Contractors are invited to share business ideas and have a chance at winning $50 at this year's RPA Show.

Want to share a money-saving, time-saving tip with your fellow radiant heat contractors - and have a chance at winning $50? Pass it on at the first annual "Thanks For The Tip" program at the Radiant Panel Association's 2000 RPA Convention in Providence, R.I.

Contractors are invited to share business ideas on any topic that's helped manage and market their business. PM and PHC Profit Report have been sponsoring a similar tip program for the past six years at the annual National Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors conventions.

The RPA's tip program will be held May 13 at 3 p.m. You must attend the program to collect the cash. Cash awards are provided by the program's sole sponsor, Wirsbo. PM editor Steve Smith will host the event. Look for an entry from on page 113. The deadline for submitting a tip is May 11.

On a related note, PM will also recognize contractors who do the best job promoting radiant heating. Do you have the best truck signage that promotes your radiant expertise? Do you have an effective Yellow Pages ad that makes your phone ring? Or do you reach consumers over the Internet with the best Web site in cyberspace?>p>PM will be picking winners from the five following categories:

• Best Truck

• Best Print Media Ads (Yellow Pages, Newspaper, Direct Mail)

• Best Broadcast Ads (TV and radio)

• Best Web Site

• Other Promotions (such as billboards, home shows, etc.)

We'll also be announcing the winners at this year's RPA Convention. Each winner will receive a Publisher's Choice Award, $100 and a write-up in the Radiant Heating Report, a special supplement of the July issues of PM and PM Engineer.

Look for the entry form on page 111. The deadline for submitting an entry to the Publisher's Choice Award is April 3, 2000.

For more information on either program, contact Smith at 847/297-3496.