Work with Electricity? Be Safe About It! 

The NFPA 70E Qualified-Level Arc Flash Safety Training Webinars is all about teaching safe work practices to those who are exposed to electricity to prevent injuries and incidents. If you have employees who are potentially exposed to live conductors of 50 volts of electricity or more during their workday, and especially mechanical service technicians who work on units that generate up to 480 volts, they should register for the next webinars on September 24, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, if they haven't yet participated. Presented by the Hilgeman Group, the session covers all applicable OSHA and NFPA requirements, best practices, NFPA's most recent changes to the 70E requirements and provides participants with real-world accident information to reinforce the training. Contact the Hilgeman Group at ahilgeman@frontier.com to register. 

Next Green Building Webinar Explains How to Make an Historic Building Meet High Performance Standards

With a glimpse of things to come, MCAA's next Green Building Webinar September 25, 1:00 p.m. Eastern time) will provide details about a project that involved the renovation of an historic building to meet high performance standards. Newly installed equipment included ground source heat pumps, radiant slabs, a DOAS system, and an evaporative cooling server room. The project also had to balance building envelope improvements with the historical renovation. Leading the webinar is Matt Gregg of McKinstry Company (Seattle, WA).  This webinar is free to MCAA/MSCA members as a benefit of membership.  To register, go to https://mcaa.webex.com.  Please contact Sean McGuire at smcguire@mcaa.org for more information. 

Achieve Greater Customer Satisfaction with MSCA Dispatcher Training

Service dispatchers are your company's primary representative with the client, serving as the epicenter of great customer service. Therefore, investing in these team members is critical to your team's success and your bottom line. Join MSCA in Baltimore, MD, on October 27-28, 2014, for the Dispatcher Professional Development Training Program. New and experienced dispatchers will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of their true role and value to your company, and acquire the tools to significantly enhance their ability to contribute to your company's success. This is the last dispatcher training for the year and only a few slots remain, so register today at http://www.mcaa.org/education/msca/dispatcher/. Contact Sobeida Orantes at saorantes@mcaa.org with registration questions.

MCAA's Pension Reform Outreach to Lawmakers Is Ramping Up 

MCAA's efforts to press key lawmakers for strong support of the Solutions Not Bailouts proposal after the November elections (the "lame duck" session) are picking up pace.  MCAA member Bill Rudolph of GEM Inc. (Walbridge, OH) hosted a labor/ management session with Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) in the district last week. The event included MCAA principals and representatives from UA Local 50 and Roofers Local 134. This week, MCAA member Royden Goodson of Warwick Plumbing & Heating Corporation (Newport News, VA) and UA representatives will meet with Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) - a key member of the House Education and Workforce Committee's Pension Subcommittee - in Washington, D.C. to press for action on pension reform this year. On the Senate side, MCAA and UA representatives are planning joint efforts that focus on Senate Labor and Finance Committee members. Visits are planned with some committee members in their home states. Other meetings may be scheduled in conjunction with MCAA's Collective Bargaining Seminar this week in Washington D.C., September 8-10 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

MSCA of New York Contributes to MCERF

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) has received a $2,500 contribution from the MSCA of New York, which increased their total contribution to $5,000.  And, the association designated 50% of the donation to MCERF scholarships. The MCERF Board of Trustees is very grateful for the support which helps fund Foundation programs, especially those that assist promising future industry professionals with their education expenses. Find out more about MCERF programs by visiting www.mcerf.org or contact Dennis Langley at dlangley@mcaa.org.