"SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE" FULFILLS PROMISE OF INCREASED DONATIONS TO MCERF

The MCA of Chicago's promise to match dollar-for-dollar all donations and pledges to the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) by local affiliated associations and members up to $25,000 yielded almost $71,000. Rising to the "challenge" were the MCA of Cleveland, MCA of Eastern Pennsylvania, MCA of Houston, MCA of Northwest Pennsylvania, MCA of Omaha, MCA of Texas, the New England MCA, the Utah MCA and West Chester Mechanical Contractors (Chester, PA). And, half the contributors dedicated 50% of their contribution to MCERF's new scholarship program. MCERF's Board of Trustees wishes to thank all the contributors for their donations. Special thanks go to the MCA of Chicago for its extraordinary generosity in sponsoring the challenge. Association President Kevin Condon noted, "We have to enable our Foundation to keep investing in our future." Find out how you can support MCERF's education and research programs by visiting www.mcerf.org or contacting Dennis Langley (dlangley@mcaa.org).

MSCA LIVE 2012 OPENS WITH A FOCUS ON OUR CHANGING WORLD

Close to 500 attendees celebrated the opening of MSCA's Annual Educational Conferenceyesterday with a program of music, light and art and a message from Erick Wahl about the importance of redefining your perceptions and building a strategic vision for your business and your life. The Opening Celebration set the stage for a conference that brings together experts in business and personal growth to demonstrate and provide insights into how change can be used to create positive outcomes and a better quality of life. Today, New York Times best-selling author Joseph Grenny led a special session about creating rapid and sustainable change through the power of influence. Another session will feature Dick Hoyt and his inspirational story about how his wish to make his disabled son smile gave them both a reason to keep going...in 85 marathons. Marketing guru Sally Hogshead, the featured speaker for the Closing Session, will explain how the power to fascinate can move employees and customers to positive actions. Break-out sessions covering a wide variety of topics will engage attendees to: sell more effectively; develop a successful business succession and exit plan; deliver world-class customer service; balance business and personal life; make better use of available labor resources; nourish and enrich the body with better nutrition; and much more. Peer group roundtable discussions will explore a wide range of current and future business topics facing the mechanical service industry. Mark Jewell of Energy Efficiency Funding Group, Inc. and the Efficiency Sales Professional Institute led an optional program about what it takes to sell energy improvements for customers' buildings. The Annual Exhibitors Display, enjoyable social events and optional programs are promising another memorable conference.

NEXT QUALIFIED-LEVEL ARC FLASH SAFETY TRAINING WEBINAR IS OCTOBER 30

If you or your staff were unable to participate in the previous NFPA 70E Qualified-Level Arc Flash Safety Training webinars, two more opportunities are coming up on October 30 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. These webinars are designed for MCAA/MSCA members' employees who are potentially exposed to live conductors of 50 volts of electricity or more during their workday and is ideal for mechanical service technicians working on units that push 480 volts. Presented by the Hilgeman Group, the session covers all OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices and NFPA's recent changes to the 70E requirements and provides participants with real-world accident information that will reinforce the importance of this training. All participants will receive customized training certificates. This training is available at a special rate for MCAA/MSCA members and, most important, could save lives. Register today at ahilgeman@frontier.com.