NYSWDA has just completed our first year as a stand alone 501 (c)(3) association operating with our own employees.  It has been a year of learning and growing and we look forward to what the future holds for your "Association". 

NYSWDA's board of directors have spent a great deal of their time this year working on the legal necessities of having our by-laws, fiscal policies, and employee policies be in order.  Ray Yehle, Andy Stone, Marie Montgomery, Belinda Parent, Art Murray, Stacy Sherer, John Bernardi, Bryan Bashaw, and Dan Wojcik deserve a round of applause for their tireless efforts to enhance your association.  Please take a moment the next time you see these folks and thank them for the long hours of donated time they have given your association.

We have exciting plans for 2005.  We will continue to work on many of the same deliverables as in past years - Materials Procurement, POI Insurance Procurement, Fuel Study, OSHA NID update, trainings, and maintenance of our website. 

For 2005, NYSWDA is working on the following projects that we feel will enhance the network.  After visiting the training centers of Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania staff returned with a strong commitment to move forward with the following goals for the near future:

• Develop a training center lab complete with a furnace/boiler training lab, CAZ lab, High Density Cellulose lab, etc.  This centrally located lab will be a facility where your staff can learn the skill needed for all aspects of the weatherization program.
• Work with DHCR to develop a field guide for weatherization along with "quick reference guides" for your staff on various aspects of weatherization such as CAZ guidelines
• Complete a comprehensive "Directors" manual along with trainings for new directors.

Continued in next column

2005/06 Membership Dues

We would like to thank all the agencies who have already submitted their 05/6 NYSWDA dues.  We are hoping to have 100% participation this year.   Please help us hit this goal.
 

Other news:  As you may know Earl Hicks left NYSWDA to take the Directors position at Tioga.  We wish him good luck with his new position. 

Gary DeWitt has joined our team as Assistant Director.  Gary brings to our team years of experience in the "Heating" field and has spent the last few years teaching at Monroe Community College.  Those of you who have been around for some time may recall that Gary helped develop BPI in its early years as an organization.

Additionally, we have a new voice in the Guilderland Administrative office.  Holly Gibson, our Administrative Assistant is working with staff in order to meet the administrative needs of the  Association and assist in providing member services.

Our Appreciation:

We would like to thank the many sponsors who have contributed to NYSWDA's Training Center.  We have received generous donations from Testo, Bacharach, Energy Conservatory and Bonded Insulation in the form of equipment and discounts for the training center. 

Also we would like to welcome Bacharach Inc., Performance Systems Development, and Temple Products who have become our first Corporate Members.

NYSWDA will be working closely with DHCR's T&TA staff during 05/06 to expand the trainings offered to the network.  We will be offering the following trainings and minimum.

• 4 Day EPA Lead Supervisor - This training will only be offered twice throughout the year.  Syracuse on April 26-29th  and once in the fall in the Bronx. 
• 1 Day EPA refresher course - There will be at least two of these courses presented this year.  Be sure to check your staff's certifications so you can plan accordingly.
• 1 Day LSW Trainings for Staff and Sub-Contractors - See the calendar, one training in each region will be presented this year.
• Basic Weatherization Skills - This training will be offered in each region by DHCR T&TA Staff, Schedule will be forthcoming.
• OSHA Trainings - NYSWDA will be working with OSHA to provide a variety of OSHA related trainings during the coming year
• Basic Electrical Safety - Gary will be providing this training in each region
• New Directors Training - Staff is currently developing the curriculum for this training.

Please call James, Gary or Randi if you are looking for additional trainings

CLICK HERE to view the start of the training calendar for 2005. 

2005 National Weatherization Training Conference

Monday, September 26 – Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Pre-Conference Sessions begin Sunday, September 25, 2005

WHO: Technical, Administrative, and Management Staff

RESERVATIONS: The conference will be at the New Orleans Marriott, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130. A special room rate has been arranged at $113, single or double occupancy, plus taxes. Please call Marriott reservations at (800) 228-9290 and ask for the National Weatherization Training Conference room block.

REGISTRATION: Registration packets will be mailed mid-June and will also be available online at that time.
INFORMATION: For information including the agenda, logistics, exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, and much more, please visit:  www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/conference/ 
For electronic updates and questions, email: weatherization2005@doeevents.com
For phone inquiries, contact the DOE events hotline: (800) 608-7141 (M-F, 9-5 Eastern)

On the 1-4's we now have app. 400 data points.  Agencies that submitted data this past year now need to begin the process of gathering the post data on these units.  Agencies that did not get fuel data in time or had very few units on the first phase of the study will be getting a list of units completed in the first quarter of this year.

POLLUTION OCCURRENCE INSURANCE

Once again, NYSWDA has obtained a great price on POI insurance for agencies and their sub-contractors for the 2005/06 program year.

As of this newsletter, agencies who purchased their policies for an April 1st inception date, should have received their policy renewal application. BC Environmental has already rewritten five policies in NY with a starting price of $2,300.  This is an increase of 15% which is the current trend in the insurance market place for this type of insurance.

When you receive your quote, please make sure that you compare your rates to last years’ pricing.  Information used to obtain the quote price is entered manually which leaves room for errors.  If you are a first time purchaser, and the policy seems high, please make sure you contact the broker and have them explain your quote line by line.

As requested by N.Y.S. Division of Housing, agencies should add DHCR onto their policies as an “Additional Insured”.  The cost to do so is $150.00.

If you would like to add your subcontractor onto your policy as an “Additional Named Insured”, the cost is $750.00 

If you or your subcontractor needs assistance, please have them call Randi AT 518-690-0491 X22.

ADDITIONAL INSURED VS ADDITIONAL NAMED INSURED

There has been some confusion on the definitions of Additional Insured vs Additional Named Insured.  Why the Additional Insured costs $150.00 and the Additional Named Insured costs $750.00?  Hope This Helps!!

Additional Insured – A person, firm or corporation other than the named insured on a policy who is protected against loss by the terms of the policy.  This coverage is typically extended through a policy endorsement, proof of which is evidenced through a Certificate of Insurance.

Additional Named Insured

1. An individual or entity, other than the first named insured, identified as an insured in the policy declarations or an addendum to the policy declarations.

2. An individual or entity who is added to a policy with the status of named insured after the policy is written. Such an individual or entity would have the same rights and responsibilities as an individual or entity named as an insured in the policy declarations (other than those rights and responsibilities reserved to the first named insured).

UNDERSTANDING POLLUTION LEGAL LIABILITY COVERAGE

Pollution "Environmental damage" is defined in the policy as "the injurious presence in or on land, the atmosphere, or any water course or body of water of solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal contaminants, irritants, or pollutants."

Coverage's

1. Pays on your behalf all sums you are legally obligated to pay as a result of emission, discharge, release, or escape of any contaminants, irritants, or pollutants into or on land, the atmosphere, or any water course or body of water, provided this results in "environmental damage."

2. Additionally pays to reimburse your expense for reasonable and necessary cleanup costs incurred in the discharge of a legal obligation validly imposed through governmental action, provided such expense is incurred because of "environmental damage.

3. Pays for defense of any claim or suit that is the subject of this insurance

 E-mail Randi Randi@nyswda.org

Message from Randi: 
I would like to thank the Material Advisory Committee members for working with staff to develop this years' statewide bid package.  There have been a number of specification/condition changes which will benefit the agencies and in turn benefit the families you serve.

The "Statewide Materials Bid"  for the program year 2005/06 is now posted on the website.  Please use the quick link listed on NYSWDA's main page to access the bid results.  As of today, we are waiting for the lighting analysis.  We will let you know when the results becomes available.  All other products have been listed.  This year, we divided the Northern Region into two.  This will allow for better vendor participation in that region.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES RELATED TO THE STATEWIDE BID, THAT YOU CONTACT US TO RESOLVE. 

If you are interested in participating on the procurement committee, please let Randi know. You can reach her at 518-690-0491 x22 or e-mail her at Randi@NYSWDA.org
 

NYSWDA has continued working with a small group of agencies to update our air-monitoring data.  We would like to thank the following agencies for their efforts on behalf of the network to provide air-monitoring data.

• Essex County CAP - Barb Allen

• Niagara CAP - Chris Lentz

• Franklin CAP - Bryan Bashaw

• Tioga CAP - Earl Hicks

In early April you will be mailed a copy of the updated NID.  This will include the nearly 190 data points of data collected during the past contract period.  A copy of the NID is now available on our website, follow the link on the main page for the NID.

Please insert into your book, you may also download from NYSWDA's website.

In addition remember that all field staff need the one day LSW trainings.

Donations

NYSWDA is seeking your support in donations of unused equipment you might have in inventory.  Blower doors, manometers, and analysis equipment of all types are needed to support the education of your employees.  Equipment need not be in pristine condition as much of the older equipment can be used in props.  Analog instruments no longer used can be used in permanent applications where instruments do not move and therefore frequent recalibration is unnecessary.

Contact Gary at 315-701-0440 or Randi at 518-690-0491 X22 if you have items you would like to donate to NYSWDA. 

Training Center Update

NYSWDA has been working hard behind the scene to develop a central training center for the Weatherization network.  That work is about to pay off with the lease of a facility in Syracuse.  Much work remains, in development of curriculum, equipping the facility with tools and equipment, and construction of props.

In the past year, courses have been offered on a regional basis.  This format will not change with a centralized training center.  Much of the curriculum being proposed can be taken on the road so your field staff will realize minimal unproductive time in travel.  Lead Safe Weatherization, Insulation blowing machine maintenance and Bacharach training will continue as they have in the past.  NYSWDA is working in conjunction with DHCR to develop the first of the mandated courses. DHCR has proposed to improve knowledge of the field staff.  These proposed courses will be offered on a regional basis.

The training center will shine when a lab setting is necessary in a knowledge area.  Mechanical systems labs to train heating technician’s, and props to simulate building structures for analysis are ideal to introduce technicians to the tools and techniques for heating and auditing.  Lab settings also work well in introduction of new field crew members to the processes involved in Weatherization of client homes.  Labs and classrooms are not the complete answer.  Homes will be secured near the training center for hands-on experience where knowledge of the material dictates this course of action.

Curriculum is being developed to ensure a path exists for sequential learning.  Whether you are integrating new personnel into your crews, or developing the skills of a technician for a new position, NYSWDA hopes to have the courses in-house to satisfy your educational needs.  A number of agencies have used education and certification to develop a career path for employees.  The curriculum and testing being developed will aid those agencies in that endeavor, and allow more agencies to implement similar programs.

Keep tabs on the NYSWDA web site, www.nyswda.org, for progress of the training center, and dates for the first courses offered there.  Please contact one of the NYSWDA staff if you have specific training needs, technical or managerial that we can help you with.

Odd Heating Equipment Museum

With the development of a training center, NYSWDA would like to display antiquated mechanical equipment you may have removed from client homes.  If you find old space heaters, thermostats or similar equipment that you feel would inspire awe in your colleagues, please give us an opportunity to display such pieces for future technicians to wonder over.

New York State Building Code Tidbits

The updated Building and Energy Code adopted by New York in 2003 contains several sections that apply to Weatherization Professionals.  NYSWDA will use this column to help you understand how various sections apply, and methods you can use to comply with the code.  Several of the sections that apply include work on furnaces and ductwork, CO and smoke detectors in single family as well as multi-family dwellings.

 In today's world of computing it is becoming harder and harder to stay on top of the dangers of viruses, phishing attempts, and spy ware attacks on your computer when surfing the web and receiving you email. 

A good way to stay informed is to subscribe to a computer related newsletter.  One of the best is delivered to your email free each day and once on the weekend.  It is published by Kim Komando, a computer whiz who has a large weekend audience on her national radio show. 

Continued in next column

Her website is www.komando.com and the link to sign up for the daily tips, news of the day, and weekly newsletter is http://www.komando.com/
newsletter.asp

I would suggest at least to sign up for the daily tips and the weekly newsletter to stay on top of you computer knowledge. 

To be safe you need at least the following:

• A good anti virus program which is set to update daily
• A good firewall if you are not already behind one at your agency
• A free spy ware program to scan your computer on a weekly basis.

Check http://www.komando.com/
bestshareware.asp for a good list of free downloads for firewall and spy ware software.