PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

What a great way to start the New Year. Over 60 members and guests attended our January dinner meeting on the 22nd. Many thanks to Jacque Rippe, PE, Director of the SFWMD Lower West Coast Service Center, for giving us an update on the district wide organizational changes as well as her call to “Let’s Work Together” in navigating the District’s permitting process. Key District staff supervisors Ricardo Valera, PE (surface waters) and Ross Morton, PWS (natural resources) were also in attendance, as well as several other District staff members.

Engineers Week is February 22nd to 28th. National Engineers Week was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Engineers Week is sponsored by more than 100 engineering, scientific, and education societies, and major corporations, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of engineering and to promoting pre-college interest in math, science, and engineering as a career option. Engineers Week is celebrated annually by thousands of engineers, engineering students, teachers, and leaders in government and business.

On the local scene, the Calusa Chapter will be hosting our annual Engineers Week Banquet on February 25th at the Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club (details and reservation form inside). We have lined up a very interesting guest speaker. We will also be recognizing the Calusa Chapter’s Engineer of the Year, Young Engineer of the Year, Government Engineer of the Year and our nominees for FES Fellow, outstanding technical achievement and outstanding services to the profession. We will also be honoring Dr. Charles Lindsey of FGCU for his tireless support of MathCOUNTS over the past several years.

Speaking of MathCOUNTS, we will kick off Engineers Week with our annual competition at FGCU on Saturday, February 21st. As reported last month, Roxanne Gause, PE and her committee are working hard to insure another successful competition for our local middle school “mathletes”. We will need numerous day of the event volunteers, so when you get the call, say “Yes!”

We have also requested local governments to recognize and proclaim February 22-28, 2004 as Engineers Week in their jurisdiction. Collier County will start it off on February 10th at the Board of County Commissioners meeting. John English, PE will be on hand to represent the Calusa Chapter. If you have the opportunity, please join him. Look for more proclamations in the weeks leading up to Engineers Week.

As always, I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at MathCOUNTS on the 21st and at our Engineers Week Banquet on the 25th. Please join us.

Walter F. Gilcher, PE
President - Calusa Chapter

National Engineers Week

Scroll down for details on the Engineers Banquet.

This time of year is one of the best opportunities to welcome a recent grad or new staff person to the society!

Region VI Vice President’s Report

This has been an active month for me with FES. I’ve been working with the Calusa and Myakka Chapter State Directors and Presidents on several new initiatives, the main one being the Regional Conference scheduled for March 24 in Punta Gorda. I am hopeful that many of you will be able to attend as we expect this to be a great venue to bring our region’s top engineers together for a day of learning, discussion and problem-solving.

I visited the Myakka Chapter for the first time since I took office and was encouraged to see a great turnout for the joint meeting with ASCE and SAMA. This is a good example of the networking that we are trying to promote to increase the influence of professional engineers within our profession and our communities.

I just returned from the Executive Committee in Orlando. As Budget Committee Chairman, I feel like a broken record. Every time I’ve looked at a FES financial report for the last two years, it’s better than the last one. This year is no exception. Due to our outstanding membership recruitment and retention, our strong seminar program and our vigilance at controlling expenses, our organization is in great financial condition. This allows us to have a strong voice in Tallahassee and to have the ability to continue many of the great programs that we have, such as MathCOUNTS, scholarships, legislative efforts and much more. We are continuing efforts to protect the title of “engineer” and to fend off attacks on quality-based selection (QBS) in the legislature.

Finally, we are all trying to adjust to the new alignment within the society and the changes in duties passed by the membership in November. If you are not involved in a committee, I encourage you to become active and consider taking on a leadership position. We need your help.

Sincerely,

Kevin Higginson, PE
FES Region VI Vice President

Southwest Florida Regional Engineering Conference

Mark your calendars for the first annual Regional Engineering Conference to be held at the Charlotte County Memorial Civic Center in Punta Gorda on March 24, 2004. This will be a full-day event sponsored by FES and hosted by the Calusa and Myakka Chapters. Arrangements are being made to provide CEU credits for PE’s. We are rounding up some excellent speakers on such topics as ethics, growth management, water resources and transportation. If you are interested in assisting with the program, contact Kevin Higginson, PE at khigginson@jpcfl.com or (239)481-5040, ext. 228.

LET’S CELEBRATE ENGINEERING!
National Engineers Week Is Feb. 22-28, 2004

National Engineers Week was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Engineers Week is sponsored by more than 100 engineering, scientific, and education societies, and major corporations, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of engineering and to promote pre-college interest in math, science, and engineering as a career option. Engineers Week is celebrated annually by thousands of engineers, engineering students, teachers, and leaders in government and business. Each year the national organization sponsors several events. Take a look at some of the programs that are easy to participate in and bring interest to your community about the engineering profession.

Fourth Annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day – Share the wonderful world of engineering, math, and science with an aspiring female in your family. This program is estimated to reach out to 1 million girls on February 26, 2004. Information and sign up information is available at www.eweek.org.

Sightseers Guide to Engineering – This fun website celebrates engineering marvels from the subtle to the spectacular in all 50 states. This site invites the public to recognize and appreciate the achievements of America’s engineers. In Florida, 7 engineering marvels are highlighted ranging from Daytona USA to the National Museum of Naval History. Share the fun with young engineers in your area, www.engineeringsights.org.

New Faces of Engineering – This program began last year and will unveil the 2004 winner during E-Week. New Faces highlights young women and men who offer innovative solutions to critical social needs. Look for this year’s winners in USA Today during E-Week.

Connecting the World to Engineering – This is the first engineering initiative for global linkage across countries, business and academia, and engineering disciplines. Connecting the World Internet forums will be launched during E-Week and continue throughout the year. Updates and information about the program will be posted on www.eweek.org.

For additional information about National Engineers Week, visit www.eweek.org. For information about the state and chapter involvement, contact Kate Robinson at (850)224-7121 or krobinson@fleng.org.

MATH COUNTS!

We are in the process of getting organized for the MathCOUNTS competition. The competition will be held at Florida Gulf Coast University again this year.

February 21, 2004
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Location - Whitaker Hall

We have 24 schools registered with the potential to have 181 students. That means over 324 tests to grade! We are going to need many volunteers. Please put this date on your calendar. We had a great turn out last year. Come and help, bring your spouse! It will be a great day for all. If you need additional information, please contact Roxanne Gause, PE, Shona Gibson, EI or Morgan Dickinson, PE. (Turn to page 6 of the newsletter for committee contact information.)

CELEBRATE ENGINEERS WEEK!
PLAN TO ATTEND THE ENGINEERS BANQUET

Guest Speaker
Ken Van Assenderp

Mr. Van Assenderp, one of the partners of the law offices of Young, Van Assenderp, Varnadoe and Anderson, P.A., has been involved in the establishment of numerous large communities throughout Florida. He is currently involved in the establishment of two Special Districts in Collier County and will discuss the Special District provisions of the Florida State statutes and how development of communities as special districts will impact Collier County. Ken also has a tremendous knowledge of the formation of the State University System in the State of Florida and will provide a presentation detailing the history of our State Colleges.

Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Social Hour at 6:00PM – Buffet Dinner at 7:00PM
Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club
15000 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33908


Program Immediately Following Dinner

As Always, Spouses and Guests Are Welcome!
$40.00 Per Person

Call (649-4040), fax (643-5716) or email (johnenglish@wilsonmiller.com) your RSVP to John English, PE
by 12 noon on February 24th:

___________________________________________ YES, I will be attending
                                (Name)

Spouse/Guest _________________________________
                                     (Name)

WATER PUMP CASE TESTS FEDERAL LAW

New York Times (01/14/04); Barringer, Felicity

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by the 500-member Miccosukee Indian tribe against Florida water authorities. The Miccosukees, which have lived in Florida's Everglades since the early 1800s, claim that a pumping station has been pouring storm runoff for half a century into the Everglades, which has contaminated the wetlands with phosphorus-rich fertilizer runoff. The discharge of phosphorus in recent years has been about 20 parts per billion, twice the level at which native plants can handle. In 2002, a federal judge decreed that the pump should be regulated under the Clean Water Act, requiring federal control of pollutant sources by the Environmental Protection Agency. Siding with the Indians are 14 mostly Eastern states, the Association of State Wetland Managers, and various environmental groups. The 14 states all have an abundance of water and of polluting industries, which fuels their keen interest in keeping water pollutant levels low. On the other side of the suit are a broad range of city water planners from 11 Western states, which are generally arid, and the White House, which warns that strict permit rules could lead to delays, lawsuits, and the need for expensive equipment to clean up pollution. 

BENEFIT FROM UNDERSTANDING CONTRACT DOCUMENTS

The Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee has developed a series of engineering and construction contract documents designed to be fair and balanced to all parties. NSPE/PEPP encourages its members to learn about the benefits of using these standard contract documents, including fewer disputes resulting from contract ambiguities. In February, the University of Wisconsin will be working with the EJCDC to present Web-based courses on the use of the EJCDC engineering and construction contract documents. The sessions will be held from 4-6 p.m. EST (3-5 CST; 1-3 PST). Part 1 will be held February 3-17; Part 2 will be held February 24-March 9.

Participants can attend the programs from home or office, saving significant time and expense. The lectures will be live and will be archived on a class website so that you can easily review the lectures. Please log on to http://epdweb.engr.wisc.edu/webF362 for more information. If you have any questions about course content or enrollment, contact Joe Warnemuende at the University of Wisconsin, 800/462-0876.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

* For additional information on these and other seminars offered through FES, visit www.fleng.org/seminars.cfm.

Members are encouraged to contact John English, PE at (239) 649-4040 or email: johnenglish@wilsonmiller.com to request additional information or to suggest a future program or event.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS

If you have any questions or comments regarding the content of the newsletter – or if you would like something included in the monthly publication – please feel free to contact Dave Romano, P.E. at davidromano@holemontes.com, or by telephone at (239) 985-1200.