October 2017

OCTOBER ASCE BOARD OF DIRECTION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Board Meeting, Convention Make for Successful Week in New Orleans Marsia A. Geldert-Murphey, P.E., M.ASCE, your Region 7 Director is a member of the St. Louis Section.  Marsia represented you at the Oct.7-8 Board meeting in New Orleans, LA, kicking off the ASCE 2017 Convention. The weekend began amid the threat of Hurricane Nate. We met Saturday anticipating wind, rain, and a city-mandated curfew later that night. As it turned out, though, the storm pushed east and mostly missed us in New Orleans. Certainly, our thoughts are with those on the Gulf Coast who were affected. The ASCE 2017 Convention began Oct. 9 and was a tremendous success, as we all enjoyed networking and learning in our (now) Past-President Norma Jean Mattei’s hometown. The Society inducted Kristina Swallow as the 2018 President, and we look forward to her enthusiastic and insightful leadership in the coming year. Highlights from the Board meeting: The Board of Direction approved six goal statements for the Society, concluding a nearly year-long process to better focus our direction. The goals also have associated performance measurements in place, along with strategies. (Learn more about the goals in the ASCE News story.) The Board adopted the Public Policy Committee’s recommendation on a new integrated policy, PS 349 Sediment Management for Erosion Control, Channel Maintenance and Coastal Protection, which pledges ASCE’s support for “the beneficial management of sediments and dredged materials,” as well as revisions to PS 526 Public Private Partnerships, addressing ASCE’s criteria used to assess public-private partnership (P3) project delivery methods. The Board welcomed guest Patrick Tami, PLS, the president of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Tami made a presentation to the Board, spurring an interesting conversation about licensure issues and ways our two organizations can continue to successfully collaborate. The Task Committee on Governance Structure recommended a modified Board structure. The BOD elected to stay with the current structure. The next Board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 11 in Las Vegas, NV, hometown of ASCE President Kristina Swallow. To share your views or provide ideas on how ASCE can better serve its members and the profession, please email Marsia.