The Bi-State Chapter was organized in 1985 from a need to provide a technical forum and a pleasant social environment to exchange ideas for ASHRAE members in the counties surrounding White Plains, N.Y. The New York City, Northern New Jersey and Connecticut Chapters were all considered too far to travel to meetings in New York City, Central New Jersey and Hartford.

The initial chartering meeting was held in the offices of Wolff & Munier, Inc. on February 2, 1985, during which Charles J. Procell was elected President of the steering committee for the chartering purposes. He had successfully chartered a chapter in Rockford, Illinois, in 1972.

A membership meeting was held on March 5,1985 in the White Plains Hotel, where 40 ASHRAE members signed the charter petition. At this meeting, the name Bi-State was suggested as an invitation to our Connecticut members. The late Thomas S. Brown was present at the meeting. He was the Director and Regional Chairman of Region I. Tom was instrumental in the chartering process after conversations during 1984 with Charlie Procell. In a March 11, 1985 letter to Charlie, Tom stated, "Without doubt, this Chapter will become one of the outstanding Chapters in Region I. I wish you and all the people who have worked to make this a reality, my congratulations and thanks."

Following the March meeting, a letter was sent to the New York City Chapter requesting that they relinquish the counties of Putnam & Westchester in New York and Fairfield County in Connecticut to the Bi-State Chapter. Similar letters were sent to the Connecticut and Northern New Jersey Chapters for the relinquishment of Orange and Rockland Counties, and Dutchess County, respectively. All three Chapter Presidents responded quickly in the affirmative.

The April meeting included a field trip to the General Foods Headquarters, and the speaker at the May meeting was Mayor of the City of White Plains and Engineer, Alfred Del Vecchio, P.E. Thus, a tradition of high quality program for the monthly meetings was initiated. The formal "Petition to Society" was submitted following the April meeting. The charter was received in record time and was issued on June 4, 1985 at a meeting at the White Plains Hotel were ASHRAE President Bob MacDonald presented the charter to Chapter President Charlie Procell. The list of Presidents and President-Elects are enumerated below:

Year

President

President-Elect

1984-1985 Charles J. Procell, P.E. Charles Michel
1985-1986 Charles J. Procell, P.E. Michael Martus, P.E.
1986-1987 Michael Martus,P.E. Hank Munier
  Hank Munier Michael Martus, P.E.
1987-1988 Michael Martus, P.E. Hank Munier
1988-1989 Hank Munier Ronald J. Licare
1989-1990 Ronald J. Licare Kenneth Cuomo(resigned)
1990-1991 Joseph DiSisto, P.E. Eric Hahn (moved)
1991-1992 Joseh DiSisto, P.E. Joseph Quartaro
1992-1993 Joseph Quartaro Michael Skoldberg
1993-1994 Joseph Quartaro William Timm, P.E.
1994-1995 William Timm, P.E. Wayne Stewart
1995-1996 Wayne Stewart Clifford Konitz
1996-1997 Clifford Konitz George Farah
1997-1998 George Farah Walter T. Kane
1998-1999 Walter T. Kane James Zonino
1999-2000 James Zonino Joseph Trongone
2000-2001 Joseph Trongone Lawrence Sturgis
2001-2002 Lawrence Sturgis Michael Circosta, P.E.
2002-2003 Michael Circosta, P.E. Walter Greenwood
2003-2004 Walter Greenwood Lawrence Hurlburt
2004-2005 Lawrence Hurlburt Frederick Dean, P.E.
2005-2006 Frederick Dean, P.E. James Dolan, P.E.
2006-2007 James Dolan, P.E. John Fusco, P.E.
2007-2008 John Fusco, P.E. Terence Connor
2008-2009 Terence Connor Dennis LaVopa
2009-2010 Dennis LaVopa Stephen LePorisz
2010-2011 Enzo Carlesimo Nickolas Salomone
2011-2012 Nickolas Salomone Carmen Yellen
2012-2013 John Fusco Michael Circosta
2013-2014 Terence Connor James Dolan, P.E.
2014-2015 James Dolan, P.E. Brendan Smith P.E.
2015-2016 James Dolan, P.E. Brendan Smith, P.E.
2016-2017 Brendan Smith P.E. Stephanie O’Dea
2017-2018 Brendan Smith P.E. Stephanie O’Dea
2018-2019 Stephanie O’Dea Paul Chipoco, P.E.
2019-2020 Stephanie O’Dea Paul Chipoco, P.E.
2020-2021 Paul Chipoco, P.E. Paul Chipoco, P.E.

Initially, the chapter was holding technical seminars on energy conservation and heating/cooling load calculations, etc. After one year of operation Perry Cuomo received the CRS award in membership in 1986 and the following year Hank Munier received the award for the most improved chapter in 1987. Awards were also given to Bob Gironda for the technical affairs and the Region Award of Merit was given to Charles Procell. For 1988-1989 terms the chapter received the first PAOE award. Two of our charter members, Paul Bourquin (June 10,1990) and Charles J. Procell (January25, 1992) have been elected Fellows of ASHRAE. Art Breuer, P.E. and Robert Roston, P.E. received awards for membership and research promotion, respectively, on June 10, 1990.

Initial meetings were held at the White Plains Hotel and then changed to New York Polytechnic Institute, and then Tino's on Saw Mill River Road, the Marriott Hotel on Route 119, the Cabin Restaurant in Valhalla and now is held at the Casa Rina Restaurant in Thornwood, N.Y. The food is better at the same cost and the separate room provides a better environment for the tech sessions and the main program.

We would be remiss in not mentioning William Timm and James Zonino that lifted the chapter to new heights at the time of their service as President. James Zonino's dedication to Bi-State ASHRAE will be remembered by all of us for a long time. He attended a meeting at the Tarrytown Hilton to confirm arrangements for the year's CRC 2001 one week before he passed away with cancer. During this time of renewal, Joseph Ting, former Director and Regional Chair - Region I, joined the chapter and spearheaded the CRC 2001 as General Chair with the "TOPS", Technical, Operations, Planning and Social subcommittees. The CRC was a great success that featured the "first paperless CRC" in Region I and a trade show, technical seminars, and technical tours of the Sheet Metal Workers Training Facility in Brewster, NY, sponsored by SMACNA. As a result of this activity the chapter raised $20,000 for a scholarship fund.

We have all made a conscious decision to make a career in the HVAC Industry over the next 20-30 years. Why not take an active role in being part of the pleasant, friendly and educational environment at a monthly Bi-State ASHRAE meeting in centrally located Thornwood. Who knows you might find a pearl of wisdom or meet a new friend.