The Chairman's Message

Welcome to the Fisher-Rosemount Systems Users Group web page. We're glad you're here, and hope you stop by each month. As you can see, it's not all work and no play. Someone has to guard the beer tub.

Several things have happened since last month. One is the addition of Bob Larsen to the Board of Directors. You can read more about Bob (and see his picture) below. Another is confirmation of the site for the annual meeting in 2001. We will hold the meeting at the Hilton Riverside in the Big Easy, the city that care forgot - New Orleans. This should be a most pleasant venue for the meeting. Some of you may have attended ISA shows there. Others may have vacationed there. For those who have never been to New Orleans, it is truly a unique city, with immense charm (and great food).

During the past month, the Board has also been apprised by Fisher-Rosemount management that there is significant interest beyond North America in the Users Group. Asia and Europe are prime locations for the expansion of user group activities. The Board has decided to attempt to act as a clearinghouse for information regarding user group activities worldwide. The primary venue for doing this will be the Internet.

At this time, the Board is working with F-R personnel to define the content, look and feel of the website. There will be considerable expansion along with linking to appropriate F-R or ancillary user group sites. We ask your patience as we go through the development process. At the Board meeting in Austin on January 10 we will be finalizing the specifications for content.

As always, your Board welcomes any input you may have on this or any other issue you feel is important. You are free to contact any of the Board members via E-mail (the contact information can be accessed from the Users Group home page).

Now, let's meet Bob Larsen.

Bob is the third of our three Board members representing RS3 users.

Bob has 25 years of experience as a designer, design coordinator and project engineer in therefining industry. For the last 10 years, he has filled the position of System Manager for control systems at Crown Central Petroleum's refinery just east of Houston. He is a member of Crown's ad hoc committee to select replacements for old control systems, and is currently working on the project to replace an existing EMC system with an RS3 system. The project includes a new central control room and fiber optic peerways.

Bob is also a member of the Fisher-Rosemount technical documentation advisory council.

Bob's degree is an Associate of Applied Science in Data Processing from Houston Community College. He admits to the hobbies of hunting and model railroading, something that must be of great fascination to his three grandchildren. Bob's term on the Board is for the years 2000 and 2001. You can E-mail Bob at Rlarsen@crowncentral.com.

Again, thanks for hitting the web site. Next month I'll report on website developments, and probably issue the first call for presentations at the 2000 annual meeting. In the meantime, you can contact me at ksimpson@continentalcarbon.com.

Keith Simpson
Chairman

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