After reading the article "Windshield Repairman Won't Return Calls Couple Experiences Faulty Repairs " KCRA by Lynsey Paulo, that actual repair is a better choice vs. replacement and this story is about cheap windshield replacements. The article is another classic example of what happens when you place the ultimate goal of getting the cheapest price above quality and everything else.

Wow! Yesterday was the big day for team Glass Aid at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Anyone that knows me knows I've committed to working with the MS Society and besides repairing windshields I've been taking donations for the OKC walk. Those that didn't attend missed out on a lot of fun.

Walking towards a cure for multiple sclerosis; an estimated 1,700 plus walkers turned out to participate in the 2009 Walk MS Oklahoma City, at the OKC Zoo. We all have one goal, a world free of MS.

See More Photos From The Walk In Our Album

Sitting here writing this post, there is a lot for me to say.  I don't want anyone to feel not important if they aren't listed first. So here are my thoughts:

THANK YOU! To everyone that donated to the team, family, friends, and customers, we surpassed our goal with a total of $568. A special note of thanks to Norman, who was the top customer donor with a $50 donation. If you want the best home theater system, see the guys at Contemporary Sounds on NW 149th in Oklahoma City.

To Brandi, Lucy, Blaine, all the other MS Society personnel, all those that volunteered to put this together from working at the registration desk to manning the water stops and everything else, FANTASTIC JOB! Even though many more showed up then planned, everything went smooth. I might add that those with Multiple Sclerosis have strong allies in the fight against MS with Brandi, Lucy and Blaine.

To those that I saw that did the walk with MS, particularly those that needed help with a cane, walker, or wheelchair, you have my deepest respect leading the fight by example under difficult terms.

Okay, so what's next you ask, is it over for a year? No Way! The authorization form will still be available on-line at PreventCracks.biz. I will continue to offer this windshield chip repair program. I understand that an Edmond Walk MS is in the works; and when that happens, team Glass Aid will strap on the walking shoes.

This fall a bike ride from Tulsa to Oklahoma City will take place and I may volunteer to help. Keep watching this blog or check in periodically to either PreventCracks4MS.com or .mobi.

Finally the PreventCracks4MS.mobi site now has been updated with information on walks in Enid and Muskogee, Oklahoma. If you're going to be in these cities during the time of the walk, do it -- trust me you'll have a blast, besides being a hero to those with MS. Once again, thanks for everyone's help. 

Glass Aid is building a world free of MS one windshield chip repair at a time. 

Over the years I've seen a cycle of questions at times, another words over the course of several weeks I'll get asked by a number of people the same question. Then I may go several months or even year until that question reappears.

Here lately I've taken a number of calls asking if a windshield chip can be repaired if it's in front of the driver? Or if there is any place on a windshield that can't be repaired?

Okay, here in Oklahoma there are no laws that restrict any windshield repair. There is no required training or license to either repair or replace a windshield in Oklahoma. The fact is there are more requirements to cut some ones hair than repair a windshield.

ROLAGS (ANSI/NGA R1.1-2007), the national safety standard recommends not repairing windshield damage over an inch in diameter or if the finished pit (impact point) exceeds 3/16" in diameter in the area in front of the driver's vision known as the "Driver’s Primary Viewing Area" . The Driver’s Primary Viewing Area, is defined as an area that is 12 inches wide centered in front of the driver that extends  between the top and bottom of the driver's windshield wiper sweep.

Other considerations by this standard include not performing a repair within 4 inches of another repair and "if, in the technician's judgment, the repair will affect the proper operation of the vehicle".

Generally I'll make a repair on a windshield in front of the driver if I feel it's safe. As examples I'll repair a 1/2" star with 3 legs or cracks in front of the driver. I won't repair a combination break (chip) that's say 1 " in diameter that looks so bad that because the glass is mash up to the point that the damage looks like a white spot. There is a liability in doing windshield repair. Let's face it we're in a time when spilling a hot cup of coffee in your lap is worth $500K because the person wasn't told the fresh coffee was hot.

Due to the liability issue one of my large fleet accounts has a policy of "no windshield repairs in front of the driver", regardless of the chip size.

So there you have it, just use a little common sense when getting your windshield repaired and remember with any windshield repair there may be a distortion. Also remember that while replacing a windshield is expensive, the cost of being in an auto accident probably will be a lot more.

Wow, time has gone by and just 2 weeks till my first Walk MS. My team is close to goal, but even with what I've taken in the team hasn't made it yet. This project has become very important to me for a number of reasons.

Being in the windshield repair business I get the the opportunity to meet many people with many different backgrounds. I'm equally surprised at how diverse the Oklahoma City population is. I've met and performed windshield repairs for people from Scotland, England, Canada, Germany, Saudi, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Mexico, to name some of the countries. With that I've learned that while we may look different and have different ideas we have common ground, that includes both values as well as problems.

With the above in mind, I've met the daughter that is about my oldest son's age, whose mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about a year ago and is having a tough time. Lets not forget the African American grandpa that has a young grandchild with MS. Nor should we leave out the uncle of a Native American nephew diagnosed at 25 and in a wheel chair at 26. These are just a few of the Okies that fight and struggle with MS everyday; some people you may meet, you would never guess that they have a problem.

So while many of us enjoy Easter this weekend and get together with family, I ask you to take a minute to think of what it would be like if suddenly you couldn't walk or see. What if it happened to your son or daughter, mother or father; and remember MS is the number one disabling disease of young adults. Then take a minute and make a donation to either the Oklahoma MS Society or if you like, to my team. The links are on the top of the left column.

I'll close this post with a very good You Tube video that I found about a 25 year old mother with Multiple Sclerosis and would like to share it with my readers. Mankind has beaten Polio and Small Pox, the cure for MS is in reach.

Anybody that knows me knows that I usually love new technology and will usually look at it to see if Glass Aid can use it. It's been several years ago when I set up my first blog. I thought it would be a great way to keep customers and potential customers informed about windshield repair. I remember how some thought the whole idea was crazy, not just a blog on windshield repair, but a company having a blog. Now a company having a blog is becoming very common and while I don't have a large readership, I've received some positive comments when talking with people.

Then about 2 years ago the mobile Internet became a reality. It's been amazing and very cool watching the development of what can be done with a cell phone. Speaking of which, the GlassAid.mobi site has had some additions, like the guarantee can be viewed on your cell phone. The answer too many commonly asked questions has been put on the mobile site as well. No the mobile site will probably never have as much as the dot com site, but for those that want to help themselves and are on the go, it will work in many cases. 

As time has progressed other ideas have taken place like a Merchant Circle page, My Space, Facebook and instant messaging. Add to this having e-mail addresses, fax numbers and the list goes on. It's enough to make your head explode. Just how to give a customer an easy way to get information and contact you, yet provide them the option of being able to choose the way they prefer.

Well I got the answer for my customers GlassAid.tel. Telnic the creator of the dot Tel domain has just recently released the dot tel domain out of sunrise. Now all of my websites are still available and working, just now you only need to remember one domain for everything including phone numbers. Even better the dot tel will pull up on any Internet device. So no matter what you bookmark GlassAid.tel on, you'll have the information you need.

The dot tel domain is being marketed for both business and individual. Even though it's very corny I've embedded the ad from You Tube so you can get an idea of what I've done.

Windshield stone chips can happen at any time you're out on the road. By bookmarking GlassAid.tel on your cell phone, computer or your favorite social bookmark website like, Delicious, Google, Magnolia, My Yahoo, etc., you'll be ready to schedule your windshield repair. Also know what needs to be repaired and what doesn't.