NECA Blog

All The Latest News from NECA

Aug 26

Plan Your NECA 2014 Chicago Schedule + Much More!

Looking for a place you can go for everything you need to know about NECA 2014 Chicago?

There’s an app for that.

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) unveiled its latest app for smart-phone and tablet users. The official app of NECA 2014 Chicago is now available for mobile devices to download from the iTunes and Google Play stores.

The free app, sponsored by NECA Premier Partner Graybar, is a one-stop shop for information on the association’s annual convention, September 27-30 in Chicago, IL.  Features include: a list of exhibitors, complete schedule of events and the ability to sort by educational track or topic, speaker bios and a detailed NECA Show floorplan.

There is also a function for planning. Users can make lists of “My Exhibitors” and “My Itinerary” to maximize their time in the Windy City. A directory of products will direct convention goers to the right booth armed with the information they need.

Finally, attendees can stay connected via Facebook and Twitter and catch up on the latest convention buzz. Information on hotels and restaurants and a walking map of Chicago can be found on the app as well.

Download the free app today for all your NECA 2014 Chicago needs.

NECA2014-icon

Search for “NECA 2014 Chicago” or “NECA” via the iTunes or Google Play app stores to download from your mobile device.

 

 

Learn more about NECA 2014 Chicago »

 


Download for iPhone or iPads in the Apple app store »

Download for tablet or phone via the Google Play store »

Oct 15

Need Your CEUs for the Workshops You Attended? Complete Your Evaluations on the App!

All NECA 2013 DC attendees need to complete evaluations for each session they participated in to receive Continuing Education Units. This evaluation is a requirement by the IACET to earn CEUs; session evaluations are now fully integrated with the meeting app. So take a moment now to  rate all the sessions you attended for prompt processing of your CEU credits!

All evaluations are electronic, so all you need to do is follow a few easy steps:

Step 1: Make sure you’ve downloaded the NECA 2013 Washington DC app for your smartphone or tablet.

Step 2: Select “Sessions” icon. The full convention schedule by day will open.

Step 3: Find the sessions you attended each day. Click on the session(s) you attended and scroll to the bottom of the session to the “Rate This Session” button

Step 4: Answer the evaluation questions about the session(s) you attended. You will need to do this for every session you attended to receive the CEUs earned for attending.

Step 5:  Enter your full name and email at the end of the form. Hit “Submit” when you’re done.

That’s it!

Oct 04

Here’s The App for NECA 2013 DC!

NECA used our first-ever meeting mobile app for the NECA 2012 Las Vegas, and we’re proud that it’s now a regular meeting feature.  Sponsored by Graybar, the app includes the full convention schedule and listing of speakers, plus an interactive map of the NECA Show floor, access to #NECA13 social media posts and a customizable on-site planner. You can get the app three ways:

 

 


 

 

  • For iPhone & iPad • iTunes Store: Search for “NECA 2013” or download now >>
  • For Android Visit Google Play Store: Search for “NECA 2013” or download now >>
  • For web-based access • chirpe.com/NECA2013

Once you’ve downloaded the NECA13DC app, you’ll need to sync or update the app periodically to get complete information about education sessions and last-minute changes. Sessions are listed two ways: under the Schedule icon by date, or you can search for specific sessions by Track.

So don’t worry if you don’t see a session you know should be there. Simply sync the app, and all the information will be added!

Oct 02

Hotel Shuttle Service Schedule

Washington, D.C. is known as a walkable city, but it can be a relief to take the shuttle to your hotel after a long day on the NECA Show floor or cutting a rug at the Opening Reception.  You can download a PDF of the full shuttle schedule and map for NECA 2013 DC , and quick summary of service is below.

Complimentary shuttle service is provided between the Washington Convention Center and the official hotels (except Renaissance Washington D.C. Hotel and the Embassy Suites Convention Center, which are considered walking hotels). The walking hotels will have service to the Opening Reception.

Saturday, October 12OPENING RECEPTION
7–10 p.m.
Service to/from all Hotels to the Museum of Natural History

Sunday, October 13
7-10:30 am                        Every 10-15 minutes
10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.      Every 30 minutes
2:30-5:30 p.m.                 Every 10-15 minutes

Monday, October 14
7-10:30 am                         Every 10-15 minutes
10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.       Every 30 minutes
2:30-4:30 p.m.                  Every 10-15 minutes

Tuesday, October 15
7-10:30 am                         Every 10-15 minutes
10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.       Every 30 minutes

CLOSING CELEBRATION
7-8:30 p.m.
Service to Washington Convention Center.
9–10:15 p.m.
Return service from the Washington Convention Center

Schedule may vary due to traffic and weather conditions. Last bus leaves from hotels 30 minutes prior to end time with no return service.

Oct 02

NECA’s Not Shutting Down — Neither is DC!

from washington.org

Despite a partial government shutdown, DC still brims with exciting activities

Even though Washington, D.C. is experiencing a partial government shutdown, many of the city’s most popular attractions, such as the International Spy Museum and Newseum, are still for business, as is Metro rail and bus service to get around town.

Visitors can still tour famous D.C. monuments by Segway and bike, or enjoy the Moonlight Monument Tour by trolley. Artistic alternatives to the National Gallery of Art  include the Phillips Collection and the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

Many area attractions, tours and restaurants are also offering deals and discounts throughout the government shutdown, including yoga studios and gyms. There’s no cover for the Dueling Pianos show at Bobby McKey’s at the National Harbor either.

Everything you need to know about what attractions, public transportation and venues that are happily open for visitors and locals is available on washington.org!

Read more >>

Oct 01

NECA 2013 Washington DC: All Systems Go!

Despite the partial shutdown of the federal government, NECA 2013 DC remains on track to be one of the largest programs we have ever hosted. All events are on track to proceed as scheduled, including the Opening Reception at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Should the shutdown prevent the museum from opening on Oct. 12, never fear! We have a plan to make sure NECA 2013 DC kicks off in the great style you expect from the Opening Reception.

NECA’s government affairs team posted the following information about the shutdown this morning, if you want to read further about the impact it will have nationwide.

Communication Breakdown: The Federal Government Shutdown

by Marco Giamberardino, NECA Executive Director, Government Affairs

At midnight on October 1, the Federal government effectively shut down for the first time since 1996 because of a protracted battle over attempts to defund or delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the new healthcare reform law signed by President Obama in 2010. The White House Office of Management and Budget sent a memo to federal agencies informing them to “execute plans for an orderly shutdown due to the absence of appropriations.”

House Republicans pushed on three different series of votes to defund, delay or amend the ACA as part of a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through December 15, 2013. Senate Democrats have in turn voted multiple times to strip those provisions and pass a “clean CR.” During the early hours of the morning, the House passed a resolution appointing members for a proposed conference committee to hash out differences with the Senate. Until an agreement is reached, the federal government will remain closed for business.

 NECA called on Congress to make every possible effort to avoid a federal shutdown in order to prevent disruption for NECA contractors nationwide who would not be able to submit bids for federal construction projects or receive payments for contracts performed for the federal government, jeopardizing the finances of many small businesses nationwide. NECA also provided guidance to its members in this memo on what NECA contractors should do to plan for a shutdown.

 As for the average American, more than 40 percent of federal workers across the nation will now be furloughed starting immediately.  Social Security recipients will in fact receive benefits, mail service will continue and taxes will still be collected. But the impact will be great, and it will spread far beyond Washington. Federal buildings scattered across the nation will be closed, and in Washington, DC other federally funded attractions, including the Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, and Civil War battlefields are now closed for business.

The federal government has shut down 17 times since 1976, according to an NBC tally. The last time was for 21 days in late 1995 and early 1996, when House Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Clinton clashed over spending. That shutdown left deep political scars, gave President Clinton’s approval ratings a significant boost, and left Republicans shouldering much of the blame. Time will tell what the effects of this shutdown and its impact it will have on the 2014 Congressional elections.

NECA will continue to report on these developments.

Sep 17

It’s Not Too Late to Add a Pre-Convention Workshop to Your Registration!

Kudos to you for taking full advantage of the education and special opportunities available at NECA 2013 Washington DC! It’s easy to add a pre-convention workshop, Energy Forum or Safety Forum, additional Opening Reception tickets or a tour to your existing registration. Pre-convention workshops run Friday, Oct. 11 through Saturday, Oct. 12, and local tours are scheduled throughout NECA 2013 Washington DC.

You can easily add pre-convention workshops and tours to your existing registration online or call Katie at 301-215-4506 for help.

If you want to make the changes to your registration online, follow these steps:

1. Visit the 2013 Washington registration page: https://www2.cmrreg.com/neca_c4/. (Click on Attendee Registration button at the top right of the NECA Convention website.)

2. Scroll down to “Already Registered?” You will be prompted to enter the confirmation number and email address included in your registration confirmation you should have received by email. Click “Resend Your Confirmation” if you can’t locate your original confirmation email.

3. Click “Review or Change Your Registration.” Your registration contact information will be displayed.

4. Click through the pages until you reach “Pre-Conference Workshops.” Select any workshops you would like to add to your registration. Please note that not all workshops may be available at this time; class size may have maxed out, or the class may have been cancelled.

5. Click through the pages to see if you need to update any other information. The cart at the top of the page will display any items you have added.

6. Click “Update Registration” once you’re finishing reviewing. You will receive an email confirmation of your additional registration items and billing information.

That’s it!

Oct 04

Got CEUs? Need Handouts? Get Them Online!

Thanks for supporting our efforts to make NECA 2012 Las Vegas as paperless as possible. Your CEU certificates and session handouts can be found online.

Continuing Education Units
Most pre-convention workshops, management seminars and technical sessions at NECA 2012 Las Vegas offered continuing education units for attendees who had their badges scanned at the start and end of the sessions.

Retrieving your CEU certificate of completion can be done online. If you don’t receive an email prompt for collecting your CEU certificate, you can go to  www2.cmrreg.com/neca12ceu and enter the information from your badge to pull up your record. You will need your member ID, your badge number or your first and last name from your meeting registration to get your record.

If you think there’s a mistake, simply complete and submit a CEU Change Request Form. Directions can be found on the CEU retrieval site.

Not all courses offered at NECA 2012 Las Vegas will meet your state’s CEU requirement for continuing education credit. Check with your state authorities to confirm eligibility.

Handouts
Most presenters at NECA 2012 Las Vegas have made their session handouts available online, either through the archived session schedule or the convention app. Both formats are indexed by session date and title.

Go to “Education” under “Schedule” on convention website to view sessions by date and description; handouts have been uploaded as PDFs with the individual session descriptions. You can also easily access handouts via the NECA 2012 Las Vegas app by clicking on the “Handouts” icon. Make sure your app is synched to get the most recent upload of handouts.

Sep 19

No, It’s Not Too Late to Add a Pre-Convention Workshop to Your Registration!

Congratulations to you for taking full advantage of the education available at NECA 2012 Las Vegas! It’s easy to add a pre-convention workshop, special session, extra Opening Reception tickets or a tour to your existing registration. Pre-convention workshops run Friday, Sept. 28-Saturday, Sept. 29, and tours are scheduled throughout the event.

You can add pre-convention workshops and tours to your existing registration online or call Katie at 301-215-4506 for help.

If you want to make the changes to your registration online, follow these steps:

1. Visit the 2012 Las Vegas registration page: https://www2.cmrreg.com/neca_c3/ (Click on Attendee Registration button at the top right of the NECA Convention website.)

2. Scroll down to “Already Registered?” You will be prompted to enter the confirmation number and email address included in your registration confirmation you should have received by email. Click “Resend Your Confirmation” if you can’t locate your original confirmation email.

3. Click “Review or Change Your Registration.” Your registration contact information will be displayed.

4. Click through the pages until you reach “Pre-Conference Workshops.” Select any workshops you would like to add to your registration.

5. Click through the pages to see if you need to update any other information. The cart at the top of the page will display any items you have added.

6. Click “Update Registration” once you’re finishing reviewing. You will receive an email confirmation of your additional registration items and billing information.

That’s it!

Sep 18

Socializing at NECA 2012 Las Vegas

No, we don’t mean all the great networking opportunities and gala events at the convention and trade show. NECA uses several online social media tools to share information with our members and friends in the industry during NECA 2012 Las Vegas. Here’s how you can join the conversation!

Social Media Walls
We’ll have continually updated displays on our on-site social media posts at two Social Media Wall displays on the NECA Show floor, strategically positioned for maximum visibility. Make sure your Facebook, blog posts, Tweets and Flickr posts appear on the Social Media walls by correctly tagging them.

NECA CONVENTION BLOG: Guest Posts and Comments Welcome!
The first source for both preliminary and on-site news for NECA 2010 Boston is blog.necaconvention.org. We live-blog the general sessions, technical workshops, the Show floor, special events, and any schedule changes. RSS makes it easy to get instant updates from the site on your reader or smart phone. All blog entries are cross-posted to NECA Convention’s Facebook and Twitter pages, too. Blog posts include photos and tags so you can easily find what you’re looking for.

Got an idea for a post or want to post a comment on a post that’s already up? We love to hear your thoughts. Just go to blog.necaconvention.org!

FACEBOOK: Become a Fan on NECA Convention!
By “fanning” NECA 2012 Las Vegas on Facebook, you will join a community of convention-goers and exhibitors, all excited to see what this year’s NECA Show will have to offer, including blog posts, photo albums and videos. Add your comments and “like” our posts, or leave a message on our wall.
www.facebook.com/NECAConvention

TWITTER: Follow and Tag Your Tweets!
Twitter.com/NECAConvention is one of NECA’s most popular feeds, and it kicks into high gear during the NECA Show, as our roving Twitter posse live-tweets product demos and technical workshops. To start receiving our updates, follow twitter.com/ NECAConvention and send a tweet to @NECAConvention letting us know you will be at NECA 2012 Las Vegas so we can follow and re-tweet your tweets to our followers, too!

Be aware that NECA Show exhibitors also make special offers via Twitter during the NECA Show for Show-goers who follow their company or @NECAConvention, like free goodies for the next five people who come to their booth to say they got the message on Twitter.

Any tweets tagged #NECA12 will automatically appear on our Social Media Walls on the NECA Show floor.
http://twitter.com/NECAconvention

FLICKR: Share and Tag NECA 2012 Photos!
Every picture we take at Las Vegas is added to NECA’s Flickr feed for everyone to enjoy. We’d love to see your pictures, too.
www.flickr.com/photos/necanet

Questions? Go to www.necanet.org/social to find links to all of NECA’s social media sites and our tips for using social media to promote your business.