Happy New Year to all members of VSHE. We have started the year on a very positive note. Our membership is approaching 170 members which is our highest number in the short history of VSHE. Our goal is to exceed 200 in 2016, and as last year we will present a gift certificate to the 200th person who joins. Please encourage your friends and co-workers to join.

I want to extend an invitation to each of you to attend VSHE's annual conference and training sessions which will take place May 9 - 12 in Williamsburg, VA.  Building upon last year’s conference, we have assembled a program that has something for everyone and will expand your knowledge of what is going on in healthcare in Virginia and the United States.

We will again offer ASHE training, CHFM and CHC exam prep courses, and the Healthcare Construction Certification on the first two days. On the morning of May 11 we will transition to the annual conference with a keynote presentation by Mr. Scott Burnett the CEO of Community Memorial Hospital at VCU, located in South Hill, Virginia. Scott, a past president of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, will provide his perspective on the challenges facing the many small to medium size hospitals in the Commonwealth. In addition to Scott, we will again have a Joint Commission update presented by Mr. George Mills, Senior Engineer/Associate Director of the Standards Interpretation Group. As in the past, his presentation will have something for everyone: healthcare facilities personnel, construction managers, architects, engineers and equipment and service providers. Additionally, we have presentations after the tracks on codes and standards, operations, design, construction and environmental issues. 

As you can see, we have something for everyone that will expand your knowledge in this very complicated industry of healthcare facilities.

Finally, we will wrap up a great week with our annual golf tournament at the Green golf course. Always a great time for all.

Please visit the VSHE website for registration which opens online February 8th, and take advantage of our special room rates.

See you in Williamsburg!

~ Bob Reardon
VSHE President​

Our membership is now operating on an "anniversary" format. This means that membership runs for one year from the date of registration. Help us achieve  our goal of 200 members this year and reap the benefits of being part of one of the leading ASHE chapters in the country. More people, more knowledge, better results! Tell a friend about VSHE.

The lifeblood of the VSHE organization flows through our membership. Through the support of our members we are able to focus on education, advocacy, and overall promotion of the industry we serve. We encourage you to join or renew your membership today. Why wait? We also want to encourage our members to speak with peers and colleagues about the benefits of becoming a VSHE member.

I am pleased to inform you that 2016 marks eight years since VSHE Blue Ridge district was established.  In 2008, VSHE was limited to Virginia Beach only. Then, in 2009 we helped launch the Central district. In 2010, we had out first VSHE Annual Conference in Williamsburg.

Since then, the Annual Conference was transformed from a single day session to a four day event including ASHE training, educational sessions and a most successful trade show.

At the same time statewide membership has increased substantially, as we are targeting to have 200 members this year.  Therefore, we are seriously focusing on membership.

VSHE membership offers great value, educational opportunities, networking with key members of this industry and access to a vast system of healthcare professional.  It touches engineering, regulatory compliance, design developments, state of the art products, innovations and practical solutions.  Furthermore, it is a great conduit for fellowship and long term relationships.

Each district sponsors an event that is shared by internet connections throughout the state.  Virginia Beach presents in August, Blue Ridge in October and Central in January. 

Blue Ridge will also have local sessions.  In October 2015 we had a presentation on Laser Mapping of buildings, and in November on Fire Door Inspections.  We are planning a very interesting session on chilled beams for February 2016. A date will be announced very soon.

We are also talking to local chapters of the Construction Specification Institute, ASHAE, AIA, NFPA and other societies to sponsor joint events.

Lot's of excitement. We are always focused on member needs and welcome your ideas and participation.  Please join us, communicate, comment and critique as we are here to serve you.

 ~ Dylan C. Henderson
VSHE Blue Ridge District Chair

The VSHE leadership is working on the plans for another great conference in May 2016. The VSHE conference will be held May 9-12, 2016 in Williamsburg. This year we will have some new speakers on new topics. Conference registration will open February 8.!!

The Central District meeting was held on January 14 on the UVA campus in Charlottesville. Nalco presented updates to ASHRAE 188 to help us understand how to help prevent a Legionella outbreak. During the last two Central District meetings, I have focused part of the meeting on leadership. Leadership was highlighted by two videos from the TED talks series. I have received several requests for the TED talks website; it was such a strong leadership message. For those who are interested, the links below are the two videos from the November and January meetings.

Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action

Drew Dudley: Everyday leadership
https://www.ted.com/playlists/140/how_leaders_inspire

The annual membership drive is in full swing. We are made up of Facility Managers, Architects, Engineers and vendors of many different types. Together, we all strive to enhance the healthcare environment by sharing information and collectively working as a group. This group is self-supported by its membership and events throughout the year. I encourage you to renew your membership each year and encourage others to join.

If you or someone you know would like to help plan, organize or be involved with any of the VSHE events, feel free to contact me for information. I am also open to suggestions on topics for quarterly meetings.

~ Joe Auricchio
VSHE Central District Chair

Our last meeting in Hampton Roads was held during the Healthcare Engineering week and took place at the Chrysler Museum of Art:  A wonderful presentation about the Affordable Care Act. Financial performance in every organization is a key focus in the C-Suite.  The more we understand how our revenues are generated, the better off we are.  Being financially aware of reimbursement methods helps us understand that it takes a great deal of revenue to generate the operating income that we use as Facilities Managers.  Taking time to learn about finances, reimbursements, and budgeting is a key part of the learning experience in becoming a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM).  ASHE is the number one resource for Facility Managers across the country to stay connected, learn within, and emerge with new ideas.

Have you renewed your membership yet?  VSHE membership offers great value, educational opportunities, networking with key members of this industry and access to a vast system of healthcare professional.  It touches engineering, regulatory compliance, design developments, state of the art products, innovations and practical solutions.  Furthermore, it is a great conduit for fellowship and long term relations.  As an organization, we have implemented numerous enhancements to our process.  In addition to the May Conference, the Board meets twice a year focusing on member needs, process improvements, succession planning and future objectives. Each district sponsors an event that is shared by internet connections throughout the state.  Hampton Roads presents in August, Blue Ridge in October and Central in January.

We have a lot of exciting initiatives in process. We are always focused on member needs and welcome your ideas and participation.  Please join us, communicate, comment and critique, as we are here to serve you. The VSHE leadership is working on the plans for another great conference in May 2016.

The annual membership drive is in full swing. We are made up of Facility Managers, Architects, Engineers and vendors of many different types. Together, we all strive to enhance the healthcare environment by sharing information and collectively working as a group. This group is self-supported by its membership and events throughout the year. I encourage you to renew your membership each year and encourage others to join. We are asking if you have any desired topics you’d like to see brought to the Hampton Roads District, please feel free to let us know.

Hampton Roads will conduct its next meeting in March, 2016.  Following that will be the Conference in May, our broadcast meeting in August, and a meeting during Healthcare Engineering Week again in October of 2016.  Are you interested in becoming a member of the VSHE Leadership team in Hampton Roads? The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Educational Program Leader, and Communications/Membership Manager are positions within the Local Leadership that open for nominations each year and voting takes place at the annual conference in May.    Remember there is a great opportunity to recognize great teams every year through VSHE’s annual “Teamwork” awards.  If you know of a team doing a great job, please take the time to nominate the team for the “Teamwork” award.  See the website for details and feel free to reach out to me for any assistance you may need.  See you in March, and please register for the conference early.

~ Robert Richards
VSHE Hampton Roads District Chair
​

The Benefits of ASHE Membership.

As a member of VSHE, we encourage each of you who are not members of ASHE to consider joining. In the complex field of healthcare facilities management there is only one organization that speaks for us in all forums to include certification organizations, CMMS, and Code and Standards organizations: And that is ASHE !! In addition to advocacy, ASHE also is a leading source of education and certification programs in healthcare facilities. ASHE also conducts two national training sessions each year: (1.) the Planning, Design and Construction Summit in the Spring, and (2.) the Annual Conference in the Summer. These are truly one-stop meetings for all things “healthcare”. Please consider joining this great organization that represents our field.
​
~ Mark Nicol
ASHE Advocacy Chair

Bob Reardon, State President, is requesting that each district open nominations for State Officers at the district's first quarter meeting. Each District Chair will shall ask the members present for nominations for State Officers. A member need not be present to be nominated. Nominations will stay open until April 15th.

Those members nominated will be contacted by Lynne Manning, the state Communications Chair, within seven (7) days via email to confirm their intent to be officers. All nominees have seven (7) days to reply via email. After the nominees have replied, an email will be sent to all members informing the members of the nominations.

The list of nominees will be emailed to the membership and posted on the website as “notification of elections”.

At the Annual Conference in May, an official ballot will be prepared. Write-in candidates will not be accepted. Each member present at the election will have only one vote. No member shall vote by proxy or absentee ballot. A majority vote is required for election. Voting will continue until all officers are elected.

The District leadership election process shall follow the same timeline of the state election process.