The National Chimney Sweep Guild annual convention features great opportunities for learning, fellowship, and making new business connections. On top of that, it offers its attendees a chance to travel to someplace new and take in the sights and sounds. The NCSG 2015 National Convention lived up to the billing and then some. It was hosted by the city of Lancaster, PA at the Marriot on Penn Square.
What Is It?
The National Convention provides its participants an opportunity to hone their skills. While the chimney sweeping profession has been around for hundreds of years, the industry is continually evolving, as new products are introduced, technology is advanced, and codes are changed and/or amended. The Convention is also a great time to see the latest innovations in the industry. Manufactures will often make it a point to delay the launch of new products until the convention, thereby providing attendees a firsthand account of the product rollout. The Convention is also a good time to see changes that have been made to products we already use as well as improvements that may be available with our repair and servicing tools.
What Happens (Continuing Education, etc.)?
From the opening party to the closing banquet, the National Chimney Sweep Guild National Convention is jam-packed with learning, networking, and fun! The NCSG Convention is a great time to reconnect with old friends in the industry, network with new people in the industry, and spend time poring over the new items in the manufacturer showroom. Event participants are offered to opportunity to partake in some of the finest continuing education opportunities, especially the CSIA’s Certified Chimney Sweep program. This program and the designation one receives upon completion gives a sweep many advantages over their non-certified competitors.
Why Is It Important?
There are countless reasons to go to the NCSG Convention. You’re provided with the opportunity to meet people in the industry, often allowing you to put faces to names you may hear on a regular basis. The added educational training opportunities focused on key industry topics (e.g. chimney inspection, sales and marketing, safety, code changes, etc.) reduce the likelihood of chimney sweep errors and accidents that could lead to a deadly fire while at the same time giving you a competitive edge over those individuals who opt to not attend. Simply put, continued training and education can help a sweep best leverage all of the available resources in the most effective way possible.
The only way for you to truly find the reason(s) Convention attendance will benefit you and your business is to go and take in as much as you can. Go catch up with old friends and make new ones. Participate in some of the continuing education courses that are offered. Spend as much time as possible going from booth to booth in the trade show. Do a little or do a lot, it’s really up to you. Although the NCSG 2015 Convention has come and gone, it’s never too early to start planning for next year. We hope to see you there!
