Meeting Minutes

 

Maine Section ASCE Board of Directors

4:15 PM March 28, 2006

Maine Turnpike Authority

Portland, Maine

 

Present:           Bob Chaput, President

                        Peter Merfeld, President-Elect

Tim Merritt, Vice-President

                        Erik Wiberg, Secretary

                        Chris Taylor, Treasurer

                        Walter Fagerlund, Informant Editor & Technical Seminar

                        Be Schonewald

                        Ralph Nelson

           

           

  1. Welcome

 

  1. Board Meeting Minutes

 

    1. February 16, 2006 Board Meeting: Peter made motion to approve minutes as presented, Walter seconded. Minutes unanimously approved.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report
    1. There was a general discussion of the model contest awards.  Phil Dunn gave model contest award checks for the Lewiston winners to Jeff Ohler of H.E. Callahan, Inc.  Be thought one Camden area check might have been sent to Lewiston.
    2. The Maine Section sponsored 19 students to attend the Maine Engineers Week banquet.  Total cost was $285.00 as reported on line item 33 of the disbursement report.  The transaction date for line item 33 should be 01 March 2006.
    3. Peter motioned and Erik seconded motion to accept the report as amended.  Unanimous vote to accept.

 

  1. Monthly Programs
    1. The UMaine Student Chapter hosted meeting is scheduled for April 20 at Stoddard Commons.  The April board meeting will be held April 27 in the Portland area (time and location to be determined).  Walter will notice the board meeting in the April informant.

 

    1. Annual Meeting:  Tim is has reserved the boat and on-shore dining room.  Cruise will be about 1.5 hr with a cash bar.  The dining room is under construction with a projected May 1 completion.  Hilton Garden Inn might be a dining room alternative.  The Portland Observatory landmark plaque might not be ready for the annual meeting.  Erik suggested having a mock-up of the plaque for the meeting as a backup.  The University of Maine Outreach program (Chet Rock) and the Maine Turnpike Authority have expressed interest in sponsoring the annual meeting.

 

    1. Young Engineer and Engineer of the Year Awards:  There was discussion of eligibility for these awards.  Board members have been exempt in the past to avoid perception of potential conflict of interest since awardees have been decided by vote of the board.  Peter Merfeld made the following motion: 

                                                              i.      The immediate Past-President, President, and President-elect are not eligible for nomination as Young Engineer and Engineer of the Year Awards.

                                                            ii.      The Awardees will be decided by a committee comprised of the following members: award committee chair, immediate Past-President, President, President-elect, plus two at-large members selected by the President from non-award nominated board members, Section committee chairs, and/or active Section members.

Walter seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously.

    1. Slate of Officers:  Adam Meyer has been nominated for 2nd year director, but has not yet responded to the contacts.  Adam will remain on the slate.  Peter noted that by Section bylaws, the 1st year Director and 1st year New England Delegate continue without election as 2nd year Director and New England Delegate. 
    2. High School Scholarship Winner:  The winner will be invited to the annual meeting to receive the award.  Leslie Corrow has the slate of applications and will select the winner.

 

  1. Committee Updates
    1. Technical Seminar

                                                              i.      Walter presented a written summary report (attached).  111 registrants with few no shows.  Net revenue: $5,738.   The board congratulated Walter on a well-organized and executed technical seminar.  

    1. Model Contest

                                                              i.      The model contest 1st place winners were a student interested in a medical career and a student interested in landscaping.  Models were more architecture or historical in context than engineering.  The model contest should be revised to emphasize engineering.  The board will revisit the intent of the contest at the summer planning meeting.

    1. International Cold Regions Conference

                                                              i.      Bob Chaput reported Phil has contacted Annie Auttio to advocate for assistance/coordination from the National ASCE program committee.  National program committee was not responsive and Annie has contacted ASCE National President Marcuson.

                                                            ii.      National has not yet signed a hosting agreement with the University of Maine. National has blocked out rooms at Black Bear Inn.

    1. Younger Members

                                                              i.      Be Schonewald reported on behalf of Jennifer Tooley.

                                                            ii.      Home Buyers workshop scheduled for tomorrow at GZA’s office.  16 have registered to attend.  Next workshop will be for a PE exam preparation course.

 

  1. Old Business
    1. Constitution/Bylaws

                                                              i.      Ralph Nelson prepared a draft of electronic voting form on a voting page and it was discussed.  Voting will take place after the annual meeting.  Paper ballots will be distributed at the annual meeting.

                                                            ii.      Random award drawings were discussed to entice voting.  Peter made a motion to award three $100 gift cards by random drawing of voters.  Erik seconded the motion.  Peter, Erik, Tim, and Walter voted in favor of the motion.  Chris voted against.  Motion passed.

    1. SPAG Grants/Historic Landmark Submittals

                                                              i.      Portland Observatory – Historic Landmark discussed previously. Tourism Brochure – Portland Observatory should be added to the brochure for the upcoming printing.  Peter Merfeld made motion to authorize funding to print 4,000 copies of the brochure.  Chris seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

    1. Landscape Architecture Licensure

                                                              i.      Bob reported that he has not heard or received information since the January board presentation.

                                                            ii.      Be reported that ACEC of Maine and MSPE are aware.

                                                          iii.      Erik suggested that ASCE should be prepared to take a position on the issue.  Erik opined that ACEC of Maine members might be conflicted since some member firms employ both engineers and landscape architects.

    1. Student Section Funding

                                                              i.      Be and Erik met with student section leadership at the Engineers Week expo and urged them to make requests directly to the Section or through Eric Landis (faculty advisor).

 

  1. New Business
    1. SEAM/SEI – Tim Merritt

                                                              i.      National is encouraging establishing local technical groups. SEAM might be interested in being the SEI local representative.  SEAM seems to be in favor but concerned about National ASCE bureaucratic oversight and dues.  Maine SEI has 103 members; SEAM 120 members; likely many are members of both organizations.  SEI membership is $200 (same as National ASCE dues, probably to entice membership in National ASCE since membership includes one technical institute.  Walter will prepare a list of Maine Section members in SEI so Tim can research cross membership. 

    1. Outstanding Section and Branch Website Awards (Bob Chaput)

                                                              i.      Bob indicated nominations are due June 1 and are judged on November 1.  Bob will notify National of the Maine Section’s intent to apply.

  1. Adjourn
    1. Peter motioned and Erik seconded to adjourn. Unanimous vote to adjourn.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Erik J Wiberg, P.E., Secretary