June 12th, 2024 Chapter Minutes

Minutes of Members Meeting #167                                June 12, 2024

The AFSA Members Meeting at Old Dominion Raceway at Thornburg, VA was called to order by AFSA VA Chapter President Bob Beckwith at 1:00pm.

AFSA members and guests present included:

 

Chris Pickford – Victaulic

Bob Beckwith – Cavalier Sprinkler

Tom Klecka – ACI

Craig Smith – Ferguson Fire

Steve McGee – ACI

Chris Amorese – JCI

Joe Saffer – America

Danielle Fowler – Potter Electric

Adam DaSilva – Hajoca

Scott Shaffner – Summit

Chris Mahanes – Summit

Daryle Daugherty – Summit

Hooper Loscomb – Eagle

Anthony Shultz – Eagle

MaryCatherine Coyle – Eagle

Shawn Walls – Hajoca

Josh Shapiro – Reliable

Anthony MaDaniel – ACI

Louie Hoffer – ACI

Ryan Simmons – ACI

James – ACI

Mac Beaton – Henrico Co.

Bev Cocke – Henrico Co.

Kate Hamby – Hiller

Brandon Harris – Ferguson

Eric Pegram – Mosley

Connor Pegram – Guest

Brian Welteroth – BJW

Bob Dixon – Germanna CC

Ben Sherman – Germanna CC

David Ballow – Cavalier Fire

Tori Loefle – Hiller

David Farmer – VSC

Jason Gill – CG Fire

Glen MacKenzie – BFPE

Mike Beatty Jr. – BFPE

Katie Meehan – VSC

Mike Meehan – VSC

Rudy James –  Hajoca

Justin Houser – VSC

William Akers – Akers Fire

Introductions:

Bob Beckwith opened the meeting by welcoming the board members. Bob advised everyone that the speakers for today’s meetings will be Rod Dixon & Ben Sherman w/ Germanna Community College and Bill Jones w/ Fire Pro.

Treasurer’s report:

Craig Smith, Treasurer, reported that the AFSA Checking account held $25,756.22 and the AFSA Janney investment account held $80,156.31

Committee Report

  • Legislative:

Hooper reported the following:

Hooper attended the Board of Contractors on May 12th; the Board discuss cleaning up the process getting rules straight with new members. There is a push to undo several unnecessary regulations from the Governor’s office. End of last year a union labor push not heard, believe the Governor stepped in to chill out for now. Board of Contractors had voted last year to allow NICET to stand as the Continue Education to review Level II inspectors’ certifications licensing, this should be amended shortly.

  • Membership

Standpipe Flow Test has joined our Chapter and will be present at today’s Members Meeting. They will be bringing their fire truck as well.

  • Program:

Tom Klecka reported the following:

Tom Klecka stated that our annual seminar is set for September 12th at the Chesterfield Training Facility. Due to the number of participants that were turned away, Tom is trying to increase the capacity to 100. The John Denhardt will lead the morning session includes 4 hours of hydraulic calculations and the afternoon session which includes NFPA 25, Roles and Responsibility and NFPA 25 2020 and 2023 editions Updates. The State Fire Marshall will be present to answer your questions. Victaulic will be sponsoring our lunch from Mission BBQ.

  • Public Relations:

Hooper reported the following Sprinkler Saves:

  • Chesterfield County, VA (WRIC) – Chesterfield County Fire and EMS are

investigating a two-alarm apartment fire that displaced 48 people Sunday night. At 11:07 p.m. on October 22, fire crews from Chesterfield County responded to the Colonial Village at Waterford apartment complex on Pavilion Place for reports of a fire.  Once on scene, crews found a fire coming from a three-story apartment building. The fire was marked under control at 12:29 a.m. on Monday. Four people were treated for minor injuries at the scene.  A firefighter was taken to the hospital for minor injuries and has since been released. A total of 12 apartments were damaged as a result of the fire, leaving 48 residents without a home. Residents are receiving assistance from the Red Cross and property management. An investigation remains ongoing.  Chesterfield fire crews will remain at the scene throughout the morning to monitor the site.

  • Norfolk fire crews extinguished apartment fire on Greenplain Rd. Norfolk, VA

(WAVY). Norfolk fire-Rescue received a call about a fire in an apartment complex on the 5400 block of Greenplain Road. When crews arrived on the scene, they saw heavy smoke coming from one of the units. Crews forced their way into the apartment and found a small kitchen fire and quickly extinguished it. After investigating the Fire Marshall’s Office determined that the stove burner was left on sparking combustibles close to the stove. The sprinkler system contained the fire until crews arrived. No one was hurt.

  • Social Media Committee:

MaryCatherine reported the following:

MaryCatherine has been keeping the AFSA website updates with the Home Sprinkler System installation status. Provided a recap of the last golf meeting and continuing to update the AFSA & BSF web sites. She will be adding the Minutes of the latest Members Meeting. MaryCatherine has agreed to speak at one of our meetings next year to discuss social media, recruitment, retaining employees, and promoting your business.

MaryCatherine is continuing to update our web site with meetings, career fairs, golf, and seminar information.

MaryCatherine encourages our members who participate in any meetings, career fairs, seminars to provide commentary of that event to potentially get posted on our web site.

  • Golf:

Bob Beckwith reported the following:

Bob stated the contract has been signed for our next AFSA BSF Golf Tournament schedule for October 9th. AFSA Board and Members meeting will be at the Double Tree by Hilton on October 8th. Special rates will be available for anyone wishing to stay at the Double Tree for the golf tournament the next day. Deadline for payment shall be September 1st. Nonpayment by this date could result in your team being removed and another team taking your place. Still accepting applications to play on a waiting list.

  • NexGen:

Tori Loefke was introduced to lead our revamp NexGen Committee. She is in the process of putting together a diverse committee group. She is currently putting together a putting contest at the beginning our AFSA Golf Tournament. Tori mentioned several ideas she plans to implement to move our NexGen in right direction. Tori plans to have monthly meetings with her committee. Tori has agreed to help with the registration with several of our meetings.

  • Community Projects:

Bob Beckwith reported in Jeff’s absent the following:

Two projects currently going on in Henrico: The House Project and the sprinkler lab.

Students will receive Lubrizol training on June 17th for house project. Viking is donating all the material. General Air is donating the tank and pump. Henrico Fire will also help promote the project. VSC is providing 2 field techs to supervise for 1-2 days during the project. Other volunteers are welcome. We are gathering up material for the sprinkler header in the lab at the new ACE Virginia Randolph. I have firm commitments from Tyco and Reliable. I need to approach Viking and Victaulic. I am sure they will participate. Zurn has also committed to providing 2 backflow preventers, the first is to be installed on the supply line to the header and other will be for instruction.

  • Scholarship:

Jason Gill reported the following:

Connor Pegram is this year’s scholarship winner. Conner’s dad is Eric Pegram with Mosley Architect. Jason read Connor’s essay. Conner will be present at today’s Members Meeting at which time Jason will present Connor with the $1,000.00 first place price.

Congratulation Connor

  • Education/Apprenticeship

Bob Beckwith reported in Jeff’s absent the following:

  • State DOE has approved the Fire Sprinkler Program as part of the Plumbing CTE program. This will be available for the 2025-2026 School year.  Skills curriculum development will start this November. There will be 3 career paths out of this program.  Plumbing Sprinkler Fitter, or inspector.  NICET will be involved in helping develop the program under policy 33-2 below. The applicant has completed an educational institution’s engineering or engineering technology work force development program specifically designed to prepare candidates for certification in the related subfield areas.  The educational institution must have a current agreement with NICET. The program included a subfield specific Internship, or the applicant has acquired the minimum required of full-time engineering technician level work experience directly related to the certification practice area. The program will be developed to allow for 6 months of credit out of the 2-year high school program to allow for the graduate to test for level 1 in Inspection and testing of Water-based Systems only.  All other work experience to gain level 2 must be adhered to and no further credit will be given for the completion of the program. Lastly, our goal is to allow students who complete this program to get credit for the first year of the sprinkler fitter apprenticeship. Henrico’s pilot program for this will proceed and be available this fall, to my knowledge they have students signed up for it but need a teacher.

Old and New Business

  1. Bob Beckwith mentioned how important AFSA membership is driving AHJ free membership. Our AHJ membership is outstanding.
  2. Potential future Board and Members meeting dates for 2024 is November 12th.
  3. At the conclusion of each members meeting a certificate will be available for anyone requiring NICET points. Please identify your needs to obtain a certificate when you sign in or notify Steve McGee prior to the meeting to be available after the meeting.
  4. 2024 AFSA National Convention, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora, Colorado. September 18 – 21.
  5. Tom Klecka’s seminar is set for September 12th.
  6. Bob Beckwith is continuing to work with Williamsburg National to prepare for our October 9th golf tournament.
  7. Board voted unanimously for Jeff Lewis for 2nd Vice-President of the AFSA VA Chapter Board.
  8. Need to address Members to pay their annual dues to maintain status with AFSA
  9. Bob suggested our chapter have a Code Committee to help with members with local code requirements. Joe Saffer to head up this committee. Joe to provide an agenda prior to a Board vote to proceed.
  10. Bob & George suggested to have a committee chair to oversee the BSF. Due to the size of this foundation oversight is needed to ensure the paperwork and monies are properly accounted for. An annual report will be required.

 

Speakers: Members had two very informative speakers which created many questions during their presentation.

  1. Program: Rod Dixon & Ben Sherman w/ Germanna Community College. Bob & Ben to discuss putting their CTE into community colleges

 

  1. Vendor Presentation: Bill Jones w/ Fire Pro. Bill to discuss who is responsible for what prior to a fire pump test acceptance test.

 There being no further business the Members Meeting was adjourned at 3:12pm.