Technical and Research Two-Year Outlook

Norman Parks, CET, CPD, 2006–2008 ASPE Vice President, Technical

Only six hours have passed since the election of the 2006–2008 ASPE board of directors, and my first task as VP technical is to write this article. It is a humbling experience to be recognized by your peers in this manner. As I approach the next two years, I realize I follow individuals who have set the bar high. While I do not posses some of the same polished skills as some of my predecessors, I will overcome that weakness with good work, ethics, and determination.

As a member of previous ASPE boards, I am aware of the requirements and issues facing previous technical VPs. However, each board member is usually not completely in tune with another’s position to the depth that they are with their own position. That is where I am now as your new VP technical.

It will take some time for me to become fully aware of all tasks associated with the position and their status. Also, I must assemble a Technical and Research Committee. I want to select a dedicated committee with good technical skills. This committee must be a group of individuals who can and will work independently yet collectively toward a common goal. I will need to complete all of this by the January 2007 board of directors meeting.

Over the next two years we will move forward to complete those tasks previously begun by the 2004–2006 VP technical and T&R Committee. It is my goal to work hard to return the production cycle of handbooks to the two-year cycle. Additionally, I want the T&R Committee to evaluate all of our technical publications to see which if any are out of date and need to be rewritten. A list of potential technical publications to benefit ASPE members and the plumbing profession will be developed, as well as a plan to produce them.

As liaison to the ASPE Research Foundation, I want to help it move forward with the new charge as outlined by ASPE RF President Ken Wentik at the 2006 ASPE Convention.

The CPD program is of great importance to me. As 2004–2006 board liaison to the Recertification Committee, I was involved in the expansion of the CPD to a two-level program. I hope to continue working toward that goal. I also will continue to work with the Education Committee to strive to bring top education sessions to our Symposia and Conventions.
I will make every effort to provide information about changing technical issues that affect the design of plumbing systems to the chapter technical VPs. Communication of this information will be through a quarterly newsletter that will be sent by blast e-mail.

New goals will be established by the T&R Committee as soon as possible. What those goals could be is anyone’s guess. The chapters will be kept informed by way of the newsletter.

I want to thank the delegates for your vote of confidence in electing me as your vice president, technical. With each ASPE member’s continued support, our goals will be achieved. I look forward to serving ASPE, the plumbing profession, and the ASPE membership.