ASHRAE 2011

Michael Burgess Director Regional Chair (DRC)

So a new year has begun!! With the new year comes change. My name is Michael Burgess and I am your new Director and Regional Chair (DRC). My term is for three years and I am hopeful that during that time we will become better acquainted.

The 2011-2012 Society President, Ron Jarnagin, has established his presidential theme as "Sustaining ASHRAE through Leadership." I think that he is onto something! We have fourteen chapters and two Sections in our Region. Each has a President, Officers and Board of Governors that lead it. Each of these people has been chosen by you, the membership, to lead. In order for our Region to be a success, each chapter must be successful. That means each member of each chapter and section has a choice to support their leadership with ideas, energy and commitment. Without full support at the member level, chapters cannot succeed. Of course that directly affects the success of our Region and ultimately of ASHRAE Society. I encourage you to choose to be successful and commit to being the best.

Our Chapters Regional Conference (CRC) is around the corner. We will meet in Scottsdale, Arizona from August 25th through the 27th. I anticipate a very good meeting. The Central Arizona and Tucson Chapters have assembled an excellent meeting schedule in Old Scottsdale. . .The Valley Ho Resort. You can find all the information on the meeting located on the Region X website www.ashraex.org. If you have any questions please contact me at mike@burgess.com. Your CRC Delegates and Alternate Delegates should have already received the information package from Society. If they have not, please contact me, Jeanie Kirksey (jkirksey@ashrae.org) and/or Vickie Grant (vgrant@ashrae.org).

I have some very good news: ASHRAE Research has collected over $2.1 million for the fourth year in a row!! However, Region X did not meet our goal in addition to the fact that we had negative member growth. This is our challenge: Only YOU, our chapter members, can help us to change these facts. Let’s meet our goals and succeed in all we do!

I will close by saying that it is my distinct privilege to be your DRC. Let’s have a great record breaking year!
Michael Burgess
Region X DRC