2010 - The Petition

The petition was submitted to ASPE on December 17th for consideration by the Board in their January meeting.

The proposed chapter held its first holiday party at the Four Points Sheraton in Plainview, NY

By December 3rd the chapter had 75% of the signatures required for the petition. The last five signatures came from new recruits in under a week to complete the task. ASPE approved these new candidates with record speed and the signatures were recorded. On December 7, 2010 Vinny Falkowski added the last signature required to complete the petition.

Petition Signers (Sorted by Last name):

• Chris Abruzzo

• Joe Baader, Dvirka & Bartilucci Engineers, Inc.

• Mitchell Castell, PVI/Riverside Hydronics

• Bob Cruickshank, Edwards Platt & Deely

• Mike Dethlefson, Island Professional Plumbing & Heating Service

• Vincent Falkowski, LiRo Program and Construction Management, P.C.

• Mike Finnegan, Woods & Jaye Sales Company

• Paul Freeman, SUNY at Stony Brook

• Glenn DeSimone, Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP

• Ed Hopkins, EMTEC Consulting Engineers

• Bruce Kurrow

• Scott Maly, SUNY at Stony Brook

• Andy Manos

• Anthony Musumeci, EMTEC Consulting Engineers

• Ron O’Reilly, ASAP Sales Corp.

• Frank Paradiso

• Alexander Santino, Mechanical Engineering Design, P.C.

• Steve Schaeperkoetter, Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP

• Harold Smith, SUNY at Stony Brook

• Joe Turtrone, Ward Associates

Paul Freeman and Vinny Falkowski made the trip to Philadelphia to attend the ASPE business meetings and convention. It was an interesting event. Julius Ballanco, PE was the Society President back then. His use of and knowledge in Roberts Rules of Conduct were interesting to watch. There was an announcement that a proposed new chapter was forming on Long Island but they missed it by a couple of minutes.

The Society prepares for these events years in advance and they put on a very good show. The business meetings are conducted under Roberts Rules of Conduct. While the business meetings are conducted in an open forum access to the voting area is restricted. Society business is conducted in an orderly manner following an agenda. Items are presented generally by the President and voting participants are allowed to speak to or against the item.

Jack Sim the founder of the World Toilet Organization spoke to the Chapter delegates. He uses humor to highlight little known facts about what underdeveloped nations are doing to their water supply. "Because even the world’s wealthiest people still have toilet problems—from unhygienic public toilets to sewage disposal that destroys our waterways".

There is more than just business too. The Society prepares a welcome event after the business meeting. The Philadelphia Convention Opening Welcome Party was at the National Constitution Center. Food, drink and lots of fellow Conventioneers.

Following the business meeting the Exposition opens. The Expo opens with a Keynote speaker. Vince Papale was invited to an open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles, along with a few other

former Philadelphia Bell players.Because of Vinces' charisma he made the cut and played football for three seasons. At 30 he was the oldest rookie player in NFL history.

The Expo is a giant room packed with vendors and manufacturers that range from simple booths to elaborate displays with between one and 20 representatives to answer all of your questions and get your contact information also. Manufacturers literature will be received at the address you gave them for years. There is a lot to see and wear comfortable shoes. ASPE needs its members to walk the floor and meet the affiliates because without them there could be no Expo.

The Convention & Expo also provide tracks of educational sessions for members and non-members to acquire CEU's which are used to maintain professional credentials.

All in all this first Convention & Exposition was an awesome experience to be shared and talked about at subsequent events.

The first meeting was held at the Four Points Sheraton in Plainview, NY on April 21, 2010. More than twenty members, friends and colleagues attended and showed interested in our success. Jeff Ingerston, ASPE Vice President of Membership was present to provide Society background and vital information for our proposal to be a success. Jeff kicked-off the first meeting and led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jeff provided the requirements for the chapter formation; chapters are required to meet for at least three meetings and must prepare a signed petition by full or associate members requesting recognition by the Society.

Present at the 1st Meeting

• Joseph Baader, Dvirka & Bartilucci Engineers, Inc.

• Pat Bonelli, National Grid

• Mitchell Castell, PVI/Riverside Hydronics

• Fred Closter, EDW Platt Deely

• Bob Cruickshank, Edwards Platt & Deely

• Glenn DeSimone, Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP

• Michael Dethlefson, Island Professional Plumbing & Heating Service

• Vincent Falkowski, LiRo Program and Construction Management, P.C.

• Mario Fazzari, Wallace Eannace Associates, Inc.

• Paul Freeman, SUNY at Stony Brook

• Ed Hopkins, EMTEC Consulting Engineers

• Jeff Ingertson, American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)

• Phil Mizzi, ATS / Allied Technical Services, Inc.

• James Nesbitt, Edwards Platt & Deely

• Ron O'Reilly, ASAP Sales Corp.

• Tony Pennello, Dellon Sales Company

• Jonathan Ross, Dellon Sales Company

• Alexander Santino, Mechanical Engineering Design, P.C.

• Lance Silverman, Metro Rep

• Bert Stipe, QUIMBY Equipment Co., Inc.

• Daniel Szegda, Altherm, Inc.

A small group, actually four (4) interested parties met in Suffolk County to discuss the possibility of forming a chapter. Many issues were raised and discussed and a first meeting was planned. Three of the initial participants stepped up to become interim-Board members, all would eventually serve in one or more positions on the chapter Board of Directors. Present at this meeting was Paul Freeman, Ed Hopkins, Jay D'Agostino & Vincent Falkowski. The launch date was set and the journey to become a Long Island Chapter began.

Paul solicited approximately 100 ASPE members who lived or worked on Long Island. The new chapter was pursued because plumbing professionals in eastern Nassau County and in Suffolk County cannot easily get to the New York City Chapter events to participate in the ASPE New York City Chapter events. Paul's initial email is provided below for historic significance.

"My name is Paul Freeman, I am a member of the New York City Chapter of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers. For years I have found it difficult to attend chapter meetings in Manhattan.

I am currently seeking to start a Long Island chapter which would cover all of Suffolk and Nassau counties and possibly Queens as well.

In order to start a new chapter, I need to gauge the interest of fellow members. If a new chapter was formed and monthly meetings were held on Long Island would you be willing/able to attending some of the meetings?

Please reply to this email and let me know if you would be interested in this new chapter or not.

Thank You,

Paul Freeman, PE, LEED AP"