Region 4 Report by David B. Peterson, PE

The ASCE Board of Direction (BOD) met in Stowe, VT on July 12 & 13, 2014.   The new website will launch (target date 2014-12-01) in phases later this year.  Two strategic initiatives committees: Raise the Bar (RTB) and America’s Infrastructure, as well as two board committees: the Member Communities Committee (MCC), chaired by Chuck  Black, and Public Policy Committee (PPC) all engaged in strategic dialogue with the BOD. The IMAX movie, DREAM BIG!, may be completed by DiscoverE-Week 2016.  The BOD approved a budget for next year with no dues increase.  The BOD created a new Committee on the Civil Engineering Technologist (CCET) and applications are now being accepted to work on this important task. The Industry Leaders Council’s ‘stretch’ goal of reducing infrastructure life cycle costs by 50% by 2025 was approved by the BOD.  The BOD received a report from the Global Strategy Council Task Committee on the progress to date in India and approved the expenditure of $100,000 to continue the next phase of this effort. The RTB committee presented their five year plan, which the BOD approved, as well as, the expenditure of an additional $300,000 next fiscal year.

Revised Policy statements PS 130, Licensure of Professional Engineers and PS 432, Licensure Examinations were not approved by the BOD.

Congratulations to the following award recipients in Region 4:
2015 OPAL Government:  Thomas D. Rust, PE – VA Section
2014 Collingwood Prize:  Michael M. Flanagan, PE – IN Section
2014 Surveying and Mapping Award:  Dr. Edward M. Mikhail – IN Section

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Fall Region 4 meeting in Newport News, Virginia on September 19 & 20, 2014, or at the next MRLC meeting in Miami, Florida, on January 9 & 10, 2015.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the ASCE Board of Direction as your Region 4 Director.  Please feel free to contact me about any issues concerning ASCE at the local, state, regional, or society level.  As Director, I am serving as your bridge between the Society’s Board of Direction and the Region 4 Board from October 2012 to October 2015.  Phone: (919) 878-9560.  Email: dpeterson@rkk.com.