The Tool Box Serving the Electrical, HVAC & Plumbing Industries Since 1912

By: JIM MATHIS THE REINVENTION PRO

Adjust in a Crisis Are You Leading in Hand Wringing, or Hand Washing?

“Leadership is needed more in a crisis than at any other time.” -Dr. John Maxwell

Panic Attack

2020 has thrown terrible punches to the world. Quietly in early January, the Western world heard of a virus spreading in China that within weeks would affect everyone. Known as the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, the virus has impacted health and economies throughout the globe. And the first thing people did when it started spreading in the US was… buy up all the toilet paper!?

Leaders know that fear is contagious. It spreads faster than any virus!

In 1938 a small radio show broadcast the H.G. Wells classic story “War of the Worlds.” Although they told everyone at the outset that it was a fiction-al drama, many who tuned in late thought the world was being attacked by Martians. In an interview with the late actress Agnes Moorehead (Endora on “Bewitched”) who was part of the broadcast, she told of a woman who called in frantically swearing she saw little green men in her backyard!

“There’s always an Arquillian Battle Cruiser, or a Corillian Death Ray, or an intergalactic plague that is about to wipe out all life on this miserable little planet and the only way these people can get in

with their happy lives is they DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT!” -Tommy Lee Jones, “Men in Black”

This isn’t the first crisis the world has faced, nor will it be the last. There have been numerous “world-ending” crises in my lifetime… the atomic bomb threat, Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War with the Soviet Union, stock market crash of 1987, 9-11 attacks, ISIS, Enron scandal and the effects it had on corporations, Internet Bubble crash of 2001 and the Great Recession in 2007. Epidemics have been numerous, as well… Polio, Ebola, H1N1, MERS, SARS, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Hong Kong Flu, AIDS, etc. And when this crisis has ended there will be another one. Ironically the Martians in H.G. Wells’ classic were not defeated by humans, but by microbes. This year, the microbes seemed to come for us!

Control

We have learned that we are basically fragile. We reassure ourselves that we and our leaders are in control and have a “handle” on every-thing. The slightest hint that things aren’t “normal” can set off a mul-titude in panic. When we hear some bad news, we tend to take it to the extremes in groups. Tommy Lee Jones’ character in the movie, “Men in Black” says, “A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.”

(Continued on page 6)

Letter To MCASC Members on page 7

Our Thoughts

and Prayers

Are with you!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Gatch Electrical Contractors

Mechanical Member Article

May Birthdays

2

2

Safety Tip

May Anniversaries

Thinking Of You

Condolences

2019-2020 Recruitment Challenge Flyer

Training Success

Page 1 Article Continued

Welcome New Members

3

3

3

3

4

5

6

6

Recruitment Challenge Totals

MCASC Letter to our Members

7

7

Mayer Electric Supply

Associate Member Article

Inspirational Quote

Page 1 Article Continued (from page 6)

Happy Mother’s Day from MCASC

Vision/Mission Statement

Update Your Outlook

8

8

9

10

10

10

Volume 17, Issue 5 May 1, 2020

~ MAY BIRTHDAYS ~

Mechanical Member:

Gatch Electrical Contractors, Charleston

Page 2 MCASC MEMBER FEATURE ARTICLE May 1, 2020

~ Happy Birthday Members! ~ We Would Like To Announce Your Birthday Too!

If you would like to be listed, please call 803-772-7834 or Email Rachel@mcasc.com

Gatch Electrical Contractors, Inc. was formed in June of 1998 by Jimmy Gatch, to perform commercial, industrial, medical, military and medical work, primarily in the Tri-County/Coastal area. Jimmy has worked in the electrical contracting industry in the Charleston area since 1969 and is a past president of the Coastal Area MCASC. Gatch Electrical maintains unlimited licenses in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

Since 1998 Gatch Electrical has grown to over sixty valued employees. Their contin-ued dedication to our core values of safety, quality, integrity, teamwork and total customer satisfaction have been the foundation of our success. While commitment to all values are important, I commend our employees for keeping safety as priority one.

We look forward to the future and adding to our growing list of satisfied clients.

Gatch Electrical Contractors, Inc. PO Box 32187

Charleston, SC 29417-2187 Phone: (843) 573-0700 Fax: (843) 556-1452

Rhelda Mitchell 5/2 Walker-White, Inc. Wife of Jack Joe Strickland 5/3 Adams Insurance Husband of Crystal John Minor 5/5 Past State President Phil Wilson 5/5 Control Management, Inc. Todd Soderlund 5/6 Elliott Davis LLC Tom Johnson 5/7 Honorary Life Member Past State Pres. Robbin Cullum 5/14 Cullum Mechanical Construction, Inc. Wife of Rudy Sally Paul 5/15 Sanitary Plumbing Contractors, Inc. Bob Leake 5/16 Honorary Life Member Sam White 5/20 Walker White, Inc. A. A. “Bo” Shuler, Jr. 5/24 Honorary Life Member Past State Pres. Steve Hinds 5/25 Smith, Kesler & Company John Babson 5/28 South Risk Management

May 1, 2020 Page 3

“Tool Box Talks” - Safety Tip

OFF-THE-JOB SAFETY

We do all we can to protect you on the job: post safety signs, erect guards and barricades, issue protective equipment, and make work areas as safe as possible. But off-the- job safety is up to you. YOUR SAFETY OFF THE JOB, HOWEVER, IS IMPORTANT TO US It's not easy to replace good employees - even temporarily. So, when you get hurt, we suffer, too. And beside that, we hate to see anyone injured on the job or off. DRIVING SAFELY IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO KEEP FROM GETTING HURT I know you've heard all the rules and regulations before. And I won't repeat them. The easiest way to keep from getting hurt is to drive defensively at all times. If another driver tries to cut you off, don't ar-gue. Learn to protect your life instead of your ego. TAKE YOUR SAFETY PRACTICES HOME WITH YOU You wouldn't think of working without eye protection where it's required on the job. So why go without it in your workshop? You wouldn't use damaged or worn tools at work. So why use a mushroomed head-ed chisel or a taped up hammer at home? DON'T OVERLOOK SAFETY DURING RECREATION EITHER Did you ever notice how many injuries happen when people are skiing, playing tennis or relaxing with a little backyard baseball? Don't overdo it when it comes to recreation. Don't try to keep up with the kids when you're no longer one yourself. And, that goes for anyone over 20.

Anniversaries

Mr. Chris & Mrs. Angie MacQueen 5/4/2020

Mr. John & Mrs. Donna Whatley 5/23/2020

Thinking of You

Mr. Art Brewer Easley Mechanical

Mrs. Phyllis Epting SAMCO

Mr. Robert Goff SIFCO Mechanical

Mr. Bill Self Self’s Heating and Air

Mr. Tim Whitehurst Husband of Leslie - JMP Co

Mr. David Gregg Honorary Life Member

Mr. Bo Shuler Honorary Life Member

Condolences

Mr. Frank Whaley & Family on the loss of his wife Whaley Food Service

Mrs. Annette “Ann” Whaley 4/18/2020

Mrs. Fae Sox & Family on the loss of her husband

Honorary Life Member Mr. Wyman Sox 4/9/2020

Mrs. Rebecca Byington & Family on the loss of her father Honorary Life Member Mr. Bob Hill 3/12/2020

Mr. Robert Goff & Family on the loss of his brother

SIFCO Mechanical Mr. Buford Goff 4/9/2020

Mrs. Carole Howell & Family SIFCO Mechanical

on the loss of her brother Mr. Thomas “Tommy” Dunaway, III

2019-2020 RECRUITMENT CHALLENGE!!

Effective NOW through May 31st, 2020!

ALL MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:

TWO COMPLIMENTARY

Registrations to the 2020 Summer Convention!

We are counting on you to break out your networking boots and inform prospective members about the benefits of being part of the

Mechanical Contractors Association of South Carolina!

We look forward to welcoming our new members and as a reminder; here are some of the benefits we continue to provide:

an ongoing effort to offer free training opportunities for both professional &

craft personnel (Participation in our training program means “WE pay YOU to be a member!”)

a proactive political/legislative agenda current business/technical information & support a joint industry collaboration to improve relative business practices

development of industry related career opportunities & work force development

networking opportunities

Help us to continue to enhance the future of the

construction industry in South Carolina!

Page 4 May 1, 2020

May 1,2020 Page 5

We are pleased to announce that the new MCASC sponsored training:

NEC Article 250 Soares Grounding & Bonding Seminar in Columbia was a tremendous success!

The Association’s sincere appreciation goes out to all those who contributed to this newly implemented training program!

MCASC Needs Your Help!

We can only continue to provide the informative and extensive training your employees need, with your member provided input!

Please don’t delay, contact us today with your training needs!

Let MCASC pay YOU to be a member with employee training!

MCASC Training Courses Data 2018-2019: 21 classes with 448 attendees MCASC investment $32,100.00 2019-2020: 20 classes with 350 attendees MCASC investment $31,600.00

Page 6 May 1, 2020

(Continued from page 1)

People aren’t “dumb,” but we do fall apart when we aren’t fully in control. We lose our perspective. Great leaders rise up when others are panicking and add value to their people.

In school I remember reading the poem, “If,” by Rudyard Kipling.

“If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you…”

An unknown author recently said, “Notice how fast the whole world can fall apart. In the blink of an eye, we are out of toilet paper. In the blink of an eye, college campuses close, and no more NBA. In the blink of an eye, it will be impossible to travel by plane. In the blink of an eye, you’ll be shuttered in your house. In the blink of an eye every nation trembles. Mankind is frail and a tiny little invisible virus has disrupted so much.”

Make a list of the things you can control now and a list of the things you can NOT control.

And leave the second list alone!

Adapt and Adjust

In the blink of an eye, we have undergone massive disruptions in our lives recently. Those changes include (but are not limited to):

Your complacency about what happens in one part of the world not effecting you.

Your belief that we are fully prepared for an epidemic or biological attack. Did you know that Wuhan, China

was making news on December 31, 2019?

Your shopping habits. Did you hoard or encounter others who did?

Your “rainy day” money plans. Do you have a 6-month reserve in savings?

Your trust that your job CAN’T be terminated because you are essential…unless you are in the medical,

pharmaceutical, stocking or life-saving professions.

Your trust in leaders who don’t reveal what they know is coming your way. Were you a part of the conspiracy

crowd?

The invincible belief in ourselves and humanity. Did you think we were immortal on this planet?

What is still the same?

Many things haven’t changed… like people. They still will work together when they realize everyone is facing the same crisis. We are stronger together and every good leader works on behalf of people – not themselves. Essentials are perceived, not absolute... we always thought that clean air, water, a roof over our heads and freedom were our only essentials. We discovered that you can add toilet paper, canned goods, sanitary wipes and hand washing to that list.

(Continued on page 9)

~ Welcome New Members ~ PIEDMONT MIDLANDS PEE DEE COASTAL

GREENVILLE MECHANIACAL, LLC

UNITED RENTALS

PIPELINE SERVICES, INC.

AHERN RENTALS

SNIDER, INC. PORTABLE AIR

SOLUTIONS CRAIG’S

PLUMBING EQUIPMENT

SHARE

SUNBELT RENTALS

LUBRIZOL CAROLINA COOL, INC.

SUNBELT RENTALS

MAYER ELECTRIC

SUPPLY CO.

May 1, 2020 Page 7

~ AREA HAPPENINGS ~ PIEDMONT MIDLANDS PEE DEE COASTAL

New Members Recruited:

Greenville

Mechanical, LLC

Recruited By: Bob Miller

Total Recruited: 1

New Members Recruited:

United Rentals

Lubrizol

Recruited By: Will Fudger

Total Recruited: 2

Mayer Electric Supply

Recruited By: Henry Poplin

Total Recruited: 1

New Members Recruited:

Pipeline Services, Inc.

Craig’s Plumbing

Carolina Cool, Inc.

Recruited By:

Duwayne Jacobs

Total Recruited: 3

New Members Recruited:

Ahern Rentals

EquipmentShare

Recruited By: Jim Wolf

Total Recruited: 2

14th Annual Piedmont Clays For Education Sporting Clays Event

Postponed DUE TO

COVID-19

11th Annual Midlands Nine at Night

Golf Tournament

Postponed DUE TO

COVID-19

13th Annual Pee Dee Blast

Sporting Clays Event

Friday, September 18, 2020

Back Woods Quail Club, Georgetown

12th Annual Charleston Slam

Fishing Tournament

Postponed DUE TO

COVID-19

Dear MCASC Members,

It is with a heavy heart that we are postponing/cancelling all meetings and classes through May 30th

due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We will update you as we learn more.

National and local health authorities have determined that social distancing reduces the risk of spreading or

contracting this virus.

We are postponing/cancelling out of an abundance of caution to avoid the possibility of unnecessarily exposing our members, staff and participants.

Please stay safe and continue to do your part in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

You are all in our thoughts and prayers and if there is anything we can due to ease the stress of the matter or

assist you in any way, please feel free to reach out.

Sincerely, Mona & Rachel

MCASC State Office

Recruitment Challenge

Upcoming Area

Meetings

Training and Legislative

Events

~AREAS~

Dear Sponsors, Shooters and Volunteers:

Congratulations to our next Associate & Mechanical Members who will be highlighted in the upcoming issue of “The Tool Box”:

Feyen Zylstra - Ladson, SC - Mechanical Member Victaulic - Marvin, NC - Associate Member

C A R O L I N A S

Mayer is one of the nation’s largest wholesale distributors of electrical products and equipment, connected solutions, lighting, digital tools, DataCom technologies, power distribution and auto-mation & control systems. We serve contractors, industrials, OEMs, integrators, institutions, government entities, utility providers, commercial businesses and residential customers. Mayer is now a strategic partner with Schneider to deliver their world class automation & control sys-tems to all of our markets.

Founded in 1930, Mayer is a privately-held, family and certified women-owned business that employs over 1,500 associates in 81 locations across 14 states.

CONNECTED TEAM Our experienced, connected team adds measurable value beyond traditional electrical distribu-tion by leveraging best-in-class product knowledge, digital expertise and proven company pro-cesses to build true partnerships with our customers and suppliers.

UNRIVALED SERVICE Our family owners have built Mayer’s company culture and reputation on a foundation

of providing unrivaled, reliable and responsive service for every customer, investing

in our people and giving back to the communities in which we live and work.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS We have the scale, capability and resources to understand our customers’

businesses and challenges, and design innovative, technology- driven

solutions that solve their problems, increase efficiencies and

improve profitability.

S E R V I N G C U S T O M E R S S I N C E 1 9 3 0

Associate Member:

Mayer Electric Supply, Charleston.

Page 8 MCASC MEMBER FEATURE ARTICLE May 1, 2020

Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.

~Walt Whitman

May 1, 2020 Page 9

(Continued from page 6)

We still need to sell, market and buy things and services from PEOPLE... a computer cannot virtually repair your car, build your next construction project, solve a crime, hand you the keys to a new car, or fill your propane tank. It takes salespeople interacting with you in person.

We still need to be treated respectfully by others in customer service. It takes someone who hears you, under-stands your problem and brings you a timely resolution. Just because there is a panic doesn’t mean you can treat people rudely. In fact, the crisis brings more out of a leader than any other time. You will find what your people are made of as they respond in crisis mode to others.

We still need people to lead us, manage us, direct us and inspire us to greatness. It takes skilled management with “people skills.” John Maxwell says, “Leaders put people first.”

Leadership requires experiences that test you to see what your mettle is in future crises. Maxwell also says, “Choices make us; crises reveal us.” What has the crisis revealed about your leadership? Are you keeping your cool while those about you panic? Are you the person others can turn to for support and encouragement?

What will change?

Vaccines, work from home, churches and other large gatherings, people-to-people contact, governmental programs will change. Small group sessions may become more important than large, long meetings. Virtual skills will be in high demand as will the ability to multi-meet from remote locations.

The only winners seemed to have been suppliers, truckers, railroads, warehouse stockers, sanitary engineers, health/medical/bio workers, “essentials” industries. I expect increased scanning for biohazards and diseases may be added to flights. Early warnings in disease will be necessary to prevent a repeat of “Pandemic 2020.” I antici-pate governments will initiate programs “for our benefit” that will encroach upon personal lives. This is inevitable in any crisis.

“Today is an unusual day. People are 'hunkered down'. Street traffic is light. Grocery store shelves are empty. The school and workplace are closed and lights are out. It kind of feels like waiting for a big snowy blizzard to blow through. Watching who and where the Coronavirus will hit next is like watching a storm.

But if you think about it, you have been through storms before. What did you do then? You prepared. You prayed. You persevered. With vigilance, you watched and waited until the storm passed by. My friend, this too shall pass.” -Babbie Mason

Hopefully YOU have changed... Like before, this won’t be the last crisis we face; it’s just the next one. This will either make you or break you. It is your choice to allow one of those outcomes. How well can you adapt in a cri-sis? In Superbowl LI the New England Patriots found themselves down 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons midway in the third quarter. But Tom Brady led the Patriots to regroup, adjust and adapt to win the game, scoring 25 unanswered points!

Can you adjust to victory?

How can you regroup, adjust and adapt to a new world during and post-pandemic in your situation? I guarantee that the new “normal” won’t be like it was just two months ago. Today, the world has changed; have you?

*On a personal note, I promise to be here for you and offer value assistance as we see this through together!

Permission is granted to reprint this article provided the following paragraph is included in full:

Jim Mathis, IPCS, CSP, MDiv. is The Reinvention PRO™, an International Platform Certified Speaker, Certified Speaking Professional and best-selling author of Reinvention Made Easy: Change Y our Strategy, Change Y our

Results. To subscribe to his free professional development newsletter, please send an email to: subscribe@jimmathis.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject. An electronic copy will be sent out to you

every month. For more information on how Jim and his programs can benefit your organization or group, please call 407-369-7842, or visit our updated web site at: www.jimmathis.com. © 2020 Reinvention Nation, LLC.

Mechanicals make it happen - Be part of the best!

P.O. Box 384, 29202

1504 Morninghill Drive

Columbia, SC 29210

Phone: (803) 772-7834

Fax: (803) 731-0390

E-mail: mflowers@mcasc.com

www.mcasc.com

Serving mechanical contractors in South Carolina since 1912.

MCASC Executive Board & Staff

Edward Gibbs, President

Mike Richardson, Vice-President

Randall Owens, Treasurer

Bob Miller, Secretary

Vaughn Padgett, Associate President

Mona Flowers, Managing Director

MCASC Vision Statement

The Mechanical Contractors Association of South Carolina (MCASC) will be the leading construction association in South Carolina for specialty

contractors and suppliers in the electrical, mechanical (HVAC), and plumbing fields by serving its membership, the industry, and the

Community in a vibrant and harmonious fashion.

MCASC Mission Statement

The Mechanical Contractors Association of South Carolina (MCASC) will provide its membership with:

•current business/technical information and support •a proactive political/legislative agenda

•a joint industry collaboration to improve relative business practices •an ongoing effort to offer training opportunities for both professional

and craft personnel •educational scholarships for deserving students

•the development of industry related career opportunities

The Association’s objective for this mission is to enhance the future of the Construction Industry in South Carolina.

Update Your Outlook

Let us know if we need to update your Outlook or if you know someone who does!

to our Mom members

and to your mom too!

MCASC