President's Message
Hello, fellow engineers:
In one aspect, I do not care to write this letter. It means summer is ending. However, for many other reasons, I'm anxious to welcome you to another chapter year and report on what has been going on in your professional state society and what is shaping up for our future.The WSPE state executive committee has been busy this summer, making up for the slow start earlier in the year. Here are some highlights as follows:
- The monthly e-news is up and running. If you have any articles, news, or your own write-up, please send it to Angela.Hanz@wi.usda.gov or erodden2@att.net.
- A contract has been signed with Ayres Associates to remodel our website.
- A contract has been finalized with Ed Rodden to serve as our State executive director. Ed is a WSPE vice-president and has been very instrumental in moving WSPE forward this year as he volunteered to fill the role as interim executive director for the last few months. He was so effective the Ex-com asked him to consider taking the official position on a part-time basis.
- WSPE is working toward a significant role with Project Lead The Way-Wisconsin and STEM-Forward. Both are outreach initiatives to promote science and engineering education in K-12 schools. For more information about these programs, check out pltwwi.org and esmke.jobing.com.
- If you do not have the WSPE state phone number, it s 888-242-9954.
Now, as to our new chapter year, all of our chapter officers agreed to continue their role for another year. If we don t hear of any recall efforts, we assume we have the approval of our chapter members.
We held our annual planning meeting in July Thanks to Bob Bath for coordinating that meeting and, thanks to everyone who offered ideas for tours for our chapter meetings. Everyone agreed that the every-other-month schedule for these meetings worked well this past year. As is the tradition, we plan to have a joint meeting with ASCE in November. I think we have some very interesting tours coming up.The chapter is in fine shape financially. We have good volunteer support for Mathcounts but can always use more. We have a couple members who carry the ball for our annual scholarship awards. Bob Bath produces our chapter newsletter and works with our core group of local arrangements coordinators. Thanks to everyone for your efforts.
We certainly have the potential for more members and non-members to take advantage of our chapter tours and meetings. Please consider attending if you have not been doing so. Also, consider bringing along students and co-workers.
At our September meeting, I'd like to explore getting our chapter involved in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiative. At this point, it seems to be most active only in southeastern Wisconsin. There is a drive to get volunteers throughout the state. If there are activities going on in our chapter area, please let me know.
Professionally yours,
Glen R. Schwalbach, P.E
Fox River Valley Chapter President
Phone: 920-680-2436
Email: glenschwalbach@netzero.com
FOX RIVER ENGINEER 2
Can We Get Serious?
I'm sure I speak for many of you when I say that I'm very disappointed with the handling of the debt ceiling issue. I m not speaking of specific provisions in the legislation that was adopted (does anyone really know what s in it anyway?), but how the political wrangling brought us to the brink of default.
What does this mean for us as engineers?
Regardless of political party, we deserve better from our elected federal officials in both the legislative and executive branches. We have several serious issues, and each needs to be addressed in concert and collaboration. My list of issues (in no particular order) includes:
- Meaningful deficit reduction
- Reform to control spiraling health care costs
- Developing a comprehensive energy plan
- Adequate funding for infrastructure (water, wastewater, roads, etc.) Measures that create new jobs to lower our unemployment ranks
- Tax reform to close loopholes and bring more balance and equity to the tax system
Reforms to entitlement programs to assure their sustainability for the most needy
We need forward thinking on each of these issues if we are to leave our country in better shape for the generations to come, than the one we inherited. So what can we do as individuals? As professional engineers, we are uniquely equipped to address many of these concerns. Lets get active, talking with our legislators. Give them ideas to pursue and insist on compromise for worthwhile solutions to our problems. I think it starts with us.
Brad Aldrich, P.E., F.NSPE
TENTATIVE 2011 / 2012 WSPE FRV CHAPTER MEETING SCHEDULE
September 22. 2011 (Thur)
TOUR: Kroc Center, GB
DINNER: Rite Place
LAC: Leon Engler
November 16, 2011 (Wed) Joint WSPE/ASCE-
WSPE to Arrange
PROGRAM: Dominion Nuclear Plant
DINNER: TBD
LAC: Dave Ozarowicz
January 17, 2012 (Tues)
TOUR: Neenah Foundry
Dinner: TBD
LAC: John Davel
February 4, 2012 (Sat)
MATHCOUNTS
Acuity, Sheboygan
LAC: Todd Kinney
February 21, 2012 (Tues)
NWTC, GB
Engineers Week Open House
LAC: Bob Bath
March 22, 2012 (Thur)
TOUR Tri-County Recycling
DINNER: TBD LAC: Keith Nikolay
May 16, 2012 (Wed)
TOUR: Hatco Corp, SB
DINNER: TBD
LAC: Terry Kortbein
THIS MONTH'S MEETING
WHEN: September 22, 2011(Thursday)
TOUR: Salvation Army Kroc Center
1315 Lime Kilm Road
Green Bay, WI
4:30 PM
The Salvation Army built the multipurpose community center with a $24 million gift from the estate of McDonald s restaurant heiress Joan Kroc. The Kroc estate also has provided a $22 million endowment to support the operations and maintenance of the center. The center is officially known as The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. The facility is for everyone to use.
The 95,000 square foot center includes a performing arts auditorium, swimming pools, a fitness center, dance studio, computer laboratory and more. They have an Oral Health Partnership that will operate a full service dental clinic aimed at children with little or no health insurance.
DINNER: The Rite Place
1580 Bellevue Street
Green Bay, WIAttitude Adjustment: 5:30 PM
Dinner: 6:30 PMMenu: Chicken Dinner, 6oz Tenderloin, or Shrimp
Included choice of potato, vegetable, soup or salad, dinner roll, and coffee.
COST: $15
RESERVATIONS: Leon Engler 920- 468-1101 or email lengler1101@yahoo.com with meal selection by 9/19/2011.
DIRECTIONS: A=Kroc Center B=Rite Place
