapport with a customer, they will be more likely to turn into a long-time client. Once you build that connection, there is also a higher likelihood that the user will tell their friends and associates about your company. Another way to use your Facebook page is by telling your followers about any promotions or deals that you’re offering. You want to engage your users on Facebook and this is a great way to increase sales. You can place coupons on your page,
and have followers print them out directly from Facebook. However, customers appreciate if you update your status with something funny, informational, or insightful, so as to not appear to constantly be selling something to them. To start your social media endeavor, all you need to do is follow this link: www.facebook.com/pages/create.php. If you are busy and can’t spend your own time creating and managing your Facebook page, there are many web design and web marketing companies that can do it for you. Whichever route you decide to take, Facebook (and Twitter, YouTube and Blogger) have become vital parts of the communication world and need to be a part of your 2011 marketing plan.
Griffin Davis is VP of Marketing for Market Hardware, Inc. (www.MarketHardware.com) and contributed this article. Griffin has worked in Internet Marketing and Small Business marketing since 1993. Market Hardware helps Chimney Sweep businesses compete on the Web and offers special discounts for NCSG members. Ask Griffin any Website or Internet Marketing question by emailing Griffin@markethardware.com or calling 888-381-6925.
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BY DAVID R. DOHERTY OF CHIMNEY SERVICES ETC. . . IN NEDROW, NY
Seven Tips for a Successful Chimney Service Company
S
o… You want to be a successful chimney service provider? Here are some things that helped me improve my image and set me apart from the competition. My business (gross profit) has grown an average of 12 percent in the past 9 years.
1. Create smart habits. Every tip I am about to share is a habit and therefore is no longer work or a burden.
2. Answer your phone. Customers want to talk to a real person
with knowledge NOW. I spend hours each day explaining things to prospective customers. I ask questions and feel out the situation. If it’s a job I think has potential, I sell myself by talking about my certification, years of service and anything that I have over my local competition. The only time I don’t answer my phone is when I’m inside a customer’s house. This shows respect for the person paying for my current time. I’m confident that when a call comes in and I want the job—I’ll get it. Think of each call as “a hundred dollar bill calling”. That’s what I’ve called each one for years and it’s proven to be beneficial to my bottom line.
3. Make a Great First Impression.
I wash my van often and try to show up at each job with my van looking organized inside. Customers notice a clean van, and if they greet you when you open your back or side door, an organized van projects that you are not a slob. In summer, I wear a clean white t-shirt with my company logo to EVERY job. That’s right, I change my shirt before EVERY job. Sometimes I change up to five times at a given job if I’m sweating or get overly dirty. I do it in my van or out-of-sight, so I don’t offend anyone. In winter, I do the same with a longsleeved black turtleneck with my company logo. When you show up looking clean, you project a message that you are not going to get anything in the home dirty, that you have respect for your customer and that you have pride in yourself. Clean drop cloths follow the same rule. Have plenty and keep them clean. A local hearth retailer (the largest in my area) decided to start giving out my name because they said, “You don’t wear your job on your sleeves when you show up for each job.” One extra load of laundry every day or two is all that it takes.
30 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
I carry at least eight to ten clean logoed shirts in my van at all times. Show up on time. If I’m going to show up any more than 15 minutes early or late, I call customers and explain. It shows my respect for their time.
4. Use a Digital Camera. Customers LOVE when I come in with
my camera or laptop and show them a photo I took on their roof minutes prior. It’s much easier to explain the problems and they don’t have to “take my word for it.” I buy reasonably priced digital cameras for under a hundred bucks online and use it to take photos looking up and down woodstove flues, behind inserts and of any other non-chimney issues on roof (clogged gutters, sewage vents or skylights with flashing issues etc.). My receipts for most repairs include color photos of the before and after views of work completed.
5. Embrace new technology.
If you don’t have a smart phone and internet access, get them. Use Facebook, GPS devices and applications for your smart phone for hands-free driving. Sync your phone and calendar with your email. Look for technology that comes out tomorrow and beyond. If you are unsure, ask a teenager or college kid. The younger generation has embraced this technology and will often seek first contact via one of these newer channels. I installed a woodstove insert recently for a customer I had never met or been to their home. I created an email connection when they sent me digital photos of what I asked for and measurements. This was all done via email and text. Take good care of older generations, but target the generations that are your future bread and butter including those just getting married, those just out of college and first-time home buyer. All of these groups text and use Facebook and email for communication.
Do you own a video inspection device? If not, get one, and use it on EVERY masonry fireplace inspection, if not every job, period. I bought a used black and white Chim-Scan for from Tom Urban at Estoban more than ten years ago that I have used on every job for ten years. This has blown away my customers despite being an old used system. My newer, state-of-the-art color system uses my laptop and turns a regular fireplace inspection into a production often watched by everyone who happened to be in the house.
Using a digital camera is the same idea. It is so easy to explain when your customer has the visual reference.
night. When something is wrong, like a slammer (unlined insert), educate if possible and walk away if not.
Have a web site that is informative. Include before and after photos of completed jobs, information about your services and your education and maybe some slide shows and/or video. It’s easy to post a video to YouTube and link to it on your site.
Fire your customer if they are trying to manipulate your path of completing your job correctly.
6. Take advantage of help. I’ve always been blown away
by the free help offered by most of the big chimney supply companies. I call tech support almost every day with questions about details of a given repair or install. Nowadays, it’s mostly to reassure myself that I’ve thought things through correctly. Join the National Chimney Sweep Guild. You’ll get more than your money’s worth just from free perks offered by suppliers and SO much more. You get the best tech support for every imaginable part of running your business! It doesn’t make sense NOT to join. Seriously, joining the NCSG is a credit to my company, not a debit. Join the various email lists and groups. Just reading an inquiry and the answers that follow will result in you having virtually accomplished that repair. The discussion lists are a great tool for gaining experience by piggy backing on your peers.
I recently spent many hours over several months mentoring a guy who wanted to be in the business. Reach out. There are hundreds of people in this business like me, willing to guide you, free of charge. There are hundreds of men and woman who LOVE this business, who based upon helping me in the growth of my company (most without knowing they had), I can tell you, without even asking them, that Jerry Isenhour, Bob Daniels, Bob Priesing, Judd Berg, Marge Padgitt, Tom Urban, John Pilger, Royal Edwards, Dale Feb, Blume and many others …. LOVE this business. Join the NCSG email list and see for yourself. You are in a business that holds possibly the fewest knowledgeable experts per capita than any other needed service in America! With the free tech help at your disposal, even a new sweep is in the top one percent of those who can solve most chimney problems. Build the bridges between you and the experts willing to help you. If you don’t know, don’t guess. Step back and admit that you are going to seek expert tech support which in most cases is just a cell phone call away. If you can text a photo to a mentor, advice can be immediate. Love technology. Be on the up-andup. Take the high road. Get educated. Keep up with codes. Follow installation instructions. It’s not any harder to do it right, if it’s a habit… And you’ll sleep better at
7. Never forget Never forget those that were instrumental in making your journey possible. Karen Lamansky, Russ Dimmitt, Sooty Bob Daniels, Jerry Isenhour, Jock Rotella and my wife, Melissa, were those who without each puzzle piece, I most likely wouldn’t be where I am today. Great tech support from Karen and Russ in my early years, a great business plan from Sooty Bob led to an industry that seeks to help its peers and grow the business. Jerry is a guy who showed me by demonstration that when you LOVE this business it will love you back and support you. Jock is a local chimney service provider who took a chance on a young immature kid and gave me a chance to work in this industry with someone who had paid his dues in the early years. And last, but not least, my wife has been a perfect angel on Earth who stuck through many lean years while I struggled and worked toward what has become a dream come true. All those individuals together created a step ladder to climb and a pillow to land on if I should fall while venturing out on my own. I LOVE this business… Do you?
Lennox Hearth Products Distributor Specializing in Factory Replacement Parts, Refractory Kits and panels for the Lennox Hearth family of Fireplaces & Stoves
Lennox, Superior, Marco, Whitfield, Earth Stove, Country Stove. All our parts are Lennox factory or our warehouse shipped.
1-800-331-9234 www.specialtysupplyco.com E-mail: jimk@specialtysupplyco.com OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 31
Call for Nominations: Board of Directors When you serve on the NCSG Board of Directors, you help lead the chimney industry into the future and can develop leadership, management and communication skills that will serve you in your business and personal life. You can make an immediate difference in the chimney service industry by helping to determine the organization’s strategic plan and annual budget. The new shorter two-year term limits make volunteering easier! NCSG board members are responsible for: • Attending four board meetings each year: Two of the meetings are held at the CSIA Technology Center in Indianapolis (Spring - typically held for three days, Summer - typically held for two days), the November meeting is typically held online and via teleconference and the fourth is held immediately before the annual NCSG convention at the host city. Travel and lodging expenses are reimbursed for board members attending meetings, with the exception of the convention meeting only. • P articipating in the NCSG members-only and board of directors’ electronic discussion lists. • Communicating with members in region via eNewslink. • Connecting members to regional legislation affecting the industry. And NCSG board members receive: • Complimentary NCSG Innovation convention registration for you and your spouse while you serve on the board. • Networking opportunities at board meetings which help develop life-long friendships with business associates from across the country. Nomination Deadline – October 15, 2011 Download the form online at www.NCSG.org Nominations must be mailed to NCSG at 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. No electronic nomination forms will be accepted. The NCSG Governance Committee is now accepting nominations for a representative from NCSG Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and two At-Large representatives. • Region 1 (Two year term: 2012-2014) Represents Voting and Dual members in Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire
32 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
• Region 2 (Two year term: 2012-2014) Represents Voting and Dual members in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania • Region 3 (Two year term: 2012-2014) Represents Voting and Dual members in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia • Region 4 (Two year term: 2012-2014) Represents Voting and Dual members in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio • Region 6 (Two year term: 2012-2014) Represents Voting and Dual members in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming • Two (2) At-Large (Two year term: 2012 - 2014) Represents Voting and Dual members nationwide. Nomination Deadline – October 15, 2011 Download the form online at www.NCSG.org Nominations must be mailed to NCSG at 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. No electronic nomination forms will be accepted. The newly elected directors will be seated at the February 14, 2012 board of directors meeting in Orlando, FL. If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact NCSG Governance Chair Randy Brooks at hearthhunter@aol.com or NCSG Executive Director Mark McSweeney at mmcsweeney@ncsg.org.
BY DEBBIE CORNELIUS MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Progressive Perks
2011 – 2012 SWEEPS ADVANTAGE COUPON PROGRAM Featured Coupons of the Month The 2011 – 2012 Sweeps Advantage Coupon program is now available in the “Members Only” section of the NCSG website at www. ncsg.org. If you are not using any of these offers from NCSG Supplier members, you are missing out on great program that offers thousands of dollars in savings. What a great way to try out a new supplier and save money too! Suppliers and manufacturers currently participating in the program are: AHRENS Chimney Technique • AirJet, Division of Continental Industries • Alpha American Company • Condar Company • Copperfield Chimney Supply • Duct Cleaners’ Supply • Dynacote LLC • Earthcore Industries, LLC • Enervex, Inc.(formerly Exhausto) • Firesafe Industries • Hearth Classics • High Stepper, LLC • HY-C Company, Inc. • Lifetime Chimney Supply• Lindemann Chimney Supply • Longleaf Lighter Company • Matters of the Hearth • Meyer Machine & Equipment • National Chimney Supply • Neuex Hearth Products • New England Chimney Supply • Olympia Chimney Supply • SaverSystems • Smoktite LLC • SNEWS - The Chimney Sweep News • U.S. Fireplace Products, Inc. Featured Coupons for October • Ventech Industries, Inc. • Wakefield These are just a few of the many offers available to you as a Brush • Whitecaps • Wohler USA, Inc. member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. • Z-Flex.
Visit www.NCSG.org to learn more and to start saving!
And this list grows as additional companies sign on to the program. You can always find a complete listing of all of our participating Supplier members on the Sweeps Advantage Page each month in Sweeping magazine with featured coupons and on the web. Simply go to the “Members Only” section where you will be able to download the individual coupon offers and find out how to redeem them. And be sure to check this section as new offers may be added throughout the year.
New England Chimney Supply • SAVE Up to $ 127 - 20% OFF any Best Flex Liner Kit • SAVE Up to $ 20 - $20 OFF 5 gallon Watertite Water-based water repellant • SAVE Up to $ 100 - 20% OFF The Best Cap stainless steel multiflue. Choose from over 3,000 sizes Enverex, Inc. (formerly Exhausto) • SAVE Up to $ 100 - FREE – Loaner Fan for any home show in your area. Free shipping to and from the show. Book at least two (2) weeks in advance • SAVE Up to $100 - NEW PRODUCT – Purchase one FDDS – ENERVES Fireplace Draft Damper System from your favorite distributor and receive $100 CASH REFUND • SAVE Up to $100 - Save $100 on a Vacu-fan (reconditioned RS12 or RS14 with handle and 3-prong plug) HY-C Company, Inc. • SAVE Up to $75 - $75 Rebate with your next purchase of 30 HY-C Chimney Caps. Either Draft King or Big Top with proof of purchase from one of our stocking distributors • SAVE Up to $ 25 - $25 Rebate for your first order of HY-C Roof VentGuards or Dryer VentGuards. Minimum 12 units with proof of purchase from one of our distributors • SAVE Up to $250 - FREE Freight on your first Fire Chief Wood Furnace order OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 33
NewNCSG Members
NCSG REGIONS REGION 1
RHODE ISLAND David Geer • AAAA Dave’s Chimney & Handy Man Service • Narragansett MAINE Paul Pickett • Pickett’s Chimney Service • Scarborough MASSACHUSETTS Megan H. Rodriguez • Rock Solid Chimney LLC • Natick
REGION 2
PENNSYLVANIA Jonathan Tor • RPT Fireplace • Doylestown Joseph Coffey • Envirotech Ventilation • Philadelphia Brian Cline • Brian Cline Contractor Services • Strasburg James A. Clark • Clark’s Services, LLC d/b/a J & L Chimney • Delta
REGION 1 Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire
DELAWARE Robert Larson • Colonial Way Home Services Inc. • Wilmington
REGION 3
VIRGINIA Matthew Santiago • A Plus Chimney Cleaners • Virginia Beach TENNESSEE Doug Ault • Abbey Road Chimney Sweep Co. • Memphis Joe Comford • High Stepper, LLC • Murfreesboro SOUTH CAROLINA Robert Mullis • Leverage Builders LLC • Richburg MISSOURI Victor Ferguson • The Fireplace Shoppe • Joplin
REGION 4
REGION 2 Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
REGION 3 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
ILLINOIS William Reed • Affordable Advantage Chimney Service • Spring Grove
REGION 4
MICHIGAN James Gamache • Gamache, James • Alpena Jason Blotske • Advanced Home Inspectors, Inc. • Center Line
Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio
REGION 6 UTAH John Hansen • The Duct Hunter and Chimney Sweep • Logan CALIFORNIA James Winters • Winter’s Cleaning Service • Soulsbyville
NCSG Charter Members Paul Bourque Huntsville, AL
John Cline, Menlo Park, CA
Don Leavitt San Diego, CA
Dale Meisinger, N. Augusta, SC
David Harris Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Eva B. Horton, Greenwich, CT
Dan Wheeler Santa Rosa, CA
34 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
Alan Hisey, St. Louis, MO
Harry Richart, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
REGION 5 Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin
REGION 6 Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Dates & Events October 17-21, 2011 Online Health & Safety Week For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/ safetyweek
November 4, 2011 CSIA Technology Center CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Exam For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 7-13, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org
October 21, 2011 Albany, NY CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review & Exam For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org
November 7-13, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org
October 24-28, 2011 CSIA (Online) Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org
November 11, 2011 SaverSystems- Richmond, IN HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email stuartk@ saversystems.com
October 24-28, 2011 Online CSIA eLearning For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 1, 2, & 3, 2011 Online Codes & Standards Quizzes Available For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org/quiz
High Stepper, LLC P.O. Box 332906 Murfreesboro, TN 37133-2906 (918) 706-0372 Fax: (918) 296-7152 www.roofstep.com roofstep@comcast.net
New Supplier Member
Our high-quality aluminum Walk Boards, Work Platforms and Ladder Supports are rust proof, lightweight, extremely portable and easy to setup and take down. Nothing but soft neoprene rubber comes in contact with the roof. This rubber creates a non-slip bond that holds the Walk Boards and Work Platforms in place. Our products, when used in accordance with the instructions, provide a stable work environment that will not slip or turn over and are lightweight enough to be easily adjusted. Our Walk Boards are 5 feet long and are available in 12� and 16� widths. They feature connector tabs that allow the user to easily connect multiple Walk Boards together to create a longer walking surface. Our Work Platforms come standard with Ladder Supports that allow the user to get to those hard to reach places. Our products are patented and PROUDLY made in the USA!!
36 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
November 14-18, 2011 Online Health & Safety Week For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA. org/safetyweek November 21-25, 2011 CSIA (Online) Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org November 21-25, 2011 Online CSIA eLearning For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 5, 6, 7, & 8, 2011 Online Codes & Standards Quizzes Available For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA. org/quiz December 12-18, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 12-18, 2011 Online CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org December 19-23, 2011 Online Health & Safety Safety Week For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA. org/safetyweek
Please send notice of your events for NCSG Dates & Events listings at mmcmahon@ncsg.org for inclusion here, in weekly posts to the discussion list and online at www.NCSG.org/dates. The event must be considered educational or informative for the industry (sales events and open houses will not be listed).
BY MARK MCSWEENEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Perspective
Life “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” -Albert Einstein
L
“
et others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.” Jim Rohn.
It’s my birthday this month, so I thought I’d write about something we all have in common. Life. No, not the secret of life. No, not life and death. No, not life’s journey. No, not Life magazine or Life cereal. Rather, just the day to day amazement that is life. In 1991 Jim Rohn, one of America’s foremost business philosophers and motivational speakers, published a book called “Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle.” In it he expounded on what he considered to be the five common components of human success: how you think about something (your “philosophy”); how you feel about something (your “attitude”); what you do about it (your “action”); how you measure your progress (your “results”); and what kind of life you can make for yourself based on each of the other four components (your “lifestyle”). We all have a choice. We can choose to be the champions of our lives or we can choose to be the victims of our circumstances. Not long ago I watched the movie “Soul Surfer” with my daughters. It’s
the true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton who, at the age of 13, had her arm bitten off by a shark. Whether you like the entertainment value of the movie or not, it’s a pretty incredible story about this young girl who overcomes the apparent end of her dream to conquer the pursuit of her passion despite what seems to be insurmountable obstacles. Clearly her philosophy and attitude about life gave her the conviction to work even harder (and smarter) than she ever had to before. Her effort brought her back to prominence in her sport, and along the way her lifestyle impacted kids and adults alike from as far away as Haiti (where, during her own emotional recovery, she volunteered following their devastating earthquake). A few years ago Jim Rohn took another shot at summing up life’s virtues. A considerably shorter read than his book, he published a brief article titled “Life is Worthwhile if You…” in which he promotes four simple ideas to help us get the most we can out of life. Specifically, we each make life worthwhile when we “learn, try, stay and care.” Learning occurs in all sorts of forms, whether through formal education or life’s experiences. As long as we keep our eyes, ears and minds open to the possibilities, personally and professionally, there is no end to the discoveries we can make every day. None of us are perfect, and that’s a good thing. We have a wonderful capacity to learn from not only our own mistakes but from all those around us as well. On this very concept, C.S. Lewis once said, “Experience is the most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 37
As we learn, life becomes even more worthwhile when we make the effort to try what have learned. Nike says it best…”Just do it.” What’s the worst thing that happens? You fail miserably? I don’t know who said this but “every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.” Try to make a difference. Try to get some traction and make forward progress. Try to break a bad habit or learn a new skill. You may not get everything you are after, but putting forth the effort could open doors you never knew existed. In the immortal words of the great Mick Jagger, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need.” So why not go for it? Once you’ve made the decision to go for it, Rohn’s next tip is to “stay.” If you have committed to trying something, it’s important to see it through to the end; whatever that end may be. Certainly there are times when circumstances necessitate a detour in our plans, but changing direction…even if that means bringing something to a close sooner than envisioned…is better than just stopping in the middle and walking away from your ambition when the going gets rough. The Andretti name carries a lot of pride and prestige in Indianapolis, and while they may not be the family with the most wins at the Indy 500, their name is still synonymous with victory and unyielding effort. When asked about his tireless conviction toward staying the course, Mario Andretti once remarked, “Desire is the key to motivation, but it is determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”
the results and their impact on you and those who in any way are affected by your efforts. Care about people and your opportunity to influence the world one person at a time every day. In her most desperate hours, Anne Frank wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world.” Every time, without fail, when I come home – whether from work or the store – my youngest daughter comes up to me and gives me a hug. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not always in a hugging mood, but she cares unconditionally and I know at that moment I have a choice to either encourage her compassion or to slowly deflate it. I choose to hug back. Besides, her older brother and sister stopped faithfully doing that years ago, so I want to get it while I can! I know the fall season can be hectic for many of you. While I certainly hope business booms for you in these critical months, I also hope you remember to pause every once in a while to remember what is truly important to you in life, and to appreciate your opportunities to make life truly worthwhile. To that end, before signing off for this month, let me share with you one final thought from the website of the late Jim Rohn: “I wish for you a life of wealth, health and happiness; a life in which you give to yourself the gift of patience, the virtue of reason, the value of knowledge, and the influence of faith in your own ability to dream about and achieve worthy rewords.” Until next time I wish you every success!
And the final tip… “Life is worthwhile if you care.” Don’t just go through the motions. Care about what you are doing. Care about
Formerly U.S. Fireplace Products
We are committed to quality fireplace dampers and we sell to the finest distributors in the industry. Here are some of our damper features: • Best, tightest, and most comprehensive seal in the industry! • Opens wider than similar dampers • Each damper is quality tested before leaving the facility • Innovative company that listens to you • Lifetime warranty • Family owned business with over 75 years combined experience in the damper manufacturing business 38 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
Contact us at: 888-290-8181 or check our website, www.usfireplaceproducts.com for a distributor near you. 3939 Royal Drive NW #143 Kennesaw, GA 30144
Darwin Awards Have you snapped a photo of a peculiar chimney in your area that made you shake your head in disbelief? Send it to Melissa Heeke at mheeke@ncsg.org for publication in Sweeping. Or, mail it to NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168.
This fellow didn’t want to cut his poured concrete wall to properly install the thimble for his oil boiler! This is so “Darwin” that our heads are still shaking! - Submitted by Jonathan and Nathan Myers of A. Ace Of Hearths Chimney Service, LLC in Westfield, NY
Display Ad Index Page #
Advertiser
Phone
Email or Website Address
20
Ahrens Chimney Technique
800-582-1392
ahrenschimney@qwestoffice.net
27
Barnhill Chimney Company
859-219-8736
www.barnhillchimney.com
21-24
Chimney Safety Institute of America
317-837-5362
www.CSIA.org
4
Cobra Chimney Caps
503-463-0636
www.cobrachimneycaps.com
29
Communications Network Inc
800-875-8118
tkemper@comnetmessage.com
IFC
Complete Merchant Solutions
801-310-1599
www.cmsonline.com
12
ENERVEX (formerly EXHAUSTO)
800-255-2923
www.chimneyfans.com
26
Firesafe Industries, Inc.
800-545-6607
www.firesafeinc.com
35
Golden Flue, Inc.
800-468-1052
www.goldenflue.com
11
Hose Master
800-221-2319
bobdaniels@hosemaster.com
17 ICP
508-695-7000
www.chimneycaps.com
BC
Lifetime Chimney Supply LLC
877-234-7473 (PIPE)
www.lifetimechimneysupply.com
38
Lindemann Chimney Co., Manufacturing
888-290-8181
www.usfireplaceproducts.com
8
Lindemann Chimney Company
800-722-7230
www.lindemannchimney.com
6
Meyer Machine & Equipment
800-728-3828
www.meyermachine.com
10
Myesha Chimney Supply, Inc.
973-470-0889
info@myeshachimney.com
9
National Chimney Supply
800-897-8481
www.nationalchimneysupply.com
5
Olympia Chimney Supply
800-569-1425
www.olympiachimney.com
40
Sand Hill Wholesale
800-258-5496
www.sandhillwholesale.com
13 Smoktite
866-439-0069
www.smoktite.com
31
Specialty Supply Company
800-331-9234
www.specialtysupplyco.com
IBC
Stratus Insurance
866-395-1308
www.stratusins.com
7 Thermocrete
866-439-0069
www.thermocreteusa.com
25
800-264-7007
www.wakefieldbrush.com
800-335-2534
www.whitecaps.com
Wakefield Brush
3 Whitecaps
OCTOBER 11 SWEEPING 39
Classifieds FIREPLACE, WOOD AND GAS HEATING PRODUCTS
Gotta chimney question? Sizing? Codes? Call Royal Edwards! Make Royal your tech department. CALL NOW 813-982-0219 for on-call tech support. Continuing Education special bonus – ask how you can get the Friday morning E-Blast for FREE. CALL NOW 813-982-0219
GasVent Software for Sizing Chimneys only $195 Call 1-800-648-9523 for more info and visit www.elitesoft.com to download a free trial version.
Free Freight!
New marketing tool now available, go to: www.aviewfromtherooftop.com/ justforsweeps and learn how you can become “the” local expert
FOR SALE- complete August West chimney cleaning system
Place Your Qualified Order* Of $1500 Or More From Over 2100 Stocked Products Found Within Sand Hill's NEW 2011-2012 Catalog And Receive
Excellent Condition $1000 or best offer Contact David Brooks at 303-495-4600 or fcfrd10@aol.com
FREE FREIGHT Anywhere In The Continental U.S. *To receive this offer, mention this ad at time of order. Subject to credit approval. Offer good for qualified orders from October 1 through October 31, 2011.
Same day shipping for orders placed before 2:00PM Eastern Time. Don’t have your NEW 2011-2012 Sand Hill Wholesale catalog?
Call for your free copy 1-888-SAND-HILL or fax your request to 1-800-958-5497
Visit us on the web @ www.sandhillwholesale.com
40 SWEEPING OCTOBER 11
CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35 word classified free each year! Regularly classified ads are $2/word or $1/word for NCSG members. Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified ad, please contact Megan McMahon at mmcmahon@ncsg.org or (317) 837-1500.
National Chimney Sweep Guild 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168
0911