March 2014   REGION DIRECTOR'S REPORT Board Considers L.A. Section’s Proposal to Form 501(c)6; Community Engineering Corps Formed Mark P. Rusnica, M.ASCE, your Region 1 Director, is a member of the Mohawk-Hudson Section and works as a Project Manager for the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. Mark represented you at the January 21, 2014, ASCE Board of Direction meeting, which was held via conference call, and participated in a Board webinar held on February 20 to further explore a Los Angeles Section proposal.  Mark and fellow Board members dealt with a variety of issues, including the following: The Board received a report on the creation of a new Community Engineering Corps in partnership with Engineers Without Borders–USA (EWB-USA) and the American Water Works Association. The program will facilitate providing pro bono engineering services to underserved communities in the U.S. and builds upon ASCE’s long-time relationship and support of EWB-USA. The Board believes ASCE’s involvement in this new program will address significant underserved community needs in the United States, while also addressing the interests of those ASCE members who want to serve but are unable to travel internationally due to work and family commitments. Watch for a series of informational webinars this spring to learn more about the program and how to participate. Learn more about the program. The Board considered a proposal from the Los Angeles Section to create a 501(c)6 entity to allow unlimited lobbying, participate in a more meaningful way in public policy discussions, and form a Political Action Committee (PAC). ASCE and its Sections and Branches are classified by the IRS as 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit organizations. Organizations with this tax status are not permitted to establish PACs or endorse political candidates. To better understand the implications of the LA Section’s proposal, the Board took part in a webinar on February 20 to explore the pros and cons of approving such a change. The Board has scheduled a vote on the proposal for its meeting on March 21.  The Board authorized ASCE’s Structural Engineering Institute and its Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute to use funds from their reserves in the current fiscal year to develop a U.S. tsunami inundation map for inclusion in the 2016 edition of ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures. The Board agreed that the positive benefits of this activity for the profession and the public justified an out-of-cycle budget expenditure. As part of its ongoing efforts to improve its effectiveness, the Board held a retreat in Charlotte in October 2013 in conjunction with the ASCE Annual Conference. Looking back at the results, the Board spent some time at its January meeting discussing how to define one of the core values identified in Charlotte — thinking strategically. The Board agreed that this is essential to its performance both for individual Board members and as a body, but pinpointing what that means can be elusive. The Board will continue discussion of Board values at its next meeting, in March. Do you have questions about the Board’s actions, or ideas on how ASCE can better serve its members and the profession? Email Mark. NEW HAMPSHIRE SECTION First annual ‘ski day’ includes learning about bridge project Photo courtesy New Hampshire Section newsletter With New Hampshire Section President Drew Brassard calling it a “giant success,” the New Hampshire Section recently staged its first “ski day” at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH. A total of 40 engineers and students enjoyed discounted tickets to the slopes and a private lunch at the lodge, which included an interesting presentation on the reconstruction of Loon Mountain Road Bridge by the head structural engineer, Chris Fournier of HEB Engineers, and its geotechnical specialist, who happens to be Section vice president, Jay Hodkinson of GZA Environmental. With the positive feedback and new faces it attracted, Brassard says the Section intends to make ski day an annual event.  Section website>>  VERMONT SECTION Norwich University student chapter aids victims of flooding Norwich University's student chapter sent members to Huntington, VT, to meet with a family struggling despite assistance from FEMA and Vermont Strong after their home was flooded four times and their access road washed out during a series of consecutive rainstorms that plagued the state, including Hurricanes Irene and Sandy. Norwich students, the property owner, and FEMA worked together at the scene to determine a location and dimensions for a bridge that would need to be constructed before the family could rebuild their home. The students then went through the design process with the aid of Norwich University Civil Engineering professors Adam Sevi, Edwin Schmeckpeper, and Moses Tefe. The team developed an initial design and cost estimate of the bridge that would accommodate the design loads for construction vehicles and resist future flooding. With the initial design complete, the students then worked with FEMA and contractors to streamline construction by modifying the design to accommodate local construction practices and equipment. The Norwich chapter continues to monitor the project and plans to revisit the site during construction.  Section website>> BOSTON SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SECTION A curved walkway highlights university’s building project A project team overcomes a challenging site by integrating a bold pedestrian walkway into the design of a stunning new academic and research building at Northeastern University. Find out more in ASCE’s online Civil Engineering magazine. Read story>> Outreach event? Concrete Canoe? Let us know and we'll announce it here! Spring is around the corner, and we're moving into a very busy time of year. If you’re a local ASCE leader and your Section, Branch, Younger Member Group, or Student Chapter has staged any special events, engaged in outreach from grade-school kids to state legislators, ramped up for Concrete Canoe regionals, or anything of the sort, let ASCEnews Weekly know and we may include it in next month’s Region report. You may already have written about it and posted pictures in your newsletter, website, or social media. Share the details and any photos at asce.org/localnews. Got questions? Write to submissions@asce.org. Missed last month's Region 1 update? See the February edition of News Around Region 1 Share this page via social media and email: