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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Once again the forces of nature have struck with tragic effect. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those in areas devastated by the tsunami in and around Indonesia. This past year has been an eye-opening one from the perspective of realizing how much we take for granted our basic infrastructure. We are at point in time where if the TV doesn’t get a good reception during a football game we complain and feel inconvenienced. This year, however, was different. This past hurricane season showed us what is like to live without electricity (and thus air conditioning), to not be able to drive on streets that were damaged or had downed power lines, or to have your home damaged by wind or flooding. Those lucky enough to have survived the tsunami in Indonesia are in life-threatening conditions now due to lack of clean drinking water or means to dispose of sanitary waste. As engineers, designing and aiding in the construction of this infrastructure is our calling. We should not lose site of how important our role is in this capacity, in our communities.
We will not be having a local chapter meeting in January. Instead, please join us for the first ever FES Region VI Conference, "Eye on Engineering", January 13th, in Port Charlotte. Region VI is made up of the Myakka and Calusa chapters, but this event is open to all FES members. The conference is going to focus on the effects of the past hurricane season on the infrastructure of our area. The conference organizers have applied for professional development credit, so in addition to being an informative FES gathering, this will also be a great opportunity to get in the PDH’s that you may still need for your license renewal. You should have received the announcement and registration information by now. If not, please do not hesitate to contact me, or any other member of our local chapter Board of Directors, to get this information. The information is also included in this newsletter.
Our next big event will then be the Mathcounts Competition. This competition helps promote math with our local middle school and high school students, in hopes that would encourage the participants to pursue a degree in engineering. With the increasing demands in this area for engineers, this is now more important than ever. Organizational efforts are just now beginning in preparation for the event on February 12, 2005. This competition has grown tremendously in size. Many volunteers are needed to help make our local Mathcounts competition happen. If you are interested in taking an active role in helping prepare for the event, or if you are simply interested in volunteering on the day of the competition, please contact me, or our Mathcounts Co-Chairs Elizabeth Fountain, PE or Rebecca King, EI. I am sure they would appreciate all the help they can get.
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you at the Region IV Conference.
John English, PE
President - Calusa Chapter
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 Save That Date!
Region VI Conference
"Eye on Engineering"
Thursday, Jan. 13th
Victoria Estates Banquet Facility
Port Charlotte, FL
Pelican's Preserve
7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Scroll down for more details. |
Eye on Engineering
FES Region VI Conference
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Victoria Estates Banquet Facility
Port Charlotte, FL
Note: PDH's have been applied for and will be issued to each participant if approved.
Who should attend?
- Engineers
- Regulators
- Government
- Community Leaders
Agenda
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| 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. |
Registration/Continental Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome – Mark Mongeau, PE, FES President |
| 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. |
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: CHIEF METEOROLOGIST JIM FARRELL (FT. MYERS)
Jim Farrell began his television career in 1982 and is now WINK-TV’s Chief Meteorologist, seen on WINK News at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m., Monday through Friday. After graduating from West ChesterUniversity in Pennsylvania, Jim moved to Southwest Florida in 1981 to teach science at North Fort Myers High School. He later went back to school for meteorology coursework at both The University of Kansas and Mississippi State University. He gained seals of approval from both the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society before joining WINKTV in 1992. In this keynote address, Mr. Farrell will provide a behind-the-scenes look into the devastating hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004. |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m |
Refreshment Break |
| 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. |
EDUCATION SESSION I: UTILITIES
David Schlobohm, PE, Charlotte County Utilities Director Engineer Schlobohm will discuss his role in preparing for and responding to the extreme hurricane season, especially Hurricane Charley. This session will focus on the engineering elements associated with these traumatic events. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. |
EDUCATION SESSION II: ENVIRONMENT/WATER
Panelists: Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Ecosystems Manager and Robert Neal, Coastal Engineer Project Manager, Lee County Coastal Construction projects including beach restoration and channel maintenance since December 2002.
The session will explore the effects of the spate of hurricanes this season on the gulf beaches and the impacts they may have on funding and/or regulations for future renourishment projects. Mr. Hunsicker, a member of the National Association of Counties committee will provide great insight into these problems from the Federal level.
Jim Guida, PG, Southwest Florida Water Management District This session will focus on the emergency permit rules enacted by the Governor related to state regulatory agencies.
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| 12:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. |
LUNCHEON/EDUCATION & VIDEO PRESENTATION
Myakka/Calusa Chapter Business (Chapter Presidents John English and Anne Ross)
HURRICANE CHARLEY RECOVERY FOR THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dr. Roseanne Samson, Assistant Superintendent, Charlotte County Public Schools Dr. Samson is the Assistant Superintendent for District Support Services. Her area of responsibility includes Bus Transportation, Food Service, Purchasing/Warehouse, Special Projects and Media Centers, as well as School Construction and Facilities . . .the topic that brings her to us today. Dr. Samson has been in this area of responsibility since 1995. She is an informative speaker and has addressed audiences in many areas of the United States on various topics.
Steve Dionisio, Principal and Frank Cushing, Educator Port Charlotte High School
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| 1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. |
EDUCATION SESSION III: BUILDINGS & CODES
Panelists: Matthew Doig, Investigative Reporter, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Chris Davis, Senior Editor of Investigations, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and George Devenport, CBO, CFM, Manatee County Building Official |
| 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. |
EDUCATION SESSION IV: TRANSPORTATION
Panelists: Brian Barnes, PE, Charlotte County Department of Transportation (invited) and Ravi Devagaptapu, PE, Florida Transportation Engineering. This session will provide a prospective from the public and private sector on the effects of the hurricane season on the transportation system in Southwest Florida. |
| 3:20 p.m. |
ADJOURN |
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FACILITY INFORMATION
The FES Region VI Conference will be held at Victoria Estates, located at 24100 Rampart Clubhouse in Port Charlotte, 33980. |
HOW TO REGISTER
The registration fee of $75 includes lunch, refreshment break, and materials. Register on-line at www.fleng.org or call 850-224-7121. |
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations must be received in writing before 5 p.m. January 7, 2005. No refunds will be issued for cancellations after this date. Substitutions are permitted at any time. QUESTIONS? Please Call FES at 850-224-7121 |
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UPCOMING
ACTIVITIES
CALENDAR
| January 13th |
Region VI Conference
Victoria Estates Banquet Facility - Port Charlotte, FL |
| February 12th |
Mathcounts Calusa Chapter Competition
Florida Gulf Coast University |
| February 17th |
Engineer's Week Banquet - Speaker Trudi Williams
The Clubhouse at the Strand |
| March TBD |
March Dinner Meeting
Panther Island Mitigation Bank |
| April TBD |
April Meeting
Family Bowling Outing - TBD |
| May TBD |
May Meeting
Possible FPL Site Visit - TBD |
| June TBD |
Installation of new Officers - FES Presiden Mark L. Mongeau, PE
The Clubhouse at the Strand |
Members are encouraged to contact David Romano, PE at (239) 985-1200 or email: davidromano@holemontes.com to request additional information
or to suggest a future program or event.
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BUSINESS CARD SPONSORSHIP RENEWALS
If you haven’t done so already, please add your business card to our newsletter sponsorships for the remainder of the year. For further information regarding adding your business card to our newsletter, please contact David Romano, PE or Patrick Jennings, PE. Your sponsorship helps defray the cost of newsletter production and mailing.
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Membership News
Members save money on all continuing education courses
Did you know that all FES members save at least $100 on all continuing education offered through FES? FES? Attending two seminars at the nonmember rate could have almost paid for the FES membership dues. Next time you invite a coworker to attend a continuing education seminar, encourage them to join FES. The new member will save money plus begin receiving the same great value you receive from membership each day. Membership applications are available online at www.fleng.org, at each seminar, or contact Kate Robinson, Director of Membership Recruitment at 850-224-7121.
CONTINUING EDUCATION NEWS
Additional Continuing Education Courses
FES is making it easy to meet the required 8 hours of continuing education to renew your PE license. A total of ten seminars are scheduled for January and February. Courses cover Better Project Management Performance; Florida Building Code Structural; Professionalism, Ethics, and the Law; Site Development in Orlando; and StormWater Management: A Designer’s Course. A complete list of prices, locations, and registration process is available at www.fleng.org. Members have the option to take Better Project Management Performance and Professionalism, Ethics, and the Law online at the same web site. Please contact FES at 850-224-7121 with any questions.
OTHER SOCIETY NEWS
Engineer’s Week
Engineer’s Week, founded in 1951 by NSPE, is dedicated to raising public awareness of engineers’ positive contributions to the quality of life. It promotes recognition among parents, teachers and students of the importance of a technical education and a high level of math, science, and technology literacy, and motivates youth to pursue engineering careers in order to provide a diverse and vigorous engineering workforce. For more information go to www.eweek.org.
Engineering Seal Price Change, Effective: January 1, 2005
FES is able to provide members with the opportunity to order quality document seals. Effective January 1, 2005, all orders must be received on the updated order form that reflects cost of production price increase. Our seals meet the requirements of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE). Orders received on old forms will not be accepted, please update your files with new order forms. Order forms are available at www.fleng.org or contact Judy Roberts at 850-224-7121.
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MATHCOUNTS
After coming from a record year, MathCounts is quickly becoming a major event for the Calusa Chapter. This year FGCU is providing a ballroom for the contestants rather than individual rooms. The event is scheduled for February 12th and promises to be better than ever. The only reason this event won’t be the best in the state is if we don’t get volunteers to help. Please mark your calendars and contact Mathcounts Co-Chairs Elizabeth Fountain, PE or Rebecca King, EI. to sign up NOW.
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Don’t forget in order to renew your PE license, Professional Engineers in Florida must earn a total of 8 PDH's during each renewal cycle. The current renewal cycle ends February 28, 2005. Here are the requirements:
4 PDHs of continuing education credit are required in each of two categories.
- The Laws and Rules that govern the practice of engineering in Florida.
61G15 – Florida Administrative Code Chapter 471 of the Florida Statutes
- Area(s) of Technical Practice
What is a PDH? 1 PDH = 50 minutes in the classroom.
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