The candidates for President Elect of ASCE in 1999-2000 are Bob Chuck and Bob Bein. I have met both candidates and find them both to be well qualified for the position. Both were past National Directors in Zone IV. Bob Bein has also previously served as a Zone IV Vice-President. During the Dec. 9th Board Meeting in Tacoma, the Seattle and Tacoma Section Boards had the pleasure to listen to Bob Chuck regarding his candidacy. At the upcoming January 13th Section Meeting, the Board and Section membership will have the opportunity to speak with Bob Bein in person.

The Board will likely vote following the January Board Meeting as to the candidate the Seattle Section would like to see as eventual president of ASCE. As many of you may be aware, Zone IV is comprised of the western states. With a four-year rotation, Zone IV representatives elect the President Elect from the Zone IV region. A Zone IV Caucus will be held in February to decide on who will eventually be the National President of ASCE. The Section will then send a delegate to the caucus to represent the Seattle Section vote. To help the Board and our delegate in its voting decision, I am soliciting feedback from the membership-soooo, here's your chance to give me your opinion on the better candidate. Send me an e-mail (Error! Reference source not found.) or fax me your opinion at (206) 695-4772.

To help you in formulating your opinion, I had asked Bob Bein and Bob Chuck to send me a written statement of their vision for ASCE and their goals. They are as follows:

MY VISION AND GOALS FOR ASCE
BY
ROBERT T. CHUCK
VICE PRESIDENT, CH2M HILL
ASCE VISION

A 1998 Harris survey rates doctors, scientists, teachers and clergy as more prestigious than civil engineers. I have a strong desire and an action plan to elevate the public understanding and appreciation of how civil engineers play a crucial role in our communities' quality of life.

Over the years, our profession has made historic contributions to the world through projects like the transcontinental railroad and super highways; San Francisco-Oakland Bay, Golden Gate, and Brooklyn bridges; Grand Coulee, Bonneville, and Hoover Dams and the Trans-Alaska pipeline.

In addition to raising public awareness of accomplishments such as these, we also need to continue to upgrade our technical and professional activities to meet the needs of the next century. I am committed to: increasing our service to members and the public, and to enhancing ASCE's growth through continued technical accomplishments and our newly formed Institutes.

GOALS TO ENHANCE THE VISION

To accomplish the goals of raising our prestige in the community and growth in our technical abilities, I propose the following action plan in three major areas: technical, public outreach and professional development.

TECHNICAL

• Increase our research and use of innovative technologies in design and construction industries to provide superior services that the public depends on for planning, design, construction and maintenance of civil engineering projects.
• Assure that proposed institutes, such as the Environmental and Water Resources Institute, demonstrate a defined benefit to the civil engineering profession. By Laws and business plans should be prepared and approved prior to implementation.
• Work closely with legislative bodies to increase the funding for restoring and expanding the nation's infrastructure, which recent surveys have indicated needs to be rehabilitated and improved.
• Take advantage of ASCE's strong mix of educators and practitioners to form partnerships with the Civil Engineering Research Foundation, Congress and EPA to increase university research funding for practical, applied professional programs.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

Establish a public awareness program that links the accomplishments of the civil engineering profession with peoples' everyday lives and includes the following components:

• Sponsor volunteer projects for providing infrastructure facilities to developing countries, similar to the "Water for People" program sponsored by the American Water Works
• Association that gives volunteer aid to developing countries for domestic water needs.
• Establish public outreach programs with nonprofit organizations such as the Red Cross in disaster response and introduce designs of stronger and safer structures to deal with the effects of natural disasters.
• Accelerate education initiatives by establishing financial aid and scholarship programs for high school students with promise in the civil engineering profession.
• Increase ASCE's presence in local communities through projects including: establishing a traveling Civil Engineering Museum Exhibit focusing on the profession's top projects: developing a postage stamp commemorating 150 years of services (2002); and a television broadcast of outstanding industry projects.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Increase the participation of civil engineers in local, state and national issues through election to neighborhood boards, city councils, legislatures, Congress and community leadership positions.
  
• Develop ASCE professional leadership programs that stress management, speech and writing skills.
  
• Enhance ASCE Section communications by using the Internet and Web pages, as well as holding joint conferences with other professional organizations such as AWWA, WEF,
• NSPE, SAME and APWA.
  
• Control dues increases and encourage staff to maintain association efficiency to provide member value. Focus on policy and budget issues at the Board of Direction level.

SUMMARY

For more than one hundred and forty eight years, the American Society of Civil Engineers has played a key role in improving public safety and the quality of life in our country. Enhancing the public understanding of our profession and its contributions will greatly benefit the Society and its member in tangible ways, including:

• Stronger membership participation.
• Funding for research projects and scholarships.
• Increased support for civil engineering programs that insure public health and safety.
• Attracting bright students to the profession.
• Obtaining goals of building fund programs.
• Increasing the Society's reach in our communities.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve our members and help the Society gain the recognition that its members deserve.

Statement of Issues for ASCE
BY
ROBERT WALTER BEIN

Since it is too early and probably inappropriate for me to set forth specific goals I would instead like to set forth my feelings on several issues presently facing ASCE National.

MEMBERSHIP - I believe the Society is on the right track with its coordinated program of an inclusive policy though the establishment of institutes and its exclusive policy, which requires specific technical professional and ethical qualifications for full fledged members. We must work to strengthen these membership programs especially in the areas of Students, University Faculty Members, staff members of government agencies and institute members. There is no doubt that in today's political area there is strength in numbers.

MASTERS DEGREE 1st PROFESSIONAL DEGREE - This concept could go a long way toward the perceived professional stature of civil engineers, however, first it must be clearly defined and then endorsed by such diverse group as NCEES, ABET, Universities faculty and administrators, professional practitioners and employers just to name a few.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY - Our members work hard for their financial rewards and they deserve careful and conservative use of their Society's funds. ASCE has recently experienced a $9.2 mil. windfall through the sale of the United Engineering Center Building in New York which housed the National Headquarters of ASCE for decades. These funds must be carefully managed so as to make it an endowment for future services to generations of ASCE members. The almost $40 million budget of the Society requires experienced stewardship and careful allocation to the most important member services. I believe every expenditure must pass the member cost benefit sieve test. I believe every opportunity for fund-raising should be implemented before raising of membership dues is considered.

MEMBER SERVICES - The reason for the existence of a society such as ASCE is to provide the services that the members want and need. This is the basic premise I believe in.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES - I believe we must strengthen our outreach program to existing as well as potential new international members.

POLICY BASED BOARD - In an organization with 120,000 members, 10,000 active volunteers and a 34 member Board of Direction, there must be visionary, strategic thinking and policy based leadership. The Board of Direction must not use its limited time dealing with administrative details. I believe that the Council of Vice Presidents is an excellent way for the Board to delegate these administrative details.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND CONDUCT - I am very aware of the vital natural of our professional and ethical responsibilities and believe that every activity we undertake must be supported by our published Code of Ethics, and the Guidelines to Practice Under the Fundamental Canons of Ethics. While Technical Activities is the muscle and Educational Activities is the skeleton, Professional Practice is the heart and soul of the Society. For too long, ASCE's professional activities were carried out without a strong interaction with our members. One reason for their reorganization in which I participated over the last four years into the Committee on Professional Practice, was to promote dialog between our members and the volunteers active in ASCE's professional programs. This dialog is occurring, and I will strive to enhance and promote the active participation of all ASCE members in shaping our professional activities, and our positions on issues effecting our profession.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - With the currently growing requirement for the accumulation of Professional Development Hours (PDH) by engineering professionals to support their registration renewals it is of paramount importance for ASCE to have in place an easily accessed, reasonably priced, nationally approved continuing professional development program that not only includes seminars, conferences and conventions for group participation but also includes individual on-line interactive study opportunities for grassroot individuals, that are available even in the most remote locations.

150 ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF ASCE - This event, which takes place in 2002, will provide the best opportunity we will have for years to showcase our Society and our profession. ASCE must use this opportunity to project the image of the Civil Engineer in the most professional and career desirable light possible.

GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT - I believe that we must continue to strengthen our government involvement at the Federal, State and Local levels. We must build on the foundation of our nationally recognized Infrastructure Report Card and encourage implementation of a similar program at the State level. We must continue our program of the Congressional contact events and seek regular opportunities to testify before Congress and State legislatures concerning ASCE policies and viewpoints. The Committee on Policy Review, which I chaired, is responsible for the upkeep of these policies, so I know that ASCE has the programs in place to achieve these goals. Our committees on Government Affairs, State Government Relations, Congressional Fellows and State Public Affairs Grants give us the potential to be more influential than ever before in public policy. My goal is to maximize ASCE's effectiveness in meaningful involvement in all levels of government.

GRASSROOTS INVOLVEMENT - The most important responsibility we have as leaders in ASCE is our relationship with our grassroot members. I believe every Section in the Society should experience a personal visit from one of the Vice Presidents and/or the Presidential Officers every year. I believe we must strengthen the contents of the Zonal Management Conferences so they are more of a 2-way exchange of information rather than a monologue by National Staff and leaders. I believe that every resolution originating at the Section, Branch or Council level must be considered, evaluated and answered in a clear, concise and timely manner. I believe the society leadership structure must be organized so that every member and every location has an equal opportunity to participate and to be heard. I believe that National Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs must be trained not to work in a headquarters vacuum but directly with the grassroot units in developing programs and policies. I believe every member is most important.

STRATEGIC PLAN - I strongly support the Implementation of the National ASCE Strategic Plan and believe it is the primary guide that is successfully taking ASCE into the next millennium. It is inclusive as well as exclusive with its mix of regular professional members and Institute members. It clearly defines the focused goals and objectives for each component and segment of the Society, which will enhance member services, improve communication throughout and without the Society, grow the Society both in members and influence, protect the Society's financial stability, correctly delegate policy versus administrative responsibility, provide excellent and assessable continuing professional development opportunities, bring the Society into step with the modern world, increase our international presence, highlight out professional and ethical code of conduct and provide the professional roadmap which will ensure that the American Society of Civil Engineers grows in its status and reputation as the worldwide leader in Civil Engineering.

ASCE FOUNDATION AND WASHINGTON D.C. HEADQUARTERS - So much of what makes up the image and reputation of the Society is perception. I have learned over the years the value of perception and I am proud to have been part of the Board of Direction and ASCE Foundation task forces that helped bring the Society into its beautiful new headquarters facility in the Capital of our Nation

.

The SEAW Southwest Chapter is holding its Third Annual Educational Trade Show and Seminars at the Best Western Executive Inn Tacoma/Fife on Wednesday, January 27, 1999, from 3pm to 9pm. Twelve afternoon seminars will be held from 3pm to 6pm and the Trade Show will begin at 5pm. Seminar topics will be announced in January. Attendance to the seminars is on a first-come basis.

The Seminars and Trade Show are free for members of SEAW, ASCE, and SAME however reservations are required for all persons attending to receive a free evening meal. Reservation deadline is Wednesday, January 22, 1999. For reservations or more information, contact Sarah Porter at sarah.porter@apawood.org or (253) 620-7459.

This show is the only one of it's kind for structural engineers in the Puget Sound region so mark your calendar and plan to attend!

Attendees: Steve Hart, Jim Alverson, Ron Leimkuhler, Shannon Kinsella, Susan Gardner, Ray Walton, Don Northey, Darrell Smith, and James Wilhoit.

1. TThe meeting was called to order by the President, Steve Hart, at 4:20 PM.

2.Regular Business - Minutes of the Board meeting of November 11 were approved with two changes. No additions were made to the printed agenda for today's meeting.

3.The Treasurer was absent so no report was made.

4. Technical Committee Reports - Ron Leimkuhler presented a summary of current technical committee activities. He noted that the Waterways Group is in the process of getting a program underway with Don Oates as chairman. Consideration is being given to merging functions of the Engineering Management Group with an existing outside organization called Management in Engineering, which is run by Franchot Fenske (who is also an ASCE member). The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee is proposing to evaluate all types of infrastructure in the Puget Sound Region (or perhaps the entire state) and to issue a "Report Card" on its status and condition. The report card would be patterned after the report card issued by ASCE a few months ago on the infrastructure of the nation. The Lifeline/Earthquake Engineering Group is working cooperatively with SEAW to sponsor a conference in 1999 addressing the topic of emergency preparedness. Ron reported that to date only four Section members have returned the questionnaire asking for member interests in getting involved with Section technical and standing committees/groups. It is hoped that a large number of questionnaires will be received in the next month.

5. Standing Committee Reports - Ray Walton reported on the following:
- The Professional Practices Committee is not active currently.
- The Public Information Officer, James Wilhoit, has issued press releases on three topics including (1) work on a fishway project, (2) the National award on History and Heritage to Joe Colcord recognizing his establishing a course at the University of Washington on the History of Civil Engineering, and (3) announcement of the winner of the Jones Award.
- The History and Heritage Committee is completing documentation to nominate the Cedar Falls Hydroelectric Project as a National Civil Engineering Historic Landmark.
- The University Advisory Committee has begun work with Seattle U. and U.W.
- The R.H. Thomson Memorial Scholarship Committee has evaluated the current endowment and decided it must reduce the scholarship award for 1999 to $4,000 instead of the usual $5,000. Donations to the scholarship fund are urgently needed.
Ray also reported that preparations are proceeding on schedule for the national ASCE conference on water resources engineering that will be held in Seattle in August 1999. A national figure in environmental and water resources issues in the West, Mr. Mark Reisner, is being invited to deliver the keynote address.

6. Branch Reports (Shannon Kinsella) - The Kitsap Branch continues to be heavily involved in development of the Clear Creek Trail near Silverdale, including using ASCE grant funds to help in involving other community groups, such as high school students and Boy Scouts in various aspects of the trail work. The North Branch is working on a Habitat for Humanity project. The Branch will host a Christmas party on December 16. The Puget Sound Engineering Council (PSEC) will hold its annual banquet on February 27 at the Space Needle Restaurant, in conjunction with celebration of Engineers' Week.

7. Associate Member Forum (AMF) - Bob Bucher submitted a brief written report on AMF activities. Twenty high schools have registered for the Popsicle Stick Bridge contest, of which some 14 already have been visited by AMF teams to explain how the contest works. A letter requesting contributions to support the stick bridge contest has been sent to a number of local engineering firms. AMF is now in the planning stages of a joint student/AMF Habitat for Humanity project. An organizational meeting will be held in January with the local Habitat office. AMF is currently collecting information regarding opportunities for volunteer work with the King County Department of Natural Resources, including the Habitat Partners Program and the Native Plant Salvage Program. More information on AMF activities is available on the Section's web site.

8. Convention 2000 - Susan Gardner reported that a meeting is scheduled for December 15 at John Hastig's home to organize for meeting the Section's responsibilities for staging the national convention.

9 Old Business -

9.1 The issue of requiring a structural engineer's license for design of minor structures was deferred until the January meeting. At that time the SEAW may have a proposed solution available for consideration by the Board.

9.2 The Secretary reported that the Section's Annual Report for 1997-98 was completed and shipped to ASCE Headquarters in time to meet the November 30 deadline.

9.3 Grant Applications Under ASCE's Program for Public Relations Grants: - Possible participation in ASCE's "Bridge Across America" contest was discussed, but the Board took no action.
- Use of a grant to help with the Infrastructure Committee's preparation of a report Card on regional or statewide infrastructure status was thoroughly discussed, with the idea of paying university students to do much of the required research. The Board voted to apply for a grant in the amount of $5,000 for this purpose. The deadline for submittal to ASCE Headquarters is December 31. The President will coordinate preparation of the grant application with the Infrastructure Chair.
- The Seattle University idea to build a steel bridge has been dropped for this year.

9.4 The R. H. Thomson Memorial Scholarship Committee is seeking donations to increase capitalization of the scholarship fund.

9.5 White Paper on Infrastructure Funding by the Infrastructure & Transportation Committee: The White Paper is still undergoing revision by the committee based on Board member comments on the draft paper. Following revision and Board approval, the paper will be published in the Newsletter. Then the Section membership will be asked to vote on whether to release the paper as representing the Section's position.

9.6 The Pacific Northwest Council Spring Conference will be held in Seattle in March 1999. Letters to conference delegates will be dispatched in December.

9.7 and 9.8 The President is seeking comments from Board members on proposed changes to the Section's Duties and Procedures Manual and to the Constitution and Bylaws.

9.9 Section Newsletter: The question of whether the Newsletter should be made available by e-mail only was discussed but no action taken. Avoidance of printing and mailing would save a considerable amount of funds, but some members do not have the use of e-mail.

10. New Business

10.1 LOCEA nominations will be received in spring of 1999, following publication in three consecutive Newsletters (January, February & March) of the announcement. The award for the selected project will be made in September 1999.

10.2 A brief discussion was held on the need to enact some amendments to the Section's Constitution and Bylaws to increase efficacy. Approval of any amendments requires a favorable vote of the Section membership, and they should first be reviewed by ASCE's Council of Vice-Presidents for consistency with overall ASCE policy. The President's suggested amendments were previously distributed to Board members for later review. No action was taken.

10.3 Life Member certificates will be presented by John Hastig at the January meeting to the senior members who qualify.

10.4 The President noted that Susan Eubank, Chair of the House & Hospitality Committee has submitted her resignation, effective immediately. Nominations for a new chair person for this vital committee should be made to the President as soon as possible.

10.5 Registrations are now being taken for the Zone IV Management Conference to be held in Long Beach on February 19, 1999. It was noted that a concurrent student conference will be held. Both Seattle U. and U. of Washington student chapter members will participate.

10.6 The vital need to increase membership in ASCE was discussed, including possible reasons why many professional engineers evidently consider it not important to participate in the profession's national society. Further thought will be given and some action plans developed.

10.7 A prearranged telephone conference was held with Bob Chuck of the Hawaii Section. Bob is a candidate for nomination as the Society's President-Elect, the nomination of whom will be a topic for action at the Zone IV February meeting in Long Beach. Bob's Vision and Goals Statement had been issued to Board members prior to the meeting. In the telephone conference, Bob presented his interest, qualifications and positions on various issues facing the Society. Board members were given time to discuss some of the issues with him. The other candidate for the nomination is Bob Bein of the Los Angeles Section. He plans to meet with the Board at its January meeting.

11. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:04 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Alverson, Secretary

The Board of Directors of the Seattle Section of ASCE has been requested to consider a policy statement on the practice of some jurisdictions of requiring a structural stamp on all structural work that comes before them. The Board assigned the task of drafting the wording of a policy statement to Donald A. Northey, Structural Committee Chair and liaison to SEAW.

In reviewing past efforts to define a scope of practice, the best starting place appears to be the majority report, dated November 1993, of an ad hoc committee that was assembled by the Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors to study this issue. Members of that committee included Roy A. Avent, Arne Carson, Howard Gorst, Richard Gilmore, Greg Guillen, Ed Huston, Sue Johnson, Tom Kinsman, Lewis Midlam, Charles Pearson, Alan Rathbun, Anne Symonds, Wes Taft, Umesh Vasishth, Larry Wade, and Allan Walley. The Board of Registration, Public Agencies, Building Officials, Civil Engineering Consultants and Structural Engineering Consultants were represented on the committee.

The report summary follows:

The Ad Hoc committee - scope of practice for structural engineering has after due deliberation overwhelmingly, but not unanimously recommended that a scope of practice for structural engineering be established. Under this scope of practice the work that require the services of a licensed structural engineer would include the following:

1. Assembly areas - stadiums, churches, etc., per UBC Chapter 23
2. Institutions - hospitals, schools, prisons
3. Essential facilities as defined by the UBC
4. Seismic upgrade of structures
5. Any structure over 3 stories in height, not including basement
6. Public bridges over 50 feet in length
7. Piers that are open to the public

This scope of practice would also note that all structural work not included above could be performed by any qualified Washington registered engineer. This would include water bearing structures, dams, private bridges, docks, and numerous other structures.

There are numerous registered engineers, not licensed as structural, currently performing the work indicated in the proposed scope of practice. The committee suggested a grandparenting system that would enable these qualified engineers to continue doing structural work.

Enactment of this proposal would require new legislation. Discussions with impacted organizations and associations should be held prior to the preparation of any legislation. The Board of Registration will accept, edit, modify, or reject the committee's recommendation as an executive agency. The Board cannot sponsor legislation without the approval of the governor. A sponsoring organization must be identified to enable any legislation to proceed.

End of report summary.

Since this report was prepared in 1993, many changes have occurred. The Washington Administrative Code was changed on July 1, 1998 making civil and structural engineering separate and equal disciplines, changing the structural examination process, and decreasing the time necessary to obtain a structural license. This change in the rules came about from a review of the Code for consistency with the Law, which found that the rules had exceeded the necessary authority.

The effects of the change to the system which had been in place for more than 30 years include:

• Decreased years of experience, and hours and scope of examination for registration as structural engineer.
• Separation of structural engineering from its traditional position as an advanced specialty in civil engineering into a narrower specialty area.
• Reduced reciprocity/comity with other states for structural engineers.

The Building Code continues to change, generally adding to complexity in the design process, and indeed a new International Building Code and code development process is well along with the goal of being in place in the year 2000.

Other factors to consider include the rate of growth in technical information available, the tendency to lower requirements for graduation from University (192 credits to 180 credits at UW), practice in other States, the emergence of national structural engineering organizations such ASCE's Structural Engineering Institute, NCSEA and CASE and the efforts of these national organizations toward national standards of practice.

Washington State law (RCW 18.43) makes provisions to safeguard life, health, and property, and to promote the public welfare, by requiring persons offering to practice engineering or land surveying to demonstrate their competence in their profession. The Board of Registration is established to administer the provisions of the law.

It is important to the engineering profession that there is no question about the competence of its members. It is assumed that those persons wishing to practice structural engineering welcome the opportunity to demonstrate their capability. Traditionally, registration as a Civil Engineer has implied some knowledge of structural design, while registration as a Structural Engineer has been considered as an advanced specialty of Civil Engineering. The question at hand is to develop a practice policy statement that will be consistent with the Law, current practices of Building Officials, Civil Engineers and Structural Engineers, taking into account the many changes enumerated above.

To develop a draft statement, available members of The Board of Registration's ad hoc committee are being queried to ascertain whether they believe any modification of their opinions are now required due to changes that have occurred since their report was published in 1993. If desirable a meeting of interested committee members may be scheduled to discuss such modifications.

If you have opinions or suggestions on any aspect of this matter, please e-mail them to don_northey@msn.com or telephone Don Northey at (206) 448 4200.

The Puget Sound Engineering Council, an organization with representation from more than thirty Engineering and Technical Associations located in the Seattle metropolitan area, including ASCE, cordially invites you to attend the annual Engineer's Banquet at the Skyline Level of the Space Needle on Saturday, February 27, 1999 at 6:30 p.m.

This will be a gala event to celebrate the Engineering Profession. A prominent keynote speaker will discuss the importance of our profession in the functioning of society, and Engineer-of-the-Year awards will be presented to Engineers who have achieved notable accomplishments in five different areas of our profession.

Dress is optional, black tie or business attire. Menu choices are Fresh Pacific Salmon or Black Angus Prime Rib. Reserve your tickets today by mailing reservation information to:
PSEC Banquet
2003 Western Avenue #555
Seattle, WA 98121
or faxing reservation information to (206) 269 6378, or calling the message line at (206) 444 2714. Tickets are $40.00 per person and reservations must be made by February 12th.

During January's Meeting, there will be at least two participants in the Student Sponsorship program, which pairs up a practitioner with a student. Ann Epler, with Hammond, Collier & Wade-Livingstone is a recent graduate of Gonzaga University with an environmental concentration in civil engineering.

She is currently working with sanitary sewer, storm drainage and water systems for small municipalities. Jennifer Kipp has a similar interest and focus in her studies at the University of Washington. Both will get acquainted and Ann can relate to Jennifer her transition from college to a "real life". If anyone else is interested in participating in this program, please send me an e-mail at shart@rwbeck.com. Remember, the financial cost of sponsorship is small. All you need to do is pay the cost of the students meal at the Section meeting and maybe buy them a drink during the social hour.