Benefits

Several thousand members, guests and suppliers from all parts of the nation and many foreign countries annually convene for NECA’s Convention and Show. These events, held immediately following the annual Board of Governors Meeting and hosted in a different city each year, furnish participants unparalleled professional development opportunities, an occasion to renew old acquaintances and meet new friends, and all the fun and excitement inherent in a major association’s major “happening.” They come to the convention to hear outstanding industry leaders, business authorities, scholars, and government figures discuss issues bearing on the work of the electrical contractor. Participants also attend workshops addressing such important subjects as labor relations, manpower development, marketing, financial management, estimating, and government and industry affairs, as well as technical issues. The social functions and lively entertainment sponsored by the association and by suppliers all add a festive note to the proceedings. Held in conjunction with the convention, The NECA Show has become the premiere showcase for electrical manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers serving the electrical contracting industry. Each year, more than 200 large and small firms exhibit a wide variety of products and services used in all types of electrical construction, low voltage and integrated systems work, maintenance, estimating, recordkeeping, and office and warehouse operations. Several exhibitors also host technical seminars to introduce new products and techniques enabling contractors to work “smarter” and more profitably. The VDV/IBS Conference & Expo is similar to the NECA Show in that it provides space for major manufacturers and other suppliers to display their latest and most must useful products and services, and it also offers both management and technical training. The difference is that the program focuses exclusively on voice-data-video applications, integrated systems work, and related telecommunications, safety, and security issues. Most portions of the week-long VDV program are open to all participants in the building/grounds (or premises) cabling market. However, some segments are held exclusively for NECA and IBEW representatives, thus providing them with a forum for discussing their organizations’ mutual plans and objectives in this specialized marketplace. In fact, the program’s permanent placement on the association’s calendar recognizes the maturing of the VDV market and the expanding opportunities this market represents. Ideas, innovations, and information – enlivened by the excitement of discovery of the new and different – are the rewards in store for those who participate in the NECA Convention, the NECA Show, and the VDV Conferences & Expo. For more information on the annual Convention and The NECA Show, check out http://www.necashow.org. To learn more about the VDV program, go to http://www.vdvexpo.org.

Common Focus Of NECA’s National Convention, The NECA Show, And VDV Conferences & Expo range of resources to bear in the continuing development of the educational services program, including the research capabilities of the Electrical Contracting Foundation, on-staff experience and instructional capabilities, and the teaching and research expertise of academic faculty and consultants. And, not only does MEI work in partnership with the NECA regional and chapter structure to deliver its courses where they are accessible to NECA member firms and their management employees. The Institute also plays an instrumental role in the development and presentation of educational offerings at NECA’s annual National Convention (discussed below) and other association events. To find out more about NECA’s Management Education Institute, go to http://www.NECA-MEI.org

National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is highly visible on the issues most important to its members, including electric utility deregulation, labor relations issues such as Davis-Bacon repeal, government procurement, and estate tax repeal. NECA also endorses important government reforms to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Miller Act and the current health care system.

Our association maintains an active Safety & Insurance Office. Its duties include producing resources to help members enact the most effective safe-work procedures possible, train their employees on safety, and comply with rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and similar authorities. There are many such resources currently available, and offerings are constantly reviewed, updated, and expanded.

Trust and cooperation are essential ingredients in an effective, profitable working relationship between employer and employee. NECA’s national association, its chapters, and members have long practiced constructive and responsible labor relations in concert with the IBEW, the world’s oldest and largest union of electrical workers. NECA makes every effort to ensure that all parties concerned – all levels of the association, its members, their supervisory personnel, and the international and local unions – provide the maximum possible productivity per manhour of labor in order to compete profitably and promote consumer use of the services of skilled electrical craftsmen employed by qualified contractors.

The fact that effective marketing is crucial to the successful operation of any electrical contracting business is no news to NECA: Ours was the first construction industry association to establish marketing support for members. This support includes matching qualified buyers to members through the NECA Connection, keeping members informed of changes in the marketplace, and providing national promotion and education thus ensuring NECA contractors expanding opportunities for their services. Ongoing market research, often facilitated through The Electrical Contracting Foundation helps identify and develop potential for new sales opportunities. In addition to NECA’s national research activities, many chapters also undertake studies related to local markets, often with help from the National Labor-Management Cooperation Committee. Most of this research provides information of direct value to electrical contractors and is passed on to NECA members immediately. Because NECA is ever-alert to the influences that rapid changes within the industry can have on contractor marketing efforts, special action programs are implemented as warranted in order to take advantage of new market developments. (An example is the Voice-Data-Video program. Sales training, such as provided through NECA’s Management Education Institute is part of a systematic effort to develop market opportunities for electrical contractors to their greatest potential. Effective advertising programs designed to inform the public of the NECA contractor’s professional expertise have been sponsored for many years. Publications distributed to decision-makers by NECA chapters – such as the Electrical Design Library reports that provide in-depth technical information, or the National Installation Standards™ also help. NECA also enacts many public relations programs to help create a favorable climate for doing business. An active PR Office makes sure that news on NECA’s activities, initiatives, and positions are distributed to relevant media. NECA’s public relations effort also involves liaison with government officials, other organizations in the construction industry and the public at large, as well as with members.

The union electrical industry is built upon a foundation of highly qualified field and management personnel. For NECA to be effective it must stimulate participation by its members. Involvement and training are key elements, and in response to this NECA chapters in the northwest have adopted an annual education fund whereby a portion of dues are allocated to each member for attendance at NECA sponsored educational programs and events. Experience has shown that this has stimulated participation.

This program shall be under the exclusive direction and control of the Southern Nevada Chapter and its members.

The concept of an Education Fund started with the Oregon-Columbia Chapter in Portland and has spread to Oregon Pacific-Cascade in Eugene, Puget Sound in Seattle, the Inland Empire in Spokane, Cascade in Everett, Southwest Washington in Tacoma and the Northern California Chapter in Pleasanton California. In the chapters where it has been adopted, the program has been met with support and excitement. Each chapter has its own variation but the basics do not change – annual funding by the board of directors, expiring credits, and minimum credits for smaller members. These chapters have experienced a growth in participation and view the fund as a key service provided by NECA.

The Education Fund creates a direct incentive for members to participate in both educational and industry events. With expiring credits, companies are motivated to send their employees to educational programs, the NECA Convention & Exposition, and other events relative to the industry. The goal is for every member to participate in events sponsored by NECA.

In each year’s annual budget, the Southern Nevada Chapter’s Board of Directors shall allocate an amount into the Education Fund for the upcoming year. This amount will vary depending upon projected union industry man-hours and the overall financial health of the Chapter. Each member will receive credits based upon their percentage of the Chapter’s overall dues income received during the prior year. For example, if the Board sets aside $30,000 for 2003 and a member contributed 2% of total dues paid to the Chapter in 2002, their credit would be $600. If unused, the credit terminates at the end of the calendar year. Each member will receive a minimum credit of $500 per year.

Each member is eligible to use their annual credit to offset the costs of attending industry educational programs and NECA events. The Board of Directors will develop a policy on which educational programs shall be reimbursable.

Upon acceptance by the Chapter’s Board of Directors, a new member shall be immediately eligible for the $500 minimum credit, prorated from the date of acceptance as a member.

The fund shall be allocated toward registration fees (including text and materials), transportation, hotel costs and meals for the duration of the program plus one extra day. Transportation shall include coach airfare, bus, train, and rental car, but will not cover personal or company vehicle. Entertainment, recreation, and other incidentals shall not be eligible for reimbursement.

At the beginning of the year members will receive a statement of their Education Fund Credits for the year. The Chapter will handle all reimbursement. A standard expense form will be provided to each member and reimbursement will be issued upon completion of the expense form and submission of required receipts.