Welcome to our January newsletter!We're starting the new year with a host of new stories, as well as with over 3,000 new municipal recipients and several hundred new contractors. Welcome one and all!by Ranger Kidwell-Ross
Along with answering questions and keeping the site updated, I'm trying to get ready to get everything ready for NPE and, 24 hours after my return from Nashville, leave for an extended period of time to the Orient. On a personal note, I have been honored with being invited to perform in mid-February at Thailand's World Festival of Music. I will be part of bringing the currently unknown rhythms of New Orlean's Cajun-style music to that country. It's quite an honor to be chosen to participate at this 11-day festival celebrating Chinese New Years. The event includes a stellar line-up of world-class musicians, and since I was included it was something I felt I would be foolish to pass up. Plus, it's also a way to meet with sweeping department representatives in that country, as well as, I hope, city officials in Singapore and Norita, Japan. Currently, arrangements are in process with all of that. Time will tell as to what can be worked out in that regard. Ideally, the result will match the award-winning travelogues I wrote when traveling throughout Europe, and other parts of Asia and Australia, a few years ago. Keep an eye out on the website for updates as they become available. Among the stories in this issue you'll find that WorldSweeper.com is spearheading the development of an ethical standard among sweeping contractors. Our Contractor Locator area has developed an excellent amount of traffic, and therein lies the rub. I have become concerned that little is known about the contractors who sign up. Plus, I feel that, by requiring a certain minimum level of ethics requirements for those displaying their wares at WorldSweeper.com, we'll be able to attain links from customer-oriented websites around the U.S. I look forward to any comments about the proposal; you'll find a comment link at the story. To punctuate this upcoming requirement, we have a variety of stories dedicated to helping sweeping contractors improve their business methods. I encourage every contractor reading this to read – and print out for your managers – all of the articles of that nature in the issue. They have been written by some very experienced people in their respective fields, and if you take the information to heart and into your business I'm confident you'll see results. By the same token, if you municipal street sweeping folks haven't read the three 'State of the Sweeping Indutry' documents originating from Minnesota, then you don't know all you can about what sweeping's current role can be to combat storm water runoff pollution. This is an impressive compilation of information that the sponsoring organization has put together. As always, if you have a sweeping-related need just let me know. I'll try to assist in any way I can. I routinely reference WorldSweeper.com articles and studies, provide information from my "Fundamentals of the Power Sweeping Business," manual and put contractors and city officials in touch with others who may have answers to their information needs. By the same token, if you have additional information on any of the topics we cover – or need more details – please let me know. I'll be glad to help if at all possible. By the way, if you're not yet a naPSa member, we are still offering you an incentive to do so. For a limited time, when you become a member you'll get a $50 discount on any Contractor Locator listing here at WorldSweeper.com. If you like what you read in this newsletter or on the website, be sure to thank the advertisers who sponsored it. The only way for them to know you appreciate their support of WorldSweeper.com is to tell them!
Good Sweeping!
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 © 2007 World Sweeper
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Newsletter Contents
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This has already been one of the busier months we've had. Something about the change of year always seems to bring out questions by those in the industry. Seems like the phone has never rung as often and the emailbox never been fuller.
