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President's Message
Leadership for the Boiler Industry
Last month, I noted that ABMA would be launching our new branding for the association and as of today, we are well on our way. I am excited to officially reveal our new logo and tagline – Leadership for the Boiler Industry. In many of marketing pieces, this will be partnered with the focus areas - Advocate – Connect – Advance.
Each of you should have received the Spring 2017 issue of Today’s Boiler which reflects our new branding and a website update launched last week and now has our new look and feel.
In addition to updating the design of our newsletter, we also have a new name - Boiler Report. In the coming months, we will be launching new sections in this newsletter and expanding the coverage of our industry.
During this fiscal year, we will be releasing new membership collateral, a spotlight campaign on our members and membership video to partner with our meetings video currently on the ABMA website.
The rebranding is the start of our efforts to promote ABMA and our members while expanding the knowledge of our industry with key stakeholders and the end-user community. This will be an evolutionary process and this year is focused building on a strong foundation.
We look forward to celebrating our new brand with our members at the 2017 Summer Meeting next month in Amelia Island.
As always, I can be reached at [email protected] if you have any questions or comments.
Until Next Time,
Scott
Lyon on Washington
“THERE IT IS”
BY FRED LYON
I recently completed reading Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by highly decorated Marine veteran Karl Marlantes. Described as “one of the most profound and devastating novels ever to come out of Vietnam,” Matterhorn is gripping and personal, a highly-recommended read.
More on Marlantes later because he speaks to one of the real issues that I think is dividing and destroying our country – the lack of integration among people of differing social and economic backgrounds. In the novel which traces the on the ground efforts of a Marine platoon in vicious jungle fighting, I noticed that the Marines constantly repeated the phrase “There it is.” The literal meaning is obvious but additional research uncovered that in Vietnam among combat veterans, it had a special meaning.
Marines used “there it is” figuratively and usually fatalistically. It is a form of stoicism, an attitude that none of us are really in control. As described in the Urban Dictionary, a Marine encountering a bizarre or tragic scene would say “there it is” meaning, “I really can’t put into words what I mean or how I feel but this situation contains within itself all the truth and pain that I can’t express, it would be too much.” They would repeat it over and over as if repetition could ease the pain, preserve the balance between crazy and almost crazy. “There it is,” relax, let it go, you can’t change what can’t be changed, “there it is, there it absolutely, positively and frickin’ well is.”
Since my last column in February when I urged everyone to be calm and carry on, well, that just hasn’t worked. The Trump White House, fueled by the President’s preference to communicate through Twitter, is governing not like no other in history and it is absolutely destroying nearly every convention on the way Washington should run and has traditionally operated. This may be precisely what Trump’s voters signed on for; however all but the most zealous could never have anticipated the resulting frenzy and widespread dissension that has gripped the body politic.
And Trump’s opponents remain in high dither. Stories are generated daily with news cycles that last anywhere from one hour but hardly ever longer than two days. Hysteria dominates; hostility pervades. If any of this is productive, you could have fooled me.
In this situation, “there it is” seems an appropriate reaction – in response to the White House, the Republicans or the Democrats. I tried “keep calm and carry on” but it evidently wasn’t enough. None of us can control this, we are all trying to maintain our balance between crazy and almost crazy. Trump fires another FBI director, “there it is.” Democrats threaten impeachment (an idle threat unless they capture the House in 2018), “there it is.” Value judgments put on the shelf, just observing, “there it is.”
Back to Karl Marlantes who graduated from Yale in 1967, earned a Rhodes Scholarship, volunteered as a Marine officer, and served two tours, earning a Navy Cross, Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and ten Air Medals. Marlantes wrote an article this year for the New York Times, “Vietnam: the War That Killed Trust.” In it, he laments that America’s more prosperous elites have largely dropped out of military service and our working class having increasingly borne the burden of death and casualties since World War 2. He describes the walls of Woolsey Hall at Yale where engraved are the names of hundreds of Yalies who dies in World Wars 1 and 2. Thirty-five died in Vietnam, none since.
Marlantes argues that to end isolation and social silos, we need to return to the spirit of the draft and how people “felt about service to their country.” He advocates to “let the armed services be just one of many ways young people can serve their country. With universal service, some boy from Seattle could find himself sharing a tamale with a Hispanic girl from El Paso. Conservatives and liberals would learn to work together for a common cause. We could return to the spirit of people of different races learning to work together in combat during the Vietnam War.”
Marlantes is not the only one to make this argument. General Stanley McChrystal shares the belief that a year of service would help renew our sense of common cause. He has joined with the Aspen Institute to create the Service Year Alliance, working to make a year of paid, full time service a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. Check it out www.serviceyear.org.
I can only speak anecdotally. Focused on the future by the draft, I joined the Navy out of college. A month after graduation, I was given responsibility for a division aboard an aircraft carrier. A classic suburban upbringing straight to college, I had little to no experience with people of less formal education prior to my time in the service. Those years remain some of the best of my life.
Through the years of speaking and writing for ABMA and others, I have encouraged people to listen to what the other side is saying and not automatically attack those who disagree as unpatriotic. You learn this stuff in the engine room of the USS Independence, CVA 62. As a country, we need more of it. We are all in this together. I agree with Lieutenant Marlantes and General McChrystal.
As I finish this column, I just got a news push “Trump disclosed highly classified intelligence to Russians at meeting last week.”
Of course. There it is.
Nationwide Hosts 37th Annual Golf Tournament Benefitting Rawson Scholarship
Earlier this month, Nationwide Boiler hosted their 37th Annual Charity Golf Tournament which coincided with their 50th anniversary celebration. The tournament supported the ABMA Randy Rawson Scholarship and Make-A-Wish of the Greater Bay Area.
Over the years, Nationwide’s support of the Rawson Scholarship has enabled ABMA to assist support students throughout the country.
ABMA would like to thank Nationwide and the following members for their support of the event.
Alzeta - Chanute - Cormetech - E-Tech - Fireye - Simoneau - Halgo Power - National Board - Power Flame - Power Mechanical - Superior Boiler - Vector Systems - WARE - Webster Combustion - Zeeco
Following a memorable golf tournament, the evening reception and dinner including a silent and live auction, an overview of the charities and presentation of the contributions.
ABMA President Scott Lynch shared a progress report on the Rawson Scholarship Fund and was honored that 2016  scholarship recipient Vincent Souza offered some remarks.
Vincent referenced ABMA as his silent partner and supporter and expressed his gratitude.
“The scholarship contribution from ABMA has enabled me to focus on my studies full time and reduce the financial stress.”
Following the presentation, Nationwide President Larry Day presented President Lynch with a check for $25,000.
Once again, ABMA thanks Nationwide Boiler for the continued support of the Randy Rawson Scholarship Fund.
ABMA Publishes Spring 2017 Issue of Today's Boiler
 The 2017 Spring issue of Today’s Boiler should be hitting your mailboxes. This issue is filled with great content from ABMA members and incorporates our new brand identity.
The digital version of the magazine can be accessed by clicking here.
We thank the following companies for their contributions to this issue.
• Modern Coupling – St. Louis Arch Project – Victaulic
• Recipe for Success – Tate & Lyle Project – Rentech
• Growth from Within – Victory Energy
• Two Weeks at Distillery – Heaven Hill Project – WARE
• Steam Power Roots in American Industry – Power Mechanical
• Corrosion Combat – AMEC Foster Wheeler
• Boiler Water Feeding – On/Off vs. Modulating – Cleaver-Brooks
We encourage you to read this issue and share our magazine with your customers. If you are not receiving Today's Boiler, please let us know.
ABMA 2017 Summer Meeting - Early Bird Registration Ends May 23
 We are a little over one month away from the 2017 Summer Meeting which takes place June 23-26 at the Omni Amelia Island just north of Jacksonville, FL.
Don’t forget to register before May 23rd to ensure you receive the early bird rate.
This meeting will share insights on emerging trends and industry developments, and provide networking opportunities while enhancing and growing business relationships. This four-day event is one of the most cost-effective educational and networking opportunities available in the industry, as well as the perfect way to enjoy time with industry friends and family.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
The meeting is headlined by the following keynote presentations:
- Cal Fussman, New York Times bestselling author, writer-at-large for Esquire Magazine - The Heart, the Head and the Soul of Communication
- Tom Morrison, Author - Speaker - Life Coach - What's Your Industry's Uber, Are You Prepared for 2020?
- Fred Lyon - ABMA Resident Political Pundit (and Expert on Construction & Energy Law) - Mindful Politics - This Hour in the Trump White House
In addition, our Product & Market Groups have recruited presenters (some listed below) guaranteed to share key insights on the today’s boiler trends.
- Tim Clay, Boiler Room Tech Crew Chief, American Airlines
- Robert Patrylak, Managing Director, Navigant
- Lyle White, Vice-President of Business Development, Black & Veatch
- Jason Autrey, P.E., R&D, Transmission Systems, Southern Company
- Travis Hardin, Business Development Manager, HVAC Division - Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
I encourage you to click here and review our updated schedule of events and click here to visit the Summer Meeting page on the ABMA website for more details.
We are pleased to annouce that ABMA spouses and kids will be engaging in a community service project benefitting the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville, FL. They will assemble vanity kits & activity bags for families staying at the house.
The Omni Amelia Island has limited rooms left and our block is almost sold out. If you need to reserve a room, please contact Cheryl Jamall at the email address below.
Please contact ABMA’s Director of Meetings Cheryl Jamall at [email protected] with any questions.
Thank you to the following sponsors of the 2017 Summer Meeting – Cleaver Brooks, Nooter/Eriksen, Victory Energy, Robinson Fans, Johnston Boiler Company, Thermogenics, Rentech, Superior Boiler Works, Webster Combustion Technology, Autoflame, Ware, Chanute, Vector Systems, Groupe Simoneau, Michigan Seamless Tube, Cust-O-Bend, Honeywell, Nationwide Boiler, Clark-Reliance, Peerless-Aarding, Clarage, Industrial Steam, Sterling Deaerator & E-Tech and yes, opportunities are still available.
We look forward to seeing everyone next month at the Omni Amelia Island.
ABMA Membership Renewals Reminder – Due May 30
As a reminder, ABMA 2017-18 fiscal year began on May 1st. Membership renewal invoices were e-mailed to the main contact at each company in late April. We ask that you process this invoice by May 30th.
Second notices will be going out in coming weeks.
We appreciate your continued support of ABMA and please let us know if you have any questions or if your company did not receive the invoice, please email Scott Lynch at [email protected].
Free Webinar from US Commerce Dept on Strategies for Exporting to Mexico
The U.S. Department of Commerce will provide the latest insights and strategies on international sales opportunities for U.S. companies in Mexico – a leading U.S. trading partner. Interact with leading U.S. Commercial Service specialists to obtain market insights, sustainable building and construction industry trends, and specific commercial opportunities to inform your potential entry or expansion in Mexico.
This webinar should be especially attractive to U.S. companies interested in exporting a wide range of products or services to supply Mexico’s construction industry and upcoming infrastructure projects.
Date: Thursday, June 1, 2017
Time: 4 PM EST (Duration: 1 hour)
Cost: Free
Click Here to Register
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