AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ESTIMATORS

NE REGIONAL MEETING MINUTES

JULY 20, 2013

HELD AT NATIONAL CONVENTION – HYATT REGENCY, PHILADELPHIA, PA

Attendance:

1. Review of Spring, 2013 NE Regional Meeting Minutes:
   1. On page 10 of Minutes, it was noted that Item “M” should be deleted.
   2. Noted by attendees that the attendance list was incorrect and needs to be revised.  Jim Hanna, recording secretary at that meeting, will make the necessary changes and re-issue.
   3. Motion by Bill Manfredonia, 2^nd by Mike Lese, to approve Minutes as amended – approved.

1. Appointments:
   1. Ron Trawinski appointed recording secretary
   2. Bill Manfredonia appointed sergeant of arms.

1. Governor’s Report:
   1. Governor Bruce noted the following -

                                          i.    Approximate 5% decrease on National level in membership from 2012.

                                        ii.    Many chapters did not complete their chapter reports.  Bruce requested a better response from this year’s chapter presidents.

                                       iii.    Bruce encouraged all chapters to create or update their websites and also to create a LinkedIn account.  There is a company (Star Chapter) which will design your website and provides many other on-line services.  The cost is $85.00/month.  It was also noted that Yahoo and Google provide templates for designing your own website at a cheaper cost.

                                       iv.    “Constant Contact” is a website that allows you to batch e-mail notices, etc. for $50.00/month.

1. Committee Reports:
   1. All positions to the National Committees for 2014 have been filled with the exception of Certification.  To sit on the Certification Committee, you must be a CPE and not be incoming president of your chapter.  See Governor Bruce if interested.
   2. National Committee representatives –

Technical Committees:

• Certification Mark Pitts CPE
• Standards      Mike Gray CPE
• Education     Ron Semel CPE

Standing Committees:

• Awards                          Wayne R Mosley CPE
• Chapter Development  Bruce Schlesier CPE (all Governors on this Committee)
• Industry Awareness: Seppo Markkanen CPE
• Membership Greg Williamson CPE
• Nominations Rob Wurtz CPE
• ByLaws         Donald Logan CPE
• Finance          BOT, Pres, 1VP, 2VP, 3VP, & Treasurer Chris Morton CPE.   (No NE members)
• Investigative Terry McGeehan FCPE
• Strategic Planning    All BOT members
• HR Committee (Past Pres, Fellows Member, Staff Advocate)

Special Committees:

• Fellows                           Terry McGeehan FCPE and Lewis Finkel FCPE
• Professional Recognition    Bill Manfredonia CPE
• MAL Services               Dexter Murphy CPE
• Scholarship   John Stewart FCPE

1. The Speakers & Sustainability Committees are being disbanded (a list of potential speakers is available on our National website or contact Patsy Smith).
2. Membership – Greg Williamson reported that the chapter which wins the Fall membership drive will be recognized with a personal visit from either President Joe Flemming or Patsy Smith.  The Spring membership drive will be similar to this year’s contest.  Note:  if you leave the Society for 3 or more years and re-join, you are considered a new member.
3. Society of Fellows - Lew Finkel requested that any member who is eligible to become a Fellow should apply.
4. By-laws Committee – Rich Lemere presented the by-law revisions which will be voted on at this year’s National Meeting:

                                          i.    Revisions #1, #2, & #5- Board of Trustees (BOT) will recommend these be rescinded.

                                        ii.    Revision #3 – NE caucus recommended passage of both sections.

                                       iii.    Revision #4 – NE caucus recommended passage.

                                       iv.    Revisions #6 & #7 – after much discussion, the NE caucus recommended passage.

                                        v.    Revision #8 – The NE caucus was split on this revision.

                                       vi.    Revisions #9 & #10 – The NE caucus was against these revisions.

                                      vii.    Revision #11 – The NE caucus was against this revision.

                                    viii.    Revision #12 – The NE caucus was split on this revision but recommended a possible amendment be put before the membership which would allow a dues increase to any member who wished a hard copy of the Estimator Today magazine (as opposed to electronic).

                                       ix.    It was agreed a member from the NE region would make a motion at the start of the National Meeting which would allow Rich Lemere to present the by-law amendments even though he is not a voting delegate to the Convention.

1. Consulting Estimators Roundtable (CERT) – This is a newly created organization which was formed to promote the interests of independent, consulting estimators.  See Governor Bruce, Lew Finkel or Bill Manfredonia if interested in learning more about the organization.
   1. An Agreement was signed between ASPE and CERT to work together in order to promote the best interests of both societies.
   2. Initial fee to join is $125.00 in addition to annual dues.
   3. Monthly conference calls have been initiated.
   4. Current membership stands at 36.

1. Governor Bruce indicated the NE Region has been requested by National to donate $5,000.00 towards the expenses of this year’s President’s Party.  To date, only about $2,500 has been collected.  Bruce appealed to the chapters who haven’t contributed to donate as soon as possible.

1. New Business:

1. Governor Bruce reminded all chapters to submit their incoming list of officers to National ASAP.
2. Fall Regional – tentatively scheduled for Mystic, CT with a possible date of Saturday, October 12, 2014.
3. The attendees recognized Rich Lemere for his outstanding service to the National By-laws Committee.  Rich has relinquished his position, effective 7/31/13.
4. Terry McGeehan indicated he would make a motion at the start of the National Meeting, requesting that five Ch. 61 votes, originally allocated to Dennis Gleason, be reallocated to the remaining voting delegates of Chapter 61.  Dennis is an employee of PECO and was mandated to be on emergency call during the National Meeting due to possible storm power outages in the Philadelphia region.

1. Motion to adjourn – unanimous.

These meeting minutes were prepared in accordance with the recording secretary’s understanding of the events, comments, notes and recording of the meeting.  Please review these minutes and if you believe there are any errors or omissions, contact Governor Bruce within 10 days after receipt. 

Respectfully submitted,

Ronald Trawinski

Ron Trawinski, CPE

Recording Secretary

Northeast Regional Meeting Minutes

3/11/13 Report by Earl Rosenow >>

10-13-12 Report by Earl Rosenow >> 

10-13-12 Meeting Minutes >>

Congratulations to Mike Gray of Richmond Chapter 82 was named to the National Standards Committee replacing Bruce Schlesier who is now Governor.