Rick Bishop, Region Director  (760) 730-3116
Gordon Pithart, Region Treasurer
Don Wall, Region Secretary

The 13^th Annual Installation Weekend will be held Friday through Sunday, Feb. 23 – 25 (see Calendar of Events for details). All new chapter presidents and treasurers are expected to be there.

San Diego Table Top is Sat. March 3. They are looking for volunteers. Call Jon McArthur if interested.

• Advanced Water Chemistry Seminar, Sat., Feb. 17, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Select, 9335 Kearney Mesa Road, San Diego. Call Jon McArthur, (619) 464-0211.
• 13th Annual Installation Weekend, Fri. - Sun., Feb. 23 - 25, Sutton Place, 4500 MacArthur Blvd. (near John Wayne Airport off I-405).

Saturday
8:45 am B.O.R.D.
1:15 – 4:30 Leadership
Benev. Fund (check schedule)
6:30 pm Reception
7:30 pm Dinner

• IPSSA/NSPI Golf Tournament, Fri., March 2, Cottonwood, 3131 Willow Glen Dr., El Cajon. A.J. Wilson, (858) 695-3461.
• San Diego Table Top, Sat., March 3, 7 am – 4 pm, Scottish Rite Center, San Diego. Jon McArthur, (619) 464-0211.
• Walk for MS, Sat., March 3, Carlsbad and Sun. April 1, San Diego. Call John Silcox, (858) 467-0507, or register online at www.mswalk.com.

Region 7 Board Meeting, Tues., Mar. 27, 7:00 p.m. Amber’s Restaurant, San Diego.

R7 Picnic: Don Wall contacted Red Barret, who will contact vendors for donations, and Dave Courey, who will transfer his information to Don.

Benevolent Fund Report: Ray Duchene -- no deaths since 8/15. Balance $36,465.33, total funds $24,849, with $2,000 each paid to two beneficiaries. Region Emergency Fund: Two investment CDs -- $2,778.26 and $4,272.09 -- total $7,050.34, which cannot be touched; savings, $3,316.45.

NSPI Liaison Report: A.J. Wilson -- 1) San Diego chapter of NSPI Board of Directors meeting 1/9/01. 2) December dinner at Donovan’s Restaurant was a success. 3) As in the past, NSPI desires to set up a table with IPSSA at the upcoming Table Top Show; A.J. will look into it. 4) Jon McArthur and Bob Fowler are sponsoring a Chemical seminar presented by Robert Lowry Sat., 2/17. 5) A.J. is organizing the upcoming IPSSA/NSPI Golf Tournament presented by Table Top. 6) Discussion about bringing back the NSPI Certification test. John Cook suggested putting it in the R7 newsletter and standardizing the scheduling of the test. 7) Next NSPI meeting is in February.

Treasurer’s Report & 2001 Budget: Gordon Pithart – As of 10/20/00, income $1,221.14, expenses $1,697.59, balance $1,730.89. Picnic Account – income $500, expenses $174.64, balance $6,158.13. Asked for input on proposed 2001 budget.

Chapter Reports:

Carlsbad Brian Kattke -- had quite a situation with sick route coverage. As one member was returning in December, another member went down. In spite of his accounts being in Escondido, the chapter board decided to cover them. One member’s employee covered the accounts; each member was charged $50 to subsidize the cost. John Cook from Escondido chapter covered some pools. The chapter is not obligated to cover out-of-area accounts.

East County Don Wall: 1) VP Mike Nieratko has cancer – it doesn’t look good. The chapter is providing sick route coverage. 2) Geoff Matthews is new VP. 3) Guest speakers at previous meetings: (a) Oct.– Perlite, (b) Nov.– David Haas, a motivational speaker from Northern California who talks on ways of improving your pool business, (c) Dec. – Casino Night. The people love it; 90 attended. 4) Chapter is continuing education fund.

Escondido John Cook 1) Nov. meeting, $500 donated to the Alpha project in Vista. Rick Bishop suggested other chapters consider donating to the Alpha project. 2) No Dec. meeting. 3) February meeting – Laars rep. 4) In Nov. member Vic Morris hurt his hand while helping a dog get out of traffic. When he requested help with his accounts, Scott Bee jumped in and refused to accept any payment. Rick pointed out that Vic Morris was recently brought into the chapter under the apprenticeship program and quickly became a contributing member as chapter secretary.

Metro Barry Seems: 1) special election at the next meeting to elect a new treasurer, as Al Daugherty will be going into semi-retirement. 2) Largest turnout ever at this year’s Christmas party 12/21. 3) Upcoming meetings will be held at PEP in El Cajon. Increased attendance at their meetings. 4) Chapter offering three monetary awards as an incentive to attend the Western Pool & Spa Show. 5) One prospective new member.

N. County Coastal Ted Wilson -- Christmas party was held in Dec.; no guest speaker at the Jan. meeting.

Rancho Del Mar Wayne Maynard: 1) Losing a few members. 2) A few new members. 3) Has had problem getting guest speakers. 4) Moving towards e-mailing the Chapter newsletter. 5) Trying to raise money for education. Silent auctions at the meetings work well.

San Diego Jon Rumble: 1) Chapter donated $500 to the DA Witness Program for victims. 2) 13 attended their recent CPR class; the chapter Education Fund paid for it. 3) Chapter has a pile of cash that they want to spend on education. 4) One prospective new member. 5) Chapter might consider taking the meetings on the road.

Region Director’s Update:

1. Life Insurance Ray Duchene -- as of 1/23, the IPSSA membership voted 1,044 in favor of and 277 against increased coverage in the life insurance policy from $10,000 to $25,000 for an additional $3 per month.

2. IPSSA Scholarship Fund – As of 1/31, the fund received $18,000 from chapters and manufacturers, with money still coming in. Escondido chapter contributed $500. It was asked how this fund will work – if someone gets reimbursed by their chapter, will they also get reimbursed from HQ. Rick asked that this be discussed at the chapter level.

3. Western Pool & Spa Show – Takes place Feb. 8, 9, and 10. Need volunteers.

4. 13^th Annual Installation Dinner Weekend – Feb. 23, 24, 25. All new chapter presidents, treasurers expected to be there.

Three motions to be presented at the B.O.R.D. meeting:

• Election of Administrators and Other Officers (Dave Perry) – Proposed that in Nov. of each year the outgoing administrator, or in his or her absence the next ranking outgoing B.O.R.D. member, conduct the election of the next administrator, and then the administrator-elect conduct the rests of the election to completion.

• Policy Change (Celia Hugueley) – Proposed to rescind the policy that for water chem non-members receive only a letter of notification rather than a certificate that states "non-member".

• Proposed discussion that each chapter have two representatives at region meetings, Article VI. Section 6.2.b of the IPSSA Bylaws (Randy Smith) -- Dave Perry states:

The intentions of the Founding Fathers was that each chapter have two representatives and that the Regional Director, while having to come from one of the chapters, is not one of the chapter representatives but separate and represents the region as a whole and only votes in case of a tie.

Discussed at the R7 meeting were some benefits of having two reps present: 1) Gain different perspectives on what occurred at the meeting. 2) Ensures that the information gets disseminated at chapter level, especially if one of the reps holds a bias on an issue. 3) Entitles each chapter to two votes. 4) Provides good training for future chapter officers.

Unfinished Business:

1. B. K. Taylor Nominations – Three members were nominated: Marc Stewart, San Diego chapter; Jack Harrington, Escondido chapter; and Gordon Pithart, Carlsbad chapter. Marc Stewart was selected as this year’s recipient.

2. Table Top Review Sat., March 3, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Jon McArthur passed out the class schedule and registration form. Looking for volunteers -- please call Jon. Rick suggested that since this is R7’s event, all chapter presidents should help, especially with cleanup afterwards.

New Business:

1. IPSSA/NSPI Golf Tournament at Table Top – March 2. A.J. Wilson distributed registration forms. Proceeds to go to the family of Dennis Sisler and Becky’s House, a home for victims of domestic violence. Looking for sponsors.

2. Hospitality suite – Four members from R7 will be attending the installation dinner. Consensus reached to not have an R7 hospitality suite.

3. Region 7 Directory – Don Wall organized and published the previous directory in 1996. Motion was made by John Cook, seconded by Mike Iagmin, and carried unanimously to publish a new R7 directory with pictures at a maximum cost for only the photography of $400. A.J. Wilson volunteered to make it happen within six months.

4. Water Safety Program – The "Designated Water Watcher" badges could be used for PR to promote water safety, as a means to approach media personalities, distributed to new contacts, stocked in the IPSSA company store for purchase, and distributed through chapter web sites. Motion made by Don Wall, seconded by Ted Wilson, and carried to borrow $3,000 from R7 Savings as seed money to prepare badges; these will be sold to R7 members for $1 each to reimburse the cost and make a profit for R7. Jon Rumble will assist Rick.

Open Forum Discussions:

1. Walk for MS –John Silcox handed out pledge forms and sample request-for-donation letters. Call John or the MS Society, www.mswalk.com,. for more pledge forms.

2. Chapter & Regional newsletters– Rick Bishop indicated that editor Nancy Gillespie was available to be editor of chapter newsletters.

3. IPSSA Water Chemistry Seminar – Jon McArthur -- Advanced water chemistry seminar presented by Robert Lowry Feb. 17. So far only 18 people -- 30 people are needed or the class will be canceled.

4. Ernesto Hernandez – At 8/22/00 R7 Board meeting, motion was carried to give Ernesto, is in remission from leukemia, $1,000 from R7 Emergency Fund, review in two months, and if funds are available, give him another $1,000. Don Wall requested update on his condition before releasing additional money.

At the annual IPSSA Table Top Show March 3, 2001, the members of the R7 Board will present to Marc Stewart the "Technician of the Year" award. This yearly award is given to one member who is held in high esteem by the membership for unselfish contributions to IPSSA and their community. The honor is named after B. K. Taylor, a pool service tech whose tireless contributions to IPSSA and his community was a passion up until his death May 19, 1997 when he was 81 years old.

Three members were nominated for this award at the January 23, 2001 R7 board meeting.

Marc Stewart, San Diego chapter, has 27 years experience in service and repair and joined IPSSA in 1981. He has attended dozens of seminars and classes, made Polaris repair presentation at chapter meeting, and is available to members for advice. He has been chapter treasurer for two years, ten years as entertainment committee chairman, an active volunteer for R7 Table Top since its inception, and covered many sick leave assignments. He served six years as Little League manager and coach, organized IPSSA golf tournaments, and participated in NSPI. Marc is dependable, is knowledgeable about IPSSA protocol and history, and continues to be motivated to improve our organization.

Jack Harrington, Escondido chapter, joined IPSSA in 1988. Jack does his business honestly and above board at all times, demonstrates professionalism, and attends seminars and classes. He served four years as entertainment committee chairman, volunteer for R7 Picnic, and has covered many sick leave assignments. He is active in church and his children’s sports. Jack reflects what this award is about – the little guy that helps IPSSA run and asks nothing in return.

Gordon Pithart, Carlsbad chapter, joined IPSSA in 1989. A former systems analyst and director of data processing, he is now a CPO and Water Chem certified. He served one term as chapter secretary, three terms as VP, one term as president, four terms as sick route chairman, five terms on Region board, two times on Picnic committee, and is presently R7 treasurer. Gordon, who is married and has one daughter who is an honors band member, is active in his local church. Gordon is a tremendous asset to the Carlsbad chapter and continues to work behind the scenes.

Congratulations, Marc!