Kansas Professional Engineer
eNews
October 2006, Issue 5
In this Issue:
 PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
by Christopher Bohm, P.E.
“The Journey is the Reward”
reads the text engraved onto the Oliver Street Bridge over Kellogg Avenue
here in Wichita. I noticed this quote this morning as I coordinated my
schedule to take my youngest son to preschool, and it may as well read “The
Journey Defines Your Life”. If this is the case, then I am certainly
enjoying the rewards of, and being defined by my travels of late for KSPE!
Both Ron and I have been
busy with the enjoyable task of Chapter visits, having already met with the
Wichita, Smoky Valley, and Golden Belt chapters over the last month. I have
truly enjoyed these meetings, and the hospitality has been outstanding. I
take from these meetings the rewards of meeting new members (and potential
members) and having some time to further my acquaintances with old friends.
Kansas truly has a strong membership base that continues to bolster the
strength of KSPE, and for this I am truly grateful. The focus of my
comments involves some of the initiatives that are underway which include my
challenge for each state chapter to be involved in a local charitable event,
and my EFK financial challenge. Please consider participating in both – we
can only live up to the highest standards of our profession if we can truly
say that the earth is a better place because of our presence here.
Other travels have included
attending the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) meeting in
Kansas City with Ron Gaches and Tom Roberts. To see the world of
engineering education from the perspective of the faculty and administration
of many of the regional engineering schools was an eye-opener, and
underscores the need for our engineering profession to create a legacy.
This legacy must include introducing the engineering profession to children
in beginning in their grade school years and continue through high school –
helping those technically minded students to explore the engineering
professions in college. This goes full circle with the idea of a
financially strong EFK that would be able to assist all of us in this
effort.
On October 5th,
Stacey Lamer, Ron Gaches, and I met with the Kansas State Board of Technical
Professions regarding the creation of a P.E. Recognition Ceremony. This
event would be held every six months, timed to correspond with the
distribution of the actual professional engineering license to those who
have passed the P.E. exam. The goal is to host a first-class presentation
event at the capitol building followed by a reception for all those in
attendance. We received much enthusiasm from the Board, and they challenged
KSPE to look into a combined event which would include all of the licensees
from each profession they govern. We are now working with a committee to
work out the details of this event. This recognition ceremony will be
another method of enhancing the profession to the public, to our elected
officials, and to the youth of our state, again helping to create a legacy
of professional engineering. More to come on this issue as details begin to
emerge.
Thanks to all for the
continued input, particularly at the chapter visits. This is your
organization, so please keep coming forward with your ideas and concerns.
Please help us as officers direct the future of KSPE with your valuable
thoughts.
Happy Halloween!
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KSPE WELCOMES
NEW MEMBERS
The Kansas Society of Professional
Engineers would like to welcome the following new members who joined since
our last issue.
Tim
Armintrout, PE - Burns & McDonnell Engineering - Eastern
Joseph
Brand, PE - HNTB Corporation - Eastern
Jeremy
Dreiling
Mohammad
Qureshi - Eastern
Jeffrey
Shamburg, EIT - Bartlett & West Engineers - Topeka
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Passing Licensure Exam
Should be an Event
By Stacey
Lamer, PE and Ron Gaches
After years of practice as
an Engineer in Training and months of test preparation, should passing your
Professional Engineer licensure exam be marked only by the delivery of a
large envelope? No! Receiving your professional license should be
recognized by the distinguished words of a state leader, sealed by the firm
handshake of the Board of Technical Professions, hailed by the roar of a
cheering crowd, and enjoyed by members of a proud family. The Kansas State
Board of Technical Professions agreed with this sentiment following the
proposal for a Professional Licensure Recognition Ceremony by Stacey
Lamer, PE, Chris Bohm, PE, and Ron Gaches, all of KSPE.
Professional licensure is
very important for the field of engineering and for the State of Kansas.
Professional, ethical, sound, and unfailing engineering practices should be
demanded throughout our State. A method of ensuring this excellence is
through state professional licensure. Those individuals who dedicate their
engineering careers toward the improvement of their profession and society
through licensure should be duly recognized. To more formally distinguish
those individuals who are successfully granted a professional license by the
Kansas State Board of Technical Professions, the Kansas Society of
Professional Engineers proposes the Professional Licensure Recognition
Ceremony.
This semiannual ceremony
would be organized and jointly sponsored by the Kansas Society of
Professional Engineers and Kansas State Board of Technical Professions, and
would be held on a Friday afternoon at the Kansas Statehouse. The Governor
and representatives from the State Board of Technical Professions would be
invited to present the certificate to each newly licensed individual. A
keynote speaker would make an appropriate presentation to the engineers,
their families, employers, friends, and the state society members. A
reception would follow the ceremony.
Initial response from Board
of Technical Professions members was very positive and Board Chairman Joseph
Johnson appointed a committee to work with KSPE to finalize a proposal for
licensure recognition. Because several other professions represented on the
Board expressed interest in participating in the licensure recognition
event, the committee is comprised of several professions. The committee is
expected to make a presentation back to the Board at its next meeting in
December.
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 EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
by Ron Gaches, J.D.
Exercise the Power to Vote
Visiting last week at lunch with members of the
Wichita Chapter of KSPE, I was asked if the outcome of this year’s election
will make much of a difference in the direction of Kansas government. The
short answer is “Yes.” The difference will occur in two ways. The first
difference is determined by who is elected on November 7. There are
significant differences between the major candidates for governor and
attorney general. They are hotly contested races and the outcomes are still
uncertain. Just as important, the results of the 125 state representative
elections across the state will determine the makeup of the House of
Representatives, which, in turn, will determine the important leadership
races in the House (Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Leader).
The second way the election impacts the
direction of Kansas government is determined by who gets involved and stays
involved in the policy making process following the election. Each election
cycle produces some new players who take on a greater role. They might be
voters who have participated in previous elections and then stay involved in
the public policy process, or they might be new or previously dormant
organizations that emerge as influential new voices with policy makers.
You can be one of these more influential voices,
and the collective action of our members can make KSPE one of the more
influential organizations.
It starts with voting, but that’s just the first
step. You can start increasing your influence immediately by developing a
personal relationship with your legislators. Take immediate action to
support your favorite state representative candidate before the election.
It’s the final days of the election and they need your help. Write a letter
to the editor endorsing your candidate, walk your neighborhood on behalf of
your candidate, host a reception in your home with your candidate, put up a
yard sign and make a financial contribution to their campaign.
After the election, invite your state
representative to your office to discuss the roll of Professional Engineers
and your job in the community. Offer to serve as a technical resource on
issues within your expertise, infrastructure investments, highway and street
design, environmental concerns, water policy. Good legislators are always
looking for good information from their district but few good resources are
available. You can become a valuable part of your legislator’s team and
substantially increase your influence.
This election has the potential to substantially
impact the future of Kansas. With a few smart moves, you can be a big part
of determining that future.
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7TH
Annual Engineers Foundation of Kansas Golf Fundraiser a Huge Success
The Seventh Annual Engineers Foundation of Kansas (EFK) Golf
Fundraiser was a great success. This year, we had twenty-eight teams of
golfers and a wonderful cadre of supporters for the tournament fundraiser.
The weather was beautiful, the course was in great shape, and all the
golfers appeared to enjoy themselves as they played golf and supported the
Engineers Foundation of Kansas.
As a result of the funds raised at this event, the Foundation
was able to present a check for $2500 to each of the Engineering Schools at
the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and
Wichita State University.
These funds help support extracurricular student and faculty activities that
promote professionalism. The balance of the funds raised will support
MATHCOUNTS and other engineering-support activities of the foundation.
At the EFK Golf Fundraiser and the Kansas Society of
Professional Engineers annual conference, KSPE President Christopher Bohm
and the firm Ruggles and Bohm pledged $2500.00 toward the Foundation with a
challenge grant of an additional $2500.00 should 70 percent of the ACEC
member firms each contribute a minimum of $500.00. Many ACEC firms have the
ability to contribute more. With over 70 member firms, this fund drive has
the potential of generating over $40,000.00 – funding that will directly
benefit the future of our profession by encouraging the youth of our state
in the form of scholarships, support of math and science competitions, and
funding in support of student and faculty programs to promote
professionalism at our state engineering schools.
The Engineers
Foundation of Kansas would like to thank the following sponsors for their
support of the 7th Annual EFK Golf Fundraiser, the activities and goals of
EFK would not be
possible without the support of our sponsors.
$2,000 Double Hole
Sponsor
Baughman Company
$1,000 Hole Sponsor
Bucher, Willis & Ratliff
Corporation
Cretex Midwest/McPherson
Concrete Products
George Butler Associates
Heavy Constructors
Association of Kansas City
Kansas Asphalt Pavement
Association
Kansas Gas Service
Kirkham, Michael &
Associates
MKEC Engineering
Consultants
Poe & Associates, Inc.
Professional Engineering
Consultants, P.A.
Terracon
Vanguard Precast
Wilson & Company
Beverage Cart Sponsor
Gaches, Braden, Barbee &
Associates
Gift Bag / Prizes
George Butler Associates
Kansas Asphalt Pavement
Association
Kansas Gas Service
Kansas State University
Nowak Construction
3M Company
Proximity prizes were
awarded to the following:
Closest to the pin: Joe
Brunk and Jim Tobaben
Longest Drive: Will Johnson
Longest Putt: Daryn Fangman
Team winners:
First Flight
1st Place:
Tylan Dyer, Austin Gottlob, Brian Peltier, Brenda Wooten
2nd Place:
John Bailey, Will Johnson, Joel Pile, Dan Woydziak
3rd Place:
Doug Dreiling, Danny Hett, Ed Sexe, Bob Stacks
Second Flight
1st Place:
Keith Beatty, Kevin Beck, Kevin Holland, Chuck Smith
2nd Place:
Ron Bridgewater, Tony Celetti, Courtney Temple, Mick Urban
3rd Place:
Jay Freund, Jeff Hunt, David Stremming, Mike Thompson
Third Flight
1st Place:
Glen Marotz, Tom Mulinazzi, Steve Randtke, Pat Weaver
2nd Place:
Mike Jacobs, Gary Janzen, John Roane, Chris Rops
3rd Place:
Troy Eisenbraun, Larry Emig, Scott Heidner, Greg Weatherd
Mark your calendars, the
2007 Golf Fundraiser is scheduled for September 28th at Colbert
Hills in Manhattan.
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NSPE CONTINUING EDUCATION WEB
SEMINARS
Continuing Education Schedule of Web Seminars this fall! Small Company Big
Opportunity in Federal Contracting Presented collaboratively by NSPE and the
Contract Services Association (CSA) November 9, 2006
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern registration info at:
http://www.nspe.org/education/ed-home.asp
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KDOT/KAPA-KRMCA
Aggregate/Concrete Basics Seminar
The KAPA Research & Specifications Committee and
the KRMCA Technical and Quality Control (TQC) committee, in conjunction with
the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) partners are pleased to
announce a series of Aggregate/Concrete Basics Seminars this fall. The
purpose of these seminars is to educate KDOT field personnel, KAPA
producers, Asphalt producers, KRMCA producers, and engineers on a variety of
issues surrounding the design, production and placement of aggregate and
concrete on KDOT projects. Topics to be discussed are basic design,
production problems, field adjustments and acceptance.
All KAPA producers, KRMCA producers, M&T
members, asphalt members and engineers as well as KDOT personnel are invited
and ENCOURAGED to register to attend this FREE valuable
educational opportunity. These seminars will take place in various
locations of the state. Each meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. and end
approximately at 4:00 p.m. Lunch is on your own. The dates and locations
are listed below:
District
Date Location
District 5
November 28 Wichita (Hyatt Regency)
District 1
December 5 Topeka (Topeka Zoo)
District 2
December 12 Salina (Holiday Inn)
These seminars are complimentary
and seating is limited, so please take a moment to review and reserve your
spot at the location of your choice. We have attached program the program
which lists the topics that will be discussed. Please fill out the
reservation form and return it to Vicki Metz at KDOT. We are also offering
5.5 Professional Development Hours for these seminars. If you have any
questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the association office at
(785) 235-1188. We look forward to seeing you!
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ORDER OF THE ENGINEER
For over 30 years this international
organization has existed to highlight the primary principles of the
profession and to form a common bond among graduates of ABET-accredited
engineering programs. This bond is symbolized by a stainless steel ring
worn on the fifth finger of the working hand of members.
The initiation fee is $15.00, and the induction
ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December 9, 2006, in Pasley
Lecture Hall. Following the ceremony, a college wide reception for December
2006 Graduates is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. in the Engineering Complex
Atrium.
Membership in the Order of the Engineer reflects
an endorsement of the principles of the profession outlined by the ABET
criteria. Membership with the Order sends a positive message to our
students about their future responsibilities to the profession.
Therefore, we are inviting practicing engineers
who hold engineering degrees to join the Order and to form a common bond
with other engineers and graduates of ABET-accredited engineering programs.
Following induction, there are no dues or meetings of the Order of the
Engineer. Inductees are encouraged to wear the ring and to display the
signed Obligation Certificate as visible reminder of the publicly accepted
obligation.
If you are interested, please return the
form with payment to
Carol Hewitt, 1056 Rathbone Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, or contact Carol at
532-5455 by Friday, October 27, 2000.
Additional information regarding the Order of the Engineer Program
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