June 9, 2000

The Council enthusiastically voted TBP Superior Service Awards to two retiring advisors of the collegiate chapters and Exemplary Service Awards to retiring Engineering Futures Facilitators:  M. Van Chau,  B.A. Ayotte, J.C. Powell, D.L. Himes, B.J. Kruse, M. Polston, J.W. Tanquary, and A.C. Hwang. Distinguished Service Awards were voted for two retiring District Directors, S. Krishnaswamy and J.M. Meena.

Sponsorship of six TBP -SAE Scholarships for 2001 at $1,000 each and a contribution of $1,000 to National Engineers Week 2001 were approved. A formal privacy and security policy was adopted:  Tau Beta Pi will not share a member's data with any outside organization or individual except as necessary to conduct official Society business. Approval was given to host a reception at the ASEE annual meeting in Albuquerque, NM, on June 25, 2001.

The Council cast ratification ballots for those chapters that had not voted on the Constitution and Bylaws amendment from the 1999 Convention and ratified one amendment that set an April 1 deadline for the reporting of chapter actions or votes. A proposal to modify the 2000 Convention schedule was rejected. The Council appointed a permanent Convention Chair and a Parliamentarian for the 2000 annual meeting, made recommendations for members of the model initiation team, and decided to film parts of the Convention in VHF format. Regarding three proposals for the 2000 Convention, the Council recommended that the Association not pay the on-site Convention expenses of the second representative of each collegiate chapter and that the chapters not be subdivided into three groups for consideration for national chapter awards, but was in favor of establishing a new stipend of $2,000 for Fellows who also receive outside stipends. The Council added an agenda item to the Convention Committee on Constitution and Bylaws to allow insurance coverage in lieu of bonding.

The selection of William W. Mendenhall Jr., NY D '48, Advisor to the Alaska Alpha Chapter, as recipient of the 2000 National Outstanding Advisor Award was accepted.  

Project grants under the Greater Interest in Government Program were given to the Iowa Alpha and Wyoming Alpha Chapters, and the local projects for which cash awards were made will be reported in a later issue of THE BENT. A member was expelled for failure to repay an educational student loan.

The Council approved preliminary petitions for new collegiate chapters from the local engineering honor societies at the University of Portland and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Vice President E.J. D'Avignon and Councillor C.P. Rice will represent the Council on inspection visits. The eligibility of computer-science students for membership in Tau Beta Pi was discussed, and a report on international chapter issues was received. The Council approved a one-year contract with Jobtrak.com to inform students and alumni of employment opportunities. Discussion was held on a proposed TBP Outstanding Engineering Freshman Award Program.

The Council reviewed final arrangements for the June 10 meeting of national officials and reappointed as District Directors for 2000-03:  H.H. Houh, L.C. Pawlak, R.L. Werneth, J. Lin, J.J. Hanby, S.L. Forkner, D.A. Kamat, L.A. Simonson, and E.L. Tezak. Councillors reported on their attendance at District spring conferences.

The Council reappointed Engineering Futures Facilitators A.M. Brenner, S.C. Dao, A.B. Cohen, M.D. Czebatul, S.V. Eckersall, C.M. Harrison, J.W. Joseph, G. Keylon, J. Lusted, and D.J. Tyner to terms ending in June 2003 and M.F. Rodriguez-Perazza to a term ending December 2000.

The third-quarter financial report had been sent to the Council and was accepted. Executive Director J.D. Froula reported on the status of the 2000 Alumni Giving Program. Council approved the 2001 budget and approved a plan for the year-end allocations to the trust funds. A minor change was approved to the TBP Employee Retirement Plan regarding cash withdrawals upon termination of employment. Preliminary plans were made to begin the Scholarship Development Campaign, and a consulting firm was selected. The status of the headquarters information technology upgrades, web applications, electronic reporting, and project to bring the membership list on-line was presented. The Council agreed that the current stipend of $2,000 to TBP Scholarship recipients is satisfactory. The report of the ad hoc Office Space Study Committee was heard: more space for the national headquarters is desired, and a consultant should be used to determine the Society's requirements.

A report was heard on the survey of student members about publications and materials. A proposal to change the name of THE BENT to Engineering Excellence was rejected. The Council made preliminary plans to establish a planned-giving society and approved TBP participation in the PBS 'Inventing USA' project. The communications audit and strategic communications drafts were received from BMWW and modified. A new website design was reviewed and accepted.

The status of a project to send 22,000 letters to PSAT mathematics high achievers in 2001 was presented by President D.M. Green. Councillor J.A. Atkins reviewed the concept, process, and proposal for a TBP national engineering educational convocation in 2002.

District 15 Director Sherry Jennings-King, Chair of the 2000 Laureate Selection Committee, reported that her group had selected no Laureates from five nominations.

District 11 Director Christina Harrison, member of the 2000 Distinguished Alumnus Award Selection Committee, reported that her group had chosen Chang-Lin Tien, CA A '55, as the 2000 TBP Distinguished Alumnus.