MAINE SECTION ASCE BOARD MEETING

03/29/05

MTA, Portland

 

Attending: Bob Chaput, Be Schonewald, Peter Merfeld, Erik Wiberg, Tim Merritt, Chris Taylor, Walter Fagerlund.

 

February meeting minutes reviewed and approved with no changes.

 

Erik passed out Treasurer’s report.  $22,248 cash on hand, $15,189 of which is in savings account.  $2,000 net income from Technical Seminar, $200 +/- still outstanding.  Upcoming disbursements: $1,373 for landmarks brochure and $5,000 for ASCE room at Boardman Hall.  We did receive final SPAG grant money last year for brochure, so we can go ahead and send final report to National.  No Transportation Conference receipts yet.  Some money will be transferred from savings to checking to cover immediate needs.  Report accepted.

 

Programs update:

April 14th; student chapter meeting in Orono.  Michael Pullen from WBRC will speak on Low Impact Development.  Some ASCE room donations still outstanding, info should go to Be who will pass onto Dana.

May annual meeting all set.  Peter changed registration form to note appropriate dress for tour at Dragon and showers available for after at the Samoset.  He is working on golf option for the day.  Anni Autio is coming and the Order of the Engineer ceremony is planned.  Be has gavel to pass onto Bob at meeting.  We have a very full program, so expediting dinner will be important.  Tim will try to get tentative planning done for the Sept. meeting, so announcement can be made at the annual meeting.

 

Tech seminar:  It was deemed a success, with a $2,000 profit and good feedback from attendees.  Anni’s presentation may have been too skewed towards National current events such as the governance restructuring and fee structure changes, but discussion on Report Card was good.

 

Model contest:  Kathy Kern has collected sponsorships totaling $1,400 + in-kind gifts from Maine Turnpike and SW Cole.  Model needs transportation to Orono for 4/14 meeting and we will leave there for pick-up by owner.  Model contest got good press coverage in the Bangor area.  We need to add size limitation to next year’s contest.  We can now send postcards to schools announcing winner and encourage participation in next year’s contest.  We need more entries.  Discussion about using Thad Johnston’s resources at the Dept. of Education or passing out flyers at teaching conferences around the state.

 

Younger Members:  Walter W. is going to try to do a pool night in the Portland area.  Bangor effort was not well attended.  He has acquired the block of Red Sox tickets, but we need to get something in the Informant before the summer break.

 

Board nominations:  Still need 1st Year New England Delegate.  Very limited feedback from MDOT.  Several names from membership list was mentioned and some board members will make contacts for interest.  Mactec and Sebago were discussed as options as well.  Ballot will be finalized tomorrow for inclusion in the Informant.

 

Engineer of the Year and Younger Engineer of the Year:  No nominations received to date.  Board agreed that if no nominations are received, then no awards will be handed out.  Board did agree to recognize Bob DesJardins at the annual meeting though.  We agreed to do mass email requesting nominations for EOY and YEOY awards.

 

No word from Leslie Corrow yet on high school scholarship.

 

Bylaws:  No detailed discussion, other than some portions are outdated.  Requires 2/3 vote of general membership to change.

 

Tim M. expressed concern for being able to keep up with monthly meeting duties of Vice President next year, if elected.  He suggested that Peter’s original idea about designating one of the lower board positions as an assistant in the monthly meeting planning and an alternate to fill in at the meeting if needed be accepted by the board.  Group thought it was a good idea and decided to extend it to the Tech Seminar also.  It was decided that the 1st Year Director would take on this role.

 

Meeting adjourned at 6:30pm.