ECA Chicago
LiveWire

                  MAY 2020
Upcoming Events

We hope that you will be able to attend these events: 


May 13, 2020
ECA Membership Meeting
Webinar
1:30 PM


May 20 - 21, 2020
Advanced Estimating Workshop
POSTPONED
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL




ECA President's Party
RE-SCHEDULED
for Friday, 
December 4, 2020
Crystal Gardens
Navy Pier
Chicago, IL



August 4, 2020
RE-SCHEDULED
(No longer on 
June 1, 2020)
ECA Golf Outing
Kemper Lakes Golf Club
Kildeer, IL


June 13 - 17, 2020
NECA Midwestern Region Conference
CANCELED
Broadmoor Resort
Colorado Springs, CO.

Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago

--

Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA


Phone:  708-531-0022
Fax:  708-531-0071
  

Please review this month's LiveWire newsletter.  We hope you enjoy the local and national industry updates.   As a reminder, we also invite to join us on Facebook and LinkedIn!  


Stay up to date on the latest changes for our Industry including news releases, workplace safety and preparation guidelines, legislation, and more that affect electrical contractors in Chicago and Cook County.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES PAGE AT:   WWW.ECACHICAGO.COM

ECA May Membership Meeting
-May 13, 2020  --WEBINAR at 1:30 PM
 
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) will hold its May Membership meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 as a WEBINAR.  Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19, the event will NOT take place at the Ocean Prime Restaurant in Chicago, IL.  The virtual Membership meeting will begin at 1:30 pm.  Our guest speakers are Mr. Josh Bone, NECA Director Industry Innovation and Lonni Cumpton, NECA Director Construction Manufacturing.  Please click on the link below to register.

Pictured above from left to right are:  
Mr. Josh Bone,  NECA Director Industry Innovation and 
Mr. Lonnie Cumpton, NECA Director Construction Manufacturing

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ECA YP Webinar
April 28, 2020
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Young Professionals Committee was pleased to sponsor a Spring Webinar on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 called, "How to Step Up & Lead in a Crisis: Three Critical Do's and Three Critical Don'ts." The session was presented by Kelly McDonald, a nationally renowned speaker, who has been featured in Forbes magazine, on CNBC, and CNN Money; she is a regular at NECA's Annual Convention and author of New York Times best seller: "How to Work with and Lead People not like you".  Kelly has created a number of new webinars to help us succeed in this unchartered business landscape we are all facing. The program participants learned the following: The five words that will soothe tension with your boss, your team or your customers every time; Specific tactics on handling bad news:  what to do and what not to do;  How to build esprit de corps: the common spirit that inspires enthusiasm, devotion, pride and purpose in your team; and The three simple do's and don'ts that transform tough situations into best possible outcomes with your customers and associates.

Please visit the ECA website for updates to other YP of ECA events! 

Pictured above is Kelly McDonald.

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ECA Webinar
April 30, 2020
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee was pleased to sponsor a live webinar called, "How to Help & Serve Your Customers in a Virtual World NOW & Seamlessly Transition Back to Business as Usual LATER." The session was presented by Kelly McDonald and was held on Thursday, April 30, 2020. The program included a 40 minute presentation and additional time for Q & A.
 
This session covered many areas, including the following: How to re-engineer your solutions and approach to address the concerns your customers have right now; How to keep selling and keep serving customers in a way that is relevant for virtual communication - without being tone deaf or insensitive; How to stay visible without spamming your customers; How to make virtual sales presentations helpful and effective; Five (5) low-cost, no-cost action items that you can apply, immediately; What to do - and not do - when things go wrong. The five (5) words that customers want to hear and that work every time; and How to prepare for the inevitable return to everyday business - it may come quickly and you need to have an action plan ready.
 
We hope that you were able to participate with this webinar. The ECA looks forward to hosting more in the future.

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ECA President's Party 
Re-Scheduled for Friday, December 4, 2020

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) will be holding its Annual "President's Party" at Navy Pier's Crystal Gardens in conjunction with the annual holiday party.  More information to come this fall.

Pictured above are the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier.

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ECA Golf Outing
August 4, 2020
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is pleased to present a special event in lieu of the ECA Annual Spring Conference. The event is the "ECA Golf Outing." This is an opportunity for Chapter members to not only participate in a complimentary golf outing NOW RE-SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 4, 2020 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, 24000 N. Old McHenry Road in Kildeer, Illinois, which includes use of a driving range, lunch, food and beverages on the course, cocktails and dinner, networking and a raffle; but, an opportunity to contribute to the NECAPAC.  .  (This event will NOT be held on June 1, 2020.)


Midwestern Region NECA Spring Conference
-June 13 - 17, 2020  - THIS EVENT IS CANCELED

Please be aware that the Midwestern Region NECA Spring Conference has been canceled.  
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NECA Premier Partners
-- Westex
NECA's Premier Partner sponsorship program connects NECA members to the leading companies in the electrical construction industry.  It represents the most comprehensive business-to-business marketing and sales opportunity ever presented to reach the $160 billion electrical construction industry.  Premier Partners of NECA showcase their brands, products and services in the electrical construction industry through hundreds of NECA events, publications and digital platforms year-round, including the annual NECA Convention and Trade Show, the industry's premier trade show and gathering. The Chicago and Cook County Chapter, NECA will focus on each NECA Premier Partner over the coming months.  This month's focus will be on Westex.

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NECA 2020 Convention Coming to Chicago

As a reminder, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Convention & Trade Show will be held in Chicago at McCormick Place on October 3 - 6, 2020!  Convention registration will begin on June 4, 2020.  The Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA is to have a "Welcome to Chicago Party" on Friday, October 2, 2020 at the United Club space at Soldier Field.  The "Rebuilding Chicago Together" charity will be promoted throughout the Convention with opportunities for involvement from NECA Chapters throughout the nation.  An Apprenticeship Challenge is being formulated with the assistance of INTECH and Powering Chicago.  More details regarding the Special programming / Convention activities will be announced through the coming months.  We hope that you are able to participate with the Convention's many seminars, educational programming, guest presenter sessions, the Opening Event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, among many other areas. 

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IMSCA Raffle - Postponed

The Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association Political Action Committee's (IMSCA-PAC's) 2020 fundraising effort is on-hold at this time!  However,  SEVEN RAFFLE WINNERS will be drawn this year!  Tickets are $50 each.  Each ticket purchased buys you a chance to win the prize of your choice.  Your choices include:
  • FOUR tickets to cheer on the Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field (Date TBA).  This prize also includes parking passes (Value: $1,100.00).  Donated by Tom Morton, LLD Electric Company.
  • Penthouse Suite at the United Center to watch the Chicago Bulls (Date TBA).  This prize includes 12 tickets and 4 parking spaces.  Food and drink available for purchase (Value: $1,600.00).  Donated by Underground Contractors Association of Illinois.
  • FOUR tickets to cheer on the Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues at the United Center (Date 2020-2021 TBA).  These are 200 Club Level seats with parking passes (Value: $750.00).  Donated by Jim McGlynn, McWilliams Electric Company.
  • $500 Amazon gift card.  Donated by Illinois Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association.
  • $500 Cabela's gift card.  Donated by Electrical Contractors Association of Chicago.
  • $500 Best Buy gift card.  Donated by PCA of Greater Chicago.
  • $500 StubHub gift card.  Donated by SMACNA Greater Chicago.
This is a great fundraiser package containing something for everyone.  The winning tickets will be drawn later this year.  The winners do not need to be present to win. 
 
ECA Educational Stipends & "Save the Dates" for  Special Events for 2020 
  
Stipends 
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Executive Committee has extended a number of educational stipends for many special programs / conferences throughout 2020.  All stipends / reimbursements are made after each conference with registration confirmation(s) forwarded to ECA.

Listed below are the stipend opportunities:

NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NEW DATES!)
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Safety Professionals Conference - October 5 - 7, 2020 in Chicago.
 
NECA Convention 
The ECA Executive Committee approved the educational stipends of the Registration fees for up to two representatives and their guest and/or spouse, if applicable, of participating ECA member firms for the NECA Convention on October 3 - 6, 2020 in Chicago, IL.

Save the Dates for these Special Events 

ECA Golf Outing
August 4, 2020 
Location:  Kemper Lakes Golf Club
 
End of Summer Social Event
Friday, August 14, 2020
Theater on the Lake - Chicago
Air and Water Show rehearsal
 
ECA hosts "Welcome to Chicago Party" at Soldier Field
Friday, October 2, 2020
2020 NECA Convention
 
ECA Christmas Party / President's Party
Wednesday, December 4, 2020
Crystal Gardens at  Navy Pier
Chicago 
Safety Update
--CSC May Schedule
 
For a listing of coursework available through the Construction Safety Council (CSC) for the month of May, please click on the link:   www.buildsafe.org. 

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NECA Safety Professionals Conference
--May 18 - 20, 2020 -- POSTPONED!
NEW DATES & LOCATION:  
October 5 - 7, 2020 in Chicago!
 
Join NECA and the electrical industry's leading safety experts at the premier safety event,  NECA Safety Professionals Conference , presented by  NECA Premier Partner Westex by Milliken .  The conference is is now scheduled for October 5 - 7, 2020 in Chicago.  This event presents an opportunity to network with other electrical industry safety professionals, receive continuing education units for attending educational sessions specifically geared towards your line of work and provide you with an opportunity to update your knowledge of current regulatory and industry best practices.

Registration is now open.  Visit NECASafetyConference.com for additional details. Don't miss your opportunity to receive the latest industry information and stay up-to-date with safety!
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