For so many of us, 1991 doesn’t sound like that long ago, but in reality, that was 32 years ago! 1991 is remembered for many reasons, not the least of which was sudden collapse of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the war in Iraq. Closer to home, 1991 also saw the formation of the Long Beach Chapter of the ASSP (then still known as the ASSE).
Current members Tom Butler and Marianne Thomas remember the formation of our chapter very well. As they recall, the only local chapter at that time was the Los Angeles Chapter. Members met monthly at the TAIX restaurant on Sunset Blvd. at 6:00 p.m. As Tom recalls, traffic generally became so bad that reaching those monthly meetings on time became more difficult. Marianne, who at the time was serving as the Senior Safety Engineer for McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach, approached her fellow safety professionals about starting a Long Beach chapter. With the support of McDonnell Douglas, the Los Angeles Chapter, and ASSE, Marianne, Tom, and several others began the process of establishing a charter for the Long Beach Chapter.
By the time the Long Beach Chapter was formally chartered in 1991, Tom had already been a member of the ASSP for 16 years and Marianne for 5 years! Together, using the prescribed rules for forming a new chapter in place at that time, the Long Beach chapter was initially established as a section of the Los Angeles Chapter and was known as the “Long Beach/South Bay Section of the Los Angeles Chapter.”
With impressive energy and an unparalleled commitment to the safety profession, Tom and Marianne, along with Allen Quignon, Russ Ford, John O’Toole, Jim Unmack, Gary Roque, Lou Ormsby, Linda Kean, Carl Cromin, and Ray Chose (to name a few) launched the new chapter. In their very first chapter newsletter, the newly formed chapter tackled a number of safety topics that remain just as relevant today, including Asbestos, Hearing Conservation, and Heat Stress.
Today, 32 years after the chartering of the Long Beach Chapter, we owe a great deal to Tom, Marianne, and the others who worked so hard to see our chapter into existence. More than gratitude, we owe these founders our renewed commitment, energy, and zeal to ensure that the next 32 years are as successful as the first. Today, our chapter is doing amazing things that are worthy of the founders’ faith in our continuing commitment to our field.
I encourage all members to visit our web site, subscribe to our LinkedIn and Twitter feeds/pages. These sources are packed with details about upcoming events, networking opportunities, education, CEUs, social events, grants and scholarships, awards and honors, and so much more. With your active participation, the Long Beach Chapter of the ASSP will continue to thrive as we support our profession, our members, and our community.
The very first issue of the Chapter newsletter from 1991 is included here! Check it out!
Chris Rainwater
President