American Society of Sanitary Engineering

American Society of Sanitary Engineering
Al Cohen Memorial President’s Liaison Conference
Friday, November 21, 2008 – 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – Orlando, Florida
The meeting was called to order by International President Joe Fugelo at 8:30 AM.
1. Welcome/Introductions
Joseph Fugelo, International President, PA; Kevin Fennell, FL; Jerry McManus, LA Chapter; Linden Raimer, 2 nd Vice-President, LA;
Bill Batten, NY; Joe Soreth, PA; Robert Cross, IPP, TGC; Donald Summers, MO; Don Kool, PNW; Sue Lisowski, IL; Greg Maus, IL;
Patrick Sugrue, IPP, NOH; Patrick Flader, IL; Raymond Ehrlich, IL; John Flader, IL; Donald Reichartz, IPP, WI; Esteban Cabello,
MI; John Nussbaum, IPP; MI; Craig Bing, Treasurer, MN; Lee Clifton, CA
Patrick Sugrue nominates John Nussbaum to serve as chairman of the PLC. Nussbaum declines the nomination.
Nussbaum nominates Patrick Sugrue to serve as chairman of the PLC. Sugrue accepts the nomination.
(Motion #1)
Motion by Jordon to elect Patrick Sugrue to serve as the chairman of the President’s Liaison Conference. Second by Raimer.
Motion passed unanimously.
Linden Raimer nominates Shannon Corcoran to serve as secretariat.
(Motion #2)
Motion by Raimer to elect Shannon Corcoran to serve as secretariat. Second by Nussbaum.
Motion passed unanimously.
2. Adoption of Meeting Agenda
(Motion #3)
Motion by Jordan to approve the meeting agenda. Second by Nussbaum.
Motion passed unanimously.
3. Approval of the November 6, 2007, Minutes
(Motion #4)
Motion by Summers to approve the minutes. Second by Jordan.
Motion passed unanimously.
4. Open discussion regarding each Chapter’s Activities
Minnesota Chapter – Craig Bing
The MN Chapter membership continues to decline. The chapter is now holding their meetings at Local 15. They held 4 meetings this
year.
Michigan Chapter – Esteban Cabello & John Nussbaum
The Michigan Chapter distributed a copy of their Plumbing Design and Handbook Classes brochure that describes the meetings and
educational seminars co-sponsored by the ASSE Michigan Chapter and the ASPE Eastern Michigan Chapter.
Wisconsin Chapter – Donald Reichartz
The Wisconsin Chapter is almost defunct. We hold one meeting a year – the annual recognition award dinner meeting.
Illinois Chapter – Sue Lisowski
We have the same issues as other chapters. Our meetings are sponsored by the venders, and we are having difficulties getting sponsors
due to budget constraints. We see good attendance at meetings when the topics and speakers are interesting. We recruited 10 new
members during our Product Show, which was well attended. Our social meetings are also well attended.
Pacific Northwest Chapter – Don Kool
We hold 4 luncheon meetings each year. We hold a large annual product show which includes CEU for the plumbers and engineers
which encourages attendance. There are many ASSE members that are also members of IAPMO and ASPE.
Missouri Chapter – Don Summers

Our chapter meeting attendance has improved since last year. We hold monthly meeting from September through May. During our
meetings, we offer CEU for the plumbing licenses. Last year, we started a newsletter that has improved both meeting attendance and
membership. We are trying to get some advertising in the newsletter to help offset costs.
Texas Gulf Coast Chapter – John Jordan
We have had a little decrease in membership and meeting attendance. There is “competition” for membership with other local industry
associations. The vendors want to meet the engineers, so some of our support has moved to the local ASPE Chapter. We hold 4
evening meetings per year.
Florida Chapter - Kevin Fennell
Our chapter membership and meeting attendance is also low.
As new, younger, members join, the older members drop out.
Texas Chapter – Craig Berezden
We’ve had a couple of meeting this year; and we have recruited some new members. We elected new officers in August.
Northern Ohio Chapter – Patrick Sugrue
We meet with the local ASPE chapter for monthly meetings with interesting topics and speakers. We hold an annual Apprenticeship
Contest based on ASSE literature, and give prizes. We hold an annual golf outing with ASPE as a fund-raiser.
Clifton Lee - I think you are going too far down the food chain to get membership. Apprentices are good for short-term, not for
the long-term health of the organization. Scholarship programs are a good way to get local attention, and potential
members. Invest time in recruiting membership through universities with engineering programs. Network with the
Building Officials, and coordinate meeting with them.
Ray Ehrlich - Dewey R. Dedrick, Jr. Award Chairman
This year, only one chapter submitted the nomination form. It is my opinion as the committee chair that the Society should consider
eliminating this award due to a couple of reasons – lack of interest by the chapters, and other membership awards which cover some of
the items included in the DRD award criteria (most new members, highest percentage increase in membership, best newsletter and
best website awards).
Sugrue - I think we need to discuss future Annual Meetings. Is attendance dropping because of cost? Is it too expensive
because of location? Should we hold the Annual Meeting in locations with a local chapter? In second tier city?
An extensive discussion was held on the Annual Meeting. Items discussed
(Motion #5)
Motion by Kool to reconsider the dates for the Annual Meeting – to make it earlier in the year. Second by Cabello.
Motion passed unanimously.
(Motion #6)
Motion by Nussbaum to give a local chapter first consideration for hosting an Annual Meeting if they request it. Second by Summers.
Hosting an Annual Meeting involves helping coordinate the meeting, helping recruit speakers for the EJ Zimmer Technical Seminar,
and help coordinate activities.
Raimer - I believe the LA Chapter would be willing to host an Annual Meeting either in New Orleans or in Biloxi, MO.
(Motion #7)
Motion by Raimer to recommend to the Board that ASSE does not lock into a long-term commitment with a hotel chain for the
Annual Meeting. Second by McManus.
Motion passed unanimously.
(Motion #8)
Motion by Lisowski to pick five cities from the meeting city list, and recommend to the Board that these cities be considered for future
Annual Meetings. Second by Berezden.
20 affirmative, 1 negative (Raimer), 0 abstention. Motion passed.
Plumbing Standards Magazine
Sugrue - We are planning on upgrading the magazine and reformatting it. Rich Prospal, Shannon Corcoran and I met with a
media company to reformat the magazine and promote advertising. We need more advertising income

5. 2009 Membership Program Ideas
(Motion #9)
Motion by Lisowski to continue the Half-Price Membership Program for new Active members. Second by Cross.
Motion passed unanimously.
(Motion #10)
Motion by Cross to continue to the 10-new members incentive program. Second by P. Flader.
Motion passed unanimously.
The 10-new member incentive program is any member who recruits 10 new members, an class, qualifies the member to be in a
drawing to win a stipend to the following Annual Meeting.
6. Nominating Committee Report
President - Richard Prospal, Northern Ohio Chapter
1 st Vice-President - Linden Raimer, LA Chapter
2 nd Vice-President - Ron Murray, PNW Chapter
3 rd Vice-President - Donald Summers, MO Chapter
Treasurer - Sean Cleary, NEPA Chapter
John Flader, IL Chapter
Region #2 Director - Donald Reichartz, WI Chapter
Region #6 Director - Edward Lyczko, NOH Chapter
Region #8 Director - Robert Tesar, NOH Chapter
(Motion #11)
Motion by Jordan to accept the nominations. Second by Kool.
Motion passed unanimously.
7. Old Business
(Motion #12)
Motion by Raimer to not recommend to the Board to eliminate any national awards. Second by Nussbaum.
8. New Business
(Motion #13)
Motion by Raimer to recommend to the Board to discontinue the Yearbook, and have a summary from each staff director and the
president sent to the membership. Second by McManus.
Bladdick - The members voted on this several years ago, and it failed.
Ehrlich - The Illinois Chapter used the Yearbooks to write their history for the Centennial Book. The Yearbook also contains
the current bylaws and the changes each year; the membership list; and the list of national award recipients.
Prospal - We need to figure out what can be eliminated from it. Can the format be changed? A lot of the book is because
“that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
Nussbaum - I am against eliminating the content of the YearBook – it is a communication tool for the members. Perhaps we
should change to a digital format and send it out via cd-rom.
P. Flader - Changing to a digital format may not be a good idea
3 affirmative, 18 negative, 0 abstention. Motion failed.
Motion by J. Flader to adjourn. Second by Lisowski.
Motion passed unanimously.