April 8th, 2025 Chapter Minutes

Minutes of Members Meeting #171                         April 8, 2025

The AFSA Members Meeting at the Academy at Virginia Randolph, Glen Alle, VA was called to order by AFSA VA Chapter President Bob Beckwith at 10:00am

AFSA members and guests present included:

Bob Beckwith – Cavalier Sprinkler

Tom Klecka – ACI

Craig Smith – Ferguson Fire

Steve McGee – ACI

Chris Amorese – JCI

Adam DaSilva – Hajoca

Hooper Loscomb – Eagle

MaryCatherine Coyle – Eagle

Shawn Walls – Hajoca

Jason Gill – CG Fire

Louie Perkins – Summit

Chris Stone – ACI

Roy Orsborne – Fire Tech

Cindy Wackerly – Fire Tech

Bruce Allen – Hajoca

Bev Cocke – Henrico Co

Mac Beaton – Henrico Co.

Joe Saffer – AFS

Ryan Simmons – ACI

Mark Nunnally – ACI

Bill Jones – Fire Pro

Brandon Telford – Reliable

Robert Dixon – Germanna CC

Anthony Mizak – Reliable

Sam Hitt – Core & Main

Ginger Hoffman – Core & Main

Blake Lassiter – JCI

Andre Hall – JCI

Woody Witczak – Victaulic

Chris Pickford – Victaulic

Introductions:

Bob Beckwith opened the meeting by welcoming the board members. Bob asked everyone to introduce themselves. Bob introduced the speakers for today’s meetings, Jason Gill w/ Crews & Gregory and MaryCatherine Coyle w/ Eagle Fire.

Treasurer’s report:

Craig Smith, Treasurer, reported that the AFSA Checking account held $28,627.77 and the AFSA Janney investment account held $71,665.46

Committee Report

  • Legislative:

Hooper reported the following:

Hooper reported that there was not much to report. Hooper did attend the BOC

meeting March 11th: nothing was on the docket for sprinklers. Hooper did mention a

discussion that was made of the importance to have a contract in order to submit a

change order. Bob was interested if any comments that were made on backflow

testing on the National level, Hooper responded that there wasn’t.

  • Membership:

Bob reported the following:

No new members have been reported since our last meeting on February 4th.

  • Program:

Tom Klecka reported the following:

This year’s seminar is scheduled for September 18th at Chesterfield Training Facility. Tom has decided on the following topics: the morning seminar shall discuss Freeze Protection (4Hrs.), afternoon seminars Conceal Spaces (2Hrs.) and Roles and Responsibilities (2Hrs.). Bob Caputo will be the instructor for all three seminars. Victaulic is providing lunch from Mission BBQ and Tom promises cookies this year.

  • Public Relations:

Hooper reported the following Sprinkler Saves:

March 10, 2025, Christiansburg, VA

No injuries were reported in a fire at Spring Oak Senion Living Sunday, March 9 according to Christiansburg officials. First responders were dispatched at 3:44 p.m. to reports of a fire at Spring Oak Senior Living, according to officials. The fire started at the exterior before spreading to the attic, according to officials. Officials say the fire set off the sprinkler system, causing extensive damage to the building. No one was injured, but patients were transported to another facility in Bedford by Blacksburg Transit, according to Officials.

April 3, 2025, Annapolis, MD

A 74-year-old man died after a fire in an Annapolis apartment building Tuesday, according to Anne Arundel County Fire Officials. Firefighters responded to the 10th floor of Claiborne Place Apartments in the 130 block of Hearne Road around 3 p.m. Once on scene, crews saw the sprinkler system had activated and reported smoke in the hallway coming from one of the apartments on the 10th floor. Firefighters entered the apartment and found a man, later identified as John Wesley Blunt, unresponsive.  He was pronounced dead on the scene according to officials. Anne Arundel County Fire investigators determined that the fire was caused by smoking while using medical oxygen.  According to officials, oxygen-rich environments increase the risk of intense, fast-spreading fires. Officials said the sprinkler system helped contain and control the fire in the apartment, preventing it from spreading to other units in the building. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim,” the Anne Arundel County fire Department said in a statement.  “This is a tragic incident and serves as a reminder of the dangers of smoking while using home oxygen units.”

  • Social Media Committee:

MaryCatherine reported the following:

MaryCatherine continues to update the AFSA web site and has provided posts for the Golf Tournament and our 2025 calendar. All Career Fairs have been posted as well. MaryCatherine will be looking for pics to post for all upcoming events. MaryCatherine will be working with Brian Hernandez to update the BSF web site.

  •  Education/Apprenticeship:

Bob Beckwith reported in Jeffs absents:

Germanna CC has had their Pipefitter Program approved by the DOL through the Fast Forward Project which pays two-thirds of the student’s tuition.

The AFSA VA Chapter presents Mac & Bec a plaque identifying the companies that made the sprinkler test room a reality. A live demonstration took place of a sprinkler head activation, that was successful.

 Golf:

Bob Beckwith reported the following:

Bob has secured September 24th as the next AFSA/BSF Golf Tournament at the Williamsburg National Golf Course. Lunch and dinner will be provided by O’Toole’s. Hotel reservation will be available at the Doubletree by Hilton, Williamsburg. Applications for this year’s tournament will be sent out the end of April.

  • NexGen:

Bob Beckwith reported in Dominiques Rose absents:

Dominique mentioned several ideas going forward to implement to move our NexGen in the right direction. Dominique has agreed to help with the registration with several of our meetings. Dominique is looking for a new vice-chair. Dominique to look into hosting a separate event to emphasize NexGen.

  • Community Projects:

Bob Beckwith reported in Jeff Lewis absents

The second floor of the Hermitage ACE center is to be built out with student workers and will be starting soon.

The Grand Opening ribbon cutting for the House Project in Henrico Co. will be April 29th. This house will be the first house in the United States where high school students installed a NFPA-13R sprinkler system in a residential house.

  • Scholarship:

Jason Gill reported the following:

Jason informed everyone that this year’s scholarship has been sent out. Jason encouraged everyone that receives the scholarship application to please post it where all employees have access and are made aware of this opportunity for all upcoming seniors. The deadline for applications to be sent in is April 30th. Jason will announce the winner at our June meeting.

  • Code Assistance

Joe Saffer reported the following:

Joe is still working to set up a dedicated email specifically for committee questions. Joe is aiming for a 24-hour turnaround time on responses. Program should aim to supplement more on local AHJ requirements, specific our areas. Need to provide a disclaimer to protect AFSA and the responder.

Old and New Business

  1. Bob Beckwith mentioned how important AFSA membership is driving AHJ free membership. Our AHJ membership is outstanding.
  2. Future Board and Members meeting dates for 2025 are September 23rd, and November 4th.
  3. The next Board and Members meeting will be at the Williamsburg Hilton September 23rd.
  4. Bob Beckwith has secure 2025 AFSA/BSF golf tournament for September 24th at Williamsburg National.
  5. At the conclusion of each member’s meeting a certificate will be available for anyone requiring NICET points. Please identify your need to obtain a certificate when you sign in or notify Steve McGee prior to the meeting to be available after the meeting.
  6. 2025 AFSA National Convention will be held October 15th – 18th at the Gaylord National, Washington DC.
  7. Tom Klecka’s seminar is set for September 18th at Chesterfield Training Facility.
  8. George Wagner is the committee chair to oversee the BSF committee. George will be overseeing the needed to ensure the paperwork and money are properly accounted for. An annual report will be required.

Speakers: Our members had two very informative speakers for our April Members Meeting which created many questions during their presentation.

Presentation Speaker: Mac Beaton & Bev Cocke w/ Henrico Co Schools: Mac & Bev provided an in-depth conversation as to how the Ace Fire Sprinkler Test Lab came to fruition and how the many sprinkler companies and vendors made this room a total success.

Vendor Presentation: MaryCatherine Coyle w/ Eagle Fire: MaryCatherine presentation provided insightful information as to how to retain employees.

Our 50/50 drawing was conducted at the end of our meeting with the results of Cindy Wackerly w/ Fire Tech winning $52.00 of the $104.00 total pot.

 There being no further business, the Members Meeting was adjourned at 2.39pm.