Merry Christmas to All....

It's been a wonderful Christmas - full of family fun and absolutely no calls from customers!  Not that I wouldn't take a call, but it was a nice break. 

With 10 children still at home, there was plenty of excitement.  There were practical presets this year, just like always.  Socks and underwear are a given!  But each child received a gift from his or her secret pal and one fun gift from Mama & Papa.  And, there was a musical family present...

It's all possible because of Jesus...He was the Word that brought the world into being and He came to this earth to redeem us all to Himself.  A simple birth, a simple life and a horrible death at the hands of cruel men like you and me.

But that's not the end of the story.  He was the only person to rise from the dead! And there were witnesses!

So, while you consider this Christmas holiday, please remember the One who made it all possible.  Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas from the Mazur Family, After Hours Electric CEUs, IndustryCE.com and the Michigan Code Update site.

Michigan Electrical Code Update Online

It's been a while since I had blogged...but mostly because of the circumstances. The 'job' situation had looked pretty grim and so the hunt was on. Except for the daily maintenance of sending out certificates and grading papers, there wasn't much time to expand the base Electrical Continuing Education site. So for now, I'm using this time to expand the websites...

I'm working diligently to get the Michigan Electrical Code Update online this week. There have already been a bunch of Michigan NEC Update pre-enrollments. And the best thing about it is that the Code Update Class for Michigan is also approved or accepted in a bunch of other states. So electricians who work in other states can get NEC update credit for those states too!

It's a simple recipe that I learned from an old boss - Tom at Erickson Electric. Design something once, don't gouge your customer and reap from the additional work. A big thanks to Tom for teaching me right!

The 2008 Code Update

We had a great time at both of the July Code Update Classes! They were relatively small groups but I was challenged every day.

There are more live classes coming up. Register at 2008code.com. Or, sign up for online Electrical CEU's if you would rather not travel...

Give me a call if you have questions, need private classes or have a group...
(208) 595-4111

Live Electrical CEU Classes

It's Official!

I had toyed with the idea and thought that I needed to bolster my own confidence a bit before plunging into live classes for Electricians. Electricians are a tough audience - they like to challenge a teacher. They are some of the best craftsmen (and women) around. They have a great work ethic and they are serious about ongoing learning in their trade. But they are a friendly bunch and have been asking me to do this for a few months now......so I'll do it.

And now I have received notice that I am approved to teach 16-hrs of 2008 NEC Update classes in both Idaho & Wyoming. Utah & Oregon also accept these classes......

So, your friend Steve is now scheduled for live Electrical CEU classes in the following towns:
Pocatello, Idaho
Twin Falls, Idaho
Burley, Idaho
Caldwell, Idaho
Jackson, Wyoming
Ontario, Oregon

See my websites at 2008code.com or electceu.com for the schedules and to sign up for your electrical CEU's. And, I still have the online Electrical CEU's for those of you who would rather not travel...

Give me a call if you need classes at a different time and have a group...
(208) 595-4111

Change In The Air

It's May! Finally, the winter seems to have passed and our thoughts move on to 'comfortable' outdoor work, the growing season and vacation.

With the new season I feel the winds of change...I have even recently considered some work in the field of 'green' power generation. Seems that there is quite a demand for folks who know about this here 'green' power. And we have to be knowledgeable about the stuff anyway, as electricians, since we have to wire the equipment up.

So only a hint here - but I will update you later if anything changes. We're looking at the possibility of some live Electrical CEU classes this summer, and maybe a little more. There's the possibility of something a little more permanent too. But we have to feed the family so we'll keep the online classes, side electrical work and 40-hr a week job just for good measure.

New Reciprocal Program

The USNSTB, US National Skilled Trades Bureau, announced a new program that allows Plumbers to reciprocate their licenses within states that have comparable electrical & plumbing rules. The rules were not as detailed as expected and as a result, there are some loopholes in the new law that allow Electricians and Plumbers to reciprocate across the trades.

Plumbers & Electrical Unions across the states are up in arms about the new law, approved by congress and signed into law by the President.

The Electricians, in general, are pleased with the law and have begun pulling plumbing permits in the affected states. Plumbers, on the other hand, are confused.

One benefit to the combo-trade agreement is that CEU providers will be able to reciprocate Electrical CEU's with Plumbing CEU's, and vice-versa. This is an additional benefit to the educational community and will allow consolidation of classes in these difficult economic times.

Since the danger of electrocution is high with this mix of electricity and water, BIOSHA has stepped in to remedy the situation. Not to worry folks. The newly-created Bi-Trade OSHA group has requested the regulation-managent branch of the judiciary to nullify the law, post April Fools Day.

Could there be any other solution?

Idaho Blizzard - Too cold for Electric CEU's

It's been snowing since early morning! I'm not just a little tired of winter, and all the cold...I'm ready for a break in the weather, for sure. And I hate being cold-shouldered

Once, not long ago, I signed up for a class on another guy's website. It's been a few years since I had attended one of his live classes and he was a great instructor - interesting and knowledgeable. But now, I run my own website, providing online classes for other electricians, just like him. The next day, I got an email from him saying he couldn't provide me classes at this time. And then, no further response. Oh yes, I emailed him multiple times....but to no avail. I even complimented him.

So how does a guy who needs to renew his electrical license get Electrical CEU's anyway? Fortunately, there are some competitors who are not afraid of competition, who even would trade classes with the likes of me.

I say thank you to those folks who don't mind a little competition - and don't mind helping a guy out. Seems that the cold weather has blown in and is also blowing out.

Good bye cold-shoulder, hello friend.

Steve,
The Electric Chef

New Adventures

I started out doing electrical work before I graduated from high school in 1977. And now, I'm teaching Electricians, on the Internet, at After Hours Electric CEUs. AND.....blogging about it! Go figure.

I've always been passionate about electricity. It's fun. But, when I start a job, it seems that something inside of me takes over and says, "Big responsibility."

So, I'll try to update this at least once a month, with reflections of 'what it is' to teach others about my favorite subject....