I take great pleasure in conveying my best wishes to all throughout our industry. ISHRAE has entered a new Society Year 2013-14. The previous guards move on and the new group takes over the reins. The challenges to the Society go on increasing as the bar keeps getting raised for the service to be provided to the members. We have to rise to the occasion to take the Society to even greater heights. 

ISHRAE took great strides forward in the previous year. For the first time, our official recorded register of members crossed the 10,000 mark. ACREX 2013 achieved landmark participation both in terms of exhibitors (domestic and international) as well as delegates/ visitors to the show. ISHRAE has also achieved a greater global visibility.

 We have to move forward and go to greater heights, building on the strong platform prepared by our predecessors. Towards this, the theme for the year has been projected as G.E.T.S.: 

·         Global Reach

·         Enhanced Communication

·         Technical Excellence

·         Sustained Continuity 

As a part of Global Reach, we plan to improve our global visibility. We already have Memorandums of Understanding with a few foreign societies and plan to increase joint activity with them. We also plan to increase our network with other societies in similar fields. 

The need for Enhanced Communication amongst the vast number of members in our fold today cannot be over-emphasised. The website is being improved to cater to the membership and improve two way communication between the HQ Secretariat and the members. We will have a payment gateway on our website for on-line membership application as well as for renewals and sustenance. The core group of HQ officers and RDs along with the National Chairs would be meeting more frequently for better management of Society affairs including Chapter feedback in decision making. 

The Technical Handbooks are being updated and fresh editions would be published shortly. A new testing standard for Chillers, suitable for Indian conditions, has been prepared jointly with RAMA, and is expected to be released over the next few months. We also plan to come out with testing standards for VRF jointly with RAMA. Some of the initiatives taken up previously such as consolidation of membership data, registration of constitutional amendments, strengthening and training of HQ and Chapter Secretariats, etc. would be continued to effect a systematic overall improvement in Society operations. 

I look forward to the support of one and all to achieve successful attainment of all the initiatives taken up this year, as the means to improve the overall working of the Society to enhance the quality and quantum of service being provided to our entire membership. 

I convey my best wishes to all for a very satisfying and successful Society Year.

 Dipak Barma

National President 2013-14

ISHRAE