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March 26, 2020

IECRM Membership…Make it Count!

Dear Members and Friends,

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” Marilyn Monroe

Last month when I encouraged “RIDICULOUS” thinking during the IECRM Board of Directors annual strategic planning session based on the quote above from IECRM member InPwr’s 2020 daily calendar, a worldwide PANDEMIC is not what I had in mind! But here it is – and here we are – responding to it in a variety of ways as I know you all are individually as well in your companies. Our IECRM community is more important than ever before, and we are here for you.

In addition to moving apprentice and CEU classes online, developing our own organizational work-from-home and social distancing plans, and rescheduling our exciting Spring events, we have modified our daily emails to provide you with the latest information in an easy to access format with updates specifically relevant to issues you need for business decision making – right now – including legal updates, partner resources, national and statewide alerts, and other information that matters.

We also invite you to check our website for daily updates and to follow us on LinkedInFacebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can count on us to be responsible, reasonable, and responsive in sending you trusted resources and valuable communication you can use in your company. 

Making It Count! 

During a crisis, your IECRM membership is more important and valuable than ever. The Borrowed Worker Program gives you the opportunity to “loan” an employee to another member if you have a project delay and they have a need. It keeps you from having to layoff a valued employee and it helps a fellow member who may have an increased workload or an employee out temporarily. It is often stated that members find this to be one of the #1 benefits of being an IECRM Member. Also, if you DO have to lay anyone off during this time, please direct them to contact IECRM; we can add them to the HIRE LIST so others have access through this process to a qualified skilled tradesperson. And remember to access the HIRE LIST if you have an opening in your company! I know we currently have members who are hiring – or will be – please use our free JOB POSTING tool to advertise positions of all types that you have available in your company. The JOBS page is the resource we refer individuals to if they are looking for a career in the industry once we have placed them on the HIRE LIST.  All of these resources are managed by OA Administrator and Compliance Manager Terri Reynolds, [email protected]

All throughout the year, we provide countless benefits to enhance your business, including free business development and networking events, strength-in-numbers political representation, discounts from big names in the industry, business promotion activities and special events, and premium discounts on all IECRM apprentice training and continuing education programs. One resource that may be particularly important to your company is the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Program.

In addition to your local chapter membership with IECRM, you are also connected as a member of our IEC National association providing you with further benefits designed to improve your productivity, increase your job site safety, represent open-market businesses at the Federal level, provide peer-to-peer networking through business forum groups and programs to bolster your bottom line. #WeAreIEC

We are a U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (OA) certified training provider. The OA designation allows our member companies with employees in our IEC Apprenticeship program to bid government projects with Davis-Bacon wage requirements on a tiered scale. This unique benefit of IECRM enables your company to provide a more competitive bid than other bidders.

With IECRM, you are never alone, and there is considerable strength and influence because of the hundreds of independent electrical contractors we collectively represent. The COVID-19 outbreak is a perfect example of how IECRM’s policy, advocacy, and relationship building is a return on investment benefit as we worked to ensure that the electrical industry and electricians were included in state and local orders as essential businesses and workers. These efforts continue as we work on ensuring the continuity of inspections, federal stimulus bill response, legislation at the State Capitol when elected officials return to the session, and other matters that may arise as we work through these unprecedented times. FAMLI, sales tax reform, workforce legislation, and the budget are all still open items to be addressed in this legislative session. 

Our Strength in Numbers Counts!

The COVID-19 response has elevated the importance of why good data matters! The numbers we have seen being reported daily by CDPHE regarding the spread of the Coronavirus are one example but here are two more that matter to the electrical industry: 

The US Census: April 1, 2020 

Every ten years, the U.S. Constitution mandates a count of every person in America, and the next such census is happening right now. Data from the count is an important tool utilized by businesses every day, and its accuracy is critical for strengthening the economy: health clinics, fire departments, schools, even roads and highways. The census can shape many different aspects of your community. The 2020 Census will also determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade. Encourage your employees to Help Shape the Future. Click here to respond.

IECRM Contractor Census: Recently, our member contractor’s primary contacts received an email from me asking for the completion of a census to collect data about our industry. This data is important for the compilation of impact that the electrical industry has on the economic empowerment and strength of the industry. Just two weeks ago, I used collective data about our industry to share with a legislative committee during testimony to highlight the impact of a particular bill. If you haven’t yet completed the IECRM census, a member of the IECRM team will be calling you next week to collect this important information about the industry. 

THANK YOU to our members, your employees and apprentices, and our instructors for your flexibility, ingenuity, positivity and dedication to helping us all work through this unique time together. #DoingMyPartCO

We know from previous experience in the industry that we come together in times of need and we will celebrate together on the other side of this unprecedented time.  Looking forward to seeing you at our summer and fall events. In the meantime, I’ll “see” you all on Zoom! 

Stay well! 

Marilyn Akers Stansbury and the entire IECRM Team! 

IECRM Self-Pay Tuition Policy

 

Self-pay students who are employed with a member company must register and pay through the member company using the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process in order to qualify for member rates.

Self-pay students that are employed with a member company but that do not register and pay through the member will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who are employed with a member company and require a payment plan will not qualify for the member rate and will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who do not work for a member company will continue to be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


To maximize association/membership benefits, ALL member companies are encouraged to register and pay for all enrolled apprentices utilizing internal payment arrangements and processes between employer and employee.


We value our IECRM members and apprentice community. We encourage all apprentices to be enrolled in the four-year apprenticeship program, earning, and learning their way toward Journeyworker licensure. We encourage all members to utilize the member discount for tuition, books and applicable fees to ensure the long-term support and success of the next-generation electrician.


(Payment Plans are available, please reference the Self Pay Payment Plan Policy.)


Self-Pay Payment Plan Policy


We offer the following arrangements for students that are unable to pay in full at the time of registration.


● Self-pay students will be charged the non-member rate.
● A 50% down payment of total semester tuition, books and applicable fees are due at registration.
● Remaining balance can be divided up to 3 additional monthly payments ($10.00 processing fee applies on each installment)
● All payments that are declined will incur a $20.00 NSF fee.

 

We encourage all students who are employed with a member company to work with their employer to register and pay through the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process. This will ensure the student is paying the lowest possible rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.