September 23, 2025 Chapter Minutes

Members Meeting Minutes of Meeting #173        September 23, 2025

The AFSA Members Meeting at the Williamsburg Hilton, Williamsburg 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

Craig Smith – Ferguson Fire

Steve McGee – ACI

Hooper Loscomb – Eagle

MaryCatherine Coyle – Eagle

Shawn Walls – Hajoca

Jason Gill – CG Fire

Louie Perkins – Summit

Rudy Jones – Hajoca

Joe Saffer – AFS

Chris Born – Clark Nexsen

Jeff Lewis – VSC

Danielle Fowler – Potter Electric

Tyler Wells – Ferguson

Mike Meehan – VSC

Dominique Rose – VSC

Jon McLawhorn – ACI

Lauren Milliman – VSC

Chris Stone – ACI

Eric Prgram -Mosley

Brandon Harris – Ferguson

Danny – AFS

Linda Biernacki – AFSA National

Jack Medovich – Summit

Tony Gore – Ferguson

Bob Caputo – AFSA National

Katy Llywellyn – Central VA Burn Camp

Leslie Baruch – Central VA Burn Camp

Introduction:

Bob Beckwith opened the meeting by welcoming the board members. Bob asked everyone to introduce themselves. Bob introduced the speakers for today’s meeting Katy Llywellyn and Leslie Baruch with Central VA Burn Camp and Bob Caputo and Linda Biernacki with AFSA National.

Treasurer’s report:

Craig Smith, Treasurer, reported as of .31.2025 the AFSA Checking account held $36,223.19 and the AFSA Janney investment account held $78,765.64

Committee Report

  • Legislative:

Hooper reported the following:

Not much to report at the August Board of Contractor meeting, no mention of any fire protection issues was discussed. There were two new members that replaced two members with very high union interest. Mentioned the upcoming election and encourage everyone to get out to vote.

  • Membership:

Bob reported the following:

No new members have been identified since our last meeting. It was mentioned of a new sprinkler contractor on the Richmond area, Veteran Fire Protection, that will be contacted.

Be on the lookout for a call to confirm your contact information for anyone that needs to be added.

  • Program:

Bob Beckwith reported the following in Tom’s Klecka absent:

Bob Caputo was our instructor for this year’s seminar at Chesterfield Fire Training Facility. Subjects were freeze protection, concealed spaces, and updates to NFPA25. The event was sold out with 90 paid members. Tom received numerous positive feedback. Lunch was provided by Mission BBQ, and cookies and brownies were provided this year.

  • Public Relations:

Hooper reported the following Sprinkler Saves:

In the morning of Monday, September 8, Chesterfield Co. Fore and EMS crews responded to a structure fire at Chirisa Technology Park at Meadowville Technology Parkway. Officials said a fire was contained to a battery room by its sprinkler system. Crews remain on the scene throughout the day to control flare-ups, which Chesterfield Fire and EMS said can happen when dealing with fires involving batteries. Fire officials also said fires at data centers like this one are extremely rare. The owner said in a post that the alert was caused by a ingle battery which caught fire. They believe the root cause was a manufacturing defect. According to the data center officials, the fire was contained within the battery cabinet enclosure and extinguished by the fire suppression system. Given the possible danger these batteries pose to our facility and employees we will be immediately removing and replacing all batteries with units from a different manufacturer, the date center said.

An unknown number of residents were displaced from an apartment complex Saturday evening in Virginia Beach. The VA Fire Department was dispatched to a reported commercial multi-family unit fire in the 00nblock of Infinity Lane approximately 6:15pm.

Upon arrival at 6:21pm, crews found light smoke from an electrical box outside of the apartment complex. Officials say while working on the issue there was a catastrophic failure inside the electrical room of the building that caused the sprinkler system to deploy. Power was cut to 101 apartments Saturday evening after a fire and subsequent electrical failure triggered the sprinkler system. While crews worked to mitigate the issue, officials said a catastrophic failure occurred inside the electrical room activating the sprinkler system. Dominion Energy immediately secured the power to the affected units due to the dangerous combination of water and electricity. The number of residents displaced remains unclear. Property management is working to help tenants find temporary housing if needed. No injuries to residents, firefighters, or pets were reported, and there was no fire damage to the building.

  • Social Media Committee:

MaryCatherine reported the following:

Looking to get Tom’s seminar posted and then the golf tournament, and the National Convention. June Meeting minutes have been posted which is all to post. Social wise we are pretty consistent with approximately 24 new followers a month and still rank as one of the best Chapters behind NFSA and AFSA National. Currently we have 932 followers. Very exciting with all the attention our Chapter is receiving.

  • Education/Apprenticeship:

Jeff Lewis reported the following:

A lot of action going on, our Career Fair is set for February 25th. This one is going to be big, we’re inviting all central Virginia school districts, Hanover, Henrico Chesterfield, and Goochland. The goal is to make this a regional resource, so schools that have interested students come to this. We have 10 students in the fire protection program this year, which includes one female sophomore.

NCCR has promised (Jennifer Wilkerson) a curriculum taking the plumbing curriculum and merging the fire protection program into it so either plumbing or a fire protection contract can teach this. If this becomes a reality we can take this program throughout the country.

VSC is attending the National Youth Apprenticeship Summit in Alexandris in December to learn everything about setting up a youth apprenticeship program. We will be setting up a booth at the Association of Career Technical Education Conference in Nashville December 9th through the 12th. The only other upcoming event is February 11th a Virginia Beach School Career Fair which I will provide further information once received.

Golf:

Bob Beckwith reported the following:

Big day tomorrow, tee off at high noon. Lunch will start serving at 11:00am having Italian sausages and burgers and chips. For dinner, steak and shrimp. Expecting great weather for the 248 golfers. I would like to thank the golf committee who met eight times this year to ensure this event goes off without a hitch. We have vendors donate 2) 75” TV’s, pizza oven, of shore fishing trip, electric bike, iPad Pro, and a lot of great items. Hooper mentioned the Bloody Mary booth that will be set up at the putting contest.

  • NexGen:

Dominique Rose reported the following:

NexGen will be sponsoring the Putting Contest again this year. Last year was a great success and I am excited to bring it back making a few changes which includes a Bloody Mary Booth. Dominique is setting up a NexGen event for early November. NexGen will refresh the store front at Regency and have a little social afterwards. If you or some you know is interested to belong on the NexGen Team contact

  • Community Projects:

Jeff Lewis reported the following:

The second floor of the Hermitage Ace Center is the community project for this year to get students into working on the sprinkler system. It’s going to mimic a hospital from the time you check in to exam rooms and programs to train students going into the medical field. Bon Secour has donated a million dollars blood analysis machine with the intention of their people to be trained. VSC is doing the fire sprinkler system, American Fire has completed the design. I’m still looking for someone to produce the fire alarm drawings.

Jeff has received a fire alarm panel to be installed in the fire protection lab. Looking for a company to assist with the installation.

The 20th house (community project) has been sold. House #21 has started next door to House #20, but sprinkler work is not anticipated to start for another year.

  • Scholarship:

Jason Gill reported the following:

Jason reminded everyone that this year’s scholarship winner is Brooklyn Monell. Brooklyn’s dad is a Project Manager with ACI in Suffolk. It was discussed to revise the criteria and the potential candidates. Suggested that existing college students be included. Would also like to promote this program a bit more through social media and to make it more visible to the employees at the field, design, and fabrication level. A motion was made unanimously to open the scholarship to existing college and trade school students.

  • Code Assistance

Joe Saffer reported the following:

Go to the VA Chapter website menu there is a link “Ask the Board”. It will focus on local codes, especially in the Northern Virginia area, which seems to be the most difficult. I can provide business advice, contracting information and am happy to share operational systems, technology reviews and management practices. Looking to promote this site on social media. Also expect our Chapter to send out weekly responses from questions received to help promote this opportunity. Guaranteed response in 24 hours.

  • BSF Charity Committee

Bob Beckwith reported in George Wagner absent:

VA Chapter has an investment account with Jannie wealth management. It’s gotten to where the Burn Survivor account is getting big, we’re hoping this account will sustain the charities, through the interest, in case there’s never a golf tournament. In the process of obtaining a charity nonprofit permit. George is going to be interviewing both the Central VA Burn Camp and Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation. To determine what the money was used for, what do they need, what are your future needs, and who are your contacts. This will allow the Board to report back to the people and companies, donating all the money Once obtain then we can apply for tax exempt status.

Old and New Business

  1. Bob Beckwith mentioned how important AFSA membership is driving AHJ free membership. Our AHJ membership is outstanding.
  2. 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.
  3. George Wagner is the committee chair to oversee the Burn Suvivor Foundation and the Old Dominion Firefighters Burn Foundation committee. An annual report will be required.
  4. Bob Beckwith tenure as AFSA VA Chapter President expires December 31, 2025. Timothy “Hooper” Loscomb has been elected to become the next AFSA VA Chapter President and will assume his new position January 1, 2026
  5. the year.
  6. Tom Klecka is stepping down as a Direction to our AFSA VA Chapter at the end of the year.
  7. November’s Holiday Social will be held at Apex Entertainment in Virginia Beach November 6th.
  8. AFSA Golf Tournament needs to contract a date with Williamsburg National for 2026.
  9. AFSA National Convention will be held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Club September 27 – 30 2026.
  10. Henrico Co Career Fair is set for February 25th at the Henrico Adult Educational Facility.
  11. Future dates for 2026 Board & Member Meetings: February 3rd, April 7th, June 2nd, September ?, and November 3rd.

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

Presentation Speaker: Katy Llywellyn and Leslie Baruch w/ Central VA Burn Camp: Leslie discussed what takes place at the Burn Camp and how AFSA VA Chapter has contributed to their operation. Katy provided her history of her past and how she became a vital part of the success of the Burn Camp.

Vendor Presentation: Bob Caputo and Linda Biernacki w/ AFSA National: Bob and Linda inform the group of the upcoming events associated with AFSA National and the numerous means National supports each individual chapters.

Our 50/50 drawing was conducted at the end of our meeting with the results of Mike Merhan winning $92.50 of the $15.00 total pot. Mike donated his winnings back to the AFSA VA Chapter. Thanks for your support, Mike.

There being no further business, the Members Meeting was adjourned at 2.51pm.

Respectfully submitted.

Steve McGee, Executive Director AFSA VA Chapter