SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

At the September meeting, we welcomed six new members companies. They are Alpha Marine Repair (Sub-Contractor), Dominico Marine & Industrial Corp (Sub-Contractor), Eastern Machine & Hydraulic, FCC Environmental, Scaffolding Solutions, and Tradesource, Inc. Effective 9/1/08, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding changed its category to Large Ship Repairer. This brought with it two VSRA BOD positions, filled by Dale Baugh and Ben Robison. The VSRA membership roles now include 183 companies.

Our guest speaker, RDML Joe Campbell, Director of Fleet Maintenance, US Fleet Forces Command (N43), briefed the membership on the challenges facing the Navy regarding maintenance of vessels and strategies for tasks ahead. Some points included:

A lot of effort is spent discussing/working on the lingering effects of “Legacy” ships
A large part of his job as Director of Fleet Maintenance, is trying to make a link between input from the fleet regarding its needs, and the money allocated from Washington
Topics of concern for the Navy include:
1. Sustain the Fight that We’re In
2. Sustain the Forward Deployed Presence
3. Re-cap to meet Current Demand Operations - the number of Individual Augmentee Sailors (IA’s) that are deployed has not gone down
4. Managing Flow-Readiness Risk
There has been discussion with RDML McManamon on standing up the Life Cycle Maintenance Program again
The Fleet Readiness Plan does not always need to be the same because the Fleet is not always operating at the same level—Aircraft carrier readiness will probably see changes in the future

OCTOBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

We are pleased to welcome VADM Hank Giffin, USN (Ret.), Chairman of the Board of USO Hampton Roads, as our October guest speaker. The mission of the USO of Hampton Roads to enhance the quality of life and public support for armed service members and their families. With nine centers and over 750 volunteers, the USO of Hampton Roads offers quality of life programs, family outreach and information and referral services to over 200,000 military members and their families stationed in the Hampton Roads area.

The USO of Hampton Roads is a non-governmental, but congressionally chartered organization. (Reference document: Department of Defense Directive 1330.12 of November 01, 2000) The USO of Hampton Roads depends on the generosity of individuals and corporations to fund its programs and services. While it is affiliated with USO World, it receives no funding from world headquarters.

The USO of Hampton Roads has eight centers throughout southeast Virginia. Each center is responsible for developing center activities and programs and works closely with the Administrative office to provide a wide variety of assistance and outreach to fit the needs of military members and their families. Some of these programs include: emergency lodging, mobile outreach, orientation, information and referral, special holiday programs, summer concerts, military appreciation days and Flightline canteens.

Our guest speaker for the November General Membership meeting will be Rear Admiral James P. McManamon, Deputy Commander for Surface Warfare, SEA 21, Naval Sea Systems Command. He will update the membership on MS/MO contracting.

VSRA ELECTION UPDATE

At the October 8 VSRF Board meeting, the following officers were elected: Chairman – Coleen Becker, Marine Chemists; Vice Chair – Frank Jemmison, W&O Supply; Secretary / Treasurer – David Hartley, Integrity Staffing. Many thanks to outgoing Chairman, Buck Hodges, Auxiliary Systems, Inc. for his leadership over the past years.

On Sunday, October 19, Buck Hodges will be recognized by the Great Bridge Lodge from the 36th Masonic District for his contribution to the community and his volunteer effort. This award is given annually and has been given to both women and men who give of their time and efforts for their community. Some of the previous individuals that have been honored are: Alan Krasnaff, Mayor of Chesapeake; John Newhart, Chesapeake Sheriff and Harry Blevans, City Council Member.

At the October 21 meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board will elect their officers for the October 2008-September 2010 term.

TECNICO IN THE SPOTLIGHT

VSRA is pleased to spotlight TECNICO.

Q. How long have you been a member of VSRA?

A. Técnico has been a member of VSRA since our founding in 1990, 18 years ago.

Q. What is your number of employees—locally? Nationally?

A. We have 441 employees locally and 614 nationally.

Q. Your business focus (highlight what VSRA membership has meant to your business)

A. Since our founding in 1990, Técnico has grown from 30 employees in a single location to over 600 employee/owners. Técnico provides marine and industrial services around the world and in five strategic locations along the East, West, and Gulf Coasts of the United States. Our experienced workforce provides services to U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, MSC, Commercial, and other military organizations in the areas of ship repair, alteration, installation, and maintenance; habitability and joiner system design, fabrication, and installation; mechanical systems; hyperbaric facility design, fabrication, and installation; and commercial and offshore fabrication, installation, alteration, and repair. VSRA has been the unified voice of the entire Tidewater ship repair industry including Técnico effectively communicating our concerns to local, state, and federal agencies. Membership in VSRA has been advantageous to Técnico’s success.

Q. Your company locations

A. Our headquarters is in Chesapeake, VA. We have regional offices in Mayport, FL; San Diego, CA; Panama City, FL; and Mobile, AL.

Q. Company slogan/ motto

A. “Comply, Satisfy, Improve”

ANTHONY EUGENE REID IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Técnico would like to spotlight one outstanding employee:

Q. Name

A. Anthony Eugene Reid

Q. Title

A. Welder

Q. Hometown

A. Portsmouth, VA

Q. Hobbies

A. I cut children’s hair and fix older model cars

Q. What brought you into the ship repair industry?

A. I started working for Técnico as a laborer and decided that I wanted to learn to be a welder. Técnico sent me to Tidewater Community College to learn welding, and now I weld stick, MIG Aluminum and Stainless Steel, TIG, and Flux Core. I had always wanted to work for a company that encourages employees to grow and helps them learn new skills. I’ve also had training in Ethics and Safety, which are very important at Técnico. I won Técnico’s Safety Award for July 2008.

Q. One interesting fact no one knows about you

A. I can use both my right and left hands equally well, which is very useful when I’m welding in tight spaces.

4th ANNUAL GOVERNMENT STANDARDS OF CONDUCT SEMINAR

2nd ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINAR

Is the Sky Falling? What do New Environmental Regulations Mean for Virginia’s Maritime Industry?

SPONSORED BY: VSRA, VMA, and Earl Industries, LLC

COST: $35 VSRA Members; $60 Non-VSRA Members

DATE: October 22, 2008

TIME: 8:00 to 10:30 am. Registration begins at 7:30 am.

LOCATION: Norfolk Yacht Club, 7001 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23505

Topics discussed will include: Air Emissions, Vessel and Water Discharge, and Pathways to Environmental Collaboration. Breakfast is included in the cost of admission. Registration deadline is Thursday, October 16, 2008.

We invite you to share your best practices with us prior to the event to help facilitate this exchange and leverage potential partnerships. Please e-mail your best practice area (i.e. air emissions, water reclamation, product recycling) to Michelle Carrera at mcarrera@thomascarrera.com

Don’t delay—sign up today! Click here for Event Details & Registration http://www.virginiashiprepair.org/confdetails.asp?ID=2621

LEVERAGING GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCE

DEFENSE STRATEGY SEMINAR

SPONSORED BY: VSRA in Partnership with WBB Consulting, Inc.

COST: $195 VSRA Members; This class is not open to Non-VSRA Members

DATE: January 13, 2009

TIME: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Registration begins at 7:30 am

LOCATION: WBB Consulting, Inc., 4429 Bonney Road, Suite 400, Virginia Beach

Come learn the impact of the Defense Budget, and get an inside look at how the federal legislative and appropriation processes work. This event is for VSRA members only. Click here for Event Details & Registration http://www.virginiashiprepair.org/confdetails.asp?ID=2624

CAREER DAY SCHEDULE 2008-2009

Job Skill Training Expo: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 from 10:00 am-3:00 pm. At the Clarence Cuffee Library, 2726 Border Road, Chesapeake, VA 23324

Salem High School: Thursday, February 5, 2009 from 7:30 am-12:00 pm in the library, 1993 Sun Devil Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464

**If you are interested in attending any of the above Career Days, please contact Ann Howell or Josephine Anderson to sign up. The VSRA office number is 757-233-7034, or email at info@VirginiaShipRepair.org

SMALL BUSINESSES OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to McPhillips, Roberts, and Deans, PLC, which was named the 2008 Small Business of the Year in Norfolk. The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce has been recognizing the Small Business of the Year each year since 1984. The chamber also recognized a variety of small firms as the Rising 25 - five "up-and-coming businesses" from each city – Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. Taylor Made Diagnostics in Chesapeake and G-1 Mechanical, Inc. in Portsmouth were recognized for their contributions in the Rising 25.

The Chamber of Commerce hands out the honors each year to recognize the contributions small-business owners make to the local economy. There are about 161,000 small businesses in the region, said Jim Carroll, the chamber's vice president for small business and executive director of the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads.

MATH MENTORING PROGRAM

Student outreach is a very important component of the American Society of Naval Engineers’ mission and VSRA’s future work force. If you are interested in a very rewarding experience and can donate an hour or two a month, please contact DeWitt Davis. Mentoring for SOL preparation and "homework help" is scheduled at both Bayside Middle School in Virginia Beach and Lake Taylor Middle School in Norfolk. There will be AM and PM sessions.

Please contact DeWitt for specific times and locations. Phone (757) 495-3524

E-mail ddavis@pinn.net

BRAVO ZULU

From http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/trivia03.htm

This is a naval signal, conveyed by flaghoist or voice radio, meaning "well done". It has also passed into the spoken and written vocabulary. It can be combined with the negative" signal, spoken or written NEGAT, to say "NEGAT Bravo Zulu," or "not well done."

There are some "myths and legends" attached to this signal. The one most frequently heard has Admiral Halsey sending it to ships of Task Force 38 during World War II. He could not have done this, since the signal did not exist at that time.

"Bravo Zulu" actually comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book (ACP 175 series), an international naval signal code adopted after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created in 1949. Until then, each navy had used its own signal code and operational manuals. World War II experience had shown that it was difficult, or even impossible, for ships of different navies to operate together unless they could readily communicate, and ACP 175 was designed to remedy this.

In the U.S. Navy signal code, used before ACP 175, "well done" was signaled as TVG, or "Tare Victor George" in the U.S. phonetic alphabet of that time. ACP 175 was organized in the general manner of other signal books, that is, starting with 1-flag signals, then 2-flag and so on. The 2-flag signals were organized by general subject, starting with AA, AB, AC, ... AZ, BA, BB, BC, ... BZ, and so on. The B- signals were called "Administrative" signals, and dealt with miscellaneous matters of administration and housekeeping. The last signal on the "Administrative" page was BZ, standing for "well done."

At that time, BZ was not rendered as "Bravo Zulu," but in each navy's particular phonetic alphabet. In the U.S. Navy, BZ was spoken as "Baker Zebra." In the meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had adopted English as the international air traffic control language. They developed a phonetic alphabet for international aviation use, designed to be as "pronounceable" as possible by flyers and traffic controllers speaking many different languages. This was the "Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta..." alphabet used today. The Navy adopted this ICAO alphabet in March 1956. It was then that "Baker Zebra" finally became "Bravo Zulu."

COMMITTEE UPDATE

Communications Committee

The committee discussed the contents of the September/October newsletter. The next meeting will be Monday, November 10 at 1:00 p.m. at the QED conference room at 4646 N. Witchduck Rd, Virginia Beach.

Contracts Committee

The 4^th annual Standards of Conduct course will be offered October 20 at Nauticus. This is an excellent opportunity for member companies to comply with the ethics requirements of the FAR. It is highly recommended for senior management, as well as for all employees who interface with government employees and/or subcontractors and vendors. Capt. Stanton briefed the committee on current topics of interest to VSRA member companies. The next meeting will be Thursday, November 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the Troutman Sanders offices at 150 West Main St (16^th Floor) in Norfolk.

Human Resource Committee

Mr. Herbert Brown, Director of the Norfolk Area Office of the EEOC briefed the committee on changes occurring in at both the state and local level and how they will benefit both claimants and employers. He also discussed claims processing. The next meeting will be Wednesday, November 5 at 11:00 a.m. at the Troutman Sanders offices at 150 West Main St (16^th Floor) in Norfolk.

Quality Assurance Committee

Ken Edwards is the new chairman of the committee. He discussed a MARMC letter concerning incorrect weld gases mixture discovered on the West Coast. The incorrect mixtures were caused by faulty equipment out of calibration. However, suppliers in our area had been checked and found to be in compliance. MARMC’s Chief Engineer has formalized and implemented a process that requires the SBS/QAS to validate the contractor-identified inspections have taken place and are appropriately documented IAW NAVSEA Standard Item 009-04 requirements. It was noted that accept/reject criteria be specific on the documents at the jobsite. Mike Dunn reported that the committee is aggressively moving forward on the VSRA audit program. The plan is that we will be on-line operating 100% prior to next month’s meeting. The committee meets the second Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m., at the QED conference room at 4646 N. Witchduck Rd, Virginia Beach.

Security Committee

Leigh Kennedy is the new chairman of the committee. Ms. Gina Dara, CNRMA Security briefed the committee on the process for obtaining regional contractor badges and background checks. The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the United Coatings Corp. conference room, 650 Chautauqua Ave., Portsmouth.

OSHA RULE HEARINGS SCHEDULED

One remaining public hearing has been scheduled to discuss OSHA’s proposed rule to improve safety in shipyards. The hearing is scheduled for October 21 in Seattle.

The proposed rule, General Working Conditions in Shipyard Employment, would include requirements for minimum lighting, motor vehicle safety, and sanitation. Additional information is available in the June 30 Federal Register.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

We are pleased to offer the following courses:

Blueprint Reading

Location sponsored by Earl Industries, LLC

COST: $325.00 VSRA Members; $399.00 Non-VSRA Members

DATE: November 4-7, 2008, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

LOCATION: Metropolitan Laboratories, 330 County Street, Suite 200 Portsmouth, VA 23704

This course is directed to rising welders and shipfitters, or workers who need a familiarity with blueprint terminology, symbols and design features specific to ships. The course provides 28 hours of instruction with take-home activities, 3 quizzes and a final exam. Attendees will receive critical drawing analysis experience, as well as hands-on blueprint activities. For a complete course outline please contact the VSRA office.

First Aid/CPR/AED/Emergency First Responder ½-Day Refresher Training

Location Sponsored by Tecnico Corp.

COST: $75.00 VSRA members; $110.00 Non VSRA members

DATE: November 12, 7:30am – 11:30am

LOCATION: Tecnico Corp., 831 Industrial Ave., Chesapeake, VA 23324

Location Sponsored by United Coatings Corp.

COST: $75.00 VSRA members; $110.00 Non VSRA members

DATE: October 23, 7:30am – 11:30am

LOCATION: United Coatings Corp., 650 Chautauqua Ave., Portsmouth, VA 23707

This refresher course is appropriate for those certified in 2006.

First Aid/CPR/AED/Emergency First Responder Certification

Location Sponsored by United Coatings Corp.

COST: $105.00 VSRA members; $140.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: October 22, 7:30am - 4:30pm

LOCATION: United Coatings Corp., 650 Chautauqua Ave., Portsmouth, VA 23707

Location Sponsored by Tecnico Corp.

COST: $105.00 VSRA members; $140.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: November 13, 7:30am - 4:30pm

LOCATION: Tecnico Corp., 831 Industrial Ave., Chesapeake, VA 23324

Emergency First Responders ~ OSHA Approved/Internationally Accepted

*This certification is OSHA-approved/internationally accepted and is a step beyond the Red Cross certification and is more oriented to industrial environments.* This course provides comprehensive instruction in CPR and First Aid, as well as Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use, emergency oxygen administration and conscious choking management skills. Upon successful completion of this course, attendees receive a Certification Card.

NAVSEA Basic Paint Inspector Prep Course

COST: $140.00 VSRA members; $175.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: November 18 & 19, 2008, 8:00am-4:30pm both days

LOCATION: Metropolitan Laboratories, 330 County Street, Suite 200, Portsmouth, VA 23704

This course will review coating documents such as SSPC PA-2, NSTM Chapter 631 and NSTM Chapter 634 for non-skid and others. It will also provide a thorough review of SI 009-32 and applicable sections of 009-04. Recent changes to the NAVSEA NBPI Exam have resulted in lower pass rates. In order to better prepare your workers, VSRA is offering a 1-1/2-day pre-course specifically to address exam standards and increase inspector-level knowledge. Each attendee must bring a current copy of NAVSEA Standard Items 009-32 and 009-04 (FY08).

NAVSEA Basic Paint Inspector Training (NBPI)

Sponsored by VSRA and course approved by NAVSEA

Location sponsored by MARMC

COST: $550.00 VSRA members; $675.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: December 1-5, 2008, 7:00am - 5:00pm

LOCATION: MARMC Building LF-18, Norfolk Naval Base

Attendance is limited to 20 applicants. A score of 80% or higher is required to be eligible for the certification. Students passing the exam will receive a four-year certification and a laminated wallet card from SSPC. Test results will come directly from SSPC.

Due to changes with the SSPC, all documents related to this course need to be submitted to the SSPC representative, Jeannine Bodack. Her email address is: bodack@sspc.org, phone: 877-281-7772 x 2204, fax: 412-281-9995. These documents must be submitted two weeks before the first day of class. Please go to the SSPC website http://www.sspc.org/training/nbpi_prereq.html to view the current required documents.

NAVSEA Cableway Training and Certification Training

Instructional Partnership by VSRA and AMSEC

This training is certified by NAVSEA

Location sponsored by Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.

COST: $595.00 VSRA Members; $745.00 Non-VSRA Members

DATE: November 3-7, 2008, 8:00am – 4:00pm

LOCATION: Colonna’s Shipyard, 400 E. Indian River Rd, Norfolk, VA 23523

Attendance is limited to 20 applicants. This course delivers 35+ hours of lecture, video, hands-on lab work and text-based assignments over a five day period. A score of 70% or higher on the comprehensive exam is required for successful completion. The course covers all NAVSEA requirements and skill sets in depth. Upon successful completion of this course, the attendee will receive a NAVSEA Cableway Certification Card.

Senior Supervisor’s Leadership Course

Location Sponsored by Earl Industries LLC

COST: $375.00 VSRA members; $465.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: October 22-23, 7:30am - 3:30pm

LOCATION: Earl Industries, 3128 Victory Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23702

This course is designed for supervisors with more than five years of experience. Course learning centers on leadership demands, behavioral management, tracking professional goals, and developing stronger workers through career development and goal setting. The course delivers 16+ hours of lecture, video, hand-on activities, the Kouzes & Posner Leadership Challenge System and text-based assignments over a two-day period. Students spend four hours developing leadership communication patterns using job safety analysis, inspection and investigation scenarios to apply what they learned to real world examples.

Please register on the VSRA website www.virginiashiprepair.org for above seminars. Online registrations are preferred; however, phone reservations can be accommodated. For questions/help registering please call our office at 757-233-7034.

**Please note, you must be logged in to receive the discounted VSRA price for seminars.**

Refund & Cancellation Policy: VSRA offers courses at a greatly reduced rate to our members. Cancellations must be made within 4 business days of the course date to receive full credit contingent on slots being filled. Late cancellations will be given a 50% credit towards future training or 100% if open slot is filled. No-shows WILL BE CHARGED the course fee, and no refunds will be made. Substitutions are welcome; however, please contact the VSRA office as soon as possible. If VSRA has to reschedule or cancel a course, we will work with your company to place employees in a future training course.

Newsletter: October/November 2008 Newsletter