wscs HISTORY
The idea for the Western States Seminar was born in 1965 in Honolulu, HI.
Corrosion engineers from the West Coast had for years talked about a Short Course since few from the West Coast were fortunate enough to attend the courses conducted in the mid-west and east coast areas. As a result, plans were initiated during the November 1965 NACE Western Region Conference meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. Don Reedy (Metropolitan Water District of Southern California), Kent Wachtel (Duriron Company), and Darrel Byerley (Tinker & Rasor) approached Roy Dean, who was Chairman of the Western Region.
With encouragement from NACE in Houston, TX, Kent Wachtel was asked to notify interested persons to attend a meeting the following month. This meeting was held in a conference room of the Southern California Gas Company in Los Angeles, California. Enthusiasm was great at the meeting and it was decided to shoot for the first Short Course during the Spring of 1967.
1967
The First Seminar
Joe Dorsey (Southern California Gas Company) was drafted to be the first Chairman and future meetings were moved to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company auditorium in Bakersfield as a more convenient location for both Northern and Southern California committee people to assemble. Before the first Seminar, many meetings were held to select a location and time. The program, budget, speakers, publicity, and dates for the 1967 opening Seminar were determined.
NOT A SHORT COURSE,
A CORROSION SEMINAR.
In order to avoid the overworked term "Short Course" the name Western States Corrosion Seminar was chosen.
1967-1971
CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE (CAL POLY), VOORHIS UNIT, IN SAN DIMAS, CALIFORNIA, WAS CHOSEN THE SEMINAR LOCATION
1972-2024
THE SEMINAR WAS MOVED TO THE NEW CENTER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION BUILDING AT THE CAL POLY CAMPUS IN POMONA. THE CENTER IS PRESENTLY CALLED KELLOGG WEST AND WAS THE SEMINAR SITE UNTIL 2025
2025
IN 2025 THE SEMINAR WAS MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION - THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL IN CLAREMONT, CA. ADDITIONAL HANDS-ON TRAINING WAS ADDED AND THE FIRST COATINGS SEMINAR WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025
2026
IN 2026 THE COATINGS SEMINAR WAS ADDED TO THE CORROSION SEMINAR AS AN ADDITIONAL DAY OF LEARNING AND HANDS-ON APPLICATION
