We are off to a great start for 2012.  On January 18^th we celebrated our Past Presidents with our annual event.  What a great turn out to honor our past chapter leadership with a full house including 19 of our Past Presidents attending.  I want to especially tank Melinda Barry of HTS who made all the name tags and worked the registration table.  The evening started with a reception in the Sam Houston and San Jacinto Rooms where lively discussions and visiting was accompanied by local musicians from the Houston String Trio.  Miss Texas USA, Brittany Booker, was on hand for candid pictures and autographs.  Following the reception, the crowd moved into the Texas Ballroom for dinner and more entertainment.  The food was excellent with the main entre of steak and chicken kabobs. 

Our annual sponsors and event sponsors were acknowledged for their contributions making this event possible. Thank you to the sponsors, Platinum Level: Hunton Trane and Johnson Controls; Gold Level: HTS, Vicon Equipment, and Carrier; Silver Level: Roessler Equipment, Straus Systems, and Texas Air Systems; and event sponsors Flexmaster and Oslin Nation.

During the program we recognized Immediate Past President Keith Reihl for his exceptional service to our chapter with a Presidential Pin.  Thanks to Valerie Roberts for using her photographic skills aided by Ms. Booker to greatly improve the group picture of all the Past Presidents attending.  Alan Neely, President-Elect, introduced comedians Gerald Torregosa and Bob Biggerstaff treating the audience to lots of laughs.  The evening ended on a high note for Bruce Colborne of Texas Air Systems and Scott Steffen of HTS both winning $50 cash door prizes.  Thank you to all who attended.

For on February 15^th meeting it’s back to business.  We have another ASHARE Distinguished Lecture for our Technical Session at 11:00 AM and lunchtime talk.  Mr. Julian R. de Bullet has over 40 years experience in the HVAC industry. His career has concentrated on the applied use of Chilled Water and All-Air systems as a manager of applied equipment sales and as a manager of a service/performance contracting operation. Most recently, he was Director of Industry Relations for a major HVAC manufacturer. He is an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer with over 250 Seminars delivered around the world with topics including “Responsible Refrigerant Use”, “Sustainable HVAC Systems”, “Variable Primary Flow System designs” and “90.1 and LEED”.  He has co-authored numerous ASHRAE Handbook chapters as well as co-authored ASHRAE Position Documents on Energy Efficiency, Natural Refrigerants and Ozone Depletion. He is a Life Member and holds the Distinguished and Exceptional Service Award.   Mr. de Bullet will be making a presentation on refrigerants, please make plans now to attend.

The officers and committee chairs remain committed to delivering exceptional membership value and are always looking for members with like ideals.  If you are interested in becoming more involved in our local chapter please contact me by email to info@ashraehouston.org .

Thank you,
Paul J. Alexander
President, ASHRAE Houston 2011-2012

New ASHRAE Houston Members for the February HAR Issue:

Submitted by Chad Wiginton – Membership Chairman

Members

For Information on a GeoThermal Seminar in Houston Tx follow the link below:

http://ashraehouston.org/downloads/2012_tx_gshc_program.pdf

In Attendance (Conference call)

• Paul Alexander / President / Straus Systems
• Alan Neely / President-Elect / Pittsburgh Corning Insulation
• Mike Donovan / Vice President / Heat Transfer Solutions, Inc.
• Elliot Millican / Treasurer / E&C Engineers & Consultants Inc.
• Michael Langton  / Secretary / Redding Linden Burr
• Kimberly Thompson / Product Directory
• Chad Wiginton / Membership Chairman
• Brandon Jackson / Awards Chairman
• Kenneth Shifflett / Student Activities
• Brian Dunne / Sustainability Chairman
• Neil Silverman / Historian
• Steve Roche / Refrigeration Chairman

Regrets

• Christine Porterfield/YEA/Roessler
• Keith Reihl / Past President / Reihl Engineering
• John Walik / HAR Editor / Lashley & Associates, Inc.
• Don Nye / Chaplain / E&C Engineers & Consultants Inc.
• Dave McCoy / CIC representative / BDMI

3:00 PM BOG Started and concluded by 3:35 PM

Paul Alexander / President:

• Paul reviewed the agenda for Past Presidents night.
• We are expecting around 150 people for PP night
• He will not be able to attend the Winter Meeting, but will be at CRC
• Brought up PAOE points – Langton needs to develop a plan to maximize points
• Acknowledge sponsors at PP night
• Same delegates and alternate for the CRC

Alan Neely / President Elect:

• Update on Past Presidents night – Ms. Texas and comedian
• There are 5 programs left for this year (Julian, IAQ, Student night. Lisa Rosenow, ERV with Shown Moody and Fluids

Mike Donovan / Vice President:

• Research met its 30% goal of over $25K - extra PAOE points (handled by nat'l)
• Spring golf tournament is May 7th
• Will attend the ASHRAE president elect training in Dallas
• Deadline for Golden Gavel is the day of the CRC

Elliot Millican / Treasurer:

• Positive balance in the bank
• CDs are unchanged

Michael Langton / Secretary:

• No report

Brandon Jackson / Honors and Awards:

• Working on Flaniken fellow and Tech awards

Neil Silverman / Historian:

• Will forward his proposed PAOE points to Langton

Kenneth Shifflett / Education-Student Activities:

• He keeps updating the web site with events but it won't update.  Will check with Walik to determine the problem. 
• He needs to get scholarship forms out

Steve Roche /  Refrigeration Chair:

• Nothing to report.

Brian Dunne / Sustainability:

• Nothing to report

Kimberly Thompson / Directory:

• Nothing to report
• She will try and find a second person for her committee to get PAOE points

Chad Wiginton / Membership:

• 745 total membership (approx 700 professional/45 student)

Christine Porterfield / YEA Chair :

• Absent. 

John Walik / HAR Editor / Webmaster:

• Absent

ASHRAE Student Activities Update

Submitted by Kenneth Shifflett, P.E. / Student Activities Chair 

February 19-25, 2012 is National Engineers Week.  I would like ASHRAE Houston to become more involved this year with K-12 presentations, joint activities with other organizations, etc.  If you would like to volunteer to participant or have contacts – please email me.  

Also, we are looking to grow student interest in ASHRAE within the local colleges (University of Houston, Rice, LoneStar college, ect..)  If anyone has contact information for potential interest, please email me at kshifflett@distribaire.com.

Alan Neely / Houston Chapter (left) receives the Pinnacle Award from Ron Jarnigan / ASHRAE National President (center) with Keith Reihl / Houston Chapter (right)  in attendance.

Click Here To See The ASHRAE Houston Calendar