|
April 2001 |
|
President’s Column In what we hope will become an annual tradition, the Section has extended an invitation to members of the North Branch and Kitsap Branch to attend the April 4th General Section Meeting. In past years members from the Seattle area have accepted invitations from the Branches, but this year it’s the city mouse’s turn to invite the country mouse. In addition to creating an opportunity for rural and urban members to socialize and network, our District 12 Director Jim Carlson will make a brief address about upcoming activities at the national level. Yes, it is true; ASCE will have a float in the Rose Bowl Parade! The Section will also ask those who attend to vote whether the Section should endorse the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation. (According to our By-laws a vote of the general membership must be taken at a Section meeting before an endorsement can be made). This promises to be one of the year’s best meetings. In response to feedback received last fall that the Section meetings could be more valuable to the membership by improving the caliber of topics and presentations, Program Chair, Ron Bard, has been working with the technical committee chairs to identify topics of interests and line up good speakers. Last month’s excellent presentation on the Kingdome implosion confirms we are moving in that direction, and the April meeting promises to deliver the same high level of timely information and new ideas. Thanks to the efforts of Robin Kirschbaum, who chairs the Water Resources Committee, Tom Scheuler, nationally recognized expert and Director of the National Center for Watershed Protection in Washington, DC, will be joined by Derek Booth, Director of the Center for Urban Water Resources Management at UW, to make a presentation on the issues of "Can We Save Salmon". To bring you this program the Board decided it would do things differently by covering the travel expenses for the speaker. To my knowledge this is a first for the Section and although we do not plan to make it a standard practice for every meeting, (especially since funds must be identified in September when the budget is approved), it is an attempt to enhance the social aspects of the meeting by educating the membership on important current issues that not only affect the practice of civil engineering, but are also important to the community. The format and content of these meetings are important; see accompanying letter to the Board in this issue. For some it is their only Section activity and for potentially new members it might be their first. Past events have shown that an interesting topic will generate high attendance, which is the best indicator we are providing activities members want to attend. But can we push the envelope further — are their other types of activities that would make you attend meetings more frequently? Send us your thoughts; phone numbers for the Board members are listed in this issue, and it will be a topic of discussion at the next Board meeting. |
|
ASCE Seattle Section Meeting |
|
Place:
Bellevue Hilton Cost: $20 per person*
Spouses and guests are invited.
Program Our keynote speaker is Tom Scheuler, Founder and Director of the Center for Watershed Protection in Ellicot City, MD. Tom will provide a national perspective on the effectiveness of watershed practices on saving salmon. Derek Booth, Director of the Center for Urban Water Resources Management at the University of Washington, will be joining to help provide regional context for the discussion. An abstract of the presentation follows: Communities around the country are turning to watershed protection to sustain the watershed services that they care most about, and stand to lose, as they grow. This trend is particularly true in the Pacific Northwest, where concern about the future of salmon in the face of rapid land development has prompted a new wave of watershed planning. This talk will address the question: has our practice evolved to the point where we can be confident that we can maintain salmon in the face of watershed development? Prior research in the Puget Sound area indicates a decline in stream quality at just under ten percent impervious cover. Additional research on impervious cover and stream quality indicators from other ecoregions will be reviewed that generally reinforces this relationship. In addition, recent research will be profiled that provides more accurate, and more sobering, relationships between suburban land uses and impervious cover. Quite simply, they indicate that nearly all forms of suburban development exceed the impervious cover thresholds needed to sustain salmon. The key question is whether any of our watershed protection practices can meaningfully shift the impervious cover/stream quality relationship. The potential benefits of new stormwater treatment practices, stream buffers, and better site design are explored, based on research conducted on the East Coast. Specific reference is made to new stormwater treatment criteria developed in three East Coast states, redesign analysis that quantifies the degree better site design can reduce impervious cover, expanded stream buffers, and research on urban stream restoration practices. Based on this review, it is speculated that our best practice can, at best, sustain salmon in small watersheds with no more than 15% impervious cover at present. The potential implications of this limit for our watershed practices is discussed at the end. |
|
Engineering for the Environment
— |
|
The Management in Engineering Committee program for Wednesday evening, April 25, will feature a diverse multidisciplinary panel of green design experts who will illustrate how substainability is being integrated into engineering design for marketing advantage. Leaders will discuss finance, management, policy, engineering, land use planning, and architecture required to manage environmental change and position their organizations for expanding business opportunities. Panelist will include: Kevin R. Hydes, P.E. (Keene Engineering, Vancouver, B.C.); Lucia Athens (City of Seattle - Green Building); Andrea Ramage (CH2M Hill); and Christopher J. Webb, P.E. (2020 Engineering, Bellingham, WA). See "Upcoming Meetings/Events" in this newsletter for reservation information. — Submitted by Timothy Lowry. |
|
Section to Vote on Blue Ribbon Commission Findings |
| The Infrastructure Transportation and Urban Planning (ITUP) committee has been following the progress of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation (BRCT) since its inception. Peter Hurley, a Commission member and the Director of Transportation Choices, attended our January committee meeting to present the Commission’s findings. The ITUP committee voted unanimously to endorse the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation including the Early Action Investment Guidelines for 2001 through 2007 at our February 15 meeting. The committee further recommends that the Board and the membership of the Seattle Chapter of ASCE at large endorse the Blue Ribbon Commission findings. In order for the Section to make an endorsement, a majority of the members who attend the April General Section meeting must vote yes. Anyone interested in getting additional information on the BRCT findings can visit their website at www.brct.wa.gov. |
|
ASCE Seattle Section Executive Board Meeting Minutes for March 14, 2001 |
|
Attendees: Linda DeBoldt, Susan Gardner, Ron Leimkuhler, Arthur Fleming, Ann Epler, Ron Borowski, Bob Boudinot, Stan Boyle, Shannon Kinsella, Don Northey. Section President Ron Leimkuhler called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. January Board meeting minutes approved. February Board meeting minutes approved with addition of note that Bob Boudinot was a late arrival to the meeting and was not present for the full duration. Treasurer’s Report: Arthur Fleming presented the Treasurer’s report for the period ending March 13, 2001. Approved. It was decided that future reports be presented for a period covering the previous calendar month and that the February report would be revised to end at February 28, 2001. Committee and Branch Reports: Committee reports were presented by Shannon Kinsella, Ann Epler, Linda DeBoldt, and Bob Boudinot. Don Northey presented the PSEC report. The YMF continues to be busy and is looking for more members to help with their various activities. See the announcements elsewhere in this newsletter for upcoming committee activities. The popsicle bridge competition was conducted in February – the winning bridge supported a load in excess of 2000 pounds. YMF holds their elections on April 5th. Mary Holland is coordinating ASCE’s volunteers for the April 28th Rebuilding Together effort. OLD BUSINESS: Infrastructure Report Card: The Section’s Infrastructure Report Card for King and Snohomish Counties was released on March 8. Ron Leimkuhler is looking for someone to spearhead the process of promoting the report card results and working with the media and various agencies. The importance to ASCE and its members of spreading the word on the report card cannot be overstated. A copy of the report can be downloaded from the Seattle Section web site. Thanks again to all involved in assembling this document. Ron Borowski was at the Washington, D.C. release of the ASCE 2001 National Infrastructure Report Card on March 8th. He also met with Washington State Representatives’ and Senators’ staff to increase their awareness of ASCE infrastructure interests and the National Report Card. The National Report Card is available on the ASCE website. Seattle Section Archives: Stan Boyle presented his findings on the cost for storing Section records during the first few years after they are developed so that they can be accessed if necessary. Further discussion on this issue was postponed until next month. Nomination Committee: Susan Gardner presented the names of the candidates for offices with positions opening next year. See the ballot enclosed in this newsletter. AELC: The Seattle Section has been asked by AELC to increase its contribution. Following discussion, it was decided that the Section would not approve this requested increase. ASCE District Representative: ASCE National has requested the Section to contribute to support of a new Rotating Director. Following discussion, it was decided to not approve the request and to ask National to reconsider their proposal. NEW BUSINESS: College of Engineering Open House: The open house is to be held April 20th and 21st. Volunteers are needed to man the booth and to talk with students about why they might consider a future as Civil Engineers. Contact Ann Epler if you would like to help out. R H Thompson Committee: Fred Kern was approved as a new member for this Committee. ASCE 150th Anniversary: Ron Borowski informed the board that National is soliciting money to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of ASCE. A request for donations will likely be sent to all member Sections. Rose Bowl Float: Some of the California sections are looking for donations to help pay for part of the estimated $200,000 required to construct an ASCE float for next year’s Rose Bowl Parade. Blue Ribbon Commission: The announcement on the Blue Ribbon Commission Findings is presented in this newsletter. The vote on whether or not to endorse them will be held at next month’s meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Meeting minutes prepared by Stan Boyle. |
|
Attention: Mentors |
|
ASCE MENTORS, marks your calendars! The students from the University of Washington and Seattle University would like to recognize YOU as part of the evening program of the May 9 ASCE dinner meeting. Please join us in appreciating the wonderful individuals who have helped the Society enlighten and inspire the careers of future civil engineers! The Mentor Appreciation Program will be held as part of the May 9 ASCE Student Presentation dinner meeting. For more information, stay tuned for the next ASCE newsletter, or contact Tawni T. Hoang (thoang@ch2m.com). |
|
Management Trends Improving A/E Awareness —Strategic Upward Valuations |
|
Is what we do a commodity or a profession? Experienced business managers and negotiators realize perception can be 80% of success. To this end, A/E managers and leaders can better harness the untapped value they bring to their clients. Strategic Upward Valuation; a change of mindset and perception magnify the influence of leaders for business advantage. We will present examples that leverage relationship management, allowing individuals to thrive at conflict resolution and strategic planning that expands firm profitability. These techniques are applicable at multiple levels, from individual to firm to industry. The meeting will be held on May 23 at the Rock Salt Steak house. — Submitted by Timothy Lowry. |
|
Masonry Design Seminar |
|
A half-day masonry design seminar per the Uniform Building Code will be held at several Northwest locations in April and May. The seminar is sponsored by the Northwest Concrete Masonry Association. Scheduled seminar dates are: April 17, Richland; April 18, Spokane; May 10, Bellevue; May 22, Seattle; May 23, Eugene; and May 24, Portland. For more information, contact the Northwest Concrete Masonry Association at 425-453-7606. |
|
ASCE Section Newsletter |
|
Employment Ads:
Inserts: 8 ½ by 11:
Business Card Ads: $300 for 10 issues (paid in advance), Policy Implementation The above advertising rates will take affect starting with the April newsletter with the exception of the new business card rates which will take affect in September 2001. |
|
An Open Letter To: |
|
Dear Ron and Members of the Board:
I would like to propose a somewhat radical (by local standards) change for our Section and committee meetings. I hope this will generate some serious discussion amongst the membership and Board of Directors of the Seattle Section. Whether an actual change is adopted or not, the situation it addresses, and how the Section ultimately faces this situation, is the important issue. Background As part of the Section leadership in recent years, I have noticed a phenomenon, which, while an indication of the success of the Section, is also a detrimental trend that causes me to worry about the future of the Section. That phenomenon is the success of our subgroups (Branches, AMF and technical committees). The trend I see is the segregation of the membership into subgroups, with little interaction and a reduced level of meaningful activity at the Section level. Having served on the Section’s Nominating Committee a number of times, I believe this phenomenon impacts that Committee’s function, and thus the Members and the future of the Section. In general, I have been pleased with the caliber of officers the Section has had during my experience with the Section. I also know it is a difficult task to attract the dynamic and capable candidates we need in leadership positions for the future of the Section. A major difficulty is not knowing many of the potential candidates, coupled with their conflict of interests between participating in the subgroups versus the Section and the time that would be required to participate at both levels. Also suffering from this segregation are the Members individually. One of the main benefits of active membership is networking with fellow Civil Engineers. I would suggest that networking should include contact with those outside of one’s technical specialty, including our senior and retired members. Attending only subgroup activities limits these opportunities, and I believe the benefits one could receive from membership. My Proposal I would like to see the Section consider changing the scheduling of meetings, both Section and subgroup meetings. I propose two alternatives for consideration.
I am concerned, Ron, for the long-term viability of the Section – and frankly for ASCE as an organization, they way it is going. Specialization has its place. Overspecialization and fractionalization comes at a high price. One organization can have some components of specialization. But to be composed of only specialized groups without common bonds loses the essence of an organization. We need to bring our membership together! We need to make it worthwhile for all Members to attend the Section’s meetings and become interested in its survival. John D. Hastig, P.E. |