Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.
In this edition of the Monday Morning Messenger, TPGA invites members to learn more about Giving Tuesday and how this event affects the propane industry.
Additionally, a significant change will take place in technology in 2022. Is your company prepared? TPGA touches on how the expiration of 3G may affect your business.
Also, TPGA wants to highlight a member perk and ensure your company is utilizing it. Have you registered for the public Texas Propane Retailer Directory? Learn more about the directory in the third story of the morning.
Check out the last story of the morning, our Business Beat, where TPGA supplies you with some apology templates for different scenarios that your company may be faced with that may assist you in customer service.
Don't forget to check out our Quick Links section of the Messenger for access to the latest Winter Weekly Price & Supply Update, PSC Product Spotlight, waiver expiration reminder, and the link for your last chance to register for the Duty to Warn Safety Mailing Program.
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In this issue
- In Brief
- Giving Tuesday
- 3G Propane Impact
- TPGA Member Propane Retailer Directory
- Customer Apology Letters
- Quick Links
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Calendar
November 30, 2021
December 1, 2021
December 1-22, 2021
December 3, 2021
December 15, 2021
December 24, 2021
TPGA & PSC Closed for
Christmas Eve
December 31, 2021
TPGA & PSC Closed in Observance of New Years
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Giving Tuesday is Tomorrow |
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Mark your calendar! Tuesday, November 30, 2021, is Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday launched 10 years ago as a day that encourages people to do good. Over the years, it has grown into a worldwide movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
1,000's of charitable organizations across the globe use Giving Tuesday as a way to raise funds for their cause.
The Texas Propane Gas Association would like to invite our members to support our cause, higher education for our industry members' children.
If you are giving this Giving Tuesday, consider supporting the Texas Propane Gas Association Scholarship Foundation.
Over the last nearly 25 years, TPGA has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships. Please help us continue our journey to support higher education, whether for community college, technical school, or four-university tuition for our members' children and grandchildren. Our scholarship program has helped countless children pursue their education goals.
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OR
Checks can be made payable to: TPGA Scholarship Foundation
Mail to: TPGA Scholarship Foundation
8408 N IH 35, Austin, TX 78759
Any amount helps. Your generosity is appreciated.
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How Will 3G Retirement Affect the Propane Industry? |
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What is happening?
The FCC reports that "mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks, which rely on older technology, to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G."
What impact does it have?
As a result, many older cell phones will be unable to make or receive calls and texts, including calls to 911 or use data service.
Other devices, such as certain electronic logging devices (ELDs), telematics like GPS tracking, propane tank monitoring, tablets, smartwatches, vehicle SOS services, security systems, and other connected products that may be using 3G network services may be impacted.
*When is it happening?
As early as January 1, 2022, though plans and timing to phase out 3G services will vary by company and may change.
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AT&T announced that it will finish shutting down its 3G network by February 2022.
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T-Mobile announced that it will finish shutting down Sprint's 3G CDMA network by March 31, 2022 and Sprint's 4G LTE network by June 30, 2022. It also announced it will shut down T-Mobile's 3G UMTS network by July 1, 2022.
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Verizon announced that will finish shutting down its 3G network by December 31, 2022.
Many carriers, such as Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers, utilize AT&T's, Verizon's, and T-Mobile's networks.
*Note: These are dates for completing the shutdowns. Carriers may begin retiring parts of their networks sooner.
What to do? Contact your device provider to ensure your device is compatible with a non-expiring 4G network or 5G and if not, device/device(s) may need to be replaced or upgraded if not already done so.
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Member Only: Texas Propane Retail Directory Updates Before Winter |
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Are you on Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA)'s MEMBER ONLY Propane Directory?
If not, send us your physical locations and the counties you service.
If you currently have a listing, has any of your company information changed? Have you added a new location? If so, send us your changes and/or your new locations and your service area, the important part, the counties you serve.
We have to have this integral part of the equation (the counties you service) to upload your locations and for the tool to work.
Check your listing by visiting the directory and typing in the counties you service.
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Business Beat:
Apology Business Letter Templates
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As businesses we all make mistakes and crafting the perfect apology to customers can be challenging at times. Smallbiztrends.com provides several templates for businesses that you can copy and paste and use for your own customers.
Some of the templates include:
- Apologizing for Cancelled Service or Scheduling Issues
- Apologizing for Missed Appointments or Late Arrivals
- Apologizing for Poor Customer Service
- Apologizing for Financial or Billing Issues
- Apologizing for Late or Improper Shipping
- Apologizing for Improper Employee Actions
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NOVEMBER 24, 2021
WINTER FUELS WEEKLY
PRICE & SUPPLY UPDATE
NATIONAL, REGIONAL & STATE
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LEAVE YOUR TANKS OUTSIDE
BILL STUFFERS ARE AVAILABLE FROM PSC
LOGIN FIRST FOR SAVINGS
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REMINDER!
CDL MEDICAL CARD
WAIVER IS EXPIRING
TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
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ONLY A WEEK LEFT
TO SIGNUP FOR DUTY TO WARN IF YOU WANT IT TO GO OUT IN 2021. THE DEADLINE IS DEC 3RD
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