Newsletter: MAY/JUNE NEWSLETTER

Our guest speaker for the June meeting will be Ms. Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, Executive Director, Elizabeth River Project, who will provide a valuable update on the organization’s progress. Ms. Jackson has been with the Elizabeth River Project since its initial conception in November 1991. She was a founding volunteer, founding member of the Board of Directors and became the first paid staff member in 1993, as Coordinator. She now serves as Executive Director, overseeing the Elizabeth River Project in its mission to “restore the Elizabeth River to the highest practical level of environmental quality through government, business and community partnerships.”

 

In this role, Ms. Jackson oversees a staff of nine pursuing numerous actions in the Elizabeth River Project’s Watershed Action Plan, Elizabeth River Restoration. The plan was adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia as its Regional Action Plan for reducing toxics in the Elizabeth River. Ms. Jackson received the William H. Savedge III Environmental Achievement Award from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in 2002 for her personal commitment to environmental restoration of the Bay.

 

Under Ms. Jackson’s leadership, the Elizabeth River Project recently christened the world’s first Floating Wetland Classroom, the “Learning Barge”, a self-sustaining, mobile education center. Moored throughout the Elizabeth River, the barge serves as an interactive classroom designed to help students of all ages learn how to take care of the River and its resources – with the ultimate goal of helping to make the river swimmable and fishable by 2020. VSRA is leading the effort to compile a detailed maintenance plan for the barge and has coordinated the assistance of the Association’s members’ Apprentice Programs to provide hands-on maintenance support to the barge’s long term maintenance needs – a win-win effort.

 

Prior to taking a position with the Elizabeth River Project, Ms. Jackson was a journalist for daily newspapers. She served as staff writer for the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., for 10 years, covering education, City Hall, religion and other issues. She was named one of the 10 best religion writers in the country in 1991 and was nominated by the Pilot for a Pulitzer for her coverage of Norfolk’s desegregation busing case. Prior to that, she was a reporter with The Augusta Chronicle in Augusta, Ga.

 

The website for the Elizabeth River Project is www.elizabethriver.org.

Our guest speakers were Tom Vaughan, Board Champion of READY WHEN THE TIME COMES (RWTC), and Pam Wakefield, Director of Disaster Services, Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross. They discussed program new to our area, READY WHEN THE TIME COMES. RWTC is a program of the American Red Cross that provides volunteers from partner companies and community organizations to be immediately ready to help in the time of a local, large-scale disaster. RWTC volunteers serve as “reserves” that can be called up when disaster response requires more than the normal corps of local disaster volunteers.  VSRA and six VSRA member companies are the lead co-sponsors for the region. Our region covers nine community chapter.

 

Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disaster incidents – hurricanes, fires, storms, floods, tornados, explosions, etc. – serving those affected with shelter, mass care and financial assistance.  This requires not only Red Cross employees and trained disaster volunteers but also specially trained, quickly mobilized volunteers who can fill specific needs. RWTC is designed to recruit and prepare those volunteers to assist with logistics, disaster assessment, feeding, and shelter. 

 

The lead VSRA companies are:

BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair (Shelter)

Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc. (Feeding)

Crofton Diving Corp. (Disaster Assessment and Feeding)

Earl Industries (Logistics)

MHI (Feeding)

Tecnico Corp. (Disaster Assessment)

 

Training for these teams is ongoing. This program is open to all VSRA member companies, and we invite to participate. Please contact Pam Wakefield at 446-7740 or the VSRA office for more information.

At the April meeting, the Board of Directors approved the membership of the following seven companies:

Business Performance Group, Inc.

Dataline, LLC

Marine Chemist Atlantic, Inc.

Network Industries, Ltd.

PaR Marine Services, LLC

Rain for Rent

Wolf Creek Fabrication

Business Performance Group, Inc., is a small business that provides training and consulting services in three areas: strategic planning, business capture and project management. Our goal is to develop high performance organizations that deliver business results. As a Project Management Institute (PMI)-registered education provider, we have trained over 1,000 students in project management. Our students’ first-pass success rate on PMI’s Project Management Professional® has been 99%.

 

For more information, go to www.bpgroup.net.

As a technology solutions provider to DoD and the federal government, Dataline has provided Engineering and Technical Services in the Tidewater area since 1990.  With a wide range of experience in ship repair and AIT installations, Dataline provides support for Command and Control (C4I), Navigation, Interior Communications, and shipboard repairs and infrastructure upgrades/installations.  Additionally, Dataline specializes in Enterprise Solutions and IT & Network repair/maintenance/upgrades.

 

For additional information, go to www.dataline.com.

Marine Chemist Atlantic Inc. in Norfolk, VA is a small business that inspects vessels for “gas free” conditions and instructs marine safety classes. For additional information, contact them at 757-451-0655, 7301 Shirland Ave., Norfolk, VA 23505

Network Industries, LTD. is a woman-owned, small disadvantaged business founded in 1995 as a provider of ship repair services. Network received 8(a) and HUBZone certifications in 1999 by the U.S. Government's Small Business Administration. Our business is providing technical services in the areas of installation, overhaul and refurbishment in the marine industry.

 

Network Industries has established a solid reputation for reliability and a commitment to excellence of service. Our success in supplying the skilled and semiskilled labor force, lead to Network's expansion into a full service ship repair company. Network's service capabilities have continued to grow and incorporate telecommunication installations and maintenance, skilled and unskilled temporary labor services, demolition and construction services, complete welding and fabrication services, ship board habitability and renovation services, and full-service marine preservation and coatings.

 

For additional information, go to www.networkindustries.org.

PaR® Marine Services provides waterfront OEM service and support for American Heavy Industries, NETEC, Jered and Unidynamics marine elevators, winches, steering units and capstans.

PaR Systems has a 46-year history of providing robust automation solutions equipment for demanding industry requirements with long-term quality support. PaR Systems continues to build on our long-standing experience designing and manufacturing a family of gantry robots, telerobotic manipulators, and integrating Fanuc® pedestal robots for automation solutions and material handling systems. PaR Systems supplies robotic systems to industries where high precision, heavy payloads and a large variety of work envelopes are best served by a robotic gantry robot. PaR Systems' CIMROC® Robot Controller provides high accuracy, continuous path control for up to nine servo axes along with adaptive control to meet the most demanding requirements.

In addition, by expanding product expertise in traditional businesses as well as in recent acquisitions, PaR Systems has been able to successfully add significant depth and breadth to our capabilities. This has enhanced our ability to provide specialty material handling and automation solutions to customers in a number of highly specialized industries. PaR Systems' approach leverages our large base of equipment platforms and applications experience to meet the special needs of our customers. Our ability to access platforms and technology expertise gained from thousands of previously successful automation solutions and material handling systems solutions allows PaR Systems to cost effectively provide reliable solutions where others may fail.

For additional information, go to http://www.par.com.

Rain for Rent has been setting the performance standard for complete liquid handling solutions since 1934. The experienced professionals at Rain for Rent design and install a system that will provide a solution for each customer's unique project in an efficient and cost effective manner. Our solutions, be it water filtration system or dewatering system, can be tailored for a specific industry job site, from the simplest liquid-handling solution to the most complex, large flow bypass pumping job. Every product and solution we offer is specifically designed to provide maximum value to our customers.

 

At Rain for Rent, you can rent with confidence. From the water pumps and pipe for infrastructure improvement, spill containment rental solutions, liquid storage tanks for environmental projects, filtration systems to help meet discharge restrictions, dewatering boxes for waste minimization and a myriad of other unique solutions.

 

For additional information, go to http://www.rainforrent.com.

Wolf Creek Fabrication Services is a premier, full-service metal fabrication company providing value-added products and services to our government and commercial customers.   It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of  Chugach Alaska Corporation, one of the 13 Alaska Native Regional Corporations formed following passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971.  Chugach’s shareholders are composed of three distinct cultures – Aleut, Eskimo, and Indian -- that settled in the Chugach region of Alaska over many centuries. 

 

Wolf Creek provides fabrication and prototyping for hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) engineering, as well technical expertise for government and commercial entities and contracts.  Wolf Creek’s core competencies include metal fabrication (welding, machining, sheet metal shear/cutting, prototyping), related services (alterations and inspections, touch labor, welding training and certification), and special services (powder coating, nondestructive testing).

 

Wolf Creek’s operations headquarters are located at 550 Woodlake Drive, Suite 200, in Chesapeake, Virginia.  The facility is comprised of 32,000 square feet of office, shop, and storage space.  Wolf Creek’s operations facility is a self-sufficient, open-bay with areas large enough to conduct fabrication production, equipment repairs, and equipment and material stowage.

 

For additional information, go to http://www.chugach-ak.com/business/companies/wcfi/Pages/default.aspx.

Date:               May 19, 2010

Time:               9:00am-1:30pm

Location:         Troutman Sanders-Multi Purpose Room (20^th floor), 222 Central Park Ave., Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Price:               $60.00 per person

 

Description:

This is a 1/2 day seminar sponsored by the VSRA Human Resources Committee. Exclusively offered only to VSRA members. It will cover a variety of issues of concern to the company’s human resource challenges. The seminar cost includes a continental breakfast and a light lunch.

                                                   

Seminar Agenda:

9:30-10:15:  Chris Abel - Electronic Communication Monitoring/Social Networking Issues

 

10:15 - 11:00: Tammy Colvin - ERISA Compliance

 

11:00 - 11:30:  LUNCH

 

11:30 - 12:15:  Victoria McCoy - Strategic Evaluations/Planning

 

1215 - 1:00:  John Di Dio - Affirmative Action Plans

 

If you are interested in attending this valuable HR Seminar, please register on-line on the VSRA website, www.virginiashiprepair.org. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office at 757-233-7034 or via e-mail, merickson@virginiashiprepair.org. Please note - The seminar will start promptly at 9:30 am. 

 

Date:               May 19, 2010

Time:               9:00am

Location:         Tecnico Corporation, 831 Industrial Ave, Chesapeake, VA 23324, in the Training Room.

All VSRA member companies are invited to attend.

The top Junior and Senior Tradesman have been nominated for our 2010 VSRF Tradesman of the Year Award. Many of the companies who have participated use this award as a way to recognize their top performers and communicate the pride we all have in the work our trades people do all year long.

 

All nominees will be recognized, and the winners will be announced at the VSRA General Membership Luncheon on Tuesday, May 18th at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth.

 

Award winners will also be recognized at the National Maritime Day celebration on May 21st at the Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center at Nauticus in downtown Norfolk.  

By Steven G. Vegh 

 

The Virginian-Pilot         

 

Alicia Tillman spent much of her senior year applying for college scholarships, and the Norview High School senior landed one of the biggest there is: a Gates Millennium Scholars award. 

 

The award pays not only for any college expenses Tillman can’t afford, but for any graduate school costs if she seeks advanced degrees. 

 

“Since I have the Gates, I plan on going all the way to a Ph.D.,” said Tillman, 18, who expects to attend Virginia Tech this fall. The award could easily total tens of thousands of dollars by the time her education is completed. 

 

The scholarship, administered by the United Negro College Fund, is funded by a $1.6 billion grant made in 1999 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It assists African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic Americans who have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. 

 

Tillman said she learned of the Gates award through

 

At Norview, Tillman was in the Leadership and Engineering specialty program, earning a 3.98 grade point average. She took four Advanced Placement courses and also earned college credits by taking Tidewater Community College courses. 

 

Tillman expects to study industrial design in college and hopes eventually to own her own business, designing products for sale to other corporations. But before that, she’s willing to start out by working for someone else – preferably, she said, a toy company. “I want to have fun at my job, and that would be a perfect place to do it.”  

 

Steven G. Vegh, (757) 446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com 

Congratulations to the 2010 LEGO Competition Champions, Lake Taylor Middle School!  The Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA) held the 4^th Annual Ship Repair Industry Awareness LEGO Contest at Nauticus on Friday, April 23, 2010. The Ship Repair LEGO competition promotes ship repair industry awareness while increasing middle school students’ competitive skills in mathematics, as well as analytical and conceptual reasoning skills. 

 

Each of the eight competing middle school teams from three Hampton Roads cities was assigned an industry engineering expert from the VSRA member companies as a technical advisor. Each school team researched the ship repair industry and its careers before actually designing a ship or portion of a ship using LEGO computer design freeware. Their designs were based on their industry research and included at least one capability not currently found in ships. 

 

Teams presented their research and designs before a panel of ship repair industry judges, and were judged on design, innovation and fiscal feasibility. Their presentations included a written report, as well as an oral PowerPoint presentation.

 

The eight Hampton Roads teams presented their designs in hopes of becoming the 4th Annual Champion. After the preliminary round of presentations, three finalists were chosen. Lake Taylor Middle School from Norfolk, Huntington Middle School from Newport News, and King’s Fork Middle School from Suffolk were the 2010 finalists. Lake Taylor Middle School was crowned 2010 Champion in a competition that separated the finalists by only a couple of points.

 

This event was made possible by the generous support of VSRA member company sponsors Marine Chemist Services and Ameri-Force Craft Services. Photos from the 4th Annual Ship Repair LEGO Competition can be viewed on the Virginia Ship Repair Association Facebook page (www.facebook.com/virginiashiprepairassociation.)     Many thanks to all of the students, faculty advisors and VSRA volunteers and sponsors!

 

5/19/10 - The Tidewater Section of the American Society of Naval Engineers will hold its annual Social, at the Norfolk Yacht Club. 1800-1900 Social Hour, 1900-2030 Dinner. Make your reservations using the on-line form at www.asne-tw.org. All are welcome to attend.

 

5/19/10 – The OSHA Partnership meeting will be held at 0900 at Tecnico Corporation, 831 Industrial Ave, Chesapeake, VA 23324.

 

6/7-6/10/10 – The Mega Rust 2010 Conference will be held at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, San Diego, CA.   For registration information, go to www.navalengineers.org and select “events”, then “upcoming events”. Click on Mega Rust.

 

9/13/10 – ASNE FMMS 10 Golf Tournament to benefit the ASNE Scholarship Fund. Florida Best Ball, Captain’s Choice at The Signature at West Neck Golf Club, 3100 Arnold Palmer Dr., Virginia Beach, 23456. Shotgun start at 1300, box lunch at noon.   Contact Rob Ploeger at rploeger@caci.com (647-0069) or Richard Sobocinski at rsobocinski@colonnaship.com (545-2414, Ext 383).

 

9/14-15/10 – The Tidewater Section of American Society of Naval Engineers will hold its Fleet Maintenance and Modernization Symposium 2010 at the Virginia Beach Conference Center. Confirmed speakers include Admiral Gary Roughead; Admiral John C. Harvey; VADM Kevin McCoy; RADM Clarke Orzalli and VADM Pete Hekman, USN (Ret.). For information on registration, exhibits, sponsorships, or the program, go to http://www.asne-tw.org/asne/FMMS10/index.html.

9/16/10 – The annual JINII Conference will be held at the Virginia Beach Conference Center. Registration information will be available in June.

At the April meeting, the committee met to review the May/June newsletter and the survey results. The committee meets the second Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. at QED Systems, Inc. at 4646 N. Witchduck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

 

At the April meeting, it was announced that RDLM Murdock will relieve RADM Orzalli as the Fleet Maintenance officer. The MARAD small shipyard grant program was discussed. The committee meets the first Thursday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Troutman Sanders conference room, 150 Main Street, 16th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510.

 

The committee met in March. However the minutes have not been posted.  The committee meets on odd-numbered months on the second Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707.

 

At the April meeting, Gregg Kennedy reviewed and introduced the Optima Association Plan for VSRA members. The committee discussed the May 19^th seminar. The committee meets the first Wednesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. in the Troutman Sanders Conference Room, 150 Main Street, 16th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510.

 

At the April meeting, Josephine requested database issues be sent to her. The committee discussed standardizing the Standard Item 009-77 PCP for cofferdams. Ken Edwards commented on the outcome of the NSSA’s NAVSEA audit. Auditor training is ongoing. The committee meets the second Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at Q.E.D. Systems, Inc., 4646 North Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

 

At the March meeting, the committee discussed the planning for the Safety Seminar, Safety Suggestions, Safety Orientation, and OSHA’s proposed rules for notification of hexavalent chromium exposure. The committee meets the second Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707.

                                                                                                

At the April meeting, Ryan Jefferson, Norfolk District Manager, provided a company history on USIS. The committee discussed e-QIP and SF-86. The committee meets the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the United Coatings Corp. Conference Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707.

We are pleased to offer the following courses:

 

Location sponsored by United Coatings Corp.

COST: $90.00 VSRA members; $125.00 Non VSRA members

DATES:  June 2, September 29, October 27, November 17, December 16, 2010, 7:30 am – 11:30 am

LOCATION: United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707

 

 

Location sponsored by United Coatings Corp.

COST: $115.00 VSRA members; $150.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: June 1, September 28, October 26, November 16, December 15, 2010, 7:30am - 4:30pm

LOCATION: United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707

 

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.

 

 

COST: $325.00 VSRA members; $465.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: June 10-11, August 26-27, October 7-8, December 2-3, 2010, 7:30am - 3:30pm

LOCATION: Tecnico Corporation, 831 Industrial Ave, Chesapeake, VA 23324

 

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.

 

 

Location sponsored by Old Dominion University

COST: $485.00 VSRA members; $575.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: May 14, May 21, May 28, June 4, September 3, September 10, September 17, September 24, October 29, November 5, November 12, November 19, 2010, 8:00am - 4:00pm

LOCATION: Tecnico Corporation, 831 Industrial Ave, Chesapeake, VA 23324

 

This course weaves Leadership and Management applications throughout the National Safety Council course.  Supervisors will learn about the labor market, their own leadership and management strengths and how to effect change on the waterfront.  Passing students receive the National Safety Council Supervisors Certification. This course will be for 4 weeks, only on Friday.  The course dates are Jan 23, Jan 30, Feb 6, and Feb 13 2009.  This course is for supervisors with 5 years or less experience.

 

 

COST: $250.00 VSRA members; $325.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: May 20-21, October 21-22, 2010, 8:00am - 4:00pm

LOCATION: United Coatings Corp. Training Room, 650 Chautauqua Avenue, Portsmouth, VA 23707

Standard Items Update uses on-line capabilities along with text copy to overview Standard Items and hone-in on pertinent changes for 2000-2010. After a general overview, the instructor covers the material MOST relevant to the students in class. Little time is wasted in covering areas that students don't need. So, every class is different, but they meet all needs of the students and companies who send them! There are only 15 slots for this course, so please don't delay in signing up those employees who need this training!

 

 

Location sponsored by Earl Industries

COST: $225.00 VSRA members; $275.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: June 22-24, October 13-15, November 30-December 2, 2010, 8:00am-4:30pm both days

LOCATION: TBA

                                                                                            

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 will receive a current copy of NAVSEA Standard Items 009-32 and 009-04.

 

 

Sponsored by VSRA and course approved by NAVSEA

COST: $675.00 VSRA members; $850.00 Non VSRA members

DATES: May 24-28, July 12-16, October 25-29, December 6-10, 2010, 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 to view the current required documents.

 

 

This training is certified by NAVSEA

COST: $725.00 VSRA Members; $845.00 Non-VSRA Members

DATE: May 17-21, August 23-27, November 1-5, 2010, 8:00am – 4:00pm

LOCATION: AmSec, 2829 Guardian Lane, Virginia Beach, 23452

 

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.

 

 

Location sponsored by Earl Industries

COST: $375.00 VSRA Members; $475.00 Non-VSRA Members

DATE: June 8-11, September 14-17, 2010, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

LOCATION:  TBA

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.

 

 

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.