Time flies.  Seriously.  I started iDigHardware’s 10th anniversary contest a month ago, and it’s already the last day to enter to win some iDH/Yeti merch.  Last Friday’s winner of the Yeti tumbler is Dana Scarberry from Williamson Shriver Architects, and the lucky winner of last week’s Yeti cooler is Gordon Muse from the City of Overland Park Kansas!  There’s one more day to win…read on!

The purpose of the 10th anniversary contest was three-fold – 1) to let everyone know that iDH has reached this important milestone, 2) to encourage readers to take advantage of all of the resources available on the site, AND 3) to thank all of you for reading, sharing your insight, and encouraging me to keep going when I get worn out.  I really appreciate your support!

When we ordered the prizes for the contest, I was asked if I could think of someone who had been with me since the beginning.  A super-fan, you might say, who stood out among all of the iDigHardware readers.  Someone who should receive an iDigHardware / Yeti cooler for his or her extreme loyalty and commitment to life safety.

This was a tough question to answer.  There are so many people who have been part of iDigHardware’s 10-year history…who have asked and answered questions, sent photos, and shared the code requirements related to door openings far and wide.  There are several people (you know who you are) who I call upon whenever I need help answering a question or understanding a field condition.  And there are some who have been with me throughout my career, as mentors, colleagues, and friends.

But…there is someone who comes to mind; he’s a fire inspector and investigator.  He left his first comment on iDigHardware October 12, 2009, and has commented on posts 840 times since then.  840 times!  He also keeps an eye out for door-related questions on the NFPA Xchange site and the Building Code Forum, and sends them my way.  He has submitted 145 photos for Wordless Wednesday, Fixed-it Friday, and other posts where I have used the photos to help explain a code issue.  He even submitted a video when I was up for an award a few years back.

I am grateful for everyone who contributes to the community that has formed around iDigHardware, but I am extra-proud to have fire marshals and other code officials collaborating with me – sometimes offering me advice, sometimes asking for my help.  Ten years ago, most code officials would not have gone to a door hardware manufacturer with a code question, and now it happens daily.

So I would like to thank Charles Anderson from the Fire Marshal’s office in Euless, Texas, for sticking with iDigHardware from the beginning.  Charles – I’ll bet you are the go-to guy for code questions on opening protectives and egress doors in your jurisdiction.  You are truly a super-fan, and I’m sending you an iDH 10th anniversary Yeti cooler to show my appreciation.  😀

For anyone who has not yet been chosen in the daily or weekly drawing, there’s good news:

1) I have one more Yeti cooler and another tumbler to give away.  Just share your feedback TODAY, to enter to win.  I will be drawing the final winners tonight.  

2) I’m going to continue giving away one Yeti tumbler per month, randomly selected from everyone who fills out the feedback form that month.

The feedback you share helps Allegion understand how readers use iDigHardware (and me), and what we can do to make this resource even better.  Thank you for sharing your experience!

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