| November 20, 2019
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Join AFA for our upcoming events!
Make sure to visit AFA's Facebook page to stay current on all our latest news and updates.
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Join fellow Gulf South Chapter members for the Annual Holiday Meeting & Celebration on December 07, 2019 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The event will be held at Landry's Seafood (French Quarter)
620 Decatur Street ste. 1A
Fleur De Lis Room
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The Gulf South Chapter held its annual educational weekend on Friday & Saturday, September 27th & 28th, 2019 at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Educational classes offered were:
• AFA First Aid & CRP: Instructor - Kevin Roberts
• AFA CFP: Exam proctor – IDEA
• AFA CAGOI: Exam proctor – IDEA
The Chapter also unveiled its gate operator trailer.
The trailer will initially be used throughout the chapter to provide education to contractors, municipalities, state Fire Marshall’s offices, licensing boards and any other groups that need training on the various rules (ASTM & UL) pertaining to the installation of gate operators. After purchasing the trailer, Chapter members; particularly Triple B Fence – Vacherie, LA; donated time and materials to outfit the trailer so that each type of gate (swing & slide) would be represented. Mike Gulledge, Southwest Automated, lead the training that was attended, despite the heat, by approximately fifteen chapter members.
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TFA family: We want everyone to have a room at the Menger for our Totally 80s Holiday Party, so please book your hotel rooms now. This will be a busy weekend for the Menger and for all San Antonio hotels. Don't be forced to camp in the Alamo. Book your hotel rooms now!
December room reservations (Group code: 120619FENCE)
While you're there, go ahead and get your dinner tickets for Friday, too! Don't be late to dinner!
What's in store...
Friday, December 6th
TFA "Totally 80s" Holiday Party
7:00 - 10:00 PM
The Historic Menger Hotel
204 Alamo Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205
Saturday, December 7th
TFA Outing, TBD (dutch pay)
Information forthcoming
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American Fence Association Education Foundation supports higher education! AFA Education Foundation (AFAEF) has scholarships to give, and the deadline to apply is quickly approaching. Industry professionals and their immediate family members attending college, university or trade school may be eligible to apply for an AFAEF scholarship. The application is open to members and non-members. Applicants must have a “B” grade point average or higher and have volunteered a minimum of 40 hours of community service.
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Take 10 minutes and tell us about the best of the best from your company or your peers! The PRO Awards recognize AFA members who have created and installed outstanding fence projects from the past year. Help us identify the best by nominating your company or your peers for a PRO Award. The PRO Awards recognize the best commercial and residential jobs for the past year in the following categories: multi-use (combination of 2 or more categories), access control, chain link, deck/rail, farm/ranch/agriculture, ornamental, wood, or vinyl. The deadline is just around the corner so go ahead and submit a nomination.
Nominees must be AFA members in good standing. There is a $10 submission fee per nomination. The deadline for nominations is 11:00 PM central time on Friday, December 6, 2019.
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Initial Booth Personnel Registration emails were sent on September 30, 2019 from American Tradeshow Services, FENCETECH’s official registration company.
This email provides the information to register your booth personnel and invite potential customers to the tradeshow. If you have not received this email, please contact FENCETECH@americanfenceassociation.com.
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The last chance to nominate an AFA Superstar is quickly approaching! Submit a nomination for an AFA Association Award. The Association Awards recognize members who are committed to the industry and contribute to the work of the AFA. Tell us who should be awarded Ambassador, Distinguished Service, Contractor of the Year, Hall of Fame, Manufacturer of the Year and an Outstanding Service Award by submitting a nomination. The information about each award and the eligibility criteria is outlined on our website.
The deadline for nominations is 11:00 PM central time on Friday, December 6, 2019.
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AFA University reached unprecedented levels of success in 2019, training over 160 students at Fence Installation School, Operator Installer School, and Fence Contractor Business School. Attendees came away with essential knowledge and skills that they can put to immediate use, increasing professionalism, efficiency, and expertise in their jobs. Here are just a few reactions from students who attended this year:
“I learned this week that I am part of something larger in this industry than just me and my company.The whole experience has been awesome.”
“OIS is well worth every penny. Knowledge is key!”
“The knowledge here at OIS is incredible.”
“FIS is a must for those serious about the industry looking to grow and gain knowledge.”
“The things I learned and people I met at FIS are invaluable. I can’t wait to sign up for the other classes. I will be sending my crew members here over the years.”
“FCBS will help us with efficiency, leadership, and knowledge. We are already planning a meeting for when I get back to the office!”
“You cannot afford to miss this.”
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The American Fence Association would like to extend a huge thank you to these dedicated individuals for committing their time and resources to educating and bettering the fence industry.
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The American Fence Association thanks our AFA U Sponsors for their generous contributions to making this year such a success!
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 We are pleased to announce the American Fence Association
2020 Officers and Board of Directors.
Chris Loftus, President – Milestone Fence Co.
Randy Ward, CFC, CFP, CAGOI, President-Elect – WMS Construction
Sam Williams, Secretary – Homeland Vinyl Products
Peter Williams, Jr., Treasurer – Eastern Wholesale Fence
Randy Becnel, CFP, CAGOI, Past President – Triple B Construction & Fence., Inc.
McKay Lundgren, Chair, CPC – SOS Siren Operated Sensors
Barry Baker, CFP, Past Chair, CPC – Baker Fence Company
Susan E. Colson, Director – Security Fence, Inc.
Bob Masten, CFP, Director – Stephens Pipe & Steel
Steve Alsip, Director – Southwest Automated Security
Travis Hampton, CFC, Director – Town & Country Fence Company
Brad Howard, Director – Security Contractor Services
Jon McCoy, Director – Hudson Fence Supply
Mark Olson, CFC, CFP, CAGOI, Director – SWI, LLC
Bobby Batchelor, CFP, Director – Seegars Fence Company
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Join us at FENCETECH 2020 for top tier education tailored to every facet of the fence, deck, and rail and access control industry, including our keynote speaker, Mike Holmes!
Mike Holmes is a professional contractor, television host, public speaker, educator, influencer and writer. Mike is known as one of North America’s most trusted contractors and has gained the trust of homeowners and the respect of an industry worldwide, prompting him to build an international brand based on quality, integrity and trust for over 15 years.
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Fence professionals will have the opportunity to take Certified Fence Contractor and Certified Fence Professional exams during FENCETECH 2020. Tests will be offered on Thursday, March 5, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.
Candidates for either of the certification programs can test whether it is for an initial testing or a retest.
Please contact Sara Surprenant at sara@americanfenceassociation to reserve a seat in the testing room on March 5. For more information about the certification programs and their requirements, please visit www.americanfenceassociation.com. Questions can be directed to Todd Thomas at 828-291-1579, or via email at todd@americanfenceassociation.com.
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FENCETECH 2020 Registration is officially open! Come join us in Salt Lake City, Utah March 3-6 2020 for the largest trade show in our industry. With about 7,000 attendees and 300 exhibitors, we continue to raise the bar and partner with the National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association’s METALfab and the International Door Association’s IDAExpo. Come learn about the newest products and techniques, attend industry-specific seminars, get motivated by keynote speakers and participate in continued education and certification classes.
New for 2020, you must complete your registration before you book your hotel room. Once you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation link with hotel reservation instructions.
You don’t want to miss out on this! Early registration ends February 27, 2020. After February 27, you must pay onsite pricing.
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Calling all 2020 Exhibitors! Last year, we had such great success with Booth Bingo that we are bringing it back to FENCETECH 2020 in SLC! This game is for FENCETECH exhibitors and has been proven successful in increasing foot traffic to your booths. Here’s how it works: for just $100, your company will be added to a game card distributed to all attendees in their conference bags.
When attendees visit participating booths, they get a stamp/sticker that we will provide you. The more stamps/stickers collected, the more prizes they’ll be opted in to win. Attendees will be running to your booth for the chance to bring home prizes!
This is an amazing opportunity and affordable way for your company to be showcased, keep traffic directed towards your booth and be a part of the momentum with our attendees!
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Every three years, the International Code Council allows for changes to the model codes. The second hearings for the 2021 International Residential Building Code was held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the end of October. DRI’s Codes and Standards group had several calls to discuss positions on proposed changes. Clik "Read more" below to see some highlights of the results, which are nearly all favorable. The exception is RB301, which has mixed support within the group. Having prescriptive details for guard attachment would be an improvement, but there is fear that code officials would see these details as the only allowable method of construction.
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This volunteer effort is an annual AFA tradition. Each year, we give back to our FENCETECH host community by helping with minor repairs, painting and cleaning or donating money to help out a host charity in the Salt Lake City area.
If you are interested in giving back to our FENCETECH host community, please let us know during the registration process or make a monetary donation through FENCETECH registration. Your contribution goes to a great cause!
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FENCETECH 2020 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT is not that far away! Each year we showcase our exhibiting companies in our on-site directory, the VOICE, and it’s time to review your directory listing. If you have any company description or product category updates please send them to FENCETECH@americanfenceassociation.com. DEADLINE FOR APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTIONS: JANUARY 3, 2020.
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The September/October digital edition of Fencepost magazine is now available! Each issue of Fencepost is archived online so you can easily access all of the industry features, member news, AFA updates and more, with the click of a mouse.
In this issue:
• Increasing ROI with One-Man Earth Drills • Fall and Winter Fence Installation • Customer Testimonials in the Digital Age Start Reading.
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Mark your calendars for the upcoming Missouri Common Ground Alliance 2019 Damage Prevention and Excavation Safety Summit. The event will be held December 11-13 at Springfield's Ozarks Empire Fairgrounds. This event is completely free of charge and a perfect way for AFA members, fence crews and their employees to get free construction safety training.
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AFA extends its thanks to the following members who have recently joined the association as first-time members. Welcome to the AFA family!
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AFA extends its thanks to the following members who have recently renewed their existing membership. We're glad you're part of the AFA family!
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The AFA MSP is getting even better in 2020. As an AFA Member, you can save even more money for your business with new and improved savings discounts with Alliant Business Insurance, Hewlett Packard, Sunbelt Rentals, AFA MSP Health Insurance, UPS, Cintas, PayrollMart and Fastenal.
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