Date: Tuesday August 26, 2014

Location: The Well
                7421 Broadway St.
                Kansas City, MO 64114

Time: 5pm to 8pm

Menu: Two drinks and hor d’oeuvres

Cost: $5.00 per person

Come out and help the KC Section kick the ASCE season off right with your fellow members and hear about all the great things ASCE has in store for the year!

RSVP by August 22nd, RSVP HERE

Tour Exhibit: The Land Divided, The World United: Building the Panama Canal

Location: Atterbury Student Success Center Room 237
                5000 Holmes
                Kansas City, MO 64110 
 
Park at the Linda Hall Library 

Time: 11:30 Social/Registration
          12:00 Meal
          12:30 Tour

 Menu: Boxed Lunch includes, sandwich, chips, a piece of fruit, and dessert       

Cost: $15.00 per person

Exhibit:  The Land Divided, The World United: Building the Panama Canal

It was an audacious gamble that took more than 40 years and 42,000 workers to blast, dredge and excavate one of the greatest engineering triumphs connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Heralded as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the Panama Canal opened in 1914 as a symbol of America’s innovation and emergence as a global superpower.

To celebrate the Panama Canal’s centennial in 2014, the Linda Hall Library – located on the campus of the University of Kansas City- will recount the development of the Panama Canal with its epic triumphs and tragedies.  The Linda Hall Library’s centennial exhibition will highlight the myriad of fascinating technological, social and political facets in the construction of the Panama Canal, including:

•     History of the Isthmus: Since the 16th century, the small isthmus between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans led explorers to search for a passage between the seas.
•     Life in the Trenches: Workers in the Canal Zone faced constant hardships: backbreaking work, social inequalities, and the relentless fear of infectious disease.
•     The French Attempt: The French began construction of a sea-level canal in Panama in the 1880s. Thousands died of malaria and yellow fever. Obstacles became insurmountable, forcing the French to abandon the project in the early 1890s.
•     The Panama Railroad: The railroad was essential for carrying people and supplies and hauling away the tremendous volume of excavated dirt and rock.
•     The American Achievement: The U.S. acquired rights to the Canal Zone in 1903, and a year later began building a lock canal 50 miles across the Isthmus. Completed in 1914, the Panama Canal shortened the distance for ocean-going freight and passengers traveling between U.S. east and west coasts by more than 8,000 miles.

RSVP by May 19th RSVP HERE

ASCE Slate of Officers and Election

The Nominating Committee of the Kansas City Section of ASCE has met in accordance with the Section Bylaws to fulfill its duty in preparing and submitting a slate of Officers and Directors for the 2014-2015 Section year.  This slate of candidates represents the Nominating Committee’s Official Section Nominees. Four nominations for the open positions of 1^st Year Director and Associate Member Director were received from the Section membership.  The Section will hold an election at the May 21, 2014 Annual Meeting at the Linda Hall Library at UMKC to confirm the Officers and Directors. We encourage you to attend the meeting and cast your vote in support of the candidates!

The candidates for the leadership positions are as follows:

            Tom Jacobs                 President–Elect
            Adrian Keller              1^st Vice President & Treasurer
            John Blancett              2^nd Vice President & Secretary
            Mike Schmitz              Continuing Director
            Rachelle Lowe            2^nd Year Director
            TBD by election          1^st Year Director
            TBD by election          Associate Member Director

According to the by-laws, Jennifer Taylor assumes the Presidency automatically by virtue of being the President-Elect at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 year.

Bios for each of the nominees for the 1^st Year Director and Associate Member Director positions are as follows:

Chad Johnson
Chad received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas.  Since 2000, he has worked for Olsson Associates.  Chad was a member of the student chapter of ASCE at Brigham Young University, and he has continued his membership in ASCE. He participated in the recent ASCE lead initiative to complete Infrastructure Report Cards for Missouri and Kansas, authoring the sections on dams and on levees for the State of Missouri.  He is also active in the local Kansas City Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association, having served on numerous technical committees re-writing local stormwater design standards and currently serving as the chair of the Water Resources Committee for the local Chapter.

Valerie McCaw
Ms. McCaw is the President of VSM Engineering in Kansas City, Missouri.  She has a B.S. in Civil Engineering Oklahoma State University and M.S. in Civil Engineering with concentration in Engineering and Construction Management.  Ms. McCaw is active in numerous professional organizations including: 2013-2014 president of the Kansas City Engineers Club, former president of the OSU ASCE Student Chapter, and chairman of the Awards and Program Committees of the KC Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association. She also serves or has served on the Platte County Economic Development Council, the Platte County Regional Sewer District – Board of Trustees, and the Northland Chamber of Commerce – Board of Directors.

Jim Palmer
Mr. Palmer is a Principal Civil/Structural Engineer with Kansas City Power & Light in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Power Generation Services Group.   In addition to being a Charter Member of SEAKM and SEI, Mr. Palmer is active in the American Society of Civil Engineers and has served on the Structural Testing Committee for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) since 2004.  Since 2008 he has also been a commissioner for the state of Missouri serving on the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission (MSSC) and in 2010 he became the MSSC board representative on the SAVE Coalition. Past SEAKM roles include: Chapter President, Director, SEAKM Treasurer, SEAKM President, Delegate to NCSEA, and current SEAKM representative on the Missouri Structural Engineer Licensing Coalition where he is a Co-Chair of the organization.

Sara Somsky
Ms. Somsky currently serves as the Geotechnical Department Manager in Terracon’s Lenexa, Kansas office.  Ms. Somsky has been a geotechnical engineer for over 11 years, and has a M.S. and B.S. in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University. Ms. Somsky is a member of ASCE and NSPE.  Her involvement in ASCE began at Iowa State University with the Student Chapter.  Upon graduating Ms. Somsky continued her involvement with ASCE through the Kansas City Section’s Younger Members Group (YMG) in Kansas City.  During her 11+ year tenure with the YMG, she was served as treasurer (four years) and  vice-president, and she is the current president of the YMG.

Geographic Services is proud to announce the Continuing Education schedule of seminars and workshops for the spring and summer that are scheduled in your geographic area. These seminars/workshops have been produced by ASCE’s Continuing Education Department with your members in mind.

Geographic Services would greatly appreciate if the newest Continuing Education schedule be included in your upcoming newsletters as well as added to your websites.

Presentation - President Elect Robert D. Stevens PhD., PE, AICP, F.ASCE

Location: Plaza III
                4749 Pennsylvania Ave
                Kansas City, MO 64112

Time: 11:30 Social/Registration
          12:00 Meal
          12:30 Section Awards/Presentation

Menu: Choice of: Filet Mignon, 
           Grilled Chicken Breast, or Salmon
           Herb Roasted Red Potatoes
           Broccoli
           Cheese Cake with Strawberry Sauce
           Sourdough Bread
           Tea, Coffee, Soda

Cost: $25.00 per person

Speaker: ASCE President Elect Robert D. Stevens, PhD, PE, AICP, F.ASCE

President Elect Stevens’ Vision Statement:

In these challenging times, it’s still great to be a civil engineer. While civil engineers can provide society the infrastructure that it needs, it is only possible for us to do that if funds are available to do it. Both our Infrastructure Report Cards and Failure to Act reports provide valuable information. They are helping us get the message out that the condition of our infrastructure is not what it should be or could be and that more public- and private-sector funding is needed. While we are doing a great job getting this message out to the public and our elected officials, more needs to be done. We especially need to do more to enhance our efforts towards influencing public policy. I see an ASCE that is an even more influential leader.

ASCE’s Roadmap 2025 provides specific steps that the civil engineering profession can take to achieve the Vision 2025 for the Civil Engineer. This is a global vision of civil engineers working smarter and more effectively for the good of all people by creating a sustainable world and enhancing the global quality of life. To accomplish this, civil engineers need to not only be planners, designers, constructors, and operators of the built environment but also leaders in infrastructure policy, managers of risk due to natural and man-made disasters, and innovators and integrators of ideas and technology. It will take a closely coordinated global civil engineering community endeavor to achieve this Vision. There is much to be done to achieve Vision 2025 in the next 12 years.

If you would like to read more please go to http://www.asce.org/About-ASCE/Governance/Elections/Vision-Statements/Robert-D–Stevens,-Ph-D-,-P-E-,-AICP,-F-ASCE—Vision-Statement/

RSVPs due Friday April 18th.  Register by clicking here

Joint Meeting with APWA

Presentation - Right of Way Management Overview  

Date: Wednesday March 19th, 2014

Location: Grand Street Cafe
               4740 Grand Ave
               Kansas City, MO 64112

Time: 11:30 Social/Registration
         12:00 Meal
         12:30 Presentation

Menu: Roasted Pork or Grilled Chicken Breast
           Whipped Potatoes
           French Green Beans
           Roll and Butter
           Tea or Soda
           Cookie
 
Cost: $25.00 per person

APWA’s Community Service Committee is collecting non-perishable foods.  Come on out and support a good cause.

Presentation: Right of Way Management Overview 

Description: In light of the recent findings in the JJ’s restaurant investigation; Monty Zimmerman and Murv Morehead will discuss proper right of way management techniques as practiced by area cities.

Speaker: Monty Zimmerman, City of Lenexa & Murv Morehead, City of Overland Park 

Bio: 

Monty Zimmerman is the Right of Way Manager for the City of Lenexa. Monty has been with Lenexa for 23 years and has held the position of Right of Way Manager for the last 14 years.  Monty’s experience over those 14 years ranges from overseeing the Everest/Surewest overbuild of Lenexa  that started in 2001, to helping develop a state of the art communications and electrical duct banks to accommodate utility relocations for CIP projects, as well as the normal day to day duties of Right of Way management. Over the last 14 years Monty has lent his ROW management experience to several right of way related professional organizations both locally and nationally such as APWA UPROW, CGA (Common Ground Alliance, PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration) and IRWA (International Right of Way Association).

Murv Morehead was selected as the first ROW Coordinator for the City of Overland Park and has served in that position for 13 years.  He previously served as co-chairman for the Kansas Regional Chapter of Common Ground Alliance and currently serves on the National CGA Best Practices committee. He is currently Chairman of APWA’s National UPROW Technical committee and also serves as the co-chairman of APWA’s National Abandoned Utilities subcommittee. He also previously chaired the KC Metro APWA UPROW committee.  He is supportive of the SUE process and is also currently involved in promoting the  Coring, Keyholing and Reinstatement method of utility locating under pavement which is a perfect complement to the SUE process.

RSVPs are due Monday March 17th RSVP HERE

Sustainable Infrastructure 2014 Evening Kickoff Meeting

 The APWA & ASCE Sustainable Infrastructure Committees are hosting a kick-off meeting and social from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Burns & McDonnell’s Auditorium, 9400 Ward Parkway, KCMO, featuring Julia Anastasio, APWA’s National Director of Sustainability, presenting updates on the Envision™ Sustainable Infrastructure rating system, and the APWA Center for Sustainability.

 Speakers will also present on how Envision is being implemented on the Target Green Marlborough project in Kansas City, MO, and the Snow Creek Stream Environmental Zone (SEZ) Restoration Project in North Lake Tahoe, CA. Target Green is one of the first and largest green infrastructure projects in the U.S., spanning 740 acres between 75th and 85th Streets and Holmes and Prospect to significantly reduce combined sewer overflows to the Middle Blue River Basin. The SEZ Restoration Project restored a brownfield site, using low impact development improvements to protect water quality, reestablish vegetation and wildlife habitat. It is the first project to receive an Envision Platinum Award.

 For those who are unable to attend the MARC workshop in the morning, a brief summary will be provided. Mardi Gras themed appetizers and beverages will be served.  Cost is $15 per person. 1.5 PDH’s

 Register here: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=nj4vwaoab&oeidk=a07e8ysz6k9c75d156b

 Envision™ is the product of a joint collaboration between the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the
Harvard University Graduate School of Design and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

See Sustainable Inf 2014-03-04_KickoffSocial for more details

SECTION AWARDS  NOMINATIONS

 The Kansas City Section is now taking nomination for the annual section awards.  These awards are in line with the ASCE Region 7 awards, which includes our section.  These awards were started at the region level to honor and recognize outstanding service to ASCE and the civil engineering profession.  We hope to receive nominations at the section level and submit our local winners for consideration at the region level.  The three award categories are as follows:

Lifetime Achievement:  ”This award is intended to recognize the lifetime efforts of a civil engineer’s service to further advance the field of civil engineering through their contributions, innovative concepts, research and materials”.
 Lifetime Achievement Award Application

Outstanding Younger Member:  “This award is intended to recognize the efforts of younger Civil Engineers to further advance the field of civil engineering through innovative concepts, research, and materials”.
 Outstanding Younger Member Application

Outstanding Faculty/Practitioner:  ”The award is intended to recognize the efforts of an Outstanding ASCE Faculty/Practitioner Advisor who supports ASCE Student chapters and Civil Engineering Students”.
 Outstanding Faculty/Practitioner Application

 The deadline for submittal is April 30, 2014 to Chester Bender at cbender@pyengineers.com

Joint Meeting with KSPE

Project Overview – The South Lawrence Trafficway

Date: Wednesday February 12th, 2014

Location: Cinzettis Italian Buffet
               7201 W. 91st St.
               Overland Park, KS 66212

Time: 11:30 Social/Registration
         12:00 Meal
         12:30 Presentation

Menu: Fancy sandwich buffet, pasta salads, desserts, and drinks

Cost: $15.00 per person

Presentation: Project Overview of the South Lawrence Trafficway

Speaker: Ryan Robinson, HNTB & Jonathan Marburger, KDOT

Bio: Ryan Robinson is a Professional Engineer, licensed in the State of Kansas and serves as Project Manager in the Transportation Group in the HNTB Overland Park office. Ryan joined HNTB out of college in 2002 as a highway engineer and has contributed in varying roles on small site-civil projects to major freeway bypass projects. Ryan holds a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University.

Jonathan Marburger began working for the Kansas Department of Transportation in 2003, and is currently the Special Requirements Engineer in the Bureau of Road Design. He is responsible for managing the Pavement Design Section, Plan files unit, maintaining the Road Design Manual, and managing several highway design projects with an estimated construction costs totaling over $275 million. Jonathan has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Missouri University of Science & Technology, and and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas. He is a Certified Public Manager and is a Professional Engineering in the state of Kansas.

RSVPs due Monday February 10th

RSVP here