Newsletter: December 2010/January 2011 Newsletter

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. 

 

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 speaker for the December meeting will be Mr. John Broderick, President, Old Dominion University. Mr. Broderick was named the eighth president of Old Dominion University in May 2009 and has served in an acting capacity since June 2008.

 

As president, Broderick guides the university's six colleges, more than ten economic development and research centers, and numerous partnerships with government and business organizations and agencies. He oversees an operating budget of $441.3 million and more than 2,500 faculty and staff members. 

 

During his tenure, Broderick commissioned a university-wide enrollment management study that has resulted in a plan to integrate all of Old Dominion's programs, practices, policies and planning to achieve optimal future enrollment and growth. The plan establishes institutional priorities and provides the basis on which to make decisions for the future of the university.

 

Prior to becoming president, Mr. Broderick served as vice president of institutional advancement and admissions and chief of staff to the president. His areas of responsibility included admissions, athletics, community and governmental relations, marketing, media relations, military affairs, special events and student financial aid. In addition to his administrative duties, Broderick annually teaches graduate courses in the Darden College of Education. He also lectured on leadership at The University of Bologna, Italy during the summer of 2009.

 

He has been recognized for his contributions to higher education and the Hampton Roads community with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities' Humanitarian Award, the Urban League of Hampton Roads' Marian Palmer Capps Award, the College Communicators Association Distinguished Service Award and Lead Hampton Roads' Julian F. Hirst Award for excellence in community, civic and professional leadership. He was a finalist for the national PR News' Professional of the Year Award.

 

Mr. Broderick is currently a board member of the Hampton Roads Partnership, Urban League and Virginia Beach Vision, and has served for many years as a youth soccer league coach in Chesapeake. Prior to joining Old Dominion University, Broderick was a faculty member in the University of Pittsburgh system and an administrator at St. Bonaventure University. He received a bachelor's degree from Northeastern University and a graduate degree from St. Bonaventure.

Our November speaker was Karen Scherberger, Executive Director of Festevents, who updated us on OpSail 2012. Additional guest speakers were Chris Watson, President Changing Our World, Inc. and Divine Tabios, Senior Director Changing Our World.

 

OpSail 2012 commemorates the War of 1812 and the birth of our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.  This celebration will partner with the U.S. Navy to bring more tall ships and military warships from around the world to Baltimore, Boston, New London, New Orleans, New York, and the Port of Virginia. Tall ships and warships have been invited from one hundred twelve nations around the world. Invitations have also been extended to Canada and the United Kingdom, historic opponents of the United States in the War of 1812, as special guests of the celebration.

 

The celebration in the Port of Virginia is scheduled for June 8-12, 2012. In conjunction with this celebration, OpSail is developing materials to be supplied to K-12 classrooms in the port cities. These materials will overlay existing curriculum with a maritime and historical theme. 

 

For more information, go to www.festevents.org.

At the November General Membership Meeting, Tom Epley, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mal Branch, President of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, thanked outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Tom Godfrey, for his service to VSRA over his two year term as Chairman. Mal Branch presented Tom Godfrey with a ship’s bell clock as a token of VSRA’s appreciation for his service. Tom Godfrey thanked VSRA for the award and said it was his pleasure to serve. Mr. Godfrey will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.

No companies applied for membership, so no new members were approved at the November meeting of the Board of Directors.

RDML Greg Thomas, Commander, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, will be our guest speaker for the January General Membership Meeting. 

 

Rear Admiral (Select) Gregory Thomas became Norfolk Naval Shipyard's 105th Shipyard Commander on September 17, 2010.  A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, RDML (Sel) Thomas was commissioned an Ensign in 1982 upon earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the United States Naval Academy. After completing Nuclear Power and Submarine Training, he transferred to the Engineering Duty Officer community to serve as Outside Machinery Repair (R-9) Division Officer at Naval Submarine Support Facility New London from 1985 to 1988.

He served next on USS SAN JUAN (SSN 751), where he qualified in submarines and supported the delivery and shakedown period of the first improved Los Angeles-Class Submarine. In 1991, he transferred to Groton, Connecticut, to lead construction and delivery of a number of 688-Class Submarines and complete the Engineering Duty Officer Qualification Program.

 
RDML (Sel) Thomas was subsequently assigned to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, the Naval Engineer’s Degree and a Ph.D. in Hydrodynamics, as well as the American Society of Naval Engineers Brand Award for academic excellence. In 1996, he reported to Naval Sea Systems Command to serve as the first Design Manager and Technical Director for the world’s largest unmanned autonomous vehicle, the LSV-2 Cutthroat. In recognition for superior performance in the LSV-2 development, RDML (Sel) Thomas received the 1999 NAVSEA Association of Scientists and Engineers Professional Achievement Award.

RDML (Sel) Thomas next served as the first Virginia-Class Program Manager’s Representative at Northrop Grumman Newport News, and as Submarine Project Officer for SUPSHIP Newport News, from 1999 to 2001. As Repair Officer for USS FRANK CABLE (AS 40), homeported in Guam, from 2001 to 2003, he led maintenance efforts on ships and submarines of the Seventh Fleet, and in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. He also executed the first-ever Fleet Maintenance Activity Availabilities on Fast Attack Submarines homeported outside the continental U.S., and coordinated the certification and on-time deployment of the first SSN homeported in Guam, the USS CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI (SSN 705). As Maintenance Officer, Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, RDML (Sel) Thomas coordinated Fleet requirements for the acceptance of the lead ships of two submarine classes, USS VIRGINIA (SSN 774) and USS JIMMY CARTER (SSN 23), and co-chaired Submarine Team One. He then served as Operations Officer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, from 2005 to 2007.

His next assignment was as commander of the historic Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNS). As commander of PHNS, RDML (Sel) Thomas’s primary achievements include dramatically improving efficiency to return ships and submarines to the fleet on time, on budget, and with high quality repairs; developing a 25-year Shipyard Modernization Plan; and leading community support activities such as encouraging thousands of Hawaii’s high school students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math through FIRST Robotics competitions.

His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal.

The Virginia Ship Repair Association conducts outreach, awareness and advocacy activities that strengthen the ship repair economy and improves the business environment for its members. These efforts help maintain relationships with elected officials, primary defense clients, and media and local agencies, while strengthening the network between member companies. Many of our industry focused projects allow member companies to increase their leadership and exposure footprint through sponsorships. This sponsorship package was developed to give member companies an early sponsorship choice of the activities that best match their own outreach goals. To submit your sponsorship commitment for the 2011 program year, contact us directly at 757.233.7034. You may also find the form on-line at www.VirginiaShipRepair.org on the leadership page.

 

Website: Home Page $800, Job Board Slide $250, Banner $150

Annual Safety Seminar: Platinum $3000, Gold $1500, Silver $1000, Bronze $500

Annual Standards of Conduct Seminar: Premier $750, Supporting $250

Annual Contracts Seminar: Premier $500, Supporting $175

Annual Human Resources Seminar: Premier $500, Supporting $175

Day on the Hill: Industry Education $250

Annual Golf Tournament: Platinum $5000, Gold $2500, Silver $1500, After Social $750, Beverage Cart $750, Lunch $600, Hole Sponsor $500, Longest Drive $400, Closest to the Pin $400

LEGO Ship Repair Competition: Premier $1200, Supporting $250

Tradesman Equipment Grant: $500

Tradesmen of the Year Award: Senior $1000, Junior $1000

Training Home Page: $250 per month

Annual Holiday Luncheon: Beverage Sponsor $1000, Raffle Sponsor $750

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.

 

12/15/10 – TASC Luncheon Meeting held at the Norfolk Airport Hilton at 11:30 A.M. The guest speaker is Mr. Michael D. Formica, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe. To register, go to www.tasc-tgic.org.

 

1/19/11 - ASNE Tidewater Section Dinner Meeting held at the Springhill Suites, Newtown Rd., 1800-1900 Social Hour, 1900-2030 Dinner and Program. Guest Speaker is RDML James Murdoch, Fleet Maintenance Officer, USFF . 

 

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

 

2/28-3/1 – National Ship Repair Industry Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Crystal City. The preliminary agenda is as follows: Monday, 2/28 Opening reception at the Embassy Suites sponsored by PSDSRA. Tuesday, 3/1 Navy Day and Dinner with speaker. Wednesday, 3/2 Hill Day with VSRA-sponsored reception on the Hill. Thursday, 3/3 Industry Day through noon. Announcements will be made when the room block opens.  We're planning new events so it will take a while to set a registration fee and get the forms out. 

By Duncan Vincent, W&O Supply

 

The world’s greatest open road is the open sea. America stands where the oceans meet; it was born to the sea, born to live by its infinite highway. America’s story is the story of ships and the Navy. But the Navy sometimes seems to have been handicapped by a mistaken idea, and it is interesting to see how this  idea has affected its development. The mistaken idea is the notion that the great oceans are protective moats, behind which America can safely live its own life regardless of what the rest of the world may do.  The only trouble with this theory is that it does not square with the facts. The oceans are not impassable moats. On the contrary, they are broad, unobstructed highways which make us accessible to every country on earth that cares to send a ship to sea. Far from being isolated by the great seas, we are exposed by them. The ships that come and go on them tie us closely to the fate of the rest of the world. We cannot protect ourselves simply by building great fortifications at selected points on the coast.  Our only real defense lies in our ability to strike down any invader before he comes close to our shores. If nothing else were at stake, we have merchant fleets that go to all parts of the globe; we send our goods everywhere, and when times are bad we have to be able to make certain that the flow of goods shall continue.  

The committee met in November to put together the November/December 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. Michael Malone, USN discussed the updated Standard Item 009-72 requirements for force protection. The committee reviewed a draft letter addressing FAR 52.204-10. The letter will be submitted to the Board of Directors requesting a signature. The JINII Planning meeting is scheduled for February 9 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, and the National Ship Repair Industry Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites in Crystal City 2/28-3/1/11. 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 November. 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 met in November. Mal Branch discussed Board interest in meeting attendance. The committee voted to hold the HR Seminar April 6, 2011 and discussed topics for future 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 met in October to discuss the database and outstanding audits. Ken Edwards discussed the QMB meeting.   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 met in October to discuss the VSRA Shipyard Safety Orientation, safety suggestions, SSARAC changes, and the recent Safety Seminar.  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 November meeting, the committee discussed the Contractor Verification System being used at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. They discussed problems with uploading spreadsheets to the NSSA website and RAPIDGate implementation. VSRA Shipyard Safety Orientation is mandatory effective 1 January 2011 for BAE, Earl Industries, Marine Hydraulics, Metro Machine, Tecnico, and Colonna’s. 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.

The following courses are available for 2010.  When the 2011 schedule of classes becomes available, that will be published in the newsletter.

 

Location sponsored by United Coatings Corp.

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

DATES:  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:  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.

 

 

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.