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Chapter Corner, Region III (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)

Chapter Contact

Conference & Workshop Information

HOTELS: There are three hotels that are in the area within 1/2 mile of the service center. They are:

Fairfield Inn by Marriott, 150 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-581-1800
Rates: $109 (Gov $102)

Homewood Suites, 200 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-381-4400
Rates: $139 (no Gov)

Hilton Garden Inn, 101 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
Phone: 717-560-0880
Rates: $129 (Gov $119)

PPL
Lancaster, PA
Registration Form

Region III VPPPA Chapter Conference
June 27, 2011 - June 30, 2011
Gaylord National
National Harbor, MD
Hotel Reservations: (301) 965-4000

Chapter Updates

As you read this article, the 2010 Region III Conference will be history. The conference, held in Pittsburgh, Penn., at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, featured a number of pre-conference workshops. The board held its first VPP Application Workshop® for 2010 on April 6. In addition to the VPP Application Workshop®, conference attendees had the opportunity to attend an always popular session on NFPA 70E Arc Flash Compliance issues. Michael Wright shared his expertise on the subject of compliance with NFPA 70E with those who chose to attend the conference a day early.

On the morning of the opening session of the conference, attendees also had the opportunity to attend one of two shorter pre-conference workshops. During the conference, attendees could choose from 34 breakout sessions covering a wide range of safety-related topics. Topics ranged from how to maintain Star status to lock out/tag out, fleet safety and "From Disaster to Star."

Keynote speakers at the conference gave conference attendees plenty to think about in their safety programs. Odie Espenship, a former Air Force fighter jet pilot, told his audience how to take safety and occupational excellence to a higher altitude. Michael Vigezzi, global manager, VPP & Safety Programs, General Electric Co., shared his safety message with attendees at the mid-conference luncheon. Finally, James Powers, Jr., Pennsylvania's director of Homeland Security, discussed "Leading Protection Efforts in a Response-Oriented Environment" at the closing general session.

SGE Training

The first Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Special Government Employee (SGE) training of 2010 was held in Virginia Beach, Va., Jan. 26-28. It began with a diverse group of 24 participants from across the nation. The class was taught by Terry Gallagher, Region III OSHA VPP manager, and Milford Stern, Virginia VPP coordinator, with assistance from a number of VPP site representatives (see below). The class was structured around the four main VPP elements with the content of the course material emphasizing the viewpoint of the VPP evaluation team members.

Each of the volunteer facilitators brought their unique experience as an SGE to the class participants. Much of the second day was taken up by the tips, hints and experiences of being an evaluation team member. Everyone especially enjoyed the "Care and Feeding of an SGE" resentation by Carter Ficklen. I don't think they can play "Operation" again without thinking of the relationship of the games body parts to the attributes of a good SGE.

The practical aspect of the class was to evaluate the VPP application of a fictitious company (BESAFE, Inc.), review the interviews, assess site observations and provide a team member conclusion on assigned areas. There were four teams formed among the 24 participants. As the class labored through the evaluation reports, each group member offered his/ her opinion and actively defended the conclusions. Much of the group debates were fueled by the high expectations that were present at each of the represented sites. Once the group had reached a conclusion, it was time to give their groups' opinion and to defend the choice of Merit or Star.

If the members of this class are an indication of the level of persistence and quality of the approximately 1,000 SGEs currently active in VPP nation-wide, there should be no doubt about the integrity and excellence of VPP recognition. Thank you to class hosts Dominion Generation, Delta Air Lines, Cargill and VPPPA.

A special thank you to the trainers for the SGE course:

• Carter Ficklen, NASA
• Tim Rosenmeier, Kraft's Planters Peanuts
• Stephanie Norris, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare
• Doug Williams, Dominion Generation
• Terry Gallagher, OSHA
• Milford Stern, VOSH

With the dedication of these individuals and the support of their companies, our annual SGE training course was a big success once again!

The Region III VPPPA Chapter Board of Directors congratulates the graduates of the SGE Class of 2010. The following participants successfully completed the training and were sworn in as SGEs:

• Jean Stewart, Delta Air Lines
• Lee Evers, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare
• Doug Vick, International Paper
• David Gibson, Dynegy
• Christian Simmers, Cargill
• John Brown, USPS
• Carla Walston, Continental Corp.
• Robin Pasko, VOSH
• Jennifer Hayes, Raytheon
• Kevin Cox, Milliken
• Gregory Creswell, TIMET
• Rick Kennedy, VOSH
• Stephen Bournias, Marathon Oil
• Tom Rother, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare
• James Green, Jr., Dominion Generation
• Joseph Patterson, NASA
• Jon Hunter, Eaton Corp.
• Byron Billman, Florida Power & Light
• Brad McPherson, Allegheny Energy
• Maryella Mitchell, VOSH
• Katina Briggs-King, Huntsman Chemicals
• Allen Blanton, International Paper
• Tina Decker, Raytheon
• Adam Pawlus, VPPPA

2011 Conference

The Region III VPPPA Chapter Board of Directors has already secured a site for the 2011 conference. Trying to hold the conference in different corners of the region, the board set its sights on a location in the Washington D.C. area for next year.

Attendees will have the opportunity to take advantage of everything that the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at the National Harbor has to offer. This facility is located along the Potomac River, convenient to the Washington beltway and I-295. Recently opened, the Gaylord Resort offers many of the amenities that only the finest conference centers can offer to attendees. The conference in 2011 will take place the week of June 27. VPPPA members should put the dates for the conference on their calendar now so they don't forget to be a part of what should be a very special experience.

Copyright 2010 Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association.
All Rights Reserved.
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