EASA Joint Fall Technical Conference

This function has been a joint meeting conducted by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter and the Quaker City Chapter. The Quaker City Chapter is made up of members located typically in Pennsylvania, East of Harrisburg, Southern New Jersey, South of Newark, and Delaware. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter is comprised of EASA shops located in Maryland, Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. There are a few additional members scattered outside these boundaries but these geographical limits cover the great majority of their members.

The year 2000 sees a change in the conference planning. These two Chapters are working with other interested chapters from the Northeastern portion of the USA to plan a "Northeast Regional Technical Conference". Other chapters who have indicated a desire to assist in the 2000 plans are: New York Metropolitan, Niagara, Hudson-Mohawk, Connecticut and New England.

The first conference was held in 1974. It was begun by a group of EASA members, who, having assisted in the planning of the Washington, DC International Convention in 1973, felt it would be beneficial to host a similar conference, but of a much smaller nature, for the local firms. Planning began and on May 2, 3, and 4, 1974, a "Management Seminar" was held at the Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD, just North of Baltimore. The success of the program is supported by the fact that we celebrated our 25th Anniversary Conference in Ocean City, MD on October 29 - 31, 1998. Quite a record for a totally voluntary committee made up of local members.

Typically, the conference is held during the month of October and the majority of the years has been during the last 2 weekends of the month. These dates have varied, based on hotel availability, but it's been rather consistent. The planning committee begins planning the conference by selecting the host location during the previous year and then in January the first planning meeting is held. From then on it's nothing but work for the committees.

This conference is billed as "Technical" and that has made it the success it is today! The technical committee of each conference does it's best to have top quality speakers. These speakers are asked to bring to the membership, educational information on new technologies in the electric motor, electronics and mechanical apparatus repair industry. From insulating varnishes and materials, bearings and lubrications, mechanical methods and ideas, to energy efficient motors and systems, pumps and blowers, testing equipment, sales and management techniques, and connecting to the internet and computer sciences. There is ALWAYS something new to learn if you only give yourself a chance. And talk about NEW IDEAS...... our exhibit hall is always filled with vendors showing the "latest and greatest" items to the members. This is certainly a drawing card for the attendees. (The cash door prizes probably don't hurt) but the vendors and their wares are simply fantastic.

Each year the conference is moved to a different location within the geographical area of the two chapters. In the past, it has been held in Baltimore, MD, Gettysburg, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, Ocean City, MD, Harrisburg, PA, Gaithersburg, MD, Hershey, PA, Mount Laurel, PA, Towson, MD, Valley Forge, PA, Hunt Valley, MD, Philadelphia, PA and a number of other sites. In 25 years, "We've gotten around"! In most cases, to the enjoyment of the attending members.

But ALL is not "business" and new activities have been added throughout the years. We enjoyed bowling tournaments with a "traveling trophy" for a while. A golf outing, scheduled for Thursday before the conference gets under way, has been a great success for a number of years and continues to be a welcome activity. Entertainment, great food and superb friendships are all part of our 3 day meeting.

We begin on Thursday morning with the golf outing, then have a "Welcome" buffet in the evening with some type of entertainment. Friday morning, it's up at the crack of dawn for a "Kickoff" breakfast. We do our best to have the EASA International President as the guest speaker each year. It's something the President seems to plan for us and it's quite an honor for those of us in attendance. After breakfast, we hit the seminars. After all, "That's what we're here for"! Then lunch with the exhibitors and 2 hours in the exhibit hall. Back to the classrooms in mid-afternoon for more seminars then a final 2 hours in the exhibit hall, this time with hors' devours, door prizes and more chatter with the vendors before we get a free night for dinner with friends. Saturday begins with a continental breakfast and then a morning filled with more technical sessions.

That concludes the "WORK" side of conference. Now we can have more FUN! A lunch with spouses and guests at one of the areas "special" restaurants, (and in this great country there's plenty), then usually a tour of some area attractions before heading back to the hotel. Saturday evening is the final banquet which is always "scrumptious" and some special entertainment. We've had comedians, jugglers, magicians, musicians, ventriloquists and more. And they've all been FANTASTIC!

We call it a Technical Conference, and it is ......... but it's also a time when we get to meet old friends and make new ones. What a great way to live.

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This page was last updated May 20, 2002