President's Report

Missouri River Relief

This newsletter is coming in a little off cadence. Since the last newsletter was released after the January meeting, I am finding myself at risk of being redundant. Instead, I am going to circle back to my connection to Missouri River Relief and what we have to look forward to with our sponsored charity.

As previously mentioned, I first became aware of MRR in 2022 when I was asked to be a part of a four person MR340 team. The MR340 is a multi-day endurance river race from Kansas City, KS to Saint Charles, MO and the marquee fund raising event for MRR. This event ties in perfectly with MRR’s mission as it connects people to the Missouri River. Before I decided to participate in the MR340 my thoughts on the river were negative; the river is dangerous, you shouldn’t swim in the river, etc. After my experiences on the river, I now think of it as fun and relaxing even after dodging barges, dredge guy-wires, lightning and being “carped on”. Nothing beats taking a week to unplug from the mental stress of engineering, hang out with friends, listen to music and have nothing to do but paddle.

Participating in the race revealed a whole community to me. I now am part of the safety kayak group for the Kansas City Triathlon, I have helped out as a volunteer for the MR340, and I have met some very interesting people like the first woman to canoe the entire Missouri River from head waters to the Gulf of Mexico (I default to what I learned in elementary school. Pluto is still a planet.).  I have found connection to this community rewarding, I want to deepen my connection to it and bring the ASPE community into it as well.  While I would totally love to have an ASPE-KC MR340 team, when I ran it by the Board there was no interest. Fortunately, there are other experiences available that will be new for me and you all.

MRR is still figuring out their Spring schedule but for our volunteer event I plan on having the chapter participate in a river clean up. I spent a lot of time volunteering as a youth and this sort of thing was always a ton of fun. It also seems that it could be something that the whole family could go to. Here is what MRR has to say about river clean ups:

Our cleanups are more than just picking up trash. They're about discovering that the Missouri River is worth celebrating, not fearing. You'll work alongside neighbors from all over Missouri, learn to read the river's moods, and go home with stories that make great dinner table conversation.

Every cleanup is different, but they all share something powerful: the moment when strangers become friends while hauling refrigerators from riverbanks and sharing snacks on boat rides back to headquarters. 

We provide everything: boats, tools, lunch, lifejackets, and unforgettable experiences!

Hopefully, this does not disappoint. Feel free to stop me at the meeting to chat about the MR340 or MRR. I am serious I would love to do an ASPE-KC MR340 team, so let me know if you have any interest.

Joe Poplinger
American Society of Plumbing Engineers
Kansas City Chapter President

Kansas City Chapter President

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VP Technical

Hello ASPE members! Thank you to those who were able to attend the January joint meeting with KC ASHRAE over Harnessing Energy Savings with Distributed Pumping for Hydronic Applications & Temperature Controlled ECM Circulators for Hot Water Recirculation . We'll be back to our normal schedule at the Merriam Community Center on the second Monday of this month. The February meeting will cover Wastewater Pumps, Control Panels, and Systems and is sponsored by Hodes & Sutter / Liberty Pumps. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Thanks,
Jack Klapper P.E.

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VP Membership

Hey Kansas City ASPE folks!

We are looking out for new members!!  Please recommend ASPE to colleagues and coworkers or bring them out to a meeting!  For potential new member your first meeting and lunch is on us!  Our technical sessions are a great way to earn PDHs for maintaining licensure, our local events and chapter meetings are great networking opportunities with our group, and the technical resources and other special ASPE programs are just some of the benefits of membership!! 

If you are interested in joining or needing to renew, visit the ASPE website here: Join ASPE

FREE STUFF!!

We are going to be having raffle giveaways for KC ASPE branded Swag for attendance at upcoming chapter meetings!  Members attending in person will be entered into a raffle to win!  Golf Polos and Quarter Zip pullovers are available.  Come join us at a meeting, network, learn some things, and get free stuff!

ASPE CONNECT

Members have access to ASPE Connect forums!  This is a wealth of knowledge from contributors across the country!  If you have some unique issue or question on a particular design??  Chances are there is some discussion of it on these forums or someone willing to provide some advice for any questions you might post.  Try it out!!   https://connect.aspe.org/home

Members have access to education resources and CEUs via webinars and past resources that help to keep you current on maintaining licensing and credentials.  Check it out:  https://education.aspe.org/

Any questions related to membership, please contact me at [email protected].

Mike Oliva
VP Membership

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Education Committee

Education Committee

Applications for the 2026 ASPE Alfred Steele Scholarship 

If you, your spouse, or your child would like financial assistance toward a degree in engineering, apply now for the ASPE Alfred Steele Scholarship! Up to $5,000 in scholarship monies are awarded to qualified applicants each year. Refer to the website for additional requirements https://aspe.org/membership-global-community/membership/alfred-steele-scholarship-application/. The application deadline is April 30, 2026.

 Certified Plumbing Design (CPD) Exam;

If you are considering taking the exam, see below for book of the month discount for the CPD Study Guide.  I know the Certified Plumbing Design (CPD) exam is not until April 13-24 2026, but it will be here before you know it.  Are you considering taking the exam?  We are working on getting study material for the exam and would like to get a list of people who are going to take the test.  Please contact me or any board member if you are taking the test so we can support you.

 To be eligible to take the CPD Examination, a candidate must possess:

• • A minimum of four years of experience in a position of responsibility for the design of plumbing systems and possess a baccalaureate degree in a field related to engineering; or
  • a candidate may substitute up to an additional four years of practical experience in the design of plumbing systems, for a total of eight years, or be granted a credit of one-half year of practical experience for each full year of education in an accredited curriculum related to plumbing engineering.
    

Refer to the website for additional information https://aspe.org/education-credentialing/cpd/exam/

Get the most of your membership and use the ASPE Education

Get the most of your ASPE membership and use all the educational opportunities ASPE https://education.aspe.org/

Ann Braden
KC ASPE Education Committee Chair

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Vice President Legislative

If you haven't heard the news, Overland Park is updating their codes to 2024 ICC come July 1st, 2026. Stay tuned for some specific code updates. 

Thanks, Mary

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Women of ASPE

Keep your calendars open for 4/2 for a bowling event! ALL ARE INVITED! Come support Women in ASPE. Keep an eye out for the official invite. 

Thanks, Mary

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Corresponding Secretary

Happy February Birthdays!

Jonathan Brack 
Brendan Gabriel Brooks 
Michael Robert Bull LEED AP, P.E.
Bryan Lovegren CPD, GPD
Matthew A. McCalla GPD
Derek Ryan Miller 
Gary Morgan 
Jordan Christopher Powell P.E.
Kevin G. Robb LEED AP
George K Scheppmann 
Matthew Alan Strathman 
Robert Edson Vonch Jr 
Adam Wedekind

Congratulations to people with ASPE Anniversaries!

Vincent Benjamin Bailey 
Richard Lee Bartlett 
Scott Bikson P.E.
Jonathan Brack 
Ryan Cooper PE
Kevin Walter Figge 
David K. Kaibel 
Jack Klapper P.E., CPDT
Dusty Shane McBee-Wiper EIT
Brian Eugene Petz CPD
Md Muzakkir Rahman Chowdhury 
Davin Rhule 
William Warren Rosenbrook CPD, GPD, P.E., FASPE
Dylan Robert Shmalberg P.E.
Dexter Sibley 
Joseph Elwood Sperry CPD
David Matthew Stookey P.E.
David Patrick Streiler 
Greg H. Swafford CPD, GPD
Brandon D. Taylor P.E., CPD
Mitch Aaron Wilson 
Eric Woster

Larry Tatum, CPD, LEED AP 
KC ASPE Corresponding Secretary

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