Upcoming Course (July 13-16): Trauma Scene Clean-Up

Today is the last day for an early-registration discount for the Trauma Scene Clean-Up course coming up on July 13-16! Prices are going up to $1,495 for regular non-member registration.

However, CRA members can still register for the exclusive CRA price of just $1,195!

Trauma Scene Clean-Up
July 13-16
Abatix Corp, Los Angeles, CA
Instructor: Kent Burg

This 4-day course starts with an introduction to microbiology and pathogens. Instructor, Mr. Kent Berg, will take you through every aspect of decontaminating a crime, accident and decomposition scene. The hands-on portion of this course includes simulated house scenarios that are contaminated with animal blood, tissue, odors, maggots and police chemicals. Between the technical classroom material and the realistic hands-on training, you will get the experience you need to confidently handle most any scene.

A certificate and wallet card are awarded to graduates, and Continuing Education Units (or CEU's) are awarded from the IICRC and the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). NIDS training meets and exceeds the requirements of the American BioRecovery Association (ABRA), therefore, students who pass the final exam will also be awarded a “BioRecovery Technician” certification from ABRA - the Nationally-recognized standard in crime and trauma scene decontamination.

If you are going to invest in training, choose the course that is the most comprehensive AND awards you ABRA certification! This course includes a 200-page full-color training manual for you to keep.

Download the registration form here: http://www.crassociation.org/CRA-tsc2010LA.pdf

Reminder - Combined Claims Conference April 5-7

Are you planning on attending the 22nd Annual Combined Claims Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center April 5th-7th, 2010? this is a unique opportunity to network with hundreds of insurance professionals and insurance service experts. There will also be top notch educational sessions throughout the conference. For more information, please visit their website ar www.combinedclaims.com or give them a call at 888-811-6930

See you there!

New CRA Membership Services Coordinator

Stephanie Pan Joins CRA as the Membership Services Coordinator

SACRAMENTO, CA -- The Cleaning and Restoration Association (CRA) announced that they have come to an agreement that will allow CRA to continue its membership growth and to promote the CRA sponsored educational programs and seminars. Stephanie Pan will become CRA’s Business Development and Membership Services Coordinator. She will be responsible for membership development and communication; CRA Select Member program promotion; educational program marketing and industry communication. Stephanie has a B.A. in Graphic Design and a B.A. in Communication from the University of California, Davis. Prior to accepting this position she was the Commuication and Public Outreach intern for The California Museum.

According to CRA’s Executive Director, Jim Holland, this will allow CRA to continue its current rate of growth and provide additional resources to the membership. CRA began one year ago and now has almost 100 members in the California, Nevada and Arizona region.

Connections Conference - Clearwater Beach, Florida

A Program Specifically Designed to Help Your Company Strive, Succeed and Specialize in Sectors of the Market That Will Set You Apart From Your Competition!

The economy may be down, but competition is UP! In today's market it is more important than ever to stay up-to-date with the very best tools and information available to the cleaning, restoration and remediation professional. Connections has geared this year's program to help companies just like yours grow and thrive during these current difficult economic times, with the industry's best technical education program and the industry's leading exhibition featuring today's hottest companies, products and services.

If you're part of the cleaning and restoration industry the Connections Conference and Exhibition is one technical event you can't afford to miss. This conference is specifically designed for cleaners, restorers and remediators who are looking for that competitive edge ... seeking new research and useful tools to help distance their company from the competition.

The Connections Conference sets itself apart from all the others by bringing the industry together in a technical educational format that covers - in detail - cleaning, restoration, remediation, management, marketing, and more. The information you leave this conference with will allow you to know, in advance, what lies ahead for our industry. We'll give you the education and skills you need to change the way you currently do business and to prepare your company to thrive in any economy.

2010 is the start of a new decade and a great opportunity to grow your business. Start this decade the right way - Get CONNECTED!

Featured speakers for this year’s event include:
• KEYNOTE: Gary Ryan Blair, Everything Counts!
• KEYNOTE: Steve Ashkin, The Ashkin Group, LLC
• Gene Cole, MPhd, Brigham Young University
• Mickey Lee, Munters
• Jim Holland, Restoration Consultants
• Howard Partridge, Phenomenal Products
• Kent Berg, Institute of Decontamination Specialist
• Eugene Peterson, Advise and Consult, Inc.
• Bill Yeadon, JonDon
• Mark Warner, Enviro-Solution
• Larry Carlson, Phoenix Restoration
• Sam DeAth, Benefect ... And many more!

For more information: http://www.connectionsconvention.org/cnx_confer.html

Upcoming specialty courses

Just to let ever one know.

We have just scheduled the new IICRC Commercial Drying Specialist course for this summer. We will also have the ABRA Trauma Scene Cleanup course scheduled as well.

Stay tuned for more CRA Insights

E-Waste Disposal

I had a caller that asked me a very interesting question. Is it appropriate for restorers to charge for E-waste disposal of total loss electronics? I know that in some areas there are firms that pick up E-waste at no cost to the company. In other areas that might not be the case. I would assume that as long as you get a receipt from the disposal company that you could pass on the cost. Regardless, we should be environmentally responsible when considering disposal.

Welcome to the CRA Insights Blog

We have developed this blog to provide our membership and other interested industry participants with some insight into what goes on in the CRA office on a daily basis. Also, we intend to use the Blog to provide you with industry tidbits. There will be several authors including Jennifer, John Banta and myself. Occasionally we will have comments from the Officers of CRA and we will try to highlight our members as time permits.

Jim Holland