September 2, 2010

To: All RSES, Green Mountain Chapter Members

Re: State of the Chapter.

Greetings;

It's that time of the year again. With the end of summer comes the beginning of monthly RSES meetings and classes.  Over the past year we have done a number of tours and had some exceptional speakers at our monthly meetings, and the Board has been happy to see a good turn out at some of these. We've also had joint meetings with ASHRAE which were well attended. One of the questions the Board keeps asking itself is, what does membership want in terms of speakers and tours? We have tried to provide that to the Chapter, but are at a point where we need more input from both our members, and perhaps even more, our members employers.

I first joined RSES in 1987 as a member of the Mont-shire Chapter. I travelled an hour from my home to where meetings and classes were held to take the Refrigeration/AC track. RSES gave me the career I have today, and I ask you each of you to think about what RSES has given you.  One of the reasons I have taught classes, and accepted the Chapter Presidency is to give back to RSES for what it has given me.  Our Chapter is now at a point where we need each and every member to consider the same thing. What can you give? I will have been President of the Green Mountain Chapter for 8 years at the end of this coming year, and I have decided to step down. A year ago I accepted a position as Deputy Director for Region 1 (New England) under Director Jim Byrd, so I still plan on being an active part of the Chapter. But now is your chance to become part of the Chapter Leadership. Since we resurrected the Chapter, we have run it as a Board, where each Officer has an equal say in how things are run. In 7 years I've only had to use my power as President once to break a tie in opinions of an issue, so your voice is heard and important. Talk to any of the Officers in the Chapter and ask us how to get more involved. Talk to your employer and ask them to get more involved. For this Chapter to remain strong and relevant, we need to provide what the area Employers and Technicians need, but without your input, we can't always know what that is.

RSES is in the midst of re-inventing itself once more. We were a leader when Refrigeration was first becoming a trade, when CFC reclaiming first became part of our trade, and now as RSES is offering more and more online classes for technicians whose schedules don't allow them to attend classes. Be part of that change, it isn't nearly as daunting as you might think and it is rewarding. As the saying goes, many hands make for light work. We need you.

This upcoming season promises to be another exciting one. Already we are lining up speakers and tours. To open the 2010 season in September we will be meeting at Heritage Flight Facility in South Burlington. We'll be looking at their HVAC systems, and also their solar domestic water, wind power, green roofing system and DDC systems. Don't miss it, as this will be an informative and interesting afternoon with free pizza afterwards.

We are also beginning another round of classes, with R/AC 2 scheduled to start in late September. If you're interested in taking the class, contact one of the Officers or the chapter's email address: generalmail@rsesgreenmtn.com .  Other classes we are interested in running are the EPA Proper refrigerant Usage Class, and either a DDC Controls class, or Electricity for the HVAC Technician. Please let us know if you're interested in either class, as we need to get enough people signed up to run them.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming meetings, and hope you'll consider taking a more active part in the Chapter. You'll find it feels good to give back, and make an impact. I know that's been my experience.

Speaking for myself and the other Green Mountain Chapter Officers,

Dave Robistow, Vice President

Andre Morin, Treasurer

Shawn Labelle, Secretary

Steve Heitkamp, Web Officer

Clark Sweeney, Board Member

Peter Bailey, Board Member

Thanks for reading,

Chris Lang