Stepping into the role of Chapter President this year is a privilege I don't take lightly. Our Central Oklahoma Chapter has been carried for decades by people who show up, and I want to open this article the way I plan to run the year, which is with gratitude first.

Our September 14th Golf Tournament was a success by every measure that matters. The turnout was strong, the course played well, and the energy from sponsors, players, and volunteers made the day feel like the kind of event our chapter has always been known for. Fundraisers like this one keep our student activities funded, our scholarships alive, and our technical programming accessible.

Looking ahead, we have a year built around bringing people together beyond the monthly technical meeting. We are planning a Winter Family Night Out, designed to open the chapter up to the people who make our members' work possible at home. We are also planning a Spouses Night Out, a more intimate evening focused on the partners who often hear about ASHRAE without ever seeing what the chapter is actually about. Dates and venues will follow as soon as the committees have them locked in.

I also want to extend an open invitation to our Board of Governors meetings. If you have never attended one, this is the year to change that. The BOG is where the direction of the chapter actually gets set, and we want more voices in the room. Our YEA subcommittee will be sponsoring a happy hour after every BOG meeting this year. Everyone is welcome, whether you are a young engineer, a seasoned member, or somewhere in between. Come see how the chapter runs, then stick around and get to know the people running it.

This chapter runs on volunteer time. The past presidents who mentored the rest of us, the board members who show up early and stay late, the committee chairs who quietly keep the programs alive, and the members who write checks and give up weekends. You are the reason our chapter is one of the strongest ones in Region 8.