November 2011

Hello to All Our NPCAI Members, Happy Thanksgiving to All Our NPCAI Members, I need to inform you that I will be stepping down as Chair as of 12/31/2011 and James Snider – Our Chair-Elect will assume the Chair position. I feel confident “Jamey” as we call him will do a Great Job. Jamey has been a part of the NPCAI and the Board for quite sometime and he is ready, willing and able to get the job done!

TRUSTEE – Chair Elect 2012‐2014 Public Relations Committee Chair James Charles Snider. Snider & Associates, Inc. 10139 Royalton Road Ste # H North Royalton, OH 44133 P: 440‐877‐9151 F: 440‐877‐9159 E‐mail: jcsnider@cvsnider.com www.cvsnider.com

Back to Insurance and the Playground Contractor! The NPCAI now offers both a National General Liability and Workers Compensation Programs for Our Members. Our GL Program also offers Professional E&O Coverage for those who need the coverage for their Audits and Inspections. Be sure you read Steve Caraway’s Article in this month’s E-Zine. It is important for each of you to know about the types of Insurances offered through the NPCAI and the best way to do that is to speak directly to Our Agents and Underwriters.

Partner’s Specialties Group, LLC – Cooper Insurance and Ascension Insurance (ad is listed on page 3 & 7)

As I head toward stepping down as Chair, I am very proud to have been a part of the Insur-ance Program! In Our Business, it’s ONE Thing We All Need and Need To Get It Right!

Remember:

The NPCAI Mission is: To professionally construct today's pre-manufactured playground equipment. THE NPCAI IS: A worldwide partnership formed to contribute to the advancement of the playground building industry by promoting playground installation as a legitimate con-tracting profession within the playground industry.

THE NPCAI LENDS SUPPORT: To all playground safety programs, guidelines, and standards that promote playground safety by assisting the public in identifying the need for a professional playground installation.

THE NPCAI SEEKS: Active participation in and contributions from its membership and corpo-rate sponsors for the development and growth of individual members, their contracting busi-nesses, and the playground construction profession worldwide.

Letter From The Chair

This month's Photos is to showcase the NRPA that was held this month in Atlanta, GA.

Photo from NRPA 2011

Post Office Box 2364 Salt Lake City, Utah 84110-2364

P: 888-908-9519 Fax: 801-355-2788

E-mail: npca@playground-contractors.org

www.playground-contractors.org

November 2011

NPCAI Board of Trustees THE NPCAI OFFERS: MEMBERS A VOICE in the playground industry through leadership opportunity and networking to affect industry changes to address developing needs. MEMBERS ANSWERS to everyday installation questions and immediate access to infor-mation regarding certification, licensing and industry standards. Tool Box Tips: “If you do what you’ve always done – you’ll get what you always got!” Upcoming Events: November 30- December 2, 2011 Tampa, FL Playground Con-struction School March 21-23, 2012 Dallas, TX Playground Construction School The NPCAI Wants You to Support the NPCAI so The NPCAI Can Support You! Become a NPCAI Qualified Contractor Today!

It’s up to you to: Best Playground Contractor You Can Be! Join the NPCAI and become a NPCAI Qualified Contractor! Please continue to Support the NPCAI!

Roger Davis – CPSI – NPCAI Chair rdcpsi@carolina.rr.com

Letter From The Chair (con’t)

CHAIR 2010‐2012 Playground Construction School Chair & Membership Committee Chair Roger Davis Playground

Safety Services. Inc. Po Box 2729 Shelby, NC 28152 P: 704‐487‐7774 F: 704‐480‐7775 E‐mail: rdcpsi@carolina.rr.com TRUSTEE – Chair Elect 2012‐2014 Public Relations Committee Chair James Charles Snider. Snider & Associates, Inc. 10139 Royalton Road Ste # H North Royalton, OH 44133 P: 440‐877‐9151 F: 440‐877‐9159 C: 440‐343‐6420 E‐mail: jcsnider@cvsnider.com  

TRUSTEE – Past Chair 2008-2010 Karen Spears, CPSI Kids‐Play, Inc. 700 Long Horn Pass NW Ste #B PO Box 1008

Hartselle, AL 35640 P: 888‐895‐5437 x 219 F: 256‐751‐9191 E‐mail:kspears@hiwaay.net TREASURER 2008‐2010 Nominations Committee Chair Jeff Barber, CPSI Playground Specialist, Inc. 17352 N. Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Office: 301‐447‐1890 P: 800‐385‐0075 C: 301‐748‐3056 F: 301‐447‐3556 E‐mail: jeff@playspec.com 

Insurance Article Hello to All Our NPCAI Members, As you are all aware the 2011 NRPA Conference was held in Atlanta, GA October 31st thru November 4th. The Conference schedule was different this year but I think we were all able to adjust and I am happy to say that I was able to make some new contacts as well as fi-nally match a name to a face to a several folks I have talked to several times on the phone. This month our topic for the newsletter is “Insurance”. The NPCAI now offers both a Na-tional General Liability and Workers Compensation Programs for Our Members. Our GL Program also offers Professional E&O Coverage for those who need the coverage for their Audits and Inspections. Be sure you read Steve Caraway’s Article in this month’s E-Zine. With that said, I’d like to share with you a few things I have learned about Playground Insurance over the years. Let’s start with Class Codes: When we started out we got a Worker’s Comp Class Code as fence contractors and a GL listing as light construction -rates were decent and life was good. Then Workers Comp reclassified us to steel erection less than 3 stories and GL moved us into a Commercial Contractor Code - rates went up some but burden on payroll was still manageable. Then the conspiracy came: at least in my case anyway. Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away (I am pretty sure it was California) there was an Insurance Underwriters Meeting and these Underwriters who went to class learned of a situation where a child was injured on a playground and EVERYBODY got sued. The ones that stayed for the entire meeting asked questions, got better informed answers and went home with a better understanding of what really is involved with Playground Installation and recognized the need for the using a Qualified Playground Contractor and adjusted the Class codes for their clients accordingly. A perfect foundation for the NPCAI Insurance Program.

Insurance Article (con’t) The 2nd tier of Underwriters stayed long enough to learn of the child’s accident but didn’t stay around to ask questions or get better informed and went home with the attitude of “we’ve got to protect ourselves” so they came up with neat things such as Transfers of Risk better known as Additional Insured, Waiver of Subrogation, Umbrellas and XCU Coverage, etc. Somehow we got put into the WC Class Code of “Carpentry-Not Otherwise Classified” which makes no sense to me as my guys don’t normally use saws or scaffolds or any of the commonly found carpenter’s tools. Both our WC and GL Rates jumped and insurance burden for payroll was well over 25%. Life was not as good anymore and the unscrupulous Playground Contractor (I call them a Hook N Ladder Companies) emerged on every other corner undercutting our bids and causing us to temporarily lose jobs. Thankfully in the end, most if not all of those custom-ers came back to us. The 3rd Tier of Underwriters signed into the class – learned of the child’s accident and then proceeded to the golf course, on a sightseeing tour, to a bar or whatever. This group went back to the home office and informed the top dogs that Insuring Playgrounds was a Lose/Lose situation, there was no profit in it and all Contractors who installed play equipment should be dropped immediately. AND THEY DID! Meanwhile, back at the ranch (NPCAI) the NPCAI Board Members were working hard to con-vince some Underwriter somewhere that Playground Contractors were a good investment, correctly installed playgrounds were not a hopeless RISK EXPOSURE and that there was room for profit because the NPCAI had a Playground Construction School where we teach the Best Practices of Playground Installation. Thus, the NPCAI Insurance Program was born. Last count the NPCAI has 94 Contractors insured in the Program. We have a goal of 100+. Why? Better rates will come as the Program grows. Now let’s address why some of you don’t join the NPCAI Insurance Program. 1. You whine about the cost? – Well……… what do you tell your customers about our instal-lation prices? You get what you pay for. It’s your job to figure out what Insurance Coverage you need and then have it priced accordingly. A good Agent will discuss this with you in detail and you will end up saving $$$ in the long run. 2. You can find a better rate. – Sure you can, especially if you only do the Minimum Cover-age which if you choose this path it will lock you out the higher paying installations and higher profile jobs not to mention Military Jobs. 3. You don’t just do playgrounds – Let’s talk about that. Does your playground customer really want a Qualified Playground Contractor or one that’s mowing lawns one day, putting bicycles together at Wal-Mart the next and then claiming they are a Playground Contractor the next? – If Playground Contracting is your Chosen Profession then abide by the ageless adage that if you are going to do something, take the time and effort to do it right the first time. Be-come a Qualified Contractor. 4. You are a Commercial or Residential Homebuilder – you think you don’t need the NPCAI Insurance. Well, let me tell you this: I wish I could count the times, a PTO, HOA or other cus-tomer told me that they didn’t need an Installation Price because their husband or someone in the group was General Contractor and they would handle the install. Well my experience is that 80% of the time, that Customer comes back to us to take care of the Installation and didn’t really negotiate the cost. Let’s face it. Playground Installations are tied to Time and Materials. Most good crews can have the playground installed by the time the inexperienced person fig-ure out what bolt goes where. You do Audits and/or Inspections – The NPCAI Insurance Program covers Errors and Omis-sions and if you are legitimately doing Audits or Inspections the cost saving alone from the NPCAI Insurance Program is reason enough to enroll. Now let me tell you what I just told you! If you are a Playground Contractor: You need to know what type(s) of Insurance Coverage you need and that starts with knowing your Company inside and out. Next you sit down and dis-cuss your Company needs with your Agent. You purchase what you need to Protect You, Your Employees, Your Customers and Most of the Children that we serve!

November 2011

NPCAI Board of Trustees

SECRETARY 2009‐2010 Brad Rhoads, CPSI Playmatta 1135 West 9th St. Upland, CA 91786 P: 888‐346‐2882 F: 877‐949‐2585 C: 909‐519‐0574

E‐mail: brad.rhoads@mattaproducts.com  TRUSTEE Tom Norquist GameTime 150 PlayCore Drive Fort Payne, AL 35968 P: 256‐845‐5610 F: 256‐845‐9361 thomasnorquist@me.com

TRUSTEE Randy Atchison GPI Outdoors Designs, Inc. 32140 Township Rd. 243A Calgary, AB Canada T3Z 2M7 P: 403‐242‐8740 C: 403‐874‐7745 F: 403‐242‐8796

E‐mail:randygpi@telus.net TRUSTEE Research & Development Committee Chair Marylou Iverson Iverson & Assoc. P.O. Box 1387 Kingston, WA 98346 P: 360‐297‐8887 C: 360‐908‐3479 F: 360‐297‐8220 E‐mail: ml.iverson@gmail.com

TRUSTEE Dr. Joe Deutsch, CPSI Imagination Play, Inc. PO Box 452 Moorhead, MN 56561‐0452 P: 888‐788‐9504 F: 888‐788‐9546 C: 701‐799‐4923

E‐mail: joe@imaginationplay.com

Feature

November 2011

Insurance Article (con’t) • If you are a Playground Purchaser: Make sure you specify that the Installation of your playgrounds be done by an NPCAI Quali-

fied Contractor because that is the best move you can make to ensure that your Playground is installed correctly. • If you are a Manufacturer or Manufacturer’s Rep: Be sure to use a NPCAI Qualified Playground Contractor. You will suffer far

fewer headaches in the long run ad have a much better chance at repeat business with your customers. • If you are a Playground Consultant: Please take into consideration everything you’ve read and make the wise decision. Join the

NPCAI and see if you qualify for the NPCAI Insurance Program. If you are any of the above: You’ll be glad you did. Remember: The NPCAI Mission is: To professionally construct today's pre-manufactured playground equipment. THE NPCAI IS: A worldwide part-nership formed to contribute to the advancement of the playground building industry by promoting playground installation as a legiti-mate contracting profession within the playground industry. THE NPCAI LENDS SUPPORT: To all playground safety programs, guidelines, and standards that promote playground safety by assisting the public in identifying the need for a professional playground installation. THE NPCAI SEEKS: Active participation in and contribu-tions from its membership and corporate sponsors for the development and growth of individual members, their contracting businesses, and the playground construction profession worldwide. THE NPCAI OFFERS: MEMBERS A VOICE in the play-ground industry through leadership opportunity and net-working to affect industry changes to address developing needs. MEMBERS ANSWERS to everyday installation questions and immediate access to information regarding certifica-tion, licensing and industry standards. Remember: The NPCAI Continues to Offer the Playground Construc-tion School. The Next Playground Construction Schools are: March 21-23, 2012 Dallas, TX Playground Construction School Tool Box Tips: "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." - Benjamin Franklin The NPCAI Wants You to Support the NPCAI so The NPCAI Can Support You! Become a NPCAI Qualified Contractor Today! It’s up to you to: Best Playground Contractor You Can Be! Become a NPCAI Qualified Contractor and Continue to Support The NPCAI!

Roger Davis – CPSI – NPCAI Chair rdcpsi@carolina.rr.com

Feature

November 2011

Are Today's Playgrounds Too Safe? By Tom Peeples, CPSI, NPCAI playgroundsafety@live.com www.playgroundsafetyconsulting.com I often hear the comment, “today's playgrounds are being made too safe.” Com-monly I hear something like: “How many injuries actually occur on playgrounds any more? Playgrounds are so safe now that they’re boring, there’s no longer any chal-lenge, and they aren’t any fun. I used to swing over asphalt and climb on bare steel pipes atop concrete and I made it to adult. So why all the senseless hoopla about playground safety these days!” I too as a child remember playing over asphalt, concrete, sod and packed earth playground surfaces. I remember when playground equipment was made mostly of metal, often very rusted metal. Many playgrounds were composed of scrap con-struction materials; splintering lumber, rough cut timbers, frayed metal cables, steel belted tires and discarded concrete culverts with exposed wire and sharp edges to name just a few. In the not so distant past less attention was paid towards play-ground safety – and I, as many others had fun and made it through those times intact. I’m not saying I didn’t have my share of knocks though, as I did. What is NEISS? Since those times insights regarding playground injuries have increased. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) operates a statistically valid injury surveillance and follow-back system known as the National Electronic Injury Sur-veillance System (NEISS). The primary purpose of NEISS has been to provide timely data on consumer product-related injuries. NIESS receives data from 100 U.S. Hospitals. Data is based on the number of actual occurrences to the total number of possible occurrences. #1 In the United States it is estimated that over 2,000,000 people are treated in hospi-tal Emergency rooms involving playground injuries per year. – i.e. every 2 minutes someone is admitted to an emergency room concerning playground injuries – that’s approximately 547 people per day. #2 We must remove the hazards, not risks from our playgrounds. Risk VS Hazard: Risk involves decision - something, of which a decision is made. #3 Hazard is something not seen and therefore a decision cannot be made upon #3 Example Risk: a broken swing chain. A broken swing chain can be seen; therefore a decision can be made. Example Hazard: improper playground surfacing material, something not seen/recognized – therefore a decision cannot be made upon. In the early 1900’s the “playground movement,” through U.S. manufacturers, de-signed and distributed a wide variety of playground equipment to the nation’s parks and schools. This emanated from the concern about the health and welfare of chil-dren playing in the streets. The virtues of play not only contribute to physical devel-opment, but also help in the overall development of the child. Research throughout the decades has confirmed the tenet that play is essential for healthy, comprehen-sive human development, and that it is an indispensable element in the educative process. Thus, as playgrounds contribute to the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of a child, playgrounds are among the most important envi-ronments for children outside the home. #5

Feature

NPCAI Board of Trustees

TRUSTEE Tom Peeples Peeples Play-ground Safety Consulting, LLC. Po Box 745657 Arvada, CO 80006‐5657 P: 720‐351‐7309 F: 303‐421‐6675

E‐mail: playgroundsafety@live.com TRUSTEE Matthew F. Walsh, Vice‐President Precision Play-grounds, Inc. 5120 Damascus Road N. Jacksonville, FL 32207 P: 904‐636‐5106 F: 904‐636‐5177 C: 904‐607‐0445 E‐mail: matt@precisionplaygrounds.com

NPCAI Administration

NPCAI Office Sylvia Salazar, Executive Director. PO Box 2364 Salt Lake City, UT 84110‐2364 USA

P: 1‐888‐908‐9519 F: 801‐355‐2788 npca@playground‐contractors.org www.playground‐contractors.org sylvias@playground‐contractors.org

The NPCAI offers many benefits to its members. Such benefits include • NPCAI embossed membership

certificate. • NPCAI membership card • A monthly E-zine • Free Listing on the Online Directory • Free Website Listing • RFP Listing • Playground Wiki • Free Access to over 200 forms. • Aflac Discount Program • Imprint Plus Name Tags • General Liability Insurance Program • Free copy of the Playground

Magazine. • Free Classifieds • Your company information is given

out to any interested individual seeking your services

• $100 savings on the Playground Construction School.

• Errors & Omissions Insurance Coverage

• Annual NPCAI Social Event • Sponsorship Opportunities • Qualified Contractor Credentials. Most Important NPCAI will support you every step of the way.

November 2011 Feature

Are Today's Playgrounds Too Safe? (con’t) In today’s fast paced, crowded society with increased mischief, gangs, and violence, there are fewer and fewer natural environments for our children to play. Its unfortunate that so many adults in this quick-paced life seem to take children’s play for granted. Play is an es-sential component of healthy development in children. Unfortunately, playgrounds are often the sites of unintentional injuries. We must have playgrounds, and as adults we are respon-sible for creating play environments that are challenging for children but also are reasonably safe. -From their inception, playgrounds must be designed, installed, inspected, maintained and repaired by professionals specifically trained in the field of playgrounds and their safety. So, “Are Today’s Playgrounds Too Safe?” Playgrounds are definitely being made safer to-day than in past, that’s the primary reason for fewer injuries today. If we regress playground safety measures that are currently in place, then in my opinion more injuries will be the re-sult. Children are our future! Therefore, with all of the current knowledge, data, information and training readily available dealing with playground safety - why would we not make our play-grounds and play areas as safe, fun and physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally beneficial to our children as possible? "It won't happen to me!" But what if it does? What if someone close to you dies or becomes permanently disabled from a playground injury that very well could have been prevented if the necessary due diligence had been applied? The monetary costs of building and keeping playgrounds safe is small in comparison to the personal trauma and expense experienced by an injured party – experienced by society as a whole - and the possible long term impact of ensuing litigation and drawn-out compensa-tion that can very well incur. Are Today’s Playgrounds Too Safe? No, a playground will never be to Too Safe. Our playgrounds must be created and managed to provide “risks” that are as safe as feasibly possible – we must eliminate known hazards or it will be our society who pays the toll. #1) U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC) -National Electronic Injury Surveil-lance System (NEISS) , CPSC Document #3002, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/3002.html, http://www.cpsc.gov/library/neiss.html #2) Injury and Death Investigated Associated with Playground Equipment, 2001- 2008, Craig W. O'Brian, Division of Hazard Analysis, Directorate of Epidemiology, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, October 2009 #3) Explanations of Risk VS Hazard – Information obtained at NRPA Playground Safety School 1989-2009. #4) Playground Surfacing and Playground Injuries, Jennifer a Himmelsbach, MS and Martyn R. Shorten, PhD BioMechanica, LLC, Portland, Oregon, USA http://www.biomechanica.com/docs/publications/docs/Himmelsbach%20-%20Playground%20Surfaces.pdf #5) The Developmental Benefits of Playgrounds, Association for Childhood Education Inter-national, 2004, Joe L. Frost, Pei-San Brown, John A. Sutterby, Candra D. Thornton. Submitted by:

Tom Peeples Peeples Playground Safety Consulting, LLC. Po Box 745657 Arvada, CO 80006‐5657 P: 720‐351‐7309 F: 303‐421‐6675 E‐mail: playgroundsafety@live.com

Benefits Available to Members! Making us

November 2011

Simplify Your Insurance Many contractors use their own vehicle for personal and business purposes and are insured on a personal auto policy. Most of the time this is fine but there some issues you should keep in mind that can adversely affect your business. Everyone is cognizant of the price of their insurance especially in this current business atmosphere. There are not as many busi-ness opportunities so employers look to survive by cutting expenses. One ongoing expense is and will always be insurance costs. Insuring your vehicle on a personal auto policy gives you the option of choosing the state minimum liability limits. In many states this minimum is as low as $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage. These are very low limits and, in my opinion, should never be recommended. The majority of your automobile insurance premium is comprised of your liability coverage. Purchasing state minimum limits will provide the lowest premium possible but is this a good choice? In the absence of a per-sonal umbrella policy this may be the only buffer between your personal assets and an auto liability claim. A commercial auto policy usually offers higher limits for their minimum liability coverage lim-its. Our agency will not write a commercial auto policy using limits of less than $300,000 for bodily injury and property damage and usually write limits of $1,000,000 for bodily injury and $1,000,000 for property damage; a combined single limit. You can choose to use higher liability limits on your personal auto policy also but if you are using your vehicle for business purposes it should be classified as such on your personal auto policy which usually comes with a higher rate. So it comes down to a choice: personal auto verses commercial auto coverage. There is an automobile coverage that can only be endorsed to a commercial automobile policy that is becoming more prevalent as a contractual requirement and may help you choose your com-pany’s best option. This coverage is called hired and non-owned automobile liability cover-age and usually requires a $1,000,000 limit. Hired automobile liability coverage provides liability coverage on a vehicle your company rents or hires on a short term basis. You may need to rent a dump truck for a few days to help with the clean-up of a job site or bring in surfacing material to a job site. The rental agency is going to require that before you leave with their dump truck you provide proof of liability insurance for this rented or “hired” vehi-cle. You could purchase the rental agencies liability insurance but be prepared to pay out the nose. If you had your commercial automobile policy endorsed to include hired automo-bile liability coverage then have your agent provide proof to the rental agency and your quickly off to the job site. The other part of this endorsement is called non-owned automobile liability coverage. I’m seeing many contracts requiring this coverage also. Usually these two are coverages are combined in what is required in construction contracts. What is classified as a non-owned auto is a vehicle that is used for business purposes that is not owned by your com-pany. This could be an employee’s truck that is brought onto the job site. This is a person-ally owned vehicle being used for company business. The attorneys and risk managers that compose construction agreements or contracts recog-nize these automobile exposures and how they can add risk to a proposed project. Hired and non-owned automobile liability coverage is a requirement in many of these con-tracts. For you as a contractor to comply you first must have a commercial automobile liabil-ity policy then have it endorsed with hired and non-owned liability coverage. Not only is this an important coverage to have in protecting your company’s assets but is relatively inexpen-sive.

Feature

CPSI Course Calendar

December 5-7, 2011 Harrisburg, PA 814-234-4272 December 6-8, 2011 Corbin, KY 502-696-9834 January 11-13, 2012 Landover, MD 301-352-7203 January 24-26, 2012 Manchester, TN 615-790-0041 February 6-8, 202 Dearborn, MI 517-485-9888 February 8-10, 2012 Wagoner, OK 972-744-4303 February 27-29, 202 The Woodlands, TX 512-267-5550 March 7-9, 2012 Shawnee, KS 785-235-6533 March 14-16, 2012 Bellevue, WA 360-459-9396 March 20-22, 2012 St. Charles, MO 573-636-2828 March 20-22, 2012 Long Beach, CA 916-665-2777 March 26-28, 2012 Phoenix, AZ 602-335-1962 For more information contact NRPA at certification@nrpa.org

November 2011 Feature

The Playground Contractors Role with the NPCAI!

The Playground Contractors Role with the NPCAI

As we come to the final link in the

chain in becoming a True Playground Contractor.

The NPCAI Mission is:

To professionally construct today's pre-manufactured playground

equipment.

THE NPCAI IS: A worldwide partner-ship formed to contribute to the ad-

vancement of the playground building industry by promoting playground

installation as a legitimate contracting profession within the playground

industry.

THE NPCAI LENDS SUPPORT: To all playground safety programs,

guidelines, and standards that pro-mote playground safety by assisting

the public in identifying the need for a professional playground installation.

THE NPCAI SEEKS: Active participa-tion in and contributions from its

membership and corporate sponsors for the development and growth of

individual members, their contracting businesses, and the playground con-

struction profession worldwide.

THE NPCAI OFFERS: MEMBERS A VOICE in the playground industry

through leadership opportunity and networking to affect industry changes

to address developing needs.

MEMBERS ANSWERS to everyday installation questions and immediate access to information regarding certi-

fication, licensing and industry standards.

November 2011 Feature

NPCAI members are encouraged to participate in the National

Recreation and Parks Association Congress & Exposition

This year’s event will be

October 16-18, 2012 Anaheim, California

November 30– December 2, 2011 Tampa, FL Playground Construction School. March 21-23, 2012 Dallas, TX Playground Construction School October 16-18, 2012 NRPA Congress & Exposition Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA October 17, 2012 NPCAI Social Event Anaheim, CA NOW SEEKING SPONSORS!

NPCAI Calendar of Events

November 2011 Member Advertisers

November 2011 Feature

Join us on these social networks

New & Renewed Members!

My Time Spent on the NPCAI Board As of January 1, 2012, I will be retiring from the NPCAI Board, I would love to share with all of you my time on the Board. It has been one of the most rewarding journeys I have taken in my life. Many years ago not long after the Board was established, I was voted on the Board due to one of my Installers I worked with everyday and whom is a close friend of mine, Jeff Charles. I will never forget my first meeting. It was held in Orlando Florida, I just pretty much sat there through the first day and watched and was scared to death. They were raising their voices and I can remember thinking what have I got myself into. Well it worked out to be one of the most educational and rewarding things I would end up doing in my life. I be-lieved in every thing that they stood for, the Playground Contractors, the people I worked with all day long every day who I had come to realized. That they were the ones that mat-tered the most, as they spent more time with our customers than any one else. They could make or break you. I knew their was nothing better than a great installer and I was so lucky to be able to work with so many, so I felt I should join the NPCAI Board and try to make a difference for them. Then we had new board members to come aboard, and I can truly say that was not the last of the raised voices. These people were so driven to get the association going and off the ground, to let the world know that it takes special people with special skills to install play-ground equipment. They needed to be Insured, be a CPSI, and be licensed as each state required a contractor to have to installed playgrounds. We all worked on different areas to grow the association, and after a few years it took off and started growing. We hired Sylvia Salazar as the new director and what a blessing she was and is, she is such a hard working person. She had the talent and the brains to run the office and take the NPCAI to the next level. I want to thank her for all her continued hard work and dedication to the NPCAI Board and to all the members, I would like to thank all our members for supporting this organization that was so needed in the playground Indus-try and has become a great resource in the industry. We all worked to get a group Insurance plan for our members knowing as a group we could bring much better insurance rates to our members. This took over five years and many meetings and man hours and we were able to get this done for our members. I know from the results of our company we have saved thousands of dollars in insurance premiums with great service. Steve Carraway has learned what we all do in this industry to better serve our members. Thanks to Roger Davis we now have a workers compensation program that can save our members helping them to lower their over head cost in these trying economic times, we even offer Aflac Insurance at a discounted rate. Then we worked and got the Playground Construction School off the ground and we are working to have a certified program just like the NRPA program for inspectors, to help edu-cate the consumers’ that all playgrounds should be installed a Qualified NPCA Installer. Who does have the correct insurance and the required state licensees and who are all CPSI certified. We have all worked to educate the end user that they should require in their bids that a NPCAI Qualified Installer be required to do their installation, and we have seen the customers write this into their Bid specifications, and request only a NPCAI Qualified installer do their installations. We still have much work to do to get the word out to every-one, but it has been a joy to help watch this organization grow and change. I am very proud that I was the First Woman Chair. I wanted to get more done while I held that position but what I was able to achieve was to get a firm foundation for the NPCAI, things you can not see but had to be done so this organization will be around as long as playgrounds are being Manufactured and there are contractors to install them. I know what I did achieve and am very proud that I was able to do these things so the NPCAI has a firm base for the chairs to come. I have enjoyed and met so many wonderful people in all the years I have spent on the Board of the NPCAI. I have been able to travel meet people, learn from so many that have shared their knowledge with me and made me a better professional in the playground in-dustry. Being generous with their knowledge as we all should do to make our industry the best.

American Play Systems, LLC/

Bears Management

Blue Imp Recreation Products of Canada

C & M Innovations

Child's Play of Colorado. LLC.

DCG Construction, Inc/

Graceland Park Company

Huckleberry Playground Services, Inc.

Imagination Play, Inc.

James Bright Realty

KidzzPlay Installation Services, Inc.

Outdoor Recreation Products

Playmore Products & Services

PlaySpace Services

Sitelines Park & Playgrounds

Stockmeier Urethanes

Synthetic Turf Solutions, Inc.

Top Line Recreation, Inc.

Ultiplay Park & Playgrounds

Walk in the Park Construction

November 2011

Random Funny Playground Picture

WARNING: Deer Cricket on the lake! This month's Random Funny Playground Picture recipient is Mon-sterRama. If you are interested in submitting your playground for consideration please e-mail us at npca@playground-contractors.org. If your photo is se-lected for the any month in 2011, we will have it published and your will receive recognition for your work and a gift from us, for your participation. Digital Specifications: High Resolution PDF files are preferred. Delivery: Files will be accepted via email UNLESS they are over 6 MB. For-mats: Grayscale / CMYK color images must be TIFF, .PDF, or .EPS format. 400 dpi or higher.

ONLY A CLICK AWAY!

www.playground-contractors.org

ASTM International's Official Magazine Launches New Online Presence ASTM International has launched a revamped online version of its flagship magazine, Stan-dardization News (SN). The magazine's new website, which is available free to all visitors at www.astm.org/standardization-news, offers more frequently updated ASTM news that is organized into new industry sector gateways. These gateways serve as web portals to com-prehensive news and information about ASTM standards development activities, meeting and training course dates, publications and more. The new SN online homepage is instant access to 10 gateways, which allow visitors to see—at a glance—the variety of industry areas in which ASTM International's standards provide guidance and to quickly find news and information according to their interest area. As an example, a visitor to the Building Construction gateway will see not only the latest SN features, columns and news articles covering this sector, but also other ASTM listings, such as new and draft standards, upcoming technical committee meeting dates and training courses, papers and publications, and Proficiency Testing Programs, all related to building construction. "ASTM International standards cover diverse industries and the readers of Standardization News represent a wide and varied cross-section of industry sectors," SN Editor-in-Chief Maryann Gorman said. "This new online format is an exciting opportunity to give those read-ers quick access to the news and information they have the greatest interest in. The industry gateways also give readers an easy way to see what's new in standards development across their sector, offering a user-friendly, subject-based resource."

Feature

My Time Spent on the NPCAI Board (con’t) We all serve children when it comes down to it children are our customers. They might not purchase or pay, but we should always remember that they will be the ones who use our equipment and they are the ones we are working for when we are building a new play-ground, adding to an existing one, or just adding safety surfacing. No matter what we are doing in our industry it is children who depend on us to do the best job we can, so if you have some spare time, love playgrounds , water parks, skate parks, are safety surfacing apply to join the Board of the NPCAI, you can make a difference and it will make a differ-ence in you. I would like to thank all my colleagues that I have worked with over the past Ten years and I will truly miss all of you so much, I have enjoyed this great journey, and a special thanks to Mike Eagan who I will never forget. He was like the father of the NPCAI, he always watched out for us and made sure we were taken care of at NRPA never leaving the booth. He was the voice of reason when things got loud at the meetings. He was a calm wonderful man and I am so grateful that he was a friend of mine, he will always live on in my heart and be missed by so many as he was truly one of a kind To all the members thank you all for your support and trust in us to lead this association. You will never know what an experience this has been for me, thank you all for your sup-port and friendship it has meant the world to me and I will miss you all. I am sure I will keep in touch with many of you, and hope to see you at a NPCAI social. I loved doing the social event for all our members, and I hope you all enjoyed them as much as I have, from the first one held in a small Hotel room with some chips and dips and some beer and wine, from a $250.00 budget where I had them split the chicken wings and celery and chips up so it looked like we had more food than what we did. To the Grand Social events we hold today to thank our members for the great support, we have come a long way in the past twelve years. I would love to just say thank you for all the memories I have some great ones and so many new friends that I have made over the past twelve years. It has been a great experience that I will truly miss being a part of so I would love to encour-

age you to become a board member it is truly rewarding. Sincerely, Karen H Spears, CPSI Past Chair

November 2011

Member Discount Programs NPCAI General Liability & Errors and Omission Program

The NPCAI Group Liability Insurance Plan and Errors & Omissions Insur-ance Coverage for Playground Safety Inspectors. Steve Carraway Cooper Insurance Services, Inc. PO Box 638, Lapel, IN 46051 (800) 252-3153 steve@cooperindiana.com http://www.cooperindiana.com

~ NPCAI Worker's Compensation Program

Resources to Keep Your Business in Play. A Tailored Approach for NPCAI Members. Mille Wood Ascension Insurance Agency, Inc. 222 North Lafayette Street, Ste 11 Shelby, NC 28150-4450 (800) 482-3461 MWood@ASCENSIONNC.COM http://www.ascensionnc.com

~ NPCAI Supplement Insurance for Individuals Program

Aflac policies are 100% employee-paid and area available on a volun-tary basis. Many companies choose to make AFLAC policies available as a cost effective solution to help em-ployees with the raising cost of out-of-pocket health care expense. Member Discount Rate - 5% to 10% Discount over direct rate. Steffanie Staples 8833 S Redwood Rd, Ste D, West Jordan, UT 84088 801-674-6310 Steffanie.staples@gmail.com www.aflac.com

During NRPA in Atlanta, GA this month, five distinguished sponsors were honored for their outstanding contribution to this year’s NPCAI So-cial event in Atlanta, GA. Roger Davis, NPCAI Chairman thanked all its members for their con-tribution in supporting the NPCAI. The social attendees included over 100 from the industry.

The social was held at Omni Hotel at the CNN Center were the atmosphere was set in serving cuisine from Ameri-can to Italian, which offered a decor of modern woods and the ever popu-lar service of fresh fruits and vegeta-bles. NPCAI honored the following sponsors: Playguard Playground Safety Surfacing, Partner Specialty Group, R.J. Thomas Mfg, Company, Inc., Custom Playgrounds, and Play-ground Safety Surfacing, with a plaque.

Without this contribution from our sponsors this event would not be pos-sible for our members!

So when you see them be sure to thank them. Sylvia Salazar

Blueprint By State

The statement and opinions express in the foregoing articles are those of the author, and not those of NPCAI. Copyrighted © 2011. International Playground Contractors Association. The Playground Insider is a registered trademark owned by the International Playground Contractors Association. All rights reserved. This is members ezine.

Blue Print for Becoming NORTH CAROLINA Licensed Contractor

 The North Carolina Licensing Board for

General Contractors 5400 Creedmoor Road,

Raleigh, NC 27612 Post Office Box 17187

Raleigh, NC 27619 Voice 919 571-4183 • FAX 919 571-4703

http://www.nclbgc.org

The North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors requires a General

Contractors License for work over $30,000, Effective May 1, 2006. . Along

with application, you must submit financial statements, bonding, liability insurance, tax id#, references and take an exam.

Message from the Executive Director