January 13, 2001

The Council enthusiastically voted TBP Superior Service Awards to three retiring advisors of the collegiate chapters and an Exemplary Service Award for Dr. Manuel F. Rodriguez-Perazza, PR A ‘65, who resigned after 10 years of service as an Engineering Futures Facilitator.

Executive Director J. D. Froula reported on the status of the 2000 Alumni Giving Program; his first-quarter financial report of the fiscal year had been sent to the Council and was accepted. 

The 2000 Convention held in October in Millbrae, CA, was reviewed and judged to have been successful.  In compliance with the 1981 Convention procedure for future site choices, the invitation of Texas Beta to host the 2003 meeting in Lubbock was accepted.  The Council reviewed recommendations presented during the annual meeting and adjusted plans for the 2001 Convention to be held in Columbus, OH, on October 18-20. 

The schedule of Spring conferences was reviewed, and assignments were made for national-officer representation at 15 of 17 events.  Selden J. Houghton, NY Q ‘00, and Allen Klinger, NY I ‘57, were appointed as District 2 and 16 Directors, respectively, to terms ending in June 2003. 

District Directors C.M. Harrison, J.J. Hanby, and E.L. Tezak were appointed to the Tau Beta Pi Distinguished Alumnus Selection Committee.  District Directors H.E. Havens-Beardsley, M.D. Malmstrom, and D. Kamat were appointed to the Laureate Selection Committee.  S.M. Botwinik, FL A ‘95, Maria D. Burness, MD B ‘89, and Mai D. Lauer, FL A ‘95, were appointed as Engineering Futures Facilitators to terms ending in June 2003. J. Rogan was appointed to the ad hoc International Committee.

Vice President E.J. D’Avignon was appointed as installing deputy for the March 3 installation of the Ohio Nu Chapter.  The Council reviewed and approved the inspection report of the visit to a petitioning group at Dartmouth College; that petition will be presented to the 2001 Convention.  The Council revised the Greater Interest in Government Program guidelines and discussed plans to use the assistance of District Directors to reactivate alumnus chapters.

The Council approved sponsorship of the ‘Building Big’ five-series PBS television presentations in Philadelphia, PA, during October 2000. 

Thomas E. Everhart, IL A ‘53, was appointed to the Trust Advisory Committee to complete a term ending in June 2005.  The Council reviewed its investment policy and modified the spending-guide recommendation to be 5% of the market value of the trust investments.

The Council appointed an ad hoc Scholarship Development Campaign Committee comprising: President D.M. Green, Chair; J.W. Johnson, NC A ‘77; and E.D. Basta, OH E ‘82.  The Council took note of a significant charitable remainder trust and estate to be received from L.E. Record, KS A ‘29, and established the L.E. Record Scholarship Fund to receive those proceeds. 

Council established and named the Heritage Society to recognize those donors who name TBP to receive gifts through their estate plans and authorized the rewriting of the brochure ‘On gifts of lasting value and the preparation of a new planned giving society brochure.  Mr. Froula reviewed the status of the new information technology applications and the successful test of electronic membership reporting. 

The Council established one-time named scholarships in 2002 in honor of each TBP member who has received a Nobel prize.

The status of the planned project to send 22,000 letters to PSAT mathematics high achievers in 2001 was reviewed.  Councillor J.A. Atkins reviewed the fund-raising status for a proposed TBP national engineering educational convocation in 2002. 

Councillor C.P. Rice presented plans for membership development projects, more streamlined communications with collegiate chapter officers, a potential national corporate partnership program, and additional ideas to modify THE BENT.