Page 8 - IEC Insights May-Jun20

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Spring in the Time of COVID-19

BY CANDY BRANHAM and share how current proposed directly from the Eaton Experience Center
legislation affects our ability to do in Pittsburgh. We strongly recommend
I Government Affairs also kept us abreast fully benefit from the presentations. More
that chapters conduct their in-house
business. These legislative alerts secured
a record response from IEC members.
instructor training on this day in order to
I love Spring. I love watching my perennials
information regarding time and logistics
on how H.R. 6201 and other COVID-19
peek through an early April snow then
federal legislation will impact our business.
will follow in the coming weeks.
burst into bloom by month’s end. I love
sitting on a lake, any May morning, and
watching a bass explode through the
to disrupt life as we know it. Unfortunately,
Conference. I believe this was a sound
surface to grab my torpedo or jitterbug. As we all know, the Coronavirus continues IEC has also canceled its 2020 Policy
three 2020 IEC National events were not decision. Besides the concerns listed
It’s nice having a moment to think about immune to the virus. Concerns with flying above, all federal buildings in D.C. have
an ordinary Spring before coming back and gathering in large numbers has forced been closed to the public since the early
to reality, and what a reality these last the postponement of IEC’s inaugural onset of COVID-19 making it impossible to
few months have been. For me, the Safety Summit and the IEC Instructors conduct on-sight, in-person visits with our
one constant throughout this COVID-19 Conference, and the cancelation of our federal legislators.
pandemic has been IEC. 2020 Policy Conference.
The positive side of this cancelation is that
Our National staff has done an outstanding IEC’s inaugural Safety Summit has been it offers IEC National the opportunity to
job keeping our entire IEC family well- rescheduled for August 25–26. The event test its Government Affairs Committee’s
informed. They’ve worked tirelessly to details remain the same. It’s still being held In-District IEC National Policy Conference
enable our chapters and contractors to at the Eaton Experience Center in Houston, concept. This concept will be tested in
continue operating during very trying Texas. I had the pleasure of visiting the August 2020 when our federal legislators
times. Here are a few examples: venue during the IEC Board Retreat in 2018 leave D.C. and conduct business in our own
and it is a world-class training facility. It hometowns. What better time to meet and
• Our Education and Training totally exceeded my expectations and I speak with these legislators than while
Department, promptly at the onset guarantee it will exceed yours! they’re home?
of Coronavirus, expanded IEC’s
CMS system and its Big Blue Button The Safety Summit offers you an The 2020 In-District IEC National Policy
capabilities. In addition, it was able to opportunity to learn from our industry’s Conference offers each IEC member an
increase internet bandwidth for these leading safety experts. You’ll come away opportunity to talk with their federal
systems by working with ATP, our with everything you need to build a senators and representatives in their home
publisher and Platinum Partner. This complete and effective safety program district offices. We save on travel expenses
effort offered all IEC Training Facilities and culture within your company. and time away from our businesses. More
the ability to continue educating IEC importantly, our federal legislators return
apprentices via online platforms when The event includes two jam-packed days to D.C. after their summer recess with our
in-class learning became impractical. of safety training and networking. If you merit shop voices fresh in their minds!
are already registered, your registration
• Our Communications Department is being honored for the August dates. If Hopefully this virus comes to an end
provided timely Coronavirus webinars you’re not registered, you may want to do sooner than later and is well on its way as
and updates to keep our members so now before this event sells out. you’re reading this article. My prayers are
informed and their employees safe. with you and your families. With God’s
These updates also offered HR dos IEC has also decided to postpone the grace, tomorrow will again be bright,
and don’ts and the latest news on Instructors Conference until July 2021. beautiful, prosperous, and back to normal!
how the Family and Medical Leave Act, Although we won’t be able to meet in
Americans with Disabilities Act, workers’ person in July, IEC is eager to bring our
compensation, and OSHA requirements instructors and chapters together virtually Tim and Candy Branham own Branham
Electric based in St. Peters, Missouri.
would affect us. to showcase what they will experience
next year at the 2021 conference! Join us Branham Electric is a family owned business
• Our Government Affairs Department on Friday, July 24, 2020 for a free, live, servicing the St. Louis Metropolitan
area for 29 years. Branham’s niche is
provided timely legislation action BigBlueButton (BBB) session on our CMS, multi-family and custom residential new
alerts, which offered our members the especially designed for instructors and construction, commercial and industrial
ability to easily contact federal legislators chapters. This session will include live Q&A service, and energy efficient lighting.

Insights Magazine | May/June 2020 | www.ieci.org
6 6 Insights Magazine | May/June 2020 | www.ieci.org