ASSE Notes Calif., Ariz. Chapter of the Year Winners

Recognizing the efforts of its local members in promoting a safe workplace and local community, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently presented the ASSE Chapter of the Year award to the Bakersfield, California-based Bakersfield Chapter; the Anaheim, California-based Orange County Chapter; and the Phoenix, Arizona-based Arizona Chapter.

The awards were separated into three categories: small, medium, and large chapters, respectively, which were presented during ASSE’s annual Professional Development Conference and Exposition in New Orleans.

The ASSE Chapter of the Year award annually recognizes the chapter members’ hard work in promoting a safe workplace and environment for its members and community. Winning chapters receive a $1,000 chapter contribution, a $500 travel stipend, and an award.

The Small Chapter of the Year is the ASSE Bakersfield Chapter, recognized for its innovative programming of meetings and educational sessions, for exceeding its goals of membership growth, and for effectively communicating with its local members. The chapter has the highest meeting participation rate in the country, averaging about 75 percent of chapter members attending the monthly meeting. Guy Waski of Fellows, Calif., served as the chapter president during the award winning 2003-2004 chapter year. The chapter is based in Bakersfield, and has members throughout Inyo, Kern and Mono counties.

The Medium Chapter of the Year is the Anaheim, Calif.-based ASSE Orange County Chapter. The chapter has a variety of programming and strong attendance for monthly meetings, in addition to establishing a Continuing Education award to help members cover costs for attending the chapter’s annual Professional Development Conference. Christopher Gaylord of Sierra Madre, Calif., served as the 2003-2004 chapter president.

The Large Chapter of the Year is the Phoenix-based Arizona Chapter. The chapter was recognized for its continued efforts, which include establishing an alliance with Arizona Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials, offering an extensive selection of OSHA training courses, and helping members establish a construction best practices section. The chapter also partnered with Phoenix educators for a ‘reach out and return’ program, working with building trade instructors at Phoenix Metro Tech High School and providing guest instructors to discuss blood borne pathogens, fire protection, electrical safety to teens at the Peopria School District. James Gallup of Prescott Valley, Ariz., served as the 2003-2004 chapter president. The chapter has members throughout Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapi and Yuma counties.

Chapters are categorized by the number of members in each chapter or section; large have more than 350 members, medium have 201 to 349 members, and small have under 200 members.

Each ASSE region, eight in total across the U.S., submitted their selection of best large, medium and small chapters for their region, which was then passed on to a selection committee consisting of chapter relations association professionals. There are 151 ASSE chapters in total.