La Crosse Area History 2023 Archive
HISTORY and CRC REPORT
La Crosse Area Chapter #115
AWARDS
| PAOE Honor Roll |
 2003-2004, 2008-2016, 2019-21  2003, 2013-2016, 2019-21 |
| PAOE |
 1997-1998, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2005-2006, 2007-2008 |
| History Display |  2011-2014 |
| Membership Promotion |  1992-1994, 1998-1999, 2010-2014 (First Place) 2014-15 (Second Place) |
| Award of Excellence |
 1972-73, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77 |
HISTORY
ASHRAE History of La Crosse Area Chapter
The La Crosse Area Chapter of ASHRAE is celebrating its 51st anniversary in 2023. The Chapter was chartered on April 10, 1972. During these 51 years we have been able to accomplish positive impacts to the Society and local community. This History of Chapter will cover 2015-2022 and detail some of our most recent contributions.
The Chapter established a scholarship endowment under the fiduciary stewardship of the ASRHAE Foundation and is awarded by the Chapter. The Lee Burgett Memorial Scholarship endowment started in 2017 and was first awarded in 2020. Funds were raised in part by the annual golf outing. The $1,500 scholarship is awarded to an engineering student within our ASHRAE region. It has been awarded to 5 individuals since 2020 which included 3 scholarships being awarded in 2022.
ASHRAE La Crosse Area Chapter entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of La Crosse, Wisconsin Planning and Development Department on February 13th, 2020. The purpose of this MOU is advancing and promoting mutual interests in engineering, building codes, energy efficiency, operations and maintenance, renewable energy, sustainability and resiliency for commercial buildings and communities. The common goal is to assist the City of La Crosse in building environment sustainability education and reaching carbon neutral by 2050. The Chapter participated in La Crosse City’s Energy Action Plan in 2021, and the Climate Action Plan in 2022 which continues into 2023. The City’s staff has also been invited to participate in our past ASHRAE meetings.
The 50th anniversary celebration was held April 13th, 2022, at the Waterfront with 51 attendees. Mick Schwedler, the ASHRAE President for 2021-2022, was the keynote speaker. He shared what he’s learned and experienced over his 32 years of involvement with ASHRAE. The group enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and a very competitive trivia game about all things La Crosse, ASHRAE and the local Chapter.
In February 2023, the La Crosse Area ASHRAE Chapter hosted Engineer’s Week (“E-Week”) at the Trane Technology Center and Laboratory. The Chapter, in conjunction with Trane, annually hosts middle school students from around the area for an introduction to Engineering, a lab tour, and an engineering competition. This year marked the first time since February of 2020 that E-Week participation returned to pre-pandemic attendance and participation levels. Over 200 6th – 8th grade students and 60 volunteers helped make the event a smashing success! (One school was forced to cancel due to weather which would have pushed attendance over 250). Many of the students later sent thank you notes to express their sincere appreciation and new-found interest in STEM.
ACTIVITIES
September
Lee Burgett Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing
- Drugan's Castle Mound
- Smaller turnout than normal - 36 total golfers
- Money raised: $2330
October
Building Moisture Management + Recent Advancements in Glazing technology, Fenestration Performance and Energy Codes @ Boot Hill Pub
December
WTC Tour
- Tour of ITC building on WTC campus in La Crosse
- Membership event, pizza provided
January
ASHRAE Standards Update
- Speakers: Chris Hsieh, Mike Patterson, Eric Sturm
- Standards Discussed: 62.1, 90.1, 189.1
February
Engineers Week
- 6 Schools from around the Coulee Region ~250 students
- Lab Tours
- Lego Car Activity
March
An Urgent Challenge, An Imminent Deadline, Achievable Goals: Your role in Climate Action for La Crosse
- Ted Redmond – presentation on La Crosse Climate Action Plan
- Lunda Center (WWTC)
April Meeting 1
Government Affairs Update
- GAC discussed WI Energy Code dev. process and what ASHRAE outreach looks like
April Meeting 2 (Rescheduled from Feb)
Electrification Panel
- Equipment and facility design impacts of electrification
- Bruce Barrett, Dan Gentry, and Jay McHenry
MEMBERSHIP AND PROMOTION
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | |
| Area-Assigned Members (without students) | 118 | 120 |
| Chapter Dues Paying Members (CDPM) | 108 | 98 |
| New Members to Date (AAM) | 11 | 16 |
| Members Delinquent to Date (AAM) | 1 | 3 |
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
| 2021-22 | 2022-23 | |
| New Student Members | 0 | 1 |
| Student Branches | 1 | 1 |
| Student Meetings | Some | Some |
| Students Attending Winter Meeting | 0 | 0 |
- Western Technical College Tour
- Engineers Week -Tours and Lego activity with area middle school students
RESEARCH PROMOTION
Goal: $11,500
Current: $1050*
*Not including employer match and golf outing.
Campaign to raise funds currently underway for new and past donors!
YEA
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COMMUNICATIONS
New chapter website is up and running!!!
https://www.ashraelacrosse.org/
