October 2015

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. Some of those benefits include:

1-  UPDATED WEBSITE – Our website has more information and presentations than ever before. We are currently working on a strategic plan to better utilize our website and social media to provide expanded benefits such as educational material, video links, ASHE advocacy updates, and more.

2-  EDUCATION - We will continue to have our quarterly meetings and annual conference in May. This year we plan to have two different levels of education at the conference. For Managers, Directors and Contractors we will have the CHFM, HCC and CHC. For supervisors and technicians we will have the one day Barrier Management Symposium. This one day symposium focuses on the Proper DIIM - Design, Installation, Inspection and Maintenance of rated assemblies. The program is designed to educate the supervisors and technicians on the floor about doing the proper repairs to rated assemblies and why these repairs are important.

3-  AFFILIATION – VSHE members enjoy being exposed an elite group of professionals in the healthcare industry. Active members find VSHE to be a differentiating factor in their career development and pursuit of professional opportunities.

4-  NATIONAL EXPOSURE - VSHE is a platinum chapter of ASHE and has been for several years. Our affiliation with ASHE gives access to national trends and support for healthcare issues. We also get insight into upcoming code revisions and send voting members to conferences to help our cause to keep healthcare safe, maintainable and cost effective.

As a closing note, 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. Please call me,  Jerry Baker, your Membership Chair, with questions.

~ Jerry Baker
VSHE Membership Chair                     

I'm sure most of you can agree that 2015 has flown by! It seems like yesterday that we were in Williamsburg at the 2015 Conference. Since then, it has been a fast paced Summer and an even faster paced Fall. 

Over the past few months here in the Blue Ridge Districts we were able to host two presentations; one in late September by Draper Aden Associates, "3D Laser Scanning Applications for Documentation and Design", which highlighted the emerging technology of laser scanning of existing building conditions and integrating the data within PDC to assist with design and construction. More recently, we welcomed Paul Baillargeon, AHC, FDAI from the Door Security & Safety Foundation in an impromptu meeting for our Blue Ridge District Members. His presentation was geared towards healthcare facilities and within it he addressed the requirements of NFPA 80's care and maintenance of fire and egress door assemblies. Paul was also able to provide the attendees with information on how to obtain education and training to prepare the assemblies for annual inspections.

We will take a break from presentations during the holidays and will pick back up in January 2016 where we plan to schedule a few more events leading up to the 2016 VSHE Conference in May in Williamsburg.

It is known across the Commonwealth that our district in Western VA faces many logistic challenges due to our vast size and unique shape. Looking ahead, as we work to continue to promote educational opportunities within our meeting structure, it is my goal to unify and provide our district with means to reach all of our members. To do so, I will be working with the other district chairs to provide structure across our district leadership as well as petitioning the Board of Directors on a state level to provide means for our districts to adequately reach our members.   

As we move forward into 2016 I encourage your continued participation in our organization, and for you to share the message and direction of VSHE across our district.

~ Dylan C. Henderson
VSHE Blue Ridge District Chair

Our District meeting this quarter will be held November 12 from 2-4pm at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg. We will have presentations on ‘ventilation issues’ and ‘leadership’. All members are always encouraged to attend the meetings in person.

 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.

Lastly, after a rough start to the membership drive the website is back up and running. The VSHE Central District group is made up of people with many different skills and experiences. We comprise Facility Managers, Architects, Engineers and vendors of many different types, to name a few. 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. 
                    
~ Joe Auricchio
VSHE Central District Chair

Robert Richards - District Chair

Good Fall to all.  We hope everyone in the Tidewater area is enjoying the Fall and all that it has to offer us.  Plenty of water activities, hiking, fishing and my favorite, GOLF.   

Many of you attended this year's annual VSHE Conference and Golf Tournament.... Thank you for attending and thank you for your support.  Please watch for next year's event information to show up in your email.   We also just had many Engineers from Virginia who attended the Annual ASHE Conference in Boston.  It is sure to provide much information for all of us to refer to as we keep our patients safe in our beautiful facilities.   Let the future emerge! 

We welcome  Ross Miller of the Rolyn Companies as our new Education Coordinator.  We look forward to planning our May 2016 Annual Conference!
         
~ Robert Richards
VSHE Hampton Roads District Chair