A SSOCIATION NEWSLETTER JULY DECEMBER 2015 2014 New Minnesota Blue Flame Website Goes Live! Out with the Old and in with the New!! Check out our new website at www.blueflame.org On June 15th, the new Minnesota Blue Flame website went live! It s updated, has an easy to use format with Easy Find icons so visitors can get in and find information with only a few clicks, and can be viewed on the various devices used today to go online. We have six Easy Find icons Who s My Utility?, Rebates, Contractors (coming soon), Tools, Natural Gas Vehicles, and Find Natural Gas Product. Our Rebates icon will help customers find out if their utility has a rebate on a particular natural gas product they re looking for. Our Natural Gas Vehicles icon provides a wealth of information and resources on NGVs with just one click! Our Tools tab has useful tools to compare fuels, etc. all at your fingertips! We still have a few items under construction and coming soon such as the Contractor icon. We ll keep you posted when that section is completed. We encourage members to go to the new site to check it out and verify that the information and contacts for their companies are accurate. In addition to the six Easy Find icons on the Home Page, we also have an Upcoming Events calendar, scrolling photos, and drop down menus to get more information on the Blue Flame, membership, newsletters, committees, etc. Special thanks to Standby Systems for their website expertise and help in getting the site launched! We d love to get your comments on the new site! Send them to Diane at dswintek@blueflame.org NATURAL GAS PRODUCT LOCATOR HELPING DRIVE CUSTOMERS TO OUR MEMBERS! A new feature of the website is a product locator. Visitors coming to our site can enter the natural gas product they are looking for and where they live, then the locator will display the names of our members with that product! A benefit from your Blue Flame membership! If you haven t completed your company s product survey (sent out earlier), please contact Diane to get a form. Let s get your company in front of customers now!
2 MINNESOTA BLUE FLAME GAS ASSOCIATION Blue Flame Lodge Getting Ready to Raise (for) the Roof! The Blue Flame Residential/State Fair Committee is checking into the costs of having a new roof put on the Blue Flame Lodge down at the Minnesota Fairgrounds in the next year or two if possible. to discuss what the plans are for the new roof. Once the estimates are received, the committee will have a better idea on how much money the Blue Flame will need to replace the old roof. For the past few years, the committee has been putting band aids on the leaks in the roof and it s time to start researching the costs for a new roof. The Lodge was built in 1968. Major commitments have been made by CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota Energy Resources and Xcel Energy to help with the Raising for the Roof funds! A big thank you to all three of these companies for their leadership and support! On July 29, contractors will be coming to the Lodge to meet with the committee At the January Board meeting, Todd Berreman with CenterPoint Energy presented the Board of Directors with the first check to go into the Roof Fund! Thank you CenterPoint Energy!!! Currently, the Lodge has a flat rubber roof with roof drains that come inside the Lodge only to go out again. This causes a problem in the cold winter months with freezing and cracking. The committee is hoping to have a sloped roof and roof drains that would stay outside the Lodge. Diane has a new email address! Along with the new website, we have a new email address for Diane dswintek@blueflame.org. Please update your address book.
NATURAL GAS: YOUR BEST ENERGY VALUE Minnesota Blue Flame Golf Event The annual Blue Flame Golf Event was on Thursday, June 18th at the beautiful Cannon Falls Golf Club in Cannon Falls, Mn. It was a scramble format with a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. This year s event was moved up half an hour so attendees could get an earlier start. Unlike last year s torrential rain that miraculously stopped for our event, this year, we had sun and blue skies!! Ninetysix golfers took to the course to have a great day of networking and golfing! This year s theme was Red Solo Cup and we had a Party! Red solo cups for everyone and even a golf contest to see 3 PLENTY OF SUN & FUN! who could hit closest to the Red Solo cup! The winner was Ed Moe! Tournament Results: A big THANK YOU to all our sponsors, everyone who came out to golf and to those who worked so hard to make this tournament happen!!! We also want to thank all of the companies who donated doorprizes to make the event extra exciting for the attendees! It s always fun to go home with a prize! 2nd Place 1st Flight score=57: Todd Gray, Glen Kroeten, Nate Thomas, Blake Canham We couldn t do it without you! Our golf event is one of the main sources of revenue to help continue the work of the association THANK YOU! S AV E T H E D AT E! T H U R S D AY, J U N E 1 6, 2 0 1 6 1st Place 1st Flight score=56: Brian Charlton, Matt Bolin, Jon Jacobson and Gerry Cayo. 1st Place 2nd flight score=63: John Vermillion, Dick Moe, Ed Moe, Justin Fuller Early Bird Drawing Winner Tom Osborn wins $50 cash! This year s event had contest holes, a skins game, and great raffle prizes! Congratulations to Terry Olson winner of the four Twins tickets donated by Minnesota Energy Resources, to Jeff Larson winner of the golf foursome at Cannon Falls Golf Club, and to Mark Wambachwinner of the Bose Color Bluetooth speaker!
4 MINNESOTA BLUE FLAME GAS ASSOCIATION Sixth A nnual Blue Flame Fishing Event! T E N E H T GET The Blue Flame s sixth annual networking/ fishing event on Mille Lacs Lake took place on Tuesday, June 2nd. Thirtyseven members and their guests hit the lake to see if they could net the winning fish! This was our second year of having the event in early June and using both private guided boats and a launch to get members on the lake. Fourteen members and their guests used the individual guide boats to go out in teams of three with a private guide to troll the waters for the elusive and prized Walleye! Congratulations to Todd Achterkirch with Eagan Co. winner of the Longest Walleye on the boats! (photo) Steve caught a 27.75 walleye and won the prize donated by Mulcahy Co.! If you d prefer some shade, a bathroom and the ability to move around and network the launch is a nice option! It provides a great opportunity to do fishing in a more relaxed style. New this year, we included lunch. Twenty-three people went out on the launch and had a great time visiting, fishing and grilling on board! Congratulations to Mike Maher with KrausAnderson Construction winner of the Longest Walleye on the launch! (photo) John caught a 25 5/8 walleye and won the prize donated by Minnesota Air. All groups departed from Nitti s Hunter s Point Resort on the east side of Mille Lacs Lake in the morning and returned from the 6 hour fishing trip in the afternoon. Nitti s provided a delicious steak & walleye or shrimp dinner that evening and the winning catches were announced! Special thanks to our event sponsor John J. Morgan Company for donating a Reznor Natural Gas Garage Heater as the Grand Prize! The winner was Mike Maher of Twin Ports Aerial! We d also like to thank Minnesota Energy Resources for donating four Twins Tickets and to everyone else who donated items for prizes! Save the Date! Tuesday, June 7, 2016
NATURAL GAS: YOUR BEST ENERGY VALUE 5 Commercial/Industrial Committee s Annual Fall Energy Conservation Conference Tuesday, September 22 8:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Hillcrest Golf Club in St. Paul Four seminar topics plus two keynote speakers will be presented. Certificates of Completion will be given for those wishing to use the seminars for professional development hours. Xcel Energy is the major sponsor of this event along with Supporting Sponsorships from CenterPoint Energy and Minnesota Energy Resources. Minnesota State Fair Blue Flame Lodge Only One Space Left! Work a shift and enjoy the fair! We re less than a month away from the start of the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Fair dates are Thursday, August 27 Labor Day, Monday, September 7 Showcase your product at the fair - we have one small space available - contact Diane to get the details! WANTED: Greeters to work a shift at the Lodge kiosk. Sign up now to work a 4-hour shift at the Blue Flame Lodge greeting visitors! Weeknights and weekends pay $10/hour. Make some money and then go enjoy the fair!! Contact Diane to see the available shifts and staff schedule. Again this year, we ll be displaying an operational natural gas generator for fairgoers to come see, hear, and learn more about. We ll also be displaying a natural gas Chevy Impala parked out front for visitors to learn more about NGVs! We hope to help increase awareness, interest and demand for them. The Lodge is the association s primary vehicle to interact with consumers and get the natural gas message out. It allows us to promote natural gas, natural gas products, educational materials, and provides visibility for the association. Benefits to displaying in the Blue Flame Lodge: 1. Prime location In Carousel Park, by the grandstand, across from the Giant Slide. 2. Leverage your time - the Blue Flame has staff in the lodge 9 a.m. 9 p.m. so you don t need to be at your booth 12 hours a day for 12 days. 3. Reasonable cost & access to the Mn. State Fair your membership provides an opportunity to display at the fair. Space at the fair is hard to get. 4. One location for energy information Fairgoers have come to know the Blue Flame Lodge as a place to come for information on natural gas and natural gas products. Trade Ally Sponsors to-date are: Platinum Sponsor Mulcahy Company Gold Sponsors Energy Insight, Harris Companies, HumeraTech, and R. M. Cotton Company Sponsorships and vendor tabletops are still available limited space. Invitations will be emailed out early August - watch your email and mark your calendars! Seminar topics being presented: Maximizing Steam Trap Efficiencies Hot Water Boiler Efficiencies Mn Commercial Energy Code Update Supply Options-Firm vs. Interruptible Service. Breakfast keynote: Natural Gas Price & Supply Update Lunch keynote: Current State of CHP (Combined Heat & Power) For more information, contact Diane at dswintek@blueflame.org or call 763-424-1841. If you are interested in displaying in the lodge, please contact Diane to get more information at dswintek@blueflame.org
6 MINNESOTA BLUE FLAME GAS ASSOCIATION Member News John J. Morgan Company Founder John J. Morgan, Founder of the John J. Morgan Company, passed away on Dec. 13, 2014, of natural causes. John founded his Manufacturers Rep Agency business with his wife Jeanette in the basement of their St. Paul home in 1960. John retired in 1997 and Jeanette retired in 2004. John J. Morgan Company is alive and well today operating out of its new home on Thompson Ave. in South St. Paul. Welcome New Member! Excelsior Heating & Cooling www.excelsiorhvac.com Pat Forster, General Manager (612) 554-5819 pforster@excelsiorhvac.com Nick Hammes (651) 248-8690 nhammes@excelsiorhvac.com Mark Your 2015 Calendars: Minnesota State Fair Thursday, Aug. 27 Monday, Sept. 7 Commercial/Industrial Conservation Conference Hillcrest Golf Club Tuesday, September 22 Mark your 2016 Calendars: Blue Flame Fishing Event Tuesday, June 7 Blue Flame Golf Event Cannon Falls Golf Club Thursday, June 16 QUOTE OF THE QUARTER Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ASSOCIATION? Contact Diane at dswintek@blueflame.org or visit our website at www.blueflame.org Associate memberships are $200 per year. Join the team now! Benefits to joining: Networking Opportunities, Industry Contacts, Advertising Opportunities, Member rates (reduced rates) for Association events, seminars, etc., Increased Company Visibility (via a website hotlink to your company from our site, in our Member Directory, etc.), Possible opportunity to display in the Blue Flame Lodge at the Mn. State Fair, Blue Flame events provide a venue for members to take customers to, Companies can leverage their time and financial resources, and you receive the Association Newsletter, to name a few. Have something to submit? E-mail change? If you would like to submit information to be considered for the next member newsletter or have an e-mail change, contact Diane at dswintek@blueflame.org
NATURAL GAS: YOUR BEST ENERGY VALUE 7 Jeff Head Sales & Marketing Manager Jeff@CarbTurbo.com phone 952.445.3910 fax 952.445.6070 cell 763.497.2069 Carburetion & Turbo Systems, Inc. 1897 Eagle Creek Boulevard Shakopee, MN 55379 www.carbturbo.com Matt Haley President 952-767-7464 www.energyinsightinc.com 7935 Stone Creek Drive, Suite 140 Chanhassen, MN 55317 JIM HUSSONG President P.O. Box 577 204 Industrial Park Dr. Lakefield, MN 56150-0577 e-mail jim@kozyheat.com www. kozyheat. com T: 800.253.4904 F: 507.662.6644 Save energy & Money Natural gas Rebates & Programs are available for residential and business customers. Visit cashrebatesnow.com to learn more. 866-872-0052
Professional Services MINNESOTA BLUE FLAME GAS ASSOCIATION 8 A28942_KozyHeat_BC_JIM_KH_bus-cards 11/6/12 4:11 PM Page 1 Professional Services A28942_KozyHeat_BC_JIM_KH_bus-cards 11/6/12 4:11 PM Page 1 JIM HUSSONG President P.O. Box 577 204 Industrial Park Dr. Lakefield, MN 56150-0577 P.O. Box 577 e-mail 204jim@kozyheat.com Industrial Park Dr. JIM HUSSONG w wpresident w. k o z y h e a t. c o m w w w. k o z y h e a t. c o m Lakefield, MN 56150-0577 e-mail jim@kozyheat.com T: 800.253.4904 F: 507.662.6644 T: 800.253.4904 F: 507.662.6644 Natural Gas Energy for a Better Tomorrow Natural Gas Energy for a Better Tomorrow Rebates available for installing energyrebates available efficient furnaces, water for installing energyheaters appliances. efficientand furnaces, water heaters and appliances. www.minnesotaenergyresources.com 800-889-9508 www.minnesotaenergyresources.com 800-889-9508 USE US for energy efficiency information. Whatever business you re in, Xcel Energy s team of energy efficiency specialists can help you save energy and money. Contact them at 1-855-839-8862 or visit ResponsibleByNature.com/Business. ResponsibleByNature.com 2015 Xcel Energy Inc.