May 2-3: FIRE Certified Technician course, Richmond, VA. IAFCI Training Center, 5703 Charles Circle. $395 inlcudes FIRE Technician textbook, course and examination (no annual service dues). Call FIRE at 805-552-9958 or visit www.gotoFIRE.com for more info.

May 5-10: FIRE Certified Inspector course, Richmond, VA. IAFCI Training Center, 5703 Charles Circle. $1795 inlcudes FIRE Inspector textbook, course and examination (no annual service dues). Does not include additional code or reference books required for this certification course. Call FIRE at 805-552-9958 or visit www.gotoFIRE.com for more info.

May 10-12: PA Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps charity workshop, Tyrone, PA. Camp Anderson, 1057 Van Scoyoc Hollow Rd. This was the site of our first workshop. Over the past 14 years, the PA Guild has updated chimney systems in non-profit scout and church camps that wouldn’t have been able to budget for these renovations. Overall, our Guild estimates around $20,000 - $25,000 dollars have been donated each year in material and labor to each camp. That’s around $350,000 to the youth of our state! This year we will be doing: Firebox construction, stone pointing, 2 woodstove installations, Class A chimney installation, smoke chamber restoration, stone fire pit installation and water repellant application. If you decide to attend, we will feed and house you during your stay. We are planning a pig roast, top burn fire and band Friday night after our quarterly meeting. If you have a camper, the camp has room for you. There are bunk houses with cots. You can also pitch a tent. Nearby there is a Comfort Suites motel in Altoona, 814-942-2600 room rate range $100-$125 a night. CSIA & NFI CEUs available. Proctored CSIA exam on Thursday night. Please register with them 30 days prior. RSVP by mid-April. If you would like to help us with door prizes or will be attending, please contact Bill Thornton at 215-540-9787. Send donations to Ray Johnston, 814-943-7893. Check PAguild.org for updated details.

May 10-13: Oregon Chimney Sweeps Association Inc. annual conference, Troutdale, OR. McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey St., 800-669-8610. Oregon Construction Contractors Board training, fall protection and more. Call Connie Piper at 360-299-9647 for more info.

June 25-29: CSIA Installing and Troubleshooting Gas course, Plainfield, IN. CSIA Tech Center. NFI Gas Specialist Certification Exam Included with registration! Call CSIA at 317-837-5362 or visit www.csia.org for more info.

July 9: CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep® Review and Exam Reno, NV. Circus Circus Convention Center, 500 North Sierra Street, 800-648-5010. In conjunction with Golden State Guild convention, see listing below. Call CSIA at 317-837-5362 or visit www.csia.org for more info.