Austin Branch Newsletter
December 2007	Volume 12, Number 4
In This Issue… Meeting/Speaker Info President's Message Capital Area Foodbank ASCE Government Grant Meeting Sponsor Info History & Heritage YMF Update UT Austin Update EWRI Award Proposed Classroom Volunteers Needed	December Branch Meeting – December 18, 2007 Topic Engineering Ethics Speaker Lance Kinney Texas Board of Professional Engineers When Tuesday, December 18th Social - 11:30 to Noon;  Lunch/Speaker - Noon to 1:00 PM Where Embassy Suites North - 5901 N. IH 35 Cost $15 with RSVP; $5 for Government/Students; Additional $5 without RSVP RSVP Click here to RSVP by Noon, Friday, December 14th \Meeting Sponsor
Quick Links… About Us Austin Branch Golf Tourney Job Board Younger Member Forum
December Speaker: Lance Kinney, Texas Board of Professional Engineers Engineering Ethics Mr. Kinney is the Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.  He has been with the Board for five years, and oversees various agency programs and activities, including legislative, rule, and policy issues, provides assistance to the executive director and Board members, and represents the Board at statewide and national functions. He also gives licensing and ethics outreach presentations all over the state at universities, companies, and associations.  Prior to working at the Board, he worked in the semiconductor industry for 11 years.  He has a Bachelors Degree in Physics from the University of Texas, a Masters Degree in Industrial Technology from Texas State University, and is working on a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology at the University of Texas.  He has lectured as an adjunct professor in the Engineering and Technology Department at Texas State University and Electronics and Advanced Technologies Department at Austin Community College.  Hobbies include ice hockey, music, and computers.
President’s Message by Kelly A. Barney, PE  I can’t believe that November went by so quickly!  The holiday season is upon us and what better time to give thanks to all of our Austin Branch members, committee chairs and officers.  Without everyone’s help, we would not be as successful as we are.  I truly appreciate and give thanks for each and every one of you!  THANK YOU! Our Younger Member Forum (YMF) continues to impress and grow since it’s inception in the 2005-2006 term.  For the first time, they solely organized and put on the 2007 ASCE Austin Branch Golf Tournament.  It was held on Thursday, November 8^th at Avery Ranch and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.  It was my first ever participation in a scramble golf tournament and I can’t wait to play in another one!  Brewster McCracken, a City of Austin Council Member, was a big hit for the November Membership Luncheon.  He spoke about the new City of Austin Commercial Design Standards and drew a crowd of nearly 100 people.  Thanks again to Brewster for taking the time out of his busy schedule to come and share his knowledge.  I hope he eventually figured out his puzzle… By the time you all read this, Thanksgiving will be passed, and Christmas will be right around the corner.  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to spend time with your family and friends. H A P P Y H O L I D A Y S ! ! ! Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in getting involved in the Austin Branch.  There is an opportunity waiting for you!
Capital Area Foodbank Fund Drive Results & Volunteer Day January 19^th, 2008 by Cesar Calderon, E.I.T. – Public Relations Committee The Austin Branch has collected $320 so far in monetary donations during the months of October and November, which will feed 1,792 hungry children, adults, and seniors in the Austin area.  Way to go Austin Branch!  We will still be collecting monetary donations during the December Austin Branch Meeting, so don’t forget to bring your money to the meeting and let’s make this month our best month. Additionally, a volunteer day at the Food Bank has been identified to allow even more participation from the Austin Branch.  The Food Bank provides a meaningful volunteer experience in a positive, safe environment.  The Austin Branch has identified January 19, 2008 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm for our volunteer day at the Food Bank, and we are looking to get between 20 and 40 volunteers for this event.  As last year, we will be volunteering in Product Recovery from which you get an inside look at the Food Bank’s work; you evaluate donated products to determine what is safe for distribution.  "Recovered" items are then sorted, boxed, and made available for distribution to Partner Agencies and their clients.  Please contact Cesar Calderon at calderon@guerra.com, (512) 445-5012 x346, to sign up for the Austin Branch ASCE Volunteer Day at the Food Bank.  We will also be setting up a volunteer sign-up sheet at the ASCE Austin Branch website in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for it. Let’s show our community that civil engineers work to improve lives in many ways, and one way is by providing support to the Capital Area Food Bank and Central Texans in need!
Austin Branch Government Employee Grant Program The Austin Branch encourages local Civil Engineers starting out in their careers who are employed by government agencies to be active members of ASCE. This grant program awards up to two recipients reimbursement for a full year’s National and Local ASCE dues. Applicants must be: (1) a full-time employee of a government agency, (2) not be eligible for ASCE membership dues reimbursement from that agency, and (3) age 35 or under on January 21^st, 2008. Applications are due on January 21^st, 2008 and can be downloaded directly form the ASCE website. For questions concerning the grant program, please contact Julia Harrod (juliah@mwmdesigngroup.com or 453-0767).
December Meeting Sponsor – Renewable Resource Consultants Renewable Resource Consultants (Renewable) is a geotechnical and structural engineering firm focused on the needs of a quickly growing market segment of wind energy.  Renewable has two offices in Texas (Austin and Midland) and one office in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  With seven engineers and a staff of eleven support staff, we support nearly 90 percent of all wind energy projects in Texas and throughout the U.S. It brings us great pleasure to be contributing to the promotion of clean alternative energy. Renewable Resource Consultants is approximately 4 months old, however, our principal engineers are well known in the wind energy market.  Our reputation of excellent engineering talent and project management is what wins us work throughout Texas as well as the rest of the U.S. We are excited about our fast start and foresee continued years of growth and opportunity.
Roosevelt’s New Deal: the Impact of Civilian Conservation Corps on Central Texas Today by Bill Stoner, P.E. The defining events that shaped the ambition and perseverance of the “Greatest Generation” were the Great Depression and World War II.  President Roosevelt’s, New Deal included the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to achieve several goals – putting men to work, improving the farm land and providing income for the rural families impacted by the economic disaster.  The Civilian Conservation Corps was under the supervision of the Agricultural Department, with assistance from the National Park Service and The Texas State parks Board.  The CCC gave unique opportunities to large numbers of unemployed and provided a boost to rural economies in desperate need.  A large number, about 50000 young men, came from rural Texas where the depression had a devastating impact on rural families. The CCC camps were the bases of operations for one company of about 200 men. The Companies operated under the supervision of the Soil Conservation Service (supported by the U.S. Army for camp operations and food service) to provide work as well as schooling and training for young men. The Central Texas area was rural in the very sense of the term -- limited electric power, limited irrigation and virtually no market for farm products. Many of the camps operated by the CCC were located at the sites of State parks or future parks. Camps typically housed about 200 men to provide labor to a specific area or site.  Fifty-six Texas State parks were established through CCC efforts, and thirty-one are still in existence.  Some of the better known parks include Bastrop, Davis Mountains, Garner, Goliad, and Palo Duro Canyon. Typical park improvements included roads, site drainage and culverts for access to nearby state highways. Most of the work was for semi-skilled labor and included clearing land, planting trees, sod/seeding, and bank stabilization. Other improvements included picnic areas and pavilions.  One excellent example is the pavilion at Garner State Park, which is still in use. The land for Garner State Park was acquired in 1934-36 and Company 879 performed the construction in 1935. (The Park was named for John Nance Garner “Cactus Jack,” of Uvalde who served as Vice-president of the United States from 1933-41.) Palmetto State Park, on the San Marcos River and named for the tropical Dwarf Palmetto plant found there is in Gonzales County. The CCC erected the stone buildings in the park. Bastrop State Park, opened in 1937, is designated as a National Historic Landmark due to the excellent examples of craftsmanship displayed in the facilities constructed by members of the CCC. The park facilities were constructed in 1933 by CCC Company 1805 and by Company 1811 in the year 1934. The site is famous for its "Lost Pines," an isolated timbered region of loblolly pine and hardwoods. The Park brochure describes CCC work on bridges, culverts, retaining walls and trail creek crossings with waterfalls displaying extensive landscaping.  Bastrop State Park is well known for another significant project: the Pioneer Village in the “NPS (National Park Service) Rustic Style”. A large refectory building and cabins were constructed using local materials, Carrizo sandstone and local pine and cedar. In Roosevelt’s words, the CCC was "...not a Panacea for all the unemployment, but an essential step in this emergency..." and indeed, this is a step that left a legacy in Central Texas. This legacy includes significant physical improvements made to forests and farmland and the soil-conservation information which was then passed on to farmers. And possibly the most important contribution of the CCC’s work was the creation of the base for the State Park system of today, which includes numerous civil engineering landmarks!
YMF Update by Kimberly Patak, P.E. – Younger Member Forum President Are you 35 or younger and thinking about getting more involved in ASCE, but don’t know where to begin? Consider attending the 2008 ASCE Central Region Younger Member Council Leadership Conference to be held Friday and Saturday, January 25 and 26, 2008 at the Austin Marriot North in Austin (Round Rock), Texas. This year the Austin branch is hosting the event. The objective of the Council Meeting is to strengthen and expand the programs and activities of our Younger Member Group through the interchange of ideas and information on timely and important subjects of vital concern to the Society and our local community.  It also prepares incoming officers for their leadership roles. You will have the opportunity to interact with National Officers, Staff, other Younger Member Groups, Students and Section/Branch Officers. You will also enjoy an unmatched learning experience.  The Younger Member Council meeting is organized and developed to provide you with a personal growth opportunity.  You will learn more about ASCE, available resources, opportunities for service and your role in the dynamic ASCE system. We have created a website for the event at www.crymc.asce.org. Please log on to view the agenda and contact Robert Scholz at rwscholz@pbsj.com if you are interested in attending or sponsoring the event.
UT Austin December Briefing by Ryan Rush, UT Student Chapter Corporate Relations Officer With finals just around the corner, students at UT still manage to stay actively involved in the ASCE Student Chapter. With record numbers attending meetings and getting involved in our technical competitions, we’re on pace for another successful year. The Steel Bridge team is preparing for the Texas-Mexico regional competition which will be held in Beaumont, Texas January 18-19.  After finishing 6th place at Nationals last year in Los Angeles, CA out of nearly 200 universities, top 10 in every category, and with a near full team returning, the team is prepared to perform at the same caliber this year. For the first time ever, the team will be finishing fabrication before Christmas. According to Concrete Canoe captain, Corey Meeks, we are looking to complete table construction prior to the end of the semester with canoe construction to follow shortly thereafter. After receiving our Poraver expanded glass spheres (made from recycled glass) and hollow ceramic microsphere aggregates from Canada, we have completed gradation analysis and mix design testing is now in progress. In November, UT ASCE was happy to Welcome Stuart Lipofsky and JF Shea to campus to discuss a career in Tunnelling. Considering that our UT curriculum offers very little in the realm of Tunnelling, it was a pleasure hearing about their Arrowhead Tunnels project out in California. We selected two new officers in our second November meeting - Nick David is the new Secretary and Claudia Rodriguez is now our Student Council Representative. After elections, we welcomed Daniel Ponder and Charles Dominguez of Golder Associates. Golder was able to explain how the relationship between a project’s economic feasibility, attention to social goals, and environmental impacts directly affect the sustainability of any project. If your company would like to get involved with ASCE, please contact Ryan Rush at ryan@mail.utexas.edu. On a final note, our Student ASCE chapter would like to thank the Austin ASCE branch for donating four scholarships totalling $6,000 for the second year in a row. Such generosity enables students to continue to focus on school while rewarding members for their contributions to the ASCE organization. Our website can be found at www.ut-asce.org. It contains information for Technical Competitions, Outreach, IM Sports, and Social Events as well as useful contact information to reach our officers.
Quentin Martin Award Proposed by David Ford and David Watkins Quentin Martin 1946-2003 A new Society Award has been proposed to honor the memory of Dr. Quentin Martin, an innovative and successful water resource planner and a frequent contributor to ASCE water resource planning and management committees, conferences, and journals. Upon approval, the Quentin Martin Award will be presented annually to the author(s) of the outstanding practice-oriented paper in the ASCE Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. The paper may cover any relevant topic, but it must demonstrate clearly the application of advanced or advancing civil engineering technology solution to a real-world problem. At his death on May 11, 2003, Quentin was chief water resources planner of Texas’ Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). Among his many contributions in 18 years at LCRA, he led development of the first water management plan in Texas in 1989, followed by the first drought management plan in 1991. In the late 1990s, Quentin was instrumental in developing a regional long-term water plan under a statewide planning process required by the Texas Legislature. Prior to joining the LCRA, he was employed for 13 years by the Texas Water Development Board and its predecessor, the Texas Department of Water Resources. Quentin also served as a consultant on United Nations water resource projects in Brazil, Spain and India, and generously shared his knowledge and experience with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Naming the award for the best practice-oriented paper in the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management after Quentin is particularly appropriate because he won this award for his paper, “Drought Management Plan for Lower Colorado River in Texas,” published in 1991. He later served as Associate Editor and then Editor of the journal. In 2001, he received the ASCE Julian Hinds Award for his distinguished service and contributions advancing the field of planning, development, and management of water resources. The required endowment for a new Society Award bearing the name of an individual is $25,000 (plus $3,500 start-up cost for award design and management), which will be sufficient to cover award costs and conference travel costs of the award recipient(s) at a level of at least $1,000 per year in perpetuity.  To formally establish the award, we are seeking contributions or letters of commitment.  Contributions should be sent to BrianParsons at EWRI. 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston Virginia, 20191 On behalf of the many colleagues of Quentin Martin who benefited from his friendship and professional contributions, we thank you for your consideration and generosity.
Classroom Volunteers Needed By Laton Carr, E.I.T. – E-Week Chair Early Recruiting!  The ASCE Eweek committee is looking for volunteers to assist with classroom presentations at area elementary schools during the 2006-2007 school year.  The ASCE Eweek mission is to grab the early interest of potential future engineers so that they will develop and pursue their interest in math and science early in their school careers, and eventually populate the future civil engineering hiring pool!  To provide information about the program, The Central Texas “Discover Engineering” Steering Committee will hold their annual Kick-Off event (lunch included) on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the 3M Innovation Center.  Demonstrations of the classroom activities will provide useful information about what ASCE volunteers can expect during school visits.  For more information visit www.centexeweek.org or contact the ASCE Eweek chair Laton Carr (lcarr@pape-dawson.com or 454-8711) to volunteer. Thanks!
Thank You to Our 2007 Sponsors Want to be an Austin Branch Sponsor?  Gives your company advertising and free postings on our online job board.  Click here for more information.
© 2007 Austin Branch American Society of Civil Engineers The Austin Branch Newsletter gives you the latest information on ASCE events and activities.  To inquire about this newsletter or to publish articles contact the Communications Director.  Contact information for our Board of Directors can be found at www.austinasce.org. National ASCE – www.asce.org      Texas Section – www.texasce.org