Do some of your other questions include?

1. What should I look for in estimating a sweeper contract?
2. Is there a difference between an estimate and a bid and what are the pros and cons of each?
3. How should I develop a strategy for my business?
4. What other services can I offer and where do they fit in my company?

The North American Power Sweeping Association is providing you an opportunity to talk to “That Guy” and get those answers. On September 1, at 5:00 PM EDT, NAPSA will offer a webinar entitled “Tips and Tools for Estimating a Profitable Parking Lot Contract.” The 60 minute webinar will be hosted and presented by Carl Barton.

Mr. Barton, who is currently the NAPSA President, will be speaking more about his experience in building a successful sweeping company. Aardvark Sweeping Services was started by Mr. Barton back in 1996 with him driving his one truck.  The small sweeping company is now a full-service property maintenance company with 32 vehicles which offer many different tools that provide this full-service capability.

Mr. Barton has stated that he’s not doing this webinar as President of NAPSA. He’s doing this because he feels he has valuable information to offer and his position gives him a platform in which he can share his knowledge. Mr. Barton said that “This is information I wish someone had shared with me years ago. I receive several calls a year from sweeping companies requesting advice. The universal answer to all of them is covered in this webinar. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginning sweeper or a seasoned veteran, this webinar will have value for your company. Iron sharpens iron and it’s the same with open minded business people”

You can conveniently attend this webinar from your own office.  For more information and to register for the webinar, please go to www.powersweeping.org.

NAPSA is an all volunteer organization. To facilitate growth and the continued education of those in our industry NAPSA is seeking volunteers. Current committee positions open to volunteers that usually require only once a month meetings, include:
Bylaws Committee
Certification Committee
Education Committee
Marketing Committee
Legislative and Regulatory Committee
Membership/Benefits Committee

In addition to the committee positions NAPSA is also starting a mentoring program. This program is designed to pair industry veterans with newcomers to facilitate business success. Industry specialist volunteers are greatly needed to help NAPSA address current issues related to our profession.

For more details and to become a NAPSA volunteer, visit www.powersweeping.org and click on the members section. Click on “Become a NAPSA Volunteer” and begin giving back today!

Get Involved!

NAPSA members will be able to complete an application if they are interested in serving as a mentor or if they would like to be a mentee. Once this application is received, mentors will be matched up with mentees based on several factors. As an example, someone who is new to the industry sweeping only parking lots would be assigned a mentor who also sweeps parking lots. We will also pair members who are newer to the association with members who have been involved for a while.

In the power sweeping business we are each others best resources. NAPSA is looking to provide the means to best utilize these resources.

Do you remember what it is like to be just starting out? Will you step up to be a mentor? Additional information will be made available soon. NAPSA will send out a formal announcement once the program launches. Continue to check www.powersweeping.org for news and updates on all NAPSA programs.

If you haven’t joined, there’s a bounty on your head!  As an organization, the North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) realizes that there are newcomers to the industry or good companies that are successful without making themselves accessible through normal means of correspondence.  Therefore, in an effort to continuously educate and increase the professionalism in the industry, NAPSA is asking our members to talk to their counterparts and competitors about the benefits of NAPSA.  In fact if you promote the organization successfully, and you recruit a new paid member, you yourself will be paid $50.00.  Just download the membership application from the NAPSA website and make sure your company is listed as the referring company.

Do you have equipment to sell?  A new member benefit that’s been added to the North American Power Sweeping Association website is the ability to add classified advertisements for all website visitors to view.  This new opportunity is being offered to Members, Associate Members and Partners only.  The posted ad can contain up to 75 words and one photo.  Additionally, when you place an ad, there will be a brief description added to the monthly NAPSA e-newletter.  The cost of the classified ads is:

1. $25.00/month per ad for NAPSA Members, or $50.00 for 3 months!
2. $250.00/quarter for Associate Members and Partners to place up to 15 ads.

Additional details for all of these programs can be found www.powersweeping.org

There is a constant flurry of human resource changes, insurance changes and regulatory changes that will affect most industries including the street sweeper industry. Are you up to date with these changes to legislation? Do you know about and understand that there are immediate changes going into effect in the western U.S. that will no doubt be a national issue in the not so distant future?

The member section of the NAPSA website offers tools to our membership that will keep them updated on these issues. Additionally, there are NAPSA board members actively involved in battling changes that are believed to be unfair or could lead to damaging the current status of the industry, such as the emission changes being discussed by the State of California.

In the member section of the NAPSA website you can find information pertaining to regulations that restrict health risk assessments in wellness initiatives. There are educational items detailing the ease with which an employee can file discrimination claims from their home computers and how an employer can battle employees who may choose to blog about their company or employer. There are links to reports produced by experts in industry law that explain a company’s rights or responsibilities regarding Family Medical Leave, Whistle Blower laws and state initiatives to address non-compete agreements as well as many other issues effecting business owners.

Getting access to this information is simple and the knowledge gained; along with the additional benefits of membership, make the cost of this information a must for sweeping professionals.  To learn more, please visit www.powersweeping.org and sign up today.

NAPSA is looking for your input to help our industry. What’s being done right? What would you like to see more of? At the recent Sweeper Roundtable held at the NPE in Nashville, the membership provided ideas such as NAPSA should find a way to better educate property owners regarding the value of hiring a quality contractor. Another suggestion was to launch an education program in conjunction with the equipment manufacturers. Both ideas, as well as others, are being considered and pursued. What’s your idea? Is there something that you’re business or the industry needs but you’re unsure how to find it? Ask NAPSA.  With the experience and knowledge of the industry’s only trade association, the information is probably readily available.

As a member of NAPSA, or a participant in the industry, your information is helpful. Please take the time to copy and fill out this small survey and fax it to Kristy Baier, NAPSA’s Membership Coordinator at 856-439-0525. Thank you for your time!

COST OF A NAPSA MEMBERSHIP ONLY $295

Other Benefits of NAPSA Membership:
Education
Certified Sweeper Program
New Website with Contractor Locator
Industry Networking

In today’s economy, can you afford NOT to be a NAPSA member? For more information or to join, please go to www.powersweeping.org.

New members who join between these dates will be entered into a random drawing. Prizes include:
An Ipod Touch®  (one prize offered)
30% discount from M-B Companies
$50 parts credit from Nite-Hawk Sweepers
$50 parts credit from Schwarze Industries
$50 parts credit from Victory Street Sweepers
30% discount from Superior Tire & Rubber

Please note that ALL new members of NAPSA will receive a 20% discount from Superior Tire & Rubber Corp. All discount and credit prizes are one time offers and must be used with your next purchase.

If you are considering becoming a member of NAPSA, why not join today and enter for a chance to win?

For more information on NAPSA’s year-round discount programs and other benefits, and to join, please logon to our website, www.powersweeping.org.