WSA Member Update 7.15.23

July 15, 2023 Dear WSA Members, Chat GPT and related Artificial Intelligence programs have received lots of publicity lately. I have not only utilized several different types but have also done research to find ones that might be of most assistance to those who have interest in knowing more. To start, I encourage you to set up a free account at the Chat GPT website. Then, ask some questions and see what you learn. For example, I asked “What are the main reasons power sweeping contractors go out of business?” Here’s the answer Chat GPT generated on that topic. If you decide you want to get more involved with the concept, I suggest signing up for a free account at Copy.ai. There are a number of services/features the site offers, including the ability to write more engaging emails and social media posts that convert much higher. However, perhaps the best feature is that you will get a daily email with ideas of words you might use to attain specific goals. (Yes, I wish it wasn’t daily, too…) You can always cancel and if you find it useful for most of you the free benefits will be all you need. We have received information indicating that NELTS is either resigning its Home Depot accounts and/or was dropped by the company. However, at the same time NELTS is allegedly increasing their Lowe’s accounts. I suggest that if you lose a Lowe’s account due to it being given to NELTS that you consider providing our compilation of information on NELTS alleged actions to your Lowe’s store manager. If you have updated info on either of these topics please let me know. Regarding our WSA member who still hasn’t been paid by CASE for work done several months ago: When I contacted CASE I was told they wouldn’t discuss without detailed info on the WSA member company owed the money. With the member’s consent we then provided that info to CASE, as well as told them our member was willing to be part of a 3-way recorded call with me and an appropriate member of CASE management. I got back to CASE with that info and a request to call me back, which has not occurred in five days time. The saga continues… July 20th ‘State of Ransomware’ Free Webinar One of our WSA members recently was the victim of an email hacking event that has cost them over $200k and counting. Ransomware hacking, which we covered in a WSA webinar, and other break-in types are a real thing to be concerned about. For that reason make sure you employ very strong passwords in all to do with your business online. For example, the WSA website deflected a total of 265 break-in tries in the last 24 hours, all of which were, fortunately, stopped by our website software. If you want to know more on the topic, consider registering for the webinar, which is free. Our June Safety First! post is reprised from the late John Meola’s message of July 2017. July’s Safety Message discusses the following: • Change routine in extreme heat • Extreme heat relief mechanisms • More heat cautions and relief methods • Defensive driving in heat • Ergonomic effects of high heat • Heat illness progression warning signs As always, if you have questions or comments about this WSA Member Update, or anything else to do with the World Sweeping Association or power sweeping in general, please let me know. Good Sweeping, Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Executive Director World Sweeping Association