Reflections of our 58th Annual Convention & Trade Show
Christmas came early to Hershey, PA May 22-26th. Yes, our theme of Christmas in May was a hit. It gave hardworking technicians and others an opportunity to relax, socialize, learn and see what new products were displayed by our many exhibitors.
Our theme was tied around the many charitable things our group does to support our communities, industry and schools.
Sunday started off with another community project spearheaded by Honeywell’s involvement with
Rebuilding Together – a group of us helped get Camp Sertoma, a non-profit summer camp for people of all ages with developmental disabilities, ready for the summer season.
Monday offered attendees a chance to attend Management Classes, participate in our annual
Dave Nelsen Golf Tournament or get on their motorcycle, bicycle or simply walk or run for a great cause,
Oil Heat Cares. Together we raised over $60,000 for our foundation. Thanks to your generosity, we will be able to continue helping our neighbors in need.
Monday evening participants were met at the finish line just in time for the Opening Reception. The Care to Ride Awards were presented during the reception and once again Roger Marran took home a winning plaque but just for the most money raised for the bicycle division. Ralph Adams took home the plaque for highest individual fundraiser. Team CT took home 2 plaques – winning team and highest overall fundraiser – beating Judy Garber out by a hair.
Special thanks to our co-sponsor
, attendees enjoyed a great indoor BBQ.
Tuesday was a landmark day for the Association – the final vote on our name change took place at our Board of Directors Meeting and after 58 years, the switch was made from NAOHSM to OESP – National Association of Oil and Energy Service Professionals.
After a variety of technical classes offered, our trade show opened to a terrific crowd – and our numbers validated that attendance was one of the best in a number of years! Our outdoor area too offered attendees an opportunity to see products in operation and good news for 2012 – we will have an outdoor area in Providence.
That evening at our
Annual Awards Banquet key people were recognized for their continual dedication to our industry. Our
2011 Scholarship Recipients were recognized and introduced and the Oil Heat Cares Cup will travel between 3 worthy people/chapters. Don Farrell got the rights to take it home with him – Don was recognized for his dedication to OHC and his idea and dream of Care to Ride. The two chapters – Long Island Chapter and Delaware Valley Chapter too were recognized for their continual support and dedication to Oil Heat Cares.
Prior to the Awards Banquet, guests enjoyed the cocktail party sponsored by
.
Wednesday began with a variety of early morning classes and an earlier start time for the show. Immediately following the show we again offered several classes and they too were popular.
Our annual closing event was tied around Christmas in May – the room glowed, the sleigh was packed full of toys to donate to Toys for Tots, the Marines were on hand to pick-up the toys, we had our very own Santa (and Mrs. Claus) and our very own Elf and fun was had by all.
Special thanks goes out to our co-sponsor,
for making this evening special.
We welcome you to join us in 2012 – at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI – May 20-24th. And we encourage anyone in the plumbing or HVAC trades to check out our show. There is sure to be plenty for you to see and you’ll get a chance to network with us too. Exhibitors or interested parties, this is a terrific way to get up close and personal to the people that decide on the heating and cooling products they sell to their customers.
Click here to get a sign-up form.
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