Sweeping Magazine- August 2014

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AUGUST 14 SWEEPING 1

Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology (ISSN# 1041-6692) 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 $479 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 TechnologyNational Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield, IN 46168

August 2014 Volume 38 #7

Features

Table of Contents

Departments

P.20

P.18

P.14

3 President’s Report

6 Editor’s Letter

8 Tech Q&A

10 The Coach’s Corner

12 Industry Watch

33 Progressive Perks

34 History Project

35 Dates and Events

37 Around the Tech Center

39 Darwin Awards

40 Classifieds

40 Humor

13 Call for Nominations

14 You’re Already Good. But This is How You Get Better

18 Document! Document! Document!

20 Meet Mark Stoner

24 Lancaster Preview

27 NCSG Welcomes Jim Brewer as the Guild’s NFPA 211 Representative

2 SWEEPING AUGUST 14

ResourcePage

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

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

Randy Brooks IRC, NFPA 211 or Customer Communications

(317) 203-0088 x: 5

Bart Ogden Stainless Steel Lining, Video Scanning

and Narrative Report Writing (317) 203-0088 x: 6

Fred Joy Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves

(317) 203-0088 x: 7

Jay Walker Dryer Vents

(317) 203-0088 x: 8

Rett RasmussenVented and Vent Free Gas Logs and Controls

(317) 203-0088 x: 9

Rich Martinez Dryer Vents or Masonry

(317) 203-0088 x: *

Rich Rua General Sweeping or Relining

(317) 203-0088 x: 0

Committee Chairs and Task Forces for 2013-2014

BylawsJeremy Biswell(913) 236-7141

[email protected]

Convention Site SelectionDiane Pilger

(631) [email protected]

Ethics Mark Stoner


GovernanceJay Walker


Government AffairsPhil Mitchell


International RelationsJohn Pilger


Long Range Planning Jeremy Biswell(913) 236-7141

[email protected]

Membership Bob Ferrari


NFPA 211 RepresentativeRandy Brooks(805) 646-8961

[email protected]

NFPA 31 RepresentativeJohn Pilger


NFPA 54 Jim Brewer


Technical Advisory CouncilMichael Segerstrom


ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or [email protected]

Design by Laura Houser Design • laurahouser.com • (317) 213-7497

PresidentJeremy Biswell(913) 236-7141

[email protected]

At-Large DirectorDiane Pilger(631) 863-2460

[email protected]

Treasurer, Region 3Ron Rust


Secretary, Region 5

Jasper Drengler(715) 304-8934

[email protected]

Region 1Phil Mitchell(603) 659-7776

[email protected]

Region 2Vacant

Region 4

Kevon Binder Jr.(517) 423-2832

[email protected]

Region 6Bob Ferrari


At-Large Director

Gregg Boss(636) 391-2226

[email protected]

At-Large DirectorFred Joy


Supplier Representative

Edmund Poplawski(570) 504-7107

[email protected]

NCSG BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-2015

Frances Kelly Excecutive Director

[email protected]

Megan McMahon Director of Finance

[email protected]

Debbie Cornelius Membership Development

Coordinator [email protected]

Donna Lee Kasmer CSIA Certification Coordinator

[email protected]

Claire RutledgeProgram [email protected]

Darcy MarlettDirector of Communications

and Marketing [email protected]

Tom SpaldingCSIA Director of

Communications and Marketing

[email protected]

Ashley EdridgeDirector of Education

[email protected]

Sara SichtingOffice Manager

[email protected]

STAFF

2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168

(317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365

NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Darcy Marlett at [email protected]. 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 publication’s 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.

© 2014 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD

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 firsthand 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.

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:


JEREMY BISWELLNCSG PRESIDENT Report

President’s

Hello Fellow Sweeps,

Welcome to our yearly “progress edition” of sweeping magazine! This is our most exciting issue of the year. This issue goes out to not just members, but all sweeps across the United States.

Sweeping “progress edition” was suggested several years ago by one of our members, Dennis Dobbs, as a way to share the benefits of membership to potential and current NCSG members. Dennis is a knowledgeable sweep and close friend of mine from Alabama. Dennis has served on the NCSG board of directors and still serves on the Southern Association of Chimney Professionals. What defines progress in an industry? Many sweeps started with an ad from Mother Earth news promising wealth, independence, and prosperity in the newly formed industry of chimney maintenance. August West formed a prepackaged business complete with vacuum and one of the industry’s first how to manuals for successful chimney sweeping and business ownership. Others such as Black Magic and Ken Hinkley were also instrumental in bringing new sweeps to the business world. Eventually, innovators like Sooty Bob Daniels, from his own sweep business, started one of the first chimney supply businesses. Bob constantly challenged sweeps to go from good to great in their area and treat their job more like a business. We have evolved from part time chimney technicians to full time business owners and operators of successful businesses.

The NCSG sends out this edition to bridge the gap between members and non-members. There are many reasons a chimney sweep becomes a member of our organization.

Membership in the NCSG provides access to wonderful new ideas and a vast array innovative people. Getting together with a group of people

to exchange information that is beneficial to all involved is considered networking. Our yearly convention is a great place to meet and mingle with other chimney sweeps and suppliers in a professional and leisurely setting. Many of our members will argue that hallway chats have led to game changers in their business or personal lives. Networking is key to the success of any business.

When I first decided to enter the industry, I wasn’t sure what to do to break into this industry or where to go for training on how to perform my craft properly and affectively. I was directed to the NCSG, by suggestion of a long time member Marion Schroll, to aid in my professional development of the trade via courses, workshops, publications, and information located in the members only area of the NCSG website.


The NCSG keeps me updated on new products available to my business, industry trends, government issues, codes, and technical information. I have learned leadership skills and how to be a professional in this industry. All of these items have helped me develop a great business and has saved me tons of time, mental anguish, and money having an entire industry and its resources available to me.

I honestly don’t think I could have made it this far without the NCSG and its members. The appreciation I have for the NCSG has encouraged me to give back through volunteerism, support, and service. Members have become my colleagues, friends, and second family. I am happy this association exists for our trade.

In this month’s issue, we are featuring what I consider one of the most progressive NCSG member and business owner currently in the industry. Mark Stoner is currently the President of the CSIA.

He has been in this industry many years. His story is amazing. Mark opened the industries eyes several years ago when he rolled out his “We fix leaky chimneys” campaign and shared it with the industry. Mark has built what is arguably one of the larger chimney companies in the United States and his business model and practices are constantly being tried and tested by other successful chimney companies from around the nation.

Like many of our readers, he has had his share of ups and downs, but has learned many things along the way. Mark is always willing to share his experiences and does so with a smile on his face.

I encourage every reader to experience what I have experienced from being a member now and for many years to come,Jeremy Biswell, NCSG President

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ello and welcome to the Progress Edition of Sweeping Magazine. For one issue a year Sweeping Magazine’s

regular readership is joined by 4,000 additional sweeps from across the country.

One of the most wonderful things about the chimney and hearth industry is the shared history and comradery running throughout. As you read through this month’s features and articles you will see recurring names, themes, and historical milestones. Mother Earth News and August West get mentioned several times throughout. Jim Brewer (NCSG Welcomes Jim Brewer as the Guild’s NFPA 211 Representative, pg. 27) and Jerry Isenhour (Coach’s Corner, pg. 10) are both mentioned in our interview with cover story subject Mark Stoner (Meet Mark Stoner, pg. 20). Over at the History Project (pg. 34) column

Claire Rutledge, NCSG Program Coordinator, writes about the importance of preserving the Guild’s stories and objects.

While looking through the issue you will also want to stop by pg. 24 to get sneak peak at our host city for the 2015 National Convention. Lancaster, PA boasts a rich history, many local attractions, and tons of opportunities for shopping and dining.

If you’re not currently a member, or you would like to get more out of your membership by getting involved, we would love to talk to you. Check out www.ncsg.org, give us a call at 317-837-1500, or send an email to Debbie Cornelius, NCSG Membership Coordinator, at [email protected].

Cheers,

DARCY MARLETTEDITOR

Editor’sLetter

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TechnicalQ&A BY MICHAEL SEGERSTROM, NCSG

TECHNICAL ADVISORY CHAIR

A

QWhat is the NCSG Technical

Advisory Council, and how can

it help me?

The Technical Advisory Council, or TAC, is a committee whose purpose is to provide free technical assistance to members of the National Chimney Sweep Guild. The TAC is made up of volunteers from across the country that will offer their assistance, insight and or advice, in a wide variety of technical categories. When a NCSG member calls the TAC helpline, they will reach a menu that will list the categories to choose from.

Once the category is selected your call will be directed to the appropriate Council Member for that category. Council Members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to each category they specialize in. Depending on the category, Council members may include individuals that work for product manufacturers, CSIA Certified Sweeps currently working in the field, or other NCSG members with decades of experience in that category. Many of the TAC members are our industry leaders.

When we have a problem or technical question and need assistance, as a benefit to NCSG members, we can call the helpline. Categories include dryer vents, masonry chimney construction, gas venting and the NFPA 54, oil flue sizing the NFPA 31, customer communications, stainless steel liner installation, video scanning, report writing, pellet stove installation and venting, vented and vent free gas logs and controls, and general sweeping.

If you can’t find the category you are looking for, you can simply chose the Technical Advisory Council Chair, and if he can’t help you, he will find somebody that can!

Sometimes we get stuck. Or a job will take a wrong turn. We may encounter something we haven’t seen before We may be unsure of the best way to perform a specific repair. We may have a code or inspection question. Whatever the situation is, the NCSG Technical Advisory Council is here to help! As a free NCSG member benefit, a wealth of knowledge, expertise, experience and know how it is just a phone call away!

About Michael Segerstrom:Michael Segerstrom is the operations and service manager for Bridgewater Chimney Sweeps LLC based in NJ. Owning the business with his wife, Kathleen, Michael is in the field performing sweeps, NFPA 211 Inspections, repairs and installations, and has been servicing chimneys for more than 17 years. Currently a CSIA Certified Sweep, Michael also holds additional industry related certifications including NFI wood and pellet certification. In addition to currently serving as the NCSG TAC Chair, Michael also serves on the CSIA Board of directors and is a CSIA Instructor.

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Progress: Are You Keeping Up?

BY JERRY ISENHOURCoach’s Corner

The

W ith Progress as the theme of this issue of Sweeping, it occurred to me it’s time we look at the progress we have made as an industry.

I still vividly remember those early days when being a chimney sweep was considered to be a cute novelty by people. The common questions by the consumer when they called: “Will he wear his top hat when he comes out”? Or, when I knocked on the door of the customer’s house and the question was: “Where’s your top hat?”

Sometimes I wonder if Eva Horton or Tom Risch envisioned what would happen as we progressed forward, I am certain

the impact and growth has surpassed what either of them envisioned. In those early days think of the impact when Bob Daniels appeared on NBC’s Tom Snyder Show, or when David and Dee Stoll got married on top of the Sears Tower. It was a time that promotion of chimney sweeping was as a born again trade and so often the comparison was to Mary Poppins, it gave us a foundation upon which to build.

Do you remember going to meetings with colleagues dressed in our top hat and tails. (This was before we even knew that in many European countries top hats and tails were not even the way they dressed). Perhaps you still have your red scarf

Photo of chimney sweeps on all three floors of a motel in Lancaster, PA during an August West meeting in the early eighties. This photo originally appeared in The Sootsayer, Volume Three, Issue No. 17.


somewhere in the closet, at least I hope you have not lost this connection to our past.

Harry Richart, a President of the NCSG, had visions of the trade’s future. I remember the controversies of Harry and his opinion that we had to discard the top hat for the look of a true business owner. Whether you agreed or disagreed with Harry, you had to admire his leadership skills and the dedication he had to our industry. The vision of Harry and the mother of the certification program May Anne Beaufait, certainly they were instrumental in the development of our industry.

In the early days our discussions were over the complicated things we faced at the time, things we all take for granted now, like how to get glazed creosote out of chimneys. How well I remember when we first started lining chimneys and the trials and tribulations of that work. I remember all the discussions over the UL 103 / 103 HT/ 1777 / 1777 ZC. And I recall the amazement we felt when someone figured out that the tubing on the exhaust of tractor trailers could work in a chimney and FLEXIBLE stainless steel liners were born.

Yes how we have progressed. Today’s business owner is now concentrating on budgets, web sites, SEO management, exit plans, marketing, and so many sophisticated things to grow the business.

The chimney service industry has changed dramatically. And each and every day we continue to improve bit by bit, inch by inch, and further ingrain ourselves into the home maintenance market with our specialized skills.

Now the training has moved to an entirely new level. It has moved there due to the creativity, intelligence and foresight of others who believed in the dream, those who truly saw where we as an industry could go. People like Pete Luter and Victor Imgarten who came back from a meeting in Hungary with the hair brain idea of a chimney sweep school in America and how their beliefs convinced others, like Jim Brewer, another leader with the vision of the future. Today that chimney sweeping school is a reality.

The electronics of the average chimney sweep in the inspection and documentation processes, and extending to the office with the hot ticket of going “paperless” and tying into a data base, scheduling and accounting into one package are all new. We can now analyze our data base and find out detailed information about our customers, information that we could never have conceived of before but is now crucial to have.

Over the years we actively networked with our colleagues in other countries, and even though we may see them in photos with their work uniforms being traditional, in all actuality in some countries the chimney sweep has traded his top hat and

tails for the look of a laboratory technician wearing a lab coat, as he conducts the important work of testing the emissions to increase air quality and to improve the quality of life for his clients. He does a lot more than just pump a brush. Watch him in action with an array of electronic test equipment measuring the data contained in the exhaust of the appliances. Sure, they remember and will always celebrate their storied history. But, they also have a firm grasp on today’s technologies and how to use them to grow not just their businesses but the industry as a whole.

We see this happening here in the USA, as well. Armed with new tools and new knowledge we are actively promoting chimney / venting system maintenance and a careful analysis of the system for proper performance. We have been systematically moving ourselves out of simply sweeping the chimney to prevent chimney fires, into much larger considerations of chimney and appliance performance and air quality.

Growth continues to happen as our knowledge and technologies improve and we change and discover ways to use them to more fully address the needs of the consumer. We have only touched a tiny percentage of the consumers. There is a vast market still out there for your services. But, to claim your share, to reap the rewards for the hard work you do, you must think like your consumer. You have to provide the services the consumers needs and wants, and you have to make them aware of your capacity to enrich their lives through cleaner air, lowered emissions, increased efficiency and lowered energy costs.

The probing question to ask yourself, are you progressing along with the industry and the times. Are you adding the services and knowledge of venting systems you need to compete? Have you moved your business, no matter how large or small, into the rarified air of people who manage to stay ahead of the curve and outside the box? I hope so. Because the opportunities are great and you do not want to miss them.

The best to you, as we embark on an upcoming fall and winter. Make it your goal to discover something as revolutionary as flexible liners were in their time, and make the commitment to ongoing daily and continuous improvement. Your dreams will arrive! Make 2014 and beyond a time of PROGRESS for you!

About the Author: Jerry Isenhour is an industry consultant, educator and coach who authors a monthly article in Sweeping as a service to the industry. For more information about Jerry and how his team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level, take a look at his web site www.cvccoaching.com He can be contacted at [email protected] or by phone at (704) 425-0217. You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page CVC Coaching and Youtube channel CVCCoaching.


Laval, QC - Security Chimneys and M&G DuraVent announced that Karen Galaise has been promoted to the position of Regional Sales Manager for the newly created Quebec, Canada region. Karen will be responsible for sales of both Security Chimneys and M&G DuraVent products in the province of Quebec and the Ottawa metropolitan area. She will report to Geoff Wilcox, the Canadian National Sales Manager. Karen will work directly with customers in the hearth and HVAC/PHC markets. Karen has been with Security Chimneys for 25 years. Her roles at Security have included Human Resources, Executive Administrative Assistant and most recently as Customer Service Coordinator. She has a strong knowledge of the customer base, the industry and the products. Karen is also fluent in French and has lived in the Montreal area most of her life. She currently resides in Repentigny, QC with her husband and two children. Both Security Chimneys and M&G DuraVent are pleased that Karen has accepted this new opportunity which begins July 1, 2014. With her experience in the industry she will be a great

IndustryWatch

Industry Watch PolicyNCSG encourages industry partner to submit press releases to Darcy Marlett, Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology editor, via email at [email protected]. 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.

addition to the sales force. Karen will be located at the Security Chimneys offices in Laval, QC but will spend a lot of her time working with customers to improve their businesses. About Security Chimneys For over 50 years, Security Chimneys International has built a reputation as one of the most trusted suppliers of quality chimneys and fireplaces in North America. Their dedication to total quality lives in the research and development of new products and services for the residential and commercial markets. Their manufacturing facility is located in Laval, Quebec. For more information, please visit www.securitychimneys.com or www.chemineesecurite.com. About M&G DuraVentM&G DuraVent is a recognized technological leader in the venting industry. All M&G companies, including DuraVent, exclusively develop, manufacture and market a wide range of flue and vent products in aluminum, stainless steel and plastic for the HVAC and hearth industry. M&G is the largest supplier of engineered venting systems for the highefficiency heating

market in Europe for 20 years. For more information, please visit www.duravent.com. Karen Galaise, Regional Sales Manager - [email protected]

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Sweeping 7.35 x 4 7-8"_April 25 2014.pdf 1 2014-04-25 7:35 AM

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 organizations’ strategic plan and annual budget. The new shorter two-year term limits make volunteering easier!

NCSG board members are responsible for:• Attendingfourboardmeetingseachyear:Twoofthe

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 usually held online via and via teleconference and the fourth is held immediately before the NCSG convention at the host city. Travel and lodging expenses are reimbursed for board members attending, with the exception of the convention meeting only.

• ParticipatingintheNCSGmembers-onlyandboardofdirectors’ electronic discussion lists.

• Welcomingnewandreinstatedmemberstotheorganizationvia phone calls and email

• Connectingmemberstoregionallegislationaffectingtheindustry

And NCSG board members receive:

• ComplimentaryNCSGNationalConventionregistrationforyou and your spouse while you serve on the board.

• Networkingopportunitiesatboardmeetingswhichhelpdevelop life-long friendships with business associations from across the country.

The NCSG Governance Committee is now accepting nominations for the following positions:

Region 1: 2 year termRepresents: Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire

Region 5: 2 year termRepresents: Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana

At Large Director #1: 2 year termRepresents: National Membership

At Large Supplier Member: 2 year termRepresents: Supplier and Dual (supplier/manufacturer) members nationally

Call for Nominations: Board of Directors


ver the past three years, our company has really plugged in to the chimney services and hearth industries. I mean really, deeply invested ourselves. I

guess it’s kind of uncommon for a marketing company to shut down the offices for two days and send all its employees to attend CSIA training, but that’s what my business partner Taylor Hill and I did when we needed to understand what our clients do every day at a more fundamental level. It just made sense to us. We were already good at what we did, writing content and creating web sites, but we wanted to be even better. We wanted to be excellent. So we got involved.

It was the best thing we ever did. Now every chance we get we attend regular chimney service industry meetings across the country, and each time we walk away having learned more than we shared with those in attendance. Sometimes the focus is on the technical aspects, the real work of a chimney service professional. But even more often the focus has been on becoming a better business person, a better leader, a more successful human being. It turns out that the people in this

industry are amazing and are always willing to share the things they are learning about building a successful business. I don’t think I was expecting the kind of openness I found among members of NCSG. It just doesn’t exist in other trade associations I have been a part of. Not even close.

I’ll never forget the first NCSG convention we attended. I was standing in a buffet line at the hotel restaurant on the evening of the first full day of the conference, and overhearing some of the conversations taking place in front of me. It was obvious that these men and women knew each other beyond just the friendly once-a-year small talk typical of most of these kinds of meetings. These people did things together throughout the year. They visited each other’s businesses to see how other people did it. They attended trainings together. They even vacationed together, families and all! And it wasn’t just that night in the buffet line that I witnessed this; it was over and over again during the course of the four days we were there, and it has continued to be that way at every single state and regional meeting I’ve attended.

You’re Already Good. But This is How You Get Better

OThe Spark Marketer Crew talking chimney and chugging coffee during an “Industry Brainstorm Session” at our offices.

BY CARTER HARKINS, SPARK MARKETING


In other trade associations, there is a fierce sense of competition present at all times. It’s pretty clear that everyone is in it for what they can get out of it, with little thought about what they can put into it, or how they can make the group better. It is unusual to see help given to the newer, less seasoned members grow and find their place, but this short-sighted attitude deprives everyone of the real potential value of such an association.

You can’t really grow to your full potential if all you do is take. To really grow, you have to give. You have to be involved in something that’s bigger than you, something that has the potential of sweeping you (pardon the pun) in to new ways of thinking about what you do. By being involved, you will encounter ideas that you may never have considered before, if you were less involved. You will have many opportunities to improve other’s lives and businesses by sharing your knowledge, too. It’s involvement that makes us better at what we do. It’s involvement that exposes us to new answers, unlocking the secrets that propel us and others to the next level. Whether you are new to business or you’ve been running one for a while, then you know that there is still much to learn. It’s a never-ending opportunity for improvement. For many of us, the reason we decided to do what we do

A rather enthusiastic Jeremy Biswell planting one on Carter’s cheek during the North Carolina Chimney Sweep Guild Meeting this winter.


in the first place is because owning a business gives us a real-world opportunity to grow and challenge ourselves every day. For me personally, becoming a dad and becoming a business owner are the two things that have challenged me more than anything else to grow and become a better human being. I can’t

say I’ve always gotten it right, though. In fact I’ve missed the mark more often than not, but I am committed to growing and learning from my mistakes. I am constantly repointing myself in the direction I want to go, and I want my life to have meaning and purpose in the things I do, including my mistakes.

As I have interacted with other business owners, many share this same desire for growth. We constantly share helpful books with one another. We coach each other on the phone. We talk each other off ledges, and lessen the impact when we fall down. We support one another, because we know that it takes this kind of supportive community to get where we are going. We recognize the fact that we need each other.

Occasionally, I may interact with burned-out business owners who have simply stopped caring much. They don’t seem interested any longer in using their business as a means for personal growth. Their business has become their opponent in the quest for happiness. So rather than nurture and care of it, looking for ways to get the best out of it and to bring out the best in themselves, like scavengers they simply strip the business of whatever they can get from it. And I’ve noticed

Taylor Hill, Carter Harkins and the entire Crew at Spark Marketer attended two days of CSIA training conducted by Jerry Isenhour at Ashbusters Chimney Service in Nashville last summer.


something about these business owners; they are rarely involved in anything larger than themselves. Psychologists call it “self-destructive behavior”, and it requires isolation and denial to really do that well.

Some new business owners don’t have a supportive growth mentality yet, either. Maybe it’s because they are younger, and think that they have sufficient capabilities and insights to do it by themselves. Or it could be that they do not know about the opportunity they have in the NCSG to get involved with the kind of support they need to grow and thrive.

Regardless of the reason, if we aren’t involved with other business owners who know us, know our strengths and weaknesses, and have the permission to speak candidly and openly about the challenges and struggles of being a business owner, then chances are we will not reach our fullest potential. We may be good, or even great at what we do, but we could still be better, and we should constantly strive to be better.

As a vendor with an admittedly obvious agenda in being a part of any association, I hope you’ll allow me to be so bold as to offer a unique perspective right now. You see, I have had the opportunity to be a part of many other associations, and because of that perspective I can tell you that what we have in the NCSG is worth cherishing.

To the older members I would say: Well done. You are keeping alive an amazing, thriving group that after all these years still has so much to offer to anyone who joins its ranks. You make newer members like me feel welcomed and included, too. Your experience and your expertise are invaluable, and I hope you know that. Thank you for being so willing to give it away.

To the newer members, let me say this: No matter what role we play in the industry, we all continue to benefit from one another because of this attitude of friendship and involvement. I am meeting many of you and getting to know you, and I am so grateful to you for welcoming us in to your midst, to have a chance to learn from you and serve you.

Finally, to the prospective members, those of you who haven’t given much thought to joining, or may be on the fence: do it. You’ll benefit from the connections, the friendships. You’ll be exposed to possibilities for your business you never would have dreamed possible. And you’ll have the opportunity, patterned for you by all of those wonderfully involved people that precede you, to give back to your industry, to be involved, to grow and succeed in your chosen profession. You’re already good. This is how you get better.

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I am often asked how one can protect their hearth or sweep business from being sued. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely insulate a business from litigation. There

are, however, a number of good business practices that can be adopted to reduce the potential for litigation and put the business in a good position to defend itself should litigation arise. First and foremost on this list is documentation.

A company that keeps good, detailed, and accurate records greatly increases the prospect of a successful defense. I have, unfortunately, defended some companies that did not have detailed or accurate records. In those situations, sometimes the only evidence of what occurred is witness testimony. This is a dangerous prospect as people often remember events differently or simply do not remember them at all.

While a sweep may recall warning a customer about an issue identified on a Level I inspection, if that discussion is not documented on a written inspection report, the customer could assert that they were never advised of the danger. At that point, the company can only refute the claim with the sweep’s testimony. This often creates a “he said, she said” situation. Detailed records and documentation, in conjunction with the sweep’s testimony, are much more powerful and convincing evidence.

For a hearth installer or chimney sweep, the records kept should include any sales invoices, service records, inspection records, warnings, employee personnel files, employee training records, and company policies, procedures, and handbooks. These documents will form the backbone of a defense. The service and inspection records are especially critical. These records should be detailed and include specific information regarding the level of inspection conducted and any issues identified.If service work is performed, the service record should be

descriptive and detailed. For example, if a chimney cap is replaced, identify the name, manufacturer and model of the cap. The record should not simply state that the cap was replaced without the aforementioned information. This information could become critical when determining whether a chimney cap involved in a fire was indeed the same cap that the sweep previously installed.

In addition to the above documents, it is strongly recommend that companies take before and after photographs. This is especially true if any service work is completed. Often times a sweep or hearth company may receive a fire loss claim for work that it did many years before. Photographs will provide important evidence to show what the fireplace and chimney system looked like at the time of the work.

In today’s digital era, maintaining good records is increasingly easier. At the end of each day, any records that are taken in the field can be scanned in and saved electronically on a company’s computer system. The same procedure works for photographs as well. Each field employee can take photographs with a digital camera or on their smart phone. Those photographs should then be downloaded and saved with the service records. All electronic records, however, should be backed up so that they are not lost if a computer crashes.

A company will be in a much better position to defend itself if it adopts a thorough record keeping policy and follows the above recommendations.

Eugene M. LaFlamme is a partner at McCoy Leavitt Laskey LLC, a national defense firm specializing in fire and explosion cases. Eugene’s practice focuses on the defense of companies involved in the hearth and chimney industries. He can be contacted at [email protected] or (262) 522-7000.

Document! Document! Document!

BY EUGENE M. LAFLAMME


2014 – 2015 Sweeps Advantage Coupon Program

Featured Coupons of the Month

The 2014 – 2015 complete offers are available in the “Members Only” section of the NCSG website at www.NCSG.org. These coupons will be good until June 30, 2015 unless otherwise noted.

Copperfield Chimney Supply • ENERVEX, Inc. • HY-C Company LLC • National Chimney • Olympia Chimney Supply •

Royal Chimney Supply • SaverSystems • Spark Marketer • Z-Flex

Contact Debbie Cornelius, Membership Development Coordinator at [email protected].

ADD YOUR COMPANY NAME TO THE LIST OF PARTICIPATING SUPPLIER MEMBERS!

ENERVEX, INC.

SAVE UP TO $100Purchase one EcoDamper System from your favorite

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SAVE UP TO $ ? FREE – Loaner Fan for any home show in your area

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handle and 3-prong plug)

SAVE UP TO $100Purchase one (1) IntelliDraft System from your favorite

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Lancaster PreviewThe annual National Chimney Sweep Guild convention features

great opportunities for learning, fellowship, and making business

connections. On top of that it offers a members a chance to travel to

someplace new. This year we are excited to be hosted by the city of

Lancaster, PA and the Marriot on Penn Square.

1. Lancaster was originally called Hickory Town.

2. On September 27, 1777 Lancaster became the capital of the US for one day when the Continental Congress fled Philadelphia. Today the city celebrates September 27 as Capital Day.

3. Lancaster was home to James Buchanan, the nation’s 15th president.

4. The Lancaster County Prison was styled after Lancaster Castle in England.

5. The world’s first battery-powered watch, the Hamilton Electric 500 was built by the Hamilton Watch Company in 1957 in Lancaster.

6. The nation’s oldest continually running theater, the Fulton Opera House, is a Lancaster landmark.

7. The first paved road in the United States was the former Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, no U.S. Route 30.

8. Both the Conestoga wagon and the Pennsylvania long rifle, two of the most common products needed by pioneers who left to settle the frontier, were manufactured in Lancaster.

9. The city’s Central Market, built in 1889, is the oldest continuously running farmer’s market in the United States.

10. Peeps, the colorful Easter confection of marshmallow chicks, were invented by the Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster in the 1920s.

10 Facts about Lancaster, PA


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1. The Marriot on Penn Square

2. Lancaster County Convention Center

3. The Penn Square Grille and Rendezvous Lounge

4. The William H. Montgomery House was built in 1804 and is now incorporated into the Marriot on Penn Square.

5. Interior of the Marriot on Penn Square Lobby

Hotel and Convention Center


Local Landmarks and Attractions

1. The Pressroom

2. Prince St. Cafe

3. Cross Keys Coffee & Teas

4. bella boo

5. Shops lining Kind St. in downtown Lancaster.

6. Located next to the Marriot, Tellus360 is a pub and event space that features live music throughout the week.

7. The Baker’s Table is a café located in the Cork Factory Hotel

8. The Cork & Cap Restaurant in the Cork Factory Hotel is known for its “Chicken and Waffles” soup.

1. The Fulton Theatre2. The Lancaster Visitors Center,

located just across the street from the hotel and convention center.

3. Lancaster’s Central Market4. Historic Preservation marker on a

local church5. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church6. Piano decorated by local artists,

located outside the South Central Market building.

7. Lancaster Newspapers Inc.’s “Newseum”

8. The Lancaster Science Factory offers tons of hands-on activities for the young and young at heart.

9. The Pennsylvania Train Museum features a 100,000 square foot exhibit hall with more than 50 trains indoors.

10. For those looking to explore the spookier side of Lancaster history a ghost tour meets right outside of the hotel.

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Local Restaurants and Boutiques


Longtime industry leader Jim Brewer of Magic Sweep Corporation in Chesapeake, VA has accepted the position as the National Chimney Sweep Guild’s

representative to the NFPA 211 committee.

“I hope I will be a common sense voice in the world of chimney and venting codes and bring a practical perspective to the industry. There’s too many building officials and insurance officials and lawyers and litigators that are trying to write the rules for us. We need common sense, someone who’s got the real world experience, knows what’s going on in the field to represent our industry. We need someone looking out for our industry, if not we get blindsided by things,” said Brewer.

Brewer has served as an alternate member of the NFPA 211 committee for over fifteen years and has been a primary member of the National Fuel Gas Code committee for 25 years. Additionally, he has represented the Guild at the International Code Council.

The current hot button issue for the chimney and venting industry are the proposed changes regarding the use of aftermarket parts in factory built fireplaces in the NFPA 211.

“The committee sees the issue of prefabricated fireplace systems and aftermarket parts use as pretty cut and dry based on the manufacturers’ owners manual statements and their statement that parts shall be listed and or tested for use with specific prefabricated fireplace systems otherwise they may create serious possible hazards,” said Ron Rust, who represented the Guild at the last NFPA 211 meeting, “Their recommendation is to replace the complete prefabricated fireplace system if proper listed or tested parts are not available or to get approval from the manufacturer or from the authority having jurisdiction.”

To help provide evidence of the safety of aftermarket parts the NCSG asked CSIA to develop a white paper on their use.

“This task came about through discussion from many members on the NCSG discussion email list. The CSIA will be using a combination of auction proceeds and manufacturers donations to fund the testing at Inertek labs. We plan to have the project finished in September to present to the NCSG and our certified sweeps.”

The NFPA’s focus is solely on public safety and with that in mind they do not take into consideration economic impact, cost, or what consequences may occur in the real world or out in the field based on their standards. By going through the testing process the CSIA hopes to provide the committee with hard numbers regarding the safety of aftermarket parts in pre-fabricated fireplaces.

Rust said that he looks forward to having Brewer as the Guild’s representative as he make the committee aware of a technician’s perspective.

“I try and do things from a real world practical technician point of view and that is always where I will come from and make judgments from. I think for an industry representative for an industry full of technicians that’s pretty good place to come from. I think I share a common view from most of the people and I’m always willing to hear arguments both ways and make informed decisions. If somebody’s got an opposing view I will certainly listen to them so long as they have some credible evidence or information that suggests that their view is the best way,” said Brewer.

NCSG Welcomes Jim Brewer as the Guild’s NFPA 211 Representative

Jim Brewer (center) instructs students during the Installing and Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances class at the CSIA Technology Center.L

NCSG Charter Members

Paul Bourque, Huntsville, AL

Don Leavitt, San Diego, CA

David Harris, Broken Arrow, OK

Dan Wheeler, Santa Rosa, CA

John Cline, Menlo Park, CA

Dale Meisinger, N. Augusta, SC

Alan Hisey, St. Louis, MO

Eva B. Horton, Greenwich, CT

Harry Richart, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

NewNCSGMembers

REGION 1

REGION 2

REGION 4

REGION 6

REGION 3

NCSG REGIONS

REGION 1

Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire

REGION 2

Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

REGION 3

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia

REGION 4

Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio

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

MASSACHUSETTSDonaldHeight•Height,Donald•Westborough

PENNSYLVANIAMarkKerwood•Home&HearthServices,LLC•Levittown

MARYLANDDennisDell•AshAwayChimneyService•Finksburg

ALABAMAHeathBurr•HeathChimneyServices•Oxford

MISSOURIGarrettRaySpoor•EffectiveChimneyTreatment•Martinsburg

INDIANATyMuller•MullerMasonryServicesLLC•WestLafayette

OHIORogerValentine•Valequity,LLC•Galena

OREGONNathanFoster•AlliedChimneyCleaning,LLC•Wilsonville


CSIA Update www.CSIA.orgAUGUST REPORT

ADVERTISEMENT

Jim Brewer and Michael Van Buren’s top-notch “Installing & Troubleshooting Gas Hearth Appliances” class saw its highest turnout in at least 13 years, as 19 attendees from nine states descended on Plainfield, IN July 14-18. It was a chance to get more comfortable with equipment they see on the job, in addition to taking the NFI Exam. Dennis Dobbs and Bob Priesing, two veteran CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps, were in the class as instructors-in-training. All were here to gain ...

Wisdom for thehearth

“The best instructors in the country, in my opinion, are teaching this class. That’s one of the big reasons we decided to come down. ”

-- Mark Maynard, CCS The Chimney Guy

Menasha, WI

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www.CSIA.orgAUGUST REPORT

National Chimney Sweep Training School inspiring for CSIA instructor

This was my first full week of teaching the same group of students, not new faces every day, and teaching a class I had never taught before! The longest I had done was a 1-day, 8-hour class and I did it four times this year and I think as many times last year. I did a lot of 60 or 90 minutes classes at different trade shows.

I was nervous but I did have confidence going into it – a big confidence gain because I was asked.

Being able to work alongside guys who are legends or icons in the industry – guys like Tom Urban and Bob Fish and Ashley Eldridge. Just to be along side those guys. Inspiring is the word I would use.

Being in class, doing actual demonstrations and looking at guys when they see something for the first time, and being a part of showing that to them for the first time, is like watching when the light bulb goes off inside their head.

The study groups at night were good. Because we wouldn’t just study, but talk about the industry and the things that we’ve experienced, the new guys and those who have been doing it a while.

I really felt like I could make a tangible contribution to the industry. Not just by teaching off slides, but sharing my own experiences as it relates to things and answering guys’ questions and seeing most of them walk away CSIA CCS Certified at the end of the week.

It’s a pride thing. I want all of my guys to get 100s. But I understand that it is not an easy test to pass. You have to know what you are doing to pass the test.

Physically I was exhausted, standing on my feet for a week. And I almost lost my voice. By the time I got back to New Jersey my voice was just about gone. I addressed the class on Friday, because I left and they tested on Saturday. The message I tried to deliver was, regardless of if you pass or fail tomorrow, take one thing that you learned, at least one thing, bring it back and try to implement it. Maybe it’s a new brush something that simple – just one thing and implement it.

There were several times during the class where we talked about common-sense approaches that guys had never thought about. Where it never occurred to them to try that. Like Bob Fish; when he sweeps a chimney, he puts a knee board in front of it! For me, having been doing this for 17 years that something I had never tried ... and when he explained it to me, the light bulb went off in my head!

As an owner-operator I still work in the field, I still go out on all the repairs and most of the sweeps and inspections. So it was pretty intuitive. I think I was able to connect because I have current field experience.

You’ll learn things that you’ll take for the rest of your career that will make your jobs easier. That will make you better at your job, and in the end, make your job more profitable. Or your boss, if you are an employee. If a boss was considering sending his employee it will make them better sweeps. Whether or not they pass the test, they will learn things that they will be able to implement right away that will make

them manage their time better, make them perform services better, and in the end make them a more profitable employee to have.

This was 20 students in a room. They had to learn stuff, so we spent a lot of time together. I feel like I made some friends. I hope I see all of them again, and 10 years we’ll still be friends.

I hope they do real well in their careers whether they are owners or employees.

The way the class was put together, the order of things, everything flowed and fit – nothing dated or inaccurate … It was a really comfortable program to teach.

It was my first experience with what is taught at the National Chimney Sweep Training School. It’s a solid program.

Michael Segerstrom, a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep since 2004, is also a member of the CSIA board of directors and is a CSIA instructor. He taught at the National Chimney Sweep Training School in June -- for the first time- and the experience left him inspired. This is an as-told-to article.

Parging a smoke chamber.

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New CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps - Congrats!

ConnecticutJosh Armstrong | Armstrong Chimney and Stoves, LLC | TaftvilleShane Centrella | Valley Chimney Sweep LLC | CantonThomas Butkier | Firesafe Chimney Service | Newton

IllinoisSean Florian | Safeway Chimney Sweeps | FrankfortDaniel Florian | Safeway Chimney Sweeps | Frankfort

IndianaMike Collins | Schlemmer Brothers Hearth and Home | WabashChris Muckerheide | Oesterling Chimney Sweep, LLC | BatesvilleTy Muller | Muller Masonry Services | West Lafayette

KansasDavid Apple | Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. | Wichita

MarylandXan Luu | XL Services LLC | GaithersburgBarry Dorsey | Mace Energy Supply, Inc. | Smithsburg

MichiganMichael Sarkisian | Mike S Chimneys | Wyandotte

MinnesotaMike Trumble | Chimney Doctors | Apple ValleyMarc Fennell | Rimkus Consulting Group, Inc. | Roseville

MissouriGarrett Spoor | Effective Chimney Treatment | Mexico

New HampshireZachary Steenbeke | Crown Chimney Company | Hooksett

New MexicoJacob Haley | Bailey’s Chimney Cleaning & Repair | El Prado

New YorkMatthew Jacobson | Expert Chimney Services Inc. | Syracuse

North CarolinaRyan Farrell | Chimneys Plus, Inc. | Pittsboro

OhioChristopher Fugate | Mid-Valley Chimney Repair & Sweep | FranklinJoshua Stranges | ValEquity, LLC | GalenaRoger Valentine | ValEquity, LLC | GalenaGrant Cassell | Buckeye Stoves | Fredericktown

PennsylvaniaJames Muscarella | Stovepiper Chimney Sweep | West ChesterWilliam Omlor | Stovepiper Chimney Sweep | West Chester

Rhode IslandSteve Paige | Atlas Insulation | North ScituatePatrick Beattie | AAAA Dave’s Chimney & Handy Man Service | Hope Valley

WisconsinJordan Foster | Royal Chimney Service | Milwaukee

“You’ll learn things (at NCSTS) that you’ll take for the rest of your career that will make your jobs easier. That will make you better at your job, and in the end, make your job more profitable. If a boss was considering sending his employee it will make them better sweeps.”

-- Michael SegerstromCSIA Instructor

ADVERTISEMENT


CaliforniaPhil Stith | Napa Valley Chimney Sweepers | Napa

IllinoisRichard Martinez | Leonard & Sons Bldg. Service, Inc. | Algonquin

Denny Piske | Leonard & Sons Bldg, Service, Inc. Algonquin

MinnesotaRobb Bennett | Lakeside Fireplace + Stove | Walker

TennesseeMark Harris | Ashbusters Chimney Service, Inc. | Smyrna

South CarolinaBill Kline | Chim Cheree, The Chimney Specialists LLC | Greer

New HampshireRichard MacDonald | Armstrong Heating + Power Vac., Inc. | Manchester

New YorkDominic Potenza | Men At Work Chimney Sweeps | Middletown

Pennsylvania Drew Stein | Olympia Chimney Supply | Scranton

CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps, Renewed with CEUs

Chimney Safety Institute of America is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has confirmed the integrity of CSIA course offerings, as well as our commitment to serving U.S. military members. The two-page letter that let us know we are in compliance also had some comments that inspire us to continue to do our very best for these heroes: “The education and training opportunities that your institution continues to provide veterans and their dependents are appreciated,” the letter read.

CSIA programs pass musterwith Veterans Affairs

New Jersey Carmine Fernandez | Carpet Maintenance | Annandale

Suzanne Dafgard | Central Home Maintenance, LLC | Neshanic Station

North CarolinaJonathan Hafer | Smoke Alert | Garner

AlabamaDennis Dobbs and Dustin Doty | The Fireplace Service Center | Fort Payne

Scottie Davis | Top Hat Chimney Sweeps | Opelika

ConnecticutMichael Irace | Lint-B-Gone LLC | Wethersfield

MississippiJim Robinson | Santa’s Friend Chimney Service | Brandon

New C-DET techs - Congrats!

New C-DET techs - Congrats!

TennesseeDalton Rose | Ashbusters Chimney Service Inc. | Smyrna

Jason Tucker | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Nashville

Mike Ash | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

John Perdue | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Henry “Clyde” Knox | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Matt Keatts | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Nashville

Joshua Lee | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Chris Powell | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Tim Wilson | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Kevin Chitwood | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Charles Walters | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Mark Harris | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Smyrna

Get CSIA Certified: Sign up!

Chimney Sweep Review and Exam:Aug. 8 - Richmond, VASept. 19 - Atlantic City, NJOct. 10 - Albany, NYNov. 14 - Plainfield, IN

National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolAug. 11-16 - Plainfield, INSept. 22-27 - Plainfield, IN

C-DET Review and ExamSept. 18 - Atlanta, GA

C-DET WorkshopNov. 6-7 - Plainfield, IN

Joe Sauter, a CSIA Instructor from Indianapolis, IN, led our CCS Review & Exam in Independence, MO on July 18.


ProgressivePerksBY DEBBIE CORNELIUS

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

NCSG Benefits Add Value and Savings To You and Your Business Through

Discounts, Discounts and More Discounts!

Sometimes it really surprises me that more NCSG members do not take advantage of the discounted benefits available to them. These will not only save you time, but… money too!

NCSG Discussion List is a great network comprised of NCSG members, suppliers and Board members to ask for information or suggestions, give your ideas, and help other members.

Complete Merchant Solutions Credit card processing with realistic processing options that can either eliminate or greatly reduce the miscellaneous fees typically charged to merchants by other payment processors

Market Hardware can bring your business up to speed in the competitive market of technology where more and more customers are looking to the Web. Once they have customized the design that includes a “Home Page”, “About Us”, and “Our Services” page, you will have the ability to easily update and edit your Web site yourself instead of paying someone else to do it.

Commercials On Hold, provides a great way to brand and promote your full range of services when callers are on hold before they talk to a member of your staff.

ADP Payroll Services automates routine tasks and provides you with you with resources to keep you up to speed on tax rate and filing changes and answers to your payroll questions.

SESCO provides priority HR support service whether it’s an employee termination, healthcare reform question, policy development, unemployment claim, etc.

These are just a sample of the many benefits available to you as a member of NCSG!

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IntelliDraft™ Venting System

Visit Booth 211 at

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• Protect against downdrafts • Cease spillage and CO release • Auto shut off for fireplace when unsafe • Integrate almost any fireplace design

For more information, call 800.255.2923 or visit intellidraft.com

John Bordelon, Acadiana Chimney Sweep sums it up nicely. “Often I have felt alone and on my own . . . then I joined the

NCSG and no longer do I feel apart from the trade.


History ProjectBY CLAIRE RUTLEDGE

Why the History Project is Important

Let me start off by saying that I am not a certified professional. I do not have a Masters in Museum Studies or a PhD in Conservation, and I am not a member of the American Institute for Conservation. But I do have a Bachelor’s in History that entailed publishing a peer-reviewed thesis on gender and religion in post-Roman Empire Ireland and authoring independent studies on both ethnic representation in the US Census and cosmetic gender

identity in ancient Mediterranean cultures. I have interned at the Indiana State Library working on cataloguing oral history and photo collections specifically with the Senator Abraham L. Brick Collection, at the State Archives Division of the Indiana Commission on Public Records’ collection of Indianapolis Girls School, and at the Indiana State Museum assessing the conservation needs and working on the cleaning and stabilization of textiles. I am also leading a volunteer movement to restore a local monument. I tell you this because while I have experience in historical research, archiving, and conservation the work I do for the national Chimney Sweep Guild is based on my love for history. Anyone can be a historian, because all that means is being empowered with the knowledge of how to study history.

We have a great need for support of our History Project. We have had so many wonderful donations and great stories told but no way to accurately record! We are actively working on creating a process for cataloguing and donations. That way, your top hat will always be known as belonging to you, including that long scratch on the top where you didn’t duck through

a doorway. The object itself tells only half the story. The adventures, emotions, memories complete the tale that makes it so special. If you see each object as the culmination of a real-life person’s connection to a time or place or experience – that the old CCS patch is more than a piece of cloth and adhesive it is a physical sign of pride someone had once he passed his exam the first time. We need a viable way to record the history of the object just as much as the object itself. We look to our members to support us in this objective.

History education takes many forms; not just the appreciation to a story’s details but also the details of preservation. It may not seem important now, even frivolous, to give white-glove treatment to modern objects. Yet in 100 years, future NCSG members will be thanking us. Degradation happens all the time - it’s happening now - but it just isn’t obvious until it is too late for most objects. All of this work is preventative. The biggest culprits are light, humidity, and temperature. Most museums will rotate their collections – meaning move items on and off display – because even the best public display can’t compare to the stability of a cool, dark, and dry storage box. You’ll hear curators talk of “resting” these items so they don’t bleach out or discolor over time. For textiles, you also have to worry about stress on the fibers. Hanging a t-shirt on a metal hanger is fine in the short term but will both tear holes in the textile as well as literally eat the fabric. Even technology needs to be treated like it is fragile – rapid temperature changes can warp, crack, and corrode even the toughest item. Even seemingly innocent cardboard boxes and tissue paper can cause irreparable damage. The acidity of many common storage containers changes the molecules in items, causing brittleness, yellowing, and in some cases degradation. That’s why lignin and acid-free materials are used. If you have meaningful and special sweeping memorabilia, take care to protect it before it’s too late.

You can help us by trying to provide us with more details on the objects we have, donate those you think would help our cause, and educate yourself and other Guild members on why the History Project is important. The work that conservators and professional historians is very important and far beyond what you or I can do (at least right now), but there also needs to be a supportive and eager audience for their work. Feel empowered to be a part of the grassroots push for preservation of our industry’s history. I truly believe we can create a robust History Project program that can become the de facto collection for research and education on American chimney sweeping.

Claire Rutledge showing the Guild’s copy of American Chimney Sweeps: an Historical Account of a Once Important Trade, Limited Edition 1957, a donation of Victor Imgarten.

Dates & Events


August 1, 2014CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & Exams CSIA Technology CenterFor more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

August 4-10, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

August 8, 2014CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & ExamsRichmond, VAFor more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

August 8 - 10Lake of the OzarksMidwest Chimney Safety Council Charity Workshop for the Boy Scout Camp: Stove installation, Class A Chimney installation, crown techniques, How to build your own chase tops and more. CEU’s will be applied for. For more information, please call (816) 461-3665 or visit www.mcsc-net.org

August 9, 2014Certified Chimney Professionals Certified Chimney Reliners (CCR) Review & ExamGaithersburg, MDFor more information, please call (814) 689-1576

August 11-16, 2014CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolCSIA Technology Center- Plainfield, INFor more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org


August 16, 2014Certified Chimney Professionals Certified Chimney Reliners (CCR) Review & ExamTrenton, NJFor more information, please call (814) 689-1576


August 22, 2014SaverSystems – Richmond, Indiana HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email [email protected]

August 23, 2014Certified Chimney Professionals Certified Chimney Reliners (CCR) Review & ExamColumbus, OHFor more information, please call (814) 689-1576


August 30, 2014Certified Chimney Professionals Certified Chimney Reliners (CCR) Review & ExamSpringfield, MAFor more information, please call (814) 689-1576

September 1-7, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org


September 12, 2014SaverSystems – Richmond, Indiana HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email [email protected]


September 18, 2014CSIA CDET Review/Exam held in conjunction with NADCA at their fall technical meetingsAtlanta, GAFor more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

September 19, 2014CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & ExamsSheraton Atlantic City Convention Center HotelAtlantic City, NJFor more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org


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September 22-27, 2014CSIA National Chimney Sweep Training SchoolCSIA Technology Center- Plainfield, INFor more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org


September 26, 2014SaverSystems – Richmond, Indiana HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email [email protected]

September 29 - October 5, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

October 6-12, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review

- CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

October 10, 2014CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review & ExamsQuality Inn & Suites Albany AirportAlbany, NYFor more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

October 10, 2014SaverSystems – Richmond, Indiana HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email [email protected]

October 13-19, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

October 20-26, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning

- Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

October 24, 2014SaverSystems – Richmond, Indiana HeatShield Installer Factory Training For more information call (800) 860-6327 x105 or email [email protected]

October 27- November 2, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org

November 3-9, 2014 CSIA (online) - Chimney Physics - CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Review - CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician Review- CSIA eLearning - Health & Safety Multi-User Courses- Lining Masonry Chimneys with Stainless Steel For more information, please call (317) 837-5362 or visit www.CSIA.org


usy times and visitors continue at the tech center. We were pleased to host another sweep school during the month of July. CSIA instructor, Mike Segerstrom, led

a group of students out to my house for their field day. It was very educational not just for the students. I learned that a poorly placed chimney cap had caused, unbeknownst to me, a chimney fire and had cracked some tile. It was an honor to see the students at work and to experience their enthusiasm. Sweeping Editor, Darcy Marlett, was on hand to photograph the day and quickly made friends with George the cat.

Mark Stoner, Ashbusters owner and current CSIA president, welcomed Sweeping magazine to his shop in Nashville to spend

some time to see how his company works and meet his staff.

In another you’ll see Tom Spalding, happy to receive his allotment of toner supply. Sara loves to keep him in check! Staff spent time brainstorming creative ways to deliver content and promote the industry. We always welcome your thoughts and suggestions too.

And last, but certainly not least, Darcy has really been on the move this month. She travelled to Lancaster, PA, site of the 2015 NCSG convention, to scout out the hotel and venues to insure that we bring you an amazing experience in February!

Around the

B

Tech Center

July



“8” inner diameter air cooled pipe and a Hotblast wood furnace, couldn’t hardly believe it when I saw it. The top cinder block has several 1x4 pieces of wood under the pipe.” - Christopher Merriman of Bassemier’s Fireplace & Patio, via the Chimney Nightmares Facebook page.

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 editor Darcy Marlett at [email protected]. for publication in Sweeping. Or, mail it to NCSG, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. Include a few words about the scene and location.


ClassifiedsGotta 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.

CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERSMembers can run one 35-word classified free each year! Regular 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 Sara Sichting at [email protected] or 317-837-1500.

Display Ad IndexPage # Advertiser Phone Email or Website Address

3 Ahrens Chimney Technique 800-582-1392 [email protected]

16 Duct Cleaners’ Supply 800-634-2822 www.ductcleanerssuply.com

33 Enervex 800-255-2923 www.intellidraft.com

6 Firesafe Industries, Inc. 800-545-6607 www.firesafeinc.com

9 Fireside Distributors 866-880-3473` www.sweepsamerica.com

17 Gelco, Lyemance, Lock-Top 800-334-2154 www.gllchimneyproducts.com

36 Golden Flue 800-468-1052 www.goldenflue.com

15 ICP 508-695-7000 www.chimneycaps.com

38 Lindemann Chimney Company 800-722-7230 www.lindemannchimney.com

5 National Chimney 800-897-8481 www.nationalchimney.com

4 New England Chimney Supply 888-900-8106 www.newenglandchimneysupply.com

7 Olympia Chimney Supply 800-569-1425 www.olympiachimney.com

39 SaverSystems, Inc 800-860-6327 www.saversystems.com

12 Smoktite 866-439-0069 www.smoktite.com

25 Wakefield Brush 800-264-7007 www.wakefieldbrush.com

13 Z-Flex (Novaflex) 800-654-5600 www.novaflex.com

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Join us February 18– 21 at the Marriott on Penn Square in Lancaster, PA for the best 4 days in the chimney and venting industry!

From the opening party to the closing banquet the National Chimney Sweep Guild National Convention is jam-packed with learning, networking, and fun!

National Chimney Sweep Guild2155 Commercial DrivePlainfield, IN 46168

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Documents

Sweeping Magazine- August 2014