PRESIDENT'S COLUMNby Joe Clare, President AMF Wow! Young civil engineers are sure busy people. Young engineers are getting married, studying for the P.E. exam, buying houses, having children, and yet, find time to volunteer for ASCE activities. A big thank you for all the Popsicle stick bridge volunteers and donors. In addition, good luck to the University of Washington concrete canoe team racing in Portland April 16 and 17. Last month I had the pleasure and opportunity of attending the western regional conference for young engineers in Tucson, Arizona. It was nice to catch some 80-degree sunshine, a spring training game, and talk shop with young engineers from the western U.S. Several things I came home with are: While Seattle was enjoying 95 consecutive days of rain, Tucson was enduring a similar stretch of sunshine. Vancouver, B.C. would be the site of next years younger member conference in February. Moreover, young engineers had some strong comments and opinions regarding the Master degree as the professional degree. Vancouver, B.C. Professional Degree 1. Many of the national decision makers have an opinion that a BS is a four year degree and that an MS is a one year degree. If you ask many of the young engineers across the western U.S. including the Seattle area, you will find out that typically, a BS takes about five years and a MS takes about 2 years to complete. Many young engineers, including those holding MS degrees, expressed concern regarding national's decision to require/recommend/suggest that incoming students spend 7 years in school and jeopardize 2 years worth of salary, or on the job work experience, just to meet ASCE's policy. 2. National members admit jumping to a decision without consulting individual sections. National members also did not imagine the volume of feedback that this one decision has created. The objective of this policy "is to elevate the professional and technical competency of civil engineers." (Hoadley, Peter, The First Professional Degree: Where Do We Go From Here? ASCE News, April 1999, Vol. 24, No. 4 pp. 3). 3. The western region of younger members have taken an official stance of not supporting the policy. Some of my thoughts regarding this policy are: 2. A hot topic in this state is teachers pay. Is the ASCE professional degree policy connected to teacher pay and funding? You bet. For example, according to a Professor at the University of Washington, the civil engineering department has lost 7 professors in the last several years. Some have passed away, some have retired, and some have left for other opportunities. However, since salaries are below market rate, the University is having a difficult time attracting new professors and paying them. So far, funding for 2 new professors has been provided. This has the potential to detrimentally affect the civil engineering masters program at this university, reduce the number of graduate students, and hurt local students desire to seek a professional degree such that they can meet ASCE's policy. Are you dizzy yet? Maybe I am jumping ahead or just trying to raise eyebrows, but it is something to think about. If you have any comments or would like to express an interest in AMF, please send an email to jclare@aesgeo.com. Enjoy the spring. |
EDITOR'S DESKWe won it all! The concrete canoe team totally and completely dominated the regional competition this weekend in Portland! They won every category: best technical paper, best display, best presentation, best product, and they won EVERY race including qualifiers and all by incredible margins. No team has ever won all categories and races before. We also won the overall conference award for the second consecutive year with the help of Eric O'Brien's first place finish in the student paper competition. The national competition is in Florida in June and we have a great chance of taking the national title this year after having made significant improvements over the product, presentation, and racing effort that placed us 5th nationally last year!!! Way to go DAWG!! Fred Mannering Professor and Chair Thanks! |
Local Report Card on Infrastructure for Local Section is Underwayby Ron Borowski The Seattle Section Infrastructure, Transportation and Urban Planning (ITUP) Committee is preparing a Report Card on Infrastructure for the Seattle Section this year. It is being modeled on the American Society of Civil Engineers 1998 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, which addressed ten categories of infrastructure. The Report Card received widespread attention, and was instrumental in federal funding decision making for selected categories of infrastructure. The ten infrastructure categories are: roads, bridges, mass transit, aviation, schools, drinking water, wastewater, dams, solid waste, and hazardous waste The evaluation was based on condition and performance, need versus capacity, and need versus funding Team leads have been identified to collect available information and develop recommendations on each of the ten infrastructure categories. The ITUP Committee will then decide upon an infrastructure grade for each topic, and will present those findings to the Seattle Section Board. Draft grades and rationale are expected to be available for Board review in December and January. The results of this research would be provide the basis for other ASCE Sections to obtain such information for the participating sections and branches across the State of Washington in 2000. We feel that a local report card, with appropriate rationale, would provide the general public with better information on infrastructure needs based on the input of our professional community. For further information on the Infrastructure Report Card, contact Anna Crickmer, who is coordinating the Report Card Subcommittee process at 360-705-7362 or Ron Borowski at 206-684-8370. |
Press ReleaseDuring week of June 28 American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) Committees D 18 on Soil and Rock and D 35 on Geosynthetics will be meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle. Committee D 18 and its subcommittees will meet on June 28, 29, and 30. Committee D 35 and its subcommittees will meet on June 30, July 1, and 2. ASTM, Committee D 18, Committee D 35, ASCE members and nonmembers are encouraged to attend all or part of these meetings. Attendees are asked to register at the ASTM desk, but there is no charge to attend. Join us and become involved in the ASTM standards development process. D 18 also is sponsoring two symposium at this meeting. The Third International Symposium on Nondestructive Testing of Pavements and Backcalculations of Moduli will be given on July 1 and 2. A symposium on Constructing and Controlling Compaction of Earth Fills will be given on July 1 and 2. D 35 also is sponsoring a symposium on Testing and Performance of Geosynthetics in Subsurface Drainage that will be held on June 29 and is cosponsored by TRB. There is a fee for attendance at these three symposia. Attendees at these symposium can receive continuing education credits. For information concerning these meetings, contact Robert Morgan at ASTM (610)832-9732 or e-mail: rmorgan@astm.org. |
Programs, ProgramsBy Arthur Fleming Looking for a fun way to get involved with other engineers and builders? The program committee is looking for new members. We need help putting together several programs for next year; and some new blood would save you from more of the good ole AJF stuff. Specifically, one or two people are needed to help coordinate the details of next year's programs and track down leads for new programs. It is a great way to get to know others in our profession. If interested, please contact Arthur Fleming at 425/885-7648 ext 2156. Thanks! |
EMPLOYMENT ADSenior Structural EngineerA small established structural engineering firm in the Seattle area is offering an exciting opportunity to a Senior Structural Engineer experienced in concrete, wood, steel and masonry building design. This firm has been in business for 20 years, takes pride in the quality of its work, and offers a variety of project types as well as the potential for substantial ownership. Responsibilities include designing building structures, mentoring staff, maintaining client relationships, developing new business, and participating in the overall management and strategic planning of the firm. Qualified candidates will have a BSCE, a P.E., S.E preferred, in the states of WA, OR and/or CA, excellent communication skills, and at least 10 years of experience. Proficiency designing for high seismic zones, knowledge of uniform building code and computer aided design skills are necessary. In addition to a competitive compensation and benefits package, this firm offers the successful candidate a casual work atmosphere, flexible work hours, and a strong voice in the firm. Please fax your resume to Kristina Kinney, Recruiter, Hall & Company 360/598-3703, mail to 19880 NE 7th Avenue, Suite D, Poulsbo, WA 98370, call 800/583-0379, email to kristina@job.com or apply on-line at www.job.com. Regional Engineering ManagerThis is a tremendous opportunity to join a dynamic company whose cutting-edge technology in stormwater treatment is revolutionizing the industry. The firm is four years old, has a strong presence in the Northwest where it is headquartered, and seeks key people to participate in its plans for rapid expansion. The Regional Engineering Manager will open the Seattle market in a start-up office. This person will be responsible for gaining agency approvals, developing new business through presentations, relationships and trade shows and building key contacts to serve these regions. We are looking for entrepreneurial leaders with degrees in engineering, outstanding communication skills and a solid technical knowledge base. The firm offers a strong base-plus-incentive compensation package, standard benefits and the opportunity for ownership in a firm that is expected to grow exponentially. Respond by faxing a resume to Sheila Brown, Recruiter, Hall & Company, (360) 598-3703, call 800-583-0379, email sheila@job.com or apply on-line at www.job.com. Thanks! |