RACA Journal April 2020 | Page 70

ASHRAE Column ASHRAE VP RECAPS USA TOUR By Olu Soluade, vice president ASHRAE South Africa Chapter and Government Affairs committee chair The ASHRAE South Africa Chapter was represented at the ASHRAE winter conference in Orlando from 1 – 5 February 2020 by the Committee chair of government affairs, Olu Soluade. T DAY 1: PLENARY AND MEETING OF THE MEMBERS: 1 FEBRUARY he conference also coincided with the celebration of the 125 years of the founding of the Society and the report back on the new global headquarters construction by the president of the Society, Darryl K. Boyce. Here is a summary of the key events at the conference: The key takeaway at the plenary session was the presentation by Ed Hochuli on ‘The Average Joe Principle’. Hochuli is a Phoenix trial attorney with his own law firm. However, his claim to fame is as a referee in the National Football League (NFL), where he has worked for 28 years. In the presentation, the key highlights based on the principles of the Average Joe is: • Good is never good enough • Never be content in being average • Attitude goes a long way in the progress of life • Choose to be successful and don’t settle for average • Always choose to push the envelope and choose to do better tomorrow than you did today ASHRAE president’s opening presentation at the plenary. The International Award went to Farooq Mehboob, Fellow ASHRAE and life member for the Region-at- Large, based in Pakistan. Members waving the 125-year anniversary flag. Jeff Littleton, ASHRAE secretary presenting the state of affairs of the society for the past year. Ed Hochuli, keynote speaker. 68 RACA Journal I April 2020 www.hvacronline.co.za