ASHRAE® East Texas Chapter 
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Chapter 091, Region VIII
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Research Promotion report for 2008-09 and 2009-10 Click here for more information about ASHRAE Research 2008-09 Research Promotion campaign. Please see the East Texas ASHRAE flier for our 2008-2009 Research Promotion campaign. Please consider which item you would like to purchase. Then contact Sheri McLain (903-581-3391 or sheri.mclain@trane.com) or me [Rhamy Morrison @ rhamy.morrison@trane.com] to purchase an item or service. Our chapter is setup to take credit cards through PayPal. If this approach does not appeal to you, please consider other options offered in our recent Comfort Chronicle. Please, help support your families, chapter, and industry through your contributions. As we understand our world today, it is changing at exponential rates. At the beginning of 2008 it appeared our industry would experience some effects of inflation because of the slowing of new home starts. But, were we prepared for the results? I think not! As one person put it, our 401k’s became 101k’s in a very short period of time. The market has taken its largest sustained hit since the great depression of 1929. That phenomenal downturn of 89% in the Dow Jones Industrial average occurred over a 2-year period from 1929 until 1932. However, according to some historians, in 1987 the Dow Jones suffered another crushing blow, the biggest single day loss in history; 22.6%. Many, if not all, are suffering from the current market downturn. Personally, I have experienced approximately 66% loss. Now, I am not a market analyst, nor do I understand how to play in the market. It is more like gambling than going to Vegas or Shreveport. At least there, I can have a few hours of fun and relaxation at a controlled spending level. I said all of this to say that the past month’s events have significantly curbed our Chapter’s efforts to participate in ASHRAE’s Research Promotion campaign. As we know, all manufacturer’s and engineering businesses have suffered due to reactions from our Federal government and customers that use our services. People have reverted to a defensive mode and elected to repair their systems and not build new structures anticipating a downturn in business. This reaction has caused some businesses to react with layoffs, plant closures, and business closures. Even though economic times appear to be gloom and doom, history shows us that we (United States) survive and rebound even stronger. As our current Federal administration suggests, all of us must roll up our sleeves and work harder. Something that American people are all about; “when the times are tough, the tough get going!” Last year (2008) ASHRAE Research Promotion exceeded its contribution goal of $2M. By spring 2008, ASHRAE had committed over $1.2M to Region VIII active research projects and grants. Texas universities received over 55% of those funds. In the current economy, 2009 will tax all of us. We need to help each other and pull together to overcome this market downturn. History does repeat itself! We (Americans) will survive! It may take a while but something will happen to rejuvenate our economy again. It is more evident today than in days gone by that this economic event is affecting our global economy in significant ways. All ASHRAE chapters are struggling to meet goals. According to the latest chapter report some are on track to obtain their goals. One industry prediction is that the HVAC-R industry in North America will increase by 5% each year through 2012, while Asia and Eastern nations should realize a 7% industry increase. That is good news! All research is vital to our economy as well as our well being and the sustainability of our industry. ASHRAE Research is continuing to fund research in the most economical approaches. The businesses and companies that survive this economic downturn must be creative in their approach to their business strategy. For the East Texas Chapter to meet its RP goals, we must do the same. Therefore, within the month of March, we plan to announce our 2008-2009 campaign plans. With guidance from the BOG, our Chapter plans a no-frills RP campaign this year. A no-frills approach means that we will not front-seed a planned event but offer packages for purchase with part of the proceeds going toward RP. That way someone purchasing a package will receive direct benefit and contribute to ASHRAE Research at the same time. More will be announced later this month. In the past this Chair challenged everyone to contribute $1 for each year of membership in ASHRAE. I also told you that those people employed at Trane and that have a membership in ASHRAE, Trane will match their contributions. ASHRAE contributed in 2008 over 55% of Region VIII contributions back to Texas universities for grants and research. That is over $700,000! Again, this year the East Texas Chapter obtained Full Circle. That means that the officers and chairs contributed $100 each to research. Another fact is that if each East Texas Chapter members contributed $75 each, we would meet our RP goal for this campaign year. Everyone is aware of the global economic conditions but it will continue to plummet unless we do something to change attitudes. None of us can be frivolous but we can make a difference! That is why I am asking you to help our Chapter meet its research goal this year by committing to one of the challenges by April 1st. 1. Contribute $1/year that you have been a member of ASHRAE. 2. Make an annual contribution of $75. 3. Purchase one of the fun packages your chapter will be offering in March.
It is easy to make a contribution of any amount. Use this link to contribute online at ASHRAE.org: https://www.ashrae.org/aboutus/resource_promotion.asp You will be helping your chapter, your community, your state, your environment, and your family. Together, we can make a difference! Our industry tremendously affects so many aspects of our world and our environment by improving comfort, food preservation, and the environment. A PowerPoint presentation of the ASHRAE Region VIII Research Report - East Texas Chapter for the 2006-2007 ASHRAE year may be downloaded here. |
