Steve, the SprinklerFORUM was certainly cutting edge and those setting it up (your leadership? I don't recall) should be congratulated on both their vision, and identifying a niche needing attention, based on the way it has taken off over, say 10 years? Thanks for continuing AFSA's support of it.
It has allowed us to widen our horizons, I now consider far more points of view from other stakeholders than ever before, since over the years I've seen what affects them, and how we can make life easier for each other. John D and others have done a great job with their contributions. The % of what ends up in FORUM that should be in CHAT is minimal, and I agree with you not worrying about it. Mostly same choir in different robes. Since some of the business questions are sensitive, we've found that it has been a better route to limit discussions to our peer groups, since often this is baring your soul, strategy, and sometimes (at least for the other members) realizing their errors. Not something you want to do in front of 600 people worldwide. I heartily endorse the recent AFSA enabling and facilitating establishment of more peer groups, ours has been PRICELESS at times, for us and for other members. When I told Thom "see ya next week" it's because he and Noreen will be coming from CO to PA to see us, again, and we had our first peer review of operations at their place in Steamboat back in April 2001. Last week 3 of us were in MI at another peer member's shop. Over this length of time you develop close friendships, bonds, and we can ask each of each other things it will take years for these others to achieve- but they need to start somewhere! Nonetheless, CHAT could be a great supplement to the seminars we hold both at convention and across the country. There's far more than the FORUM tech stuff to running a sprinkler firm. For ex, we've got (quick guess) $1M in vehicles, lifts, threaders, etc. Costs of various software programs pale in comparison- but look at the discussion on software, and where is the parallel chat about what vehicles might be well suited to inspectors, fitters, etc. such as the Dodge Sprinters we switched to- seats 4 or 5, you can stand up in the back, far more room for storing what you need in misc signs, spare parts, etc., better visibility of ads with high roof, 20 mpg vrs 15 in vans and 10 in F450 crewcab/utility back combos, but who makes the best roof racks for it? These things should be an active group of threads, acctg programs, suggestions on collections, improvements on AFSA's sample inspection contract, there's a zillion things we can share to ease solving our mutual problems. We do this in our peer group, but once you set your mind that sharing is good, since it is a 2-way street- then CHAT should be a more vital resource for those of us that are dedicated to improving both our operations and our bottom line. There are items that remain in a close circle of friends, there are things that can be shared in CHAT. CHAT allows some of the networking and sharing you get in the corridors of Convention and allows it without the time away, travel expense, and there 24/7 all year long- to what could be a larger audience. (Don't think the cost of convention isn't repaid 10x over each year- we wouldn't miss it). Here's a tip for those who've read this far- we charge most of our material on air mile cards. We get a million miles a year. R/T to Arizona, 1st class, free. Marriott rewards points can pay for the room at the resort. My daughter and son-in-law got home from 2 weeks in Japan last night, $200 from our pocket (and a bunch of air miles) gave them R/T 1st Class. Nice fringe, zero cost to the company. If you're not doing this, you're missing out. Or you can come in to work, do what you did yesterday for another 8, collect your check, and go home. Steve, we'll see you and da Crew in September! Keep up the great work. glc -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Muncy Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 12:13 PM To: [email protected] Subject: SprinklerCHAT There have been about 150 messages posted to the SprinklerCHAT group in the past two years....certainly not much activity. I've always felt that the reason it didn't get as much activity was that subscribers are probably the same group the subscribes to SprinklerFORUM, and they sometimes tend to post messages here that should have gone to SprinklerCHAT. That once concerned me, but given the nature of the discussions, I think the SprinklerFORUM does a good job in covering overall issues. Some issues specifically related to business practices and labor are more appropriately posted to SprinklerCHAT. As some of you will recall, we also started a bulletin board type forum as a test for a limited period, but it got no activity so we dropped that because it would likely have interfered with the other email lists. While we sure don't discourage any discussion or establishment of other discussion group, too many sources means less people participating in each one. We were very early in setting up the SprinklerFORUM and it has a tremendous audience. Today, anyone can set up a discussion group on MySpace, Yahoo, etc. -- but I think the success of the Forum is that it has an active group with a specific focus. If anyone has suggestions about how to increase activity on SprinklerCHAT, we are certainly open to new ideas! Steve A. Muncy, CAE - President American Fire Sprinkler Assn. Dallas, TX http://www.firesprinkler.org On Aug 15, 2007, at 7:05 AM, George Church wrote: > Two concerns: > Dilution of the already minimally used CHAT > Employees on Myspace during work, tend to wander. > > Heck, there's been this entire national trade association that, > until some > recent interaction the past couple years, has done very well for > like 100 > years without me. BTW, since this is the time of year, I'd > appreciate if > users of this FORUM would consider- if not already members- either > membership or consider it share ware and send a check (hey, maybe > paypal) to > AFSA for whatever you think its been worth to you. The afsa is a > nonprofit > trade association dedicated to, amongst other things, the education > of those > involved in this industry, and industry promotion and improvement. > It's a > good way to thank those who help the industry that puts food on > your table, > and I doubt the AFSA would not deposit checks for $25 or 50 or $100. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
