As the AFS year comes to a close with the May meeting I would like to thank all of the individual members and the companies who support the chapter for their continued support. AFS Birmingham is the best chapter in the country. Your participation in attending meetings, the Southeastern Regional and CMI courses is the reason we stand out as the model for many other chapters across the country. I also want to thank the AFS members who volunteer their time to serve on the Board of Directors and on the committees established by the Board of Directors. A lot of hard work and detailed planning is required to keep the Chapter running and those who volunteer for the committees do a fantastic job. If you would like to volunteer to be on a committee next year email John Kersh and let him know how you would like to serve.
This past year we completed the purchase of the Foundry in a Box from FEF and Dave Hughes worked out the finer points of making the presentation go smoothly. So far the presentation has been given about a half dozen times to various student groups and organizations. I hope this tool will continue to help us present the metalcasting industry to middle school and high school students as an exciting career option whether they choose to pursue Engineering, Business or Vocational careers. This year we also continued to reach out to the students at the Universities in the AFS Birmingham area. Molly Cameron again took the lead in organizing the scholarship process and this year we awarded two scholarships funded by an FEF endowment. We also held a joint student night with all three Universities and hosted the first ever AFS Birmingham Casting competition; April Pitts organized the event and I hope it will be the first of many. The students from Mississippi State, Alabama and UAB continue to participate in chapter activities and the quality of their efforts is great encouragement for the future of our industry.
I have truly enjoyed serving as Chairman this past year and look forward to being a part of AFS Birmingham for many more years to come.
Brian Floyd, Chairman
