Newsletter: November/December 2010 Newsletter

Our November speaker will be Karen Scherberger, Executive Director of Festevents, who will update us on OpSail 2012. 

 

After graduating from Old Dominion University, she earned a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Georgia. After finishing her graduate studies in Athens in 1979, she returned to Norfolk where she worked in her alma mater’s admissions office.

 

She became the first Director of Festevents in 1982. Since 1982, they've been attracting more than two million people per year to the Virginia waterfront, creating outstanding sponsorship opportunities for our regional and national marketing partners. Norfolk is in the heart of Hampton Roads, the nation's 27th largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). From this central location, Festevents organizes events from March through December, each of which draw anywhere from 1,000 to hundreds of thousands of visitors. Through a unique mix of festivals, special events, concerts, movies, tall ship visits and much more, Festevents has become one of the nation's premier events marketing organizations.

 

One of the main reasons for Norfolk Festevents' success is that it capitalizes on Norfolk's natural appeal as an inviting waterfront city. The seven-acre Town Point Park, with its outdoor concert amphitheater on the Elizabeth River, provides an ideal locale for the festivities and musical events. Other sites for large and small events include Ocean View Beach Park on the Chesapeake Bay, the marina-front Waterside Outdoor Amphitheater, Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, MacArthur Center, the area's premier new shopping mall, and Harbor Park, Norfolk's beautiful and critically acclaimed new baseball stadium.

 

In addition to attracting visitors to downtown Norfolk, Festevents has made contributions in excess of $2 million dollars since 1983 to area charities. Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Hampton Roads, The Dwelling Place, Down Syndrome Association of Hampton Roads, REACH, Inc., National Hemophilia Foundations (Virginia Chapter) and Animal Rescue of Tidewater are only few of the charitable organizations and great causes throughout Hampton Roads that benefited from Festevents' proceeds over the years.

Norfolk Festevents, Ltd. is a private, not-for-profit 501-(c)(3) organization.

Mark your calendar now for the CHANGED DATE for the December meeting. Because our usual meeting date falls so close to Christmas this year, we are changing the date of our meeting to Tuesday, December 14. That is ONE WEEK EARLIER than our usual meeting date. 

 

Our invited guest speaker is Congressman Randy Forbes, 4^th District of Virginia. He will provide our annual legislative update, and he can talk about the shake up on the House Armed Services Committee. While Republicans will control the Committee with the new Congress, what will happen with the loss of key, long-serving Democrats?  The Democrat Committee Chairman and the next three highest ranking Democrats lost their bids for re-election.  Gone are Ike Skelton of Missouri, John Spratt of South Carolina, Solomon Ortiz of Texas, and Gene Taylor of Mississippi. Glenn Nye, 2^nd District of Virginia lost his bid for re-election. All of the Republican members of the Committee were re-elected except for Charles Djou of Hawaii who lost his bid for re-election and Mary Fallin of Oklahoma who did not run for re-election. 

 

This is our Christmas Holiday luncheon, so the menu is special, and we are served a special treat, WINE!    It’s also the time of year when we recognize all of our committee volunteers, so if you have served on one or more of the VSRA committees in calendar year 2010, please come, participate in the networking, enjoy the food and drink, and celebrate another successful year of service to VSRA. We hope to see you there.

Our guest speaker for the October General Membership Meeting was Mr. Philip Shucet, President/CEO, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), who updated us on the light rail project in Norfolk, as well as HRT’s efforts to become more efficient. The light rail line will open for passengers in May 2011. Norfolk holds the distinction of being the smallest city in the United States and the first city in the Commonwealth of Virginia with its own light rail line. 

 

Mr. Shucet admitted that the project started wrong and mistakes were made. The result is the late delivery, increased cost, and less than optimum design. The current projected end cost is $338 million. All 7.4 miles of track work is complete. The electrical lines are being run. Park and Ride lots will begin construction before the end of the calendar year, and the utility shed is under construction. All trains have been delivered and are being tested and checked.

 

HRT is working on a study to determine the feasibility of extending light rail to Virginia Beach. They are also looking for funding to study expanding the line to Navy Base Norfolk. 

 

HRT is also working toward reducing costs $3 million this year through efficiencies. They are reviewing bus routes, periodicity between stops, driving habits and new technologies. Any feedback from the consumer is welcome.

 

At the October meeting, the Board of Directors approved 5 new member companies. This brings our total membership to 207 member companies. The new companies are Amee Bay, LLC (Ship Repairer); Craft Forklift and Material Handing, Inc. (Subcontractor); kSARIA Corp. (Subcontractor); Rix Industries (Supplier/Service/Other); and Beach Commercial Finance (Supplier/Service/Other).

Amee Bay, LLC is an Alaskan Native Corporation (ANC) owned by the Village of Old Harbor, Kodiak Island, Alaska. They are certified as a participant in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) program, as well as a Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), awarded as of February 2007. Amee Bay, LLC is primarily a marine engineering firm specializing in rotating machinery and naval hull, mechanical & electrical systems on commercial vessels, naval ships and submarines. They perform in-place repairs of critical shipboard rotating machinery such as motors, generators and turbines. They provide in-service engineering for most shipboard hull, mechanical, electrical, and auxiliary systems such as deck machinery, air conditioning, switchboards and hydraulic systems. Their Headquarters is located Anchorage, AK. Their operational headquarters are in Charleston, and they have facilities strategically located near concentrations of maritime activity and naval homeports such as Norfolk, San Diego & Mayport.

 

To find out more, please visit their website at www.ameebay.com

Craft Forklift & Material Handling is located in Virginia’s Copeland Industrial Park. Convenient from all areas of Hampton Roads, we stand ready to take care of all of your Fleet and Industrial Truck needs. We have in-house parts specialists, a machine shop with engine remanufacturing ability, on-site preventative maintenance programs, forklift rentals and road service repairs. These are a few of the reasons you should allow us to perform all of your vehicle and material-handling repairs. 

 

To find out more, please visit their website at http://craftforkliftinc.com

kSARIA has developed and implemented manufacturing facilities, based on proprietary automation technology, that can fully process fiber optic assemblies and interconnect solutions, with a minimum of human involvement.  With this capability, kSARIA offers its customers a full range of custom and standard fiber optic interconnectivity products for Mil/Aero applications.  In order to deliver a complete solution for its customers, kSARIA provides value added services, including: Interconnect Design Engineering, Custom Fiber Assemblies, Cable Repair and Replacement, Qualification Testing, Rapid Response Delivery Programs, Field Maintenance and Repair Solutions.

 

To find out more, please visit their website at www.ksaria.com

RIX Industries manufactures a wide range of reciprocating piston compressors for industrial gases and breathing air. We specialize in oil-free technology and high pressure. Our compressors range from under 1 HP (0.75 kW) to 500 HP (375 kW), and from pressures of 50 psig (3 bar) to 6,000 psig (415 bar). Our designs are compact, v-type or vertical, and can be supplied either as bare units or packaged per customer requirements. RIX Industries has been in business for over 130 years. Our engineering, R&D and manufacturing facilities are all U.S. based in Benicia, CA and Sparks, NV. RIX Industries' markets span a wide range including industrial gas companies, refineries & chemical plants, offshore oil platforms, commercial diving, OEM's, SCUBA tank filling and Government Agencies. Demanding applications have propelled RIX to become a leader in oil-free high pressure technology. We have established relationships with the major industrial companies as well as engineering firms, OEMs, and the U.S. Navy. A sample of industries and major clients we serve are listed below.

 

To find out more, please visit their website at www.rixindustries.com

Beach Commercial Finance is a private company located in Virginia Beach, VA. It was established in 1991 and incorporated in Virginia.

Can ethics training be entertaining, interactive, and informative? If your instructors are Kevin Cosgrove, Mike Gardner, and Dan Weckstein, the answers are yes, yes, and yes. When was the last time you were able to receive three hours of advice from the foremost government contract attorneys in Hampton Roads for $50 per person? You had the opportunity by attending the Contracts Committee’s 5^th Annual Standards of Conduct/Ethics Seminar at Nauticus, on Thursday, October 21.

 

This much heralded seminar examined the usually dry but always important subjects of Procurement Integrity, Conflicts of Interest, Bribery, Kickbacks, Fraud, False Claims, and False Statements, and many others. In addition to the power point presentation and legal discussion, the topics were examined through humorous vignettes involving volunteers from the audience. The feedback was the new format was a resounding success!

 

The plan for next year is to have panels of volunteers observe the vignettes and pass judgment on the guilt or innocence of the players. Mark your calendars for the 6^Th Annual Standards of Conduct/Ethics Seminar to be held in October 2011. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to provide training required by the federal government in an economic and entertaining way. This will be a lesson your employees won’t forget.

 

We would like to thank our esteemed experts who developed and conducted this most important seminar:

• Mr. Kevin Cosgrove, Esq.—Hunton & Williams’ Norfolk Office—specializes in business and government contracts advice and litigation

11/17/10 - TASC Lunch Meeting held at the Norfolk Airport Hilton, 1130 Lunch and Program. Guest Speaker is RADM Edward H Deets, III, Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command. To register for this event, go to www.tasc-tgic.org.

11/15/10 through 11/18/10 - CDCA–TASC Symposium, Charleston, SC
TASC is Co–Sponsor of the 2010 CDCA – TASC Symposium
The Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA) and TASC announce the Fourth Annual Government and Industry Conference; "Collaboration in Emerging C5ISR Technologies".   To register for this event, go to www.tasc-tgic.org.

 

11/17/10 - ASNE Tidewater Section Dinner Meeting held at the Springhill Suites, Newtown Rd., 1800-1900 Social Hour, 1900-2030 Dinner and Program. Guest Speaker is RADM John N. Christenson, INSURV, President, Board of Inspection and Survey. His topic will be, Breathing Life Back Into Your Ship. 

 

Please make your reservations for the dinner meeting no later than noon
the day before it's scheduled at www.asne-tw.org.

 

12/15/10 - ASNE Tidewater Section Dinner Meeting held at the Springhill Suites, Newtown Rd., 1800-1900 Social Hour, 1900-2030 Dinner and Program. Guest Speaker is Mr. Glen H. Sturtevant, Director for Science & Technology, PEO Ships.
His topic will be, Navy Ship Energy Efficiency.  

 

Please make your reservations for the dinner meeting no later than noon
the day before it's scheduled at www.asne-tw.org.

The committee met virtually to put together the October/November newsletter. 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 October meeting, Capt. Stephanie Douglas, USN (Ret.) introduced the committee to her relief, Capt. Michael Malone, USN. They discussed Navy year-end plans. Dan Weckstein briefed the committee on the 3% gross revenue holdback which was to come into effect in 2010.  Mal Branch briefed the committee on the recent GAO visit to study and assess the impact of moving a carrier to Mayport, Fl. from Norfolk. 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 September. 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.

 

The committee did not post the minutes from the October and November meetings. 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.

 

The committee did not post the minutes from the September and October meetings. 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.

 

The committee did not post the minutes from the September and October meetings. 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 O meeting, the committee discussed the implementation of RAPIDGate. The new director of Defense Security Service is Mr. Barry E. Sterling. Effective August 2, CNRMA Norfolk Regional Security will be performing background checks on all personnel requesting access to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. 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:  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: 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: 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: 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.

 

 

Location sponsored by Earl Industries

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

DATES: November 30-December 2, 2010, 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 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: 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.

 

 

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.