The December and January meetings were both well attended.  Discussions of upcoming Code changes, the Performance Based Code (PBC) portion of the 2007 ASME, as well as meeting the 2009 G. Gahr Finney Memorial Scholarship winners Kelley Morgan and Brittney Nolan were part of the gathering.

The Board of Elevator Regulations reported that they are reviewing the ASME 2007 A17.1 Code for anticipated May hearing.  The VRC process is still moving toward the April 15th inspection deadline but finding the locations of the equipment is still the biggest obstacle.   Various suggestions were made which may yeild some possitive results.

The Board also wanted to remind elevator companies that they are required to provide a hoistway door unlocking tool demonstration for the local Fire Department in accordance with the Code.  If, for any reason, the local Fire Department is not responding after the request is made in writting, that incident should be noted to the Board of Elevator Regualtions.

Reports from the ASME Task Group for Emergency Evauation and Fire Fighter Use was interesting.  The group is in their final phase of the Code design process.  John O’Donoghue gave a good idea of how the system may play out if the adopted as written.

Membership update included eight corporate memebers and fotry three individuals.  The membership committee has done a great job of getting people and companies to sign up. 

Each of the Scholarship winners introducted themselves and told a little about themselves.  Kelley Morgan is studying at Suffolk University while Birttney Nolan is studying Merrimack College.  Both young women have bright futures and we hope that MESA’s recognition of their accomplishments and scholarship award can help them along life’s path.

The Seminar Was a Hit!

Thanks to all who attended the Seminar.  It was a bit of a rough start with the ‘reality check’ the Commissioner brought to the table, but isn’t it better to be aware of the hard ships that will be coming our way rather than be surprised.  In an effort to help the DPS stave off cuts and layoffs, MESA will soon be instituting a letter writing program to try and keep the public side of the industry from loosing too much ground.  Watch your email for templates and instructions.

The seminar itself was well attended with over 100 people at the IUEC Hall for Code presentations from Mr. John Caughey and Mr. John O’Donoghue of the Elevator Board, product rollouts from MCE, Magnetek, and updates from Draka, Minnesota, Monitor Control, and Sterns, Perry, & Smith.  We appreciate everyone’s time, effort, and participation.  Special thanks to the IUEC for the use of the Arthur R. Merritt Training Center for Elevator Constructors, Domenic’s Catering, the Membership Commitee, and Joe Zarba for his tireless efforts as our Treasurer.

I have updated the golf page with pictures as well as the calendar with Board of Examiner’s meetings and more.  Hope to see you at the November 10th at Phillips Old Colony.

All the best,
Eric

Sept. 2009 – Golf Outing & DPS Quarterly Task Group

Hope you took a moment to remember the events of September 11, 2001 in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.  My wife and I sat with the kids remembering, our reactions, where we were, and feelings as the day unfolded.  I tried to explain that sense of patriotic community that developed.  We must never forget the victims, the heros who put themselves in harms way to help (elevator mechanics among them), and those they left behind.  The Elevator Radio Show (www.elevatorradioshow.com) has a touching note and link to a 2003 NPR audio interview “Last Elevator Down”.

On a lighter note, the golf outing was a great success, sold out again and set another record.  Hats off to the Golf Committee of Mark Burley, Roland Locke, Marty McKown, and Joe Zarba who pulled off another great golf outing!  The course, food, camaraderie and even the weather couldn’t have been better.  Thanks to the Committee for their efforts and all of you for your support and participation  Check the Golf tab on the MESA website for pictures and stats coming soon.

The Oct 21 Safety Seminar is just around the corner, so please use the form attached to register TODAY!  NAESA has streamlined the process of completing the QEI requirements, so this years QEI credit should be seamless.  The Commissioner has committed to the keynote address, great speakers from Magnetek, MCE, Gustav Wolf, and Monitor will be there.  The Chairman of the Board (not Sinatra, he doesn’t know elevators, we got Caughey!) will give a Code update as well as the DPS round table to help build communication with DPS.
 
DPS created a newsletter, which was forwarded with the last email update.  Take a minute to sign up for it at the DPS website to stay on top of the happenings at Ashburton Place.  It is a real leap forward toward keeping the industry informed.

I was given an update about the Quarterly Task Group meeting, it seems there has been a sort of reversal on the temporary inspection certificates.  There has been instances where inspectors have insisted on immediate fire service or emergency power tests, not allowing for a future performance on these tests as has been agreed up on in the past.  For now, the onus was on the elevator contractors to present a clear picture of the issue and solution to the DPS with a recommended solution.  If you need more information, please email MESA at mesassoc@hotmail.com and your inquiry will be forwarded to  the representatives spearheading the contractor’s response.

MESA welcomes your input, your ideas, and your participation.
Thanks,
Eric

Thought: 
Snowflakes melt alone – but together they can be traffic stoppers!
Teamwork allows common people to attain uncommon results.
Some people want it to happen, some wish it to happen, others make it happen.
Volunteers aren’t paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.
-Anonymous

March & April 2009

We have been working on a number of updates including the Membership Committee’s improvement survey which will help guide MESA programming, events, and member benefits into the future.  They are creating a big push to get our membership numbers up.  You might be surprised to know that our membership numbers are down even though monthly attendance is up.  So please take a minute to download and fill out the membership form, get the payment together and send it in.

The Board of Elevator Regulations has also been busy with that latest Construction Elevator Amendment, as well as making the MRL Guidelines Memoan official part of the 524 CMR.

The Golf Committee has reserved Sept. 9th as the date for the 3rd annual MESA Golf Outing at the and will hold 2008 pricing!  Mark your calendar and get your registration and payment sent in soon, we sold out quickly last year.  Returning golfers and sponsors will have early admission option prior to the June 1 open registration.  After June 1, it goes back to the first come, first serve program of years past.

Don’t forget the May 12th meeting at Phillips where K-Tech will be updating the group on their products and improvements.  There are a number of new postings on the MESA Calendar, so check it out!

Enjoy the Spring!
All the best,
Eric

January and February 2009

Hello everyone,

We started 2009 with renewed vigor!  We now have a Membership Committee and a team looking into how MESA can set up a rainy day fund to help assure the continuation of the Association.

The January meeting was a great catch up on events over the past few months as well as updates on new issues within the industry.  February saw Mr. Tom Warmingham make a great presentation about how some of the Go/No-Go gauges are slightly ahead of the Code adoption.

Hope to see you in March for John O’Donoghue’s “Drop Key” presentation developed for the Fire Services of Massachusetts.  It should be very interesting.  Please have a look at the Calendar tab for up coming Code hearings, Task Group Meetings, and more.

All the best,
Eric