allisonhester

Our next issue of eClean, due out the end of this month, will tackle gutter cleaning (among other things). So my question is this: what specifically would you like to see us cover? Please post your responses here, or email them to me at allison214@live.com. Thanks!

Thanks for posting this Beth. While many industry members are aware of claims of a certain industry "leader" sending barrages of harrassing texts to people -- myself included -- until you're on the receiving end you don't understand the depth of the harassment. I let me my kids use my phone to watch YouTube (since our internet is limited but my phone is not). One day my son tried to watch a 5 minute video, but got interrupted SIXTEEN times by a batch of incoherent harassing texts accusing me of a bunch of lies --- all within 5 minutes. And I know from the DOZENS of people who've reached out to me, I'm not the only one who deals with this type of harassment. It's truly unprofessional, unethical, and now it sounds like it's also illegal. It truly saddens me that an elected industry leader who is supposed to be held to a written code of ethics is allowed to behave this way with zero consequences.

The next issue of eClean Magazine will focus on employees -- hiring, managing, motivating and even firing. To help me determine what topics are most important to you, I've created three short surveys and posted them on our site. The first is for companies who are looking to hire their first employee(s) this year The second survey is for those who already have employees The third survey is for those who work with family members. Can you take a moment -- 10 minutes or less -- and http://www.ecleanmag.com/employee-surveys-from-eclean-magazine-2014-02-04/'>complete the survey (or surveys) that apply to you? Answers are anonymous unless you want to provide your information. I will likely shut the surveys down on Saturday, so your prompt response is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

This past Friday, a carpet cleaner in Tennessee was found dead in a vacant home due to carbon monoxide poisoning. In light of this tragedy, I've put together a short blog about carbon monoxide poisoning, and particularly the symptoms that can be warning signs for this odorless killer. http://www.ecleanmag.com/4300-2014-01-27/

(From the eClean Magazine Blog page) A Virginia trial-court recently ordered Yelp to reveal the identity of seven anonymous reviewers complaining against Hadeed Carpe Cleaning in Washington. The carpet cleaning service then sued the reviewers for libel and defamation.The libel suit claimed that the seven anonymous complaints came from the seven defendants, who were actually Hadeed's competitors rather than real customers. Alexandria Circuit Court Judge James Clark determined that because Hadeed claimed the seven reviewers represented themselves under false pretenses, it met the standard of the state law that allowed for disclosure of their identity. Yesterday, Yelp and Public Citizen Litigation Group filed an appeal, contending hat Judge Clark's ruling did not meet the Virginia statute hat requires the disclosure of anonymous names when their identity is central to claims against them. Public Citizen claims the Virginia isn't clearly defined. They also state that other states with more clearly defined laws have had rulings that disagree with Judge Clark's. "Every other appellate court has held, whether under the First Amendment or under state procedures, that anonymous defendants are entitled to demand that the plaintiff make a factual showing, not just that the anonymous defendant has made critical statements, but also that the statements are actionable and that there is an evidentiary basis for the prima facie elements of the claim," the brief said. Click here to read the original article

Very cool...all around!

This morning, NBC’s Today Show featured an investigative report on the risk of plastic gas can explosions. Considering that many of our readers use gas cans regularly, I felt it was important to pass along. The report has found that nearly a dozen deaths and 1,200 injuries due to plastic gas can explosions over the past 15 years. Specifically, the gas cans were more likely to explode when the temperatures were cold outside, there was a low volume of gas left in the can, and the can was tipped at a 42-degree angle. While the gas can industry has not yet confirmed these reports, it is believed by experts that the use of a flame arrestor can also help prevent these accidents from happening. http://www.ecleanmag.com/gas-can-explosion-investigation-on-nbc-today-show-2013-12-04/

In my research on ladder-related injuries today, I came across this infographic, which was published in September 2012 and is based on numbers in the U.K. (I haven't found anything this good for the U.S. yet.) Despite the fact that the numbers came from overseas, the point remains the same: customers who take on ladder-related cleaning jobs -- such as DIY gutter cleaning -- are putting themselves at risk. It seems to me like it could be a valuable tool to stick in your marketing materials or post on your website. It's free to copy and use. I've put it on our website with the embed code (go to http://www.ecleanmag.com/free-ladder-accident-infographic-2013-09-29/ for the embed code. It's at the bottom of the post below the graphic.) Turn it into a blog on your website if nothing else.

Several restaurants and retail outlets have special offers for military personnel (active and retired) on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day. Our family took advantage of a couple of deals last year and got a free lunch AND dinner at restaurants we don't get to eat at all that often. I've put this year's list on our website. If you are active or retired military, take advantage of these! Or pass them along to your military friends and family. An important note: I would suggest contacting the establishment beforehand to find out if that location is participating in the promotion, and also to find out if there are any restrictions. Enjoy! http://www.ecleanmag.com/veterans-day-specials-from-restaurants-retail-outlets-and-more-2013-11-09/ P.S. Be sure to read the fabulous story of Veteran Jared Greene in the new eClean Magazine (www.eCleanMag.com, page 25)

Dan and Heather Galvin were kind enough to share their HUNDREDS of photos from the PWNA Convention. I have posted some on our site, and I will add more. (It's just taking awhile.) Please check them out: http://www.ecleanmag.com/2013-pwna-c...os-2013-11-07/

It's official! EClean magazine has had its best month yet. More traffic. More reads. More positive feedback than ever before....and we still have a day to go. Thanks to all our readers for your wonderful support.

Knowing that eggs can remove paint from siding and vehicles (I had it happen to my car years ago), I decided to do some research on how to safely remove the remnants from mischievous goblins and ghouls. I studied the topic on several of the industry forums, found some DIY articles (which I later found were primarily wrong), then stumbled across an article from Popular Mechanics that interviewed several food service professionals who have to remove eggs from surfaces on a daily basis. Hope it's helpful. http://www.ecleanmag.com/hire-a-professional-to-removing-halloween-eggings-from-siding-or-windows-2013-10-30/ Please feel free to let me know or comment on the article if there are things I should add.

Mike (my husband) had to pack up his office this morning "until further notice." He is full time military, but is not active duty. It's paid from a different pot of money. So he's without pay until the government gets their act together. Some are joking saying they would like a paid vacation, but trust me, we'd much prefer the certainty of a paycheck -- especially after getting hit pretty hard this summer due to furloughs. Anyone else directly impacted?

However, it's also important to realize that just because you're doing something for the publicity does not mean you're going to get the publicity. Smart business owners and association representatives make friends with their local or industry media rather than enemies.

Ideally, people will just give back out of the goodness of their hearts. And if the press picks it up, all the better. But, I guess even if you're only doing the good thing for the free publicity, at least something good is being done for someone else -- which is better than nothing being done at all.

Both. People have suggested gutter cleaning methods, but also gutter whitenting...so i'll do both

What musical artist do you enjoy listening to that you're a bit embarrassed to admit? I am working and listening to one of mine: One Direction. Yeah, yeah, I know. Even my kids don't like them. I just know I'm in a much better mood since I put them on.

My daughter, who is eight, has decided she's DYING to go hunting. I keep asking her if it's going to bother her to kill a deer or a rabbit or a squirrel. "No mom. It's just the circle of life." I don't mind going to the range and shooting, but hunting is a different story. I also had to be in charge of fishing on our vacation this summer because Mike had to return home early due to work. I got past the touching worm issues pretty quickly.

...didn't say cover to what.

Finally got the magazine finished yesterday. Finally ot some sleep. Finally got the laundry folded and put away. Had lunch with my kids at school. Got my dog curled up next to me right now. Best day I've had in at least a week.

Took the kids to the pool today because it closes after this weekend. We may do that every day this weekend. 100+ degrees here today. Mike is home (as in not traveling) but on military orders 7 days a week for 3 or 4 weeks while the international shooting competition takes place here on base. I imagine some of those guys -- especially from other countries -- are going to struggle with this miserable heat.

I posted several pictures yesterday morning on my personal Facebook page (Allison Hill Hester) if anyone wants to see. (Too tired to transfer them here tonight.) I also wrote a blog on my thoughts on day one: www.ecleanmag.com/blog. I've been to numerous shows over the years and I have to say this was definitely one of the best I've ever attended -- possibly THE best. There were a few little glitches here and there, but overall it was fabulous. I've never been to a pressure washing contractor show that had the kind of exhibit space that this one did (excluding CETA, but end users aren't their primary market), and the trade show floor traffic was non-stop, from the time the doors opened until they closed 12 hours later. I didn't talk with all the vendors, but the ones I did ask said they had a great show and would definitely be returning. Many of the seminars were packed -- standing room only in some cases -- and most of the sessions I sat in on were exceptional. Even the last presentation of the event was completely full, which is saying a lot after many attendees had sat through 5 or 6 sessions each day. Congratulation Thad and Chris on an outstanding job!

There's an article on it in the new eClean Magazine that came out earlier this week. I've been to many PWNA events over the years, and this one sounds like it's kind of returning to the good old days (1990s) that were really focused on providing a variety of educational opportunities that will go into the evenings. I remember going to a meeting in Dallas back around 1996 and was kind of shocked to see how many contractors -- probably 150 or so -- were participating in round tables a 8:00 p.m. This one is going to be somewhat along those lines. Several new vendors have signed up (more than are on the list above, but I don't know if they're official yet.) The socials (which include free drinks) will be in the meeting rooms, rather than the hotel restaurant like they were last year, and the after social socials (i.e., going out on the town) are supposed to be organized so that everyone can participate. I was very excited about the event after interviewing Jackie and others for the article. (And yes, eClean will be there.) Also, there is a $50 discount off registration if you register this month.

I had really hoped to take my kids on a little two-day trip to Branson (or somewhere close) before school starts back on the 19th, but it's just not in the cards for us this year. Mike has been furloughed due to the government sequester, so that's taking away 20% of his paycheck for the next three months. Ticks me off every time I think about it.

Well said Beth! You are so right. In that article there's a quote from Obama's speech (and a comment afterward) that I thought was right on: in the African-American community at least, there’s a lot of pain around what happened here. I think it’s important to recognize that the African-American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn’t go away.' That pain is clearly visible in the polling data." We all look at our world through different lenses, and our past experiences and our current passions impact how we respond to things. For example, as the mother of a child with autism, I am MUCH more sensitive to discrimination against people with disabilities. There are names and jokes that our society finds "acceptable" that might have bothered me a little bit before I had Ethan, but now really offend me. I'm looking at the world through a different lens, and it's a personal and passionate one. If someone uses the term "retard" or refers to "the short bus," it literally hurts my heart-- even though I know they probably didn't mean it "that way." The point is that my pain and passion over my son's disability is very real. It may not always be logical, I may misconstrue situations, and I may overreact. But it's based off MY lens, and no one is changing that. And the same holds true for the Zimmerman trial. Whether the situation was racially motivated or not, the upset members of the African American community are viewing it through a different set of lenses than I am. Many Caucasian Americans are looking at the situation through a different set of lenses than the African American community...and while it may seem more logical to many, it's tainted by history and passions as well. Everything is. The way you see the world is unique only to you. It's one of the first things we learned in my communications Master's program, and it's one of the only things that really stuck with me. Our perspective of the world is as unique to us as our fingerprints or our DNA. Last point, we all have our prejudices. They may not be as blatant as race or disabilities or sexuality. For example, I'm prejudice against any woman my age who still looks hot in a bikini. (kidding).