June 8, 2001

The Council enthusiastically voted TBP Superior Service Awards and Resolutions of Appreciation to six retiring advisors of the collegiate chapters and Exemplary Service Awards to retiring Engineering Futures Facilitators Paul B. Benfield and Samir Jain. Distinguished Service Awards were voted for two retiring District Directors - K.J. Hammar and J.S. Kim.

The Council cast ratification ballots for those chapters that had not voted on the Constitution and Bylaws amendments from the 2000 Convention and ratified three amendments that: 1) include equivalent insurance protection in the requirement for bonding; 2) replace 'Officers of the Association' with 'These Directors'; and 3) define the requirements for international chapters.  Minor schedule changes were approved for the 2001 Convention, and a proposal to place any chapter on probation that fails to hold an initiation during the academic year will be sent to the 2001 Convention. The eligibility of computer-science students for membership in Tau Beta Pi was discussed, and an ad-hoc committee was appointed to study the issue at the 2001 Convention. The Council appointed a permanent Convention Chair and a Parliamentarian for the 2001 annual meeting and made recommendations of the model initiation team. Director of Rituals A.R. Hirsch presented an idea to improve the Model Initiation Ceremony that was accepted.

The Council approved a preliminary petition for a new collegiate chapter from the local engineering honor society at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Councillor J.A. Atkins will represent the Council on an inspection visit. The Council reviewed the resolution regarding the misunderstanding of a misinformed member of a collegiate chapter. The Council approved a one-year contract with MonsterTRAK.com to inform students and alumni of employment opportunities. A request by the University of Notre Dame to feature the TBP insignia in a new logo for the college of engineering was denied.

The Council reviewed final arrangements for the June 9 meeting of National Officials and re-appointed as District Directors for 2001-04:  K.S. Wilberg, N.D. Bhakuni, M.D. Malmstrom, E.D. Styles, M.J. Cunningham, C.W. Caldwell, C.M. Harrison, J.C. Hill, and R.W. Mead. L.C. Pawlak was appointed as District 4 Director for a term ending in June 2003. Bethany R. Lancaster, AL B '01, Scott E. Fable, CA T '96, and Tana L. Cicero, CA F '97, were appointed as District 6, 15, and 15 Directors, respectively, for terms ending in June 2004. A discussion was held on issues related to Council policy on raising funds for District conferences. The Council reviewed its procedure for presentations during District meetings at the Convention by each Executive Council-slate. Councillors and Executive Director J.D. Froula reported on their attendance at District spring conferences and at the U.S. Military Academy as a result of a formal invitation.

The Council re-appointed Engineering Futures Facilitators R.R. Andre, D.L. Himes, A.C. Hwang, I.H. Klestadt, M.L. Peterson, and J.H. Schneider for one-year terms ending in June 2002, and N.F. Gray, J.A. Huggins, J.R Luchini, R.W. Pierce, and L.A. Rine for three-year terms ending in June 2004.

The third-quarter financial report had been sent to the Council and was accepted. Mr. Froula reported on the status of the 2001 Alumni Giving Program. Council approved the 2002 budget and approved a plan for the year-end allocations to the trust funds. A revised conflict-of-interest policy draft prepared by Mr. Froula was modified and will be sent for legal review. Sponsorship of six TBP-SAE Scholarships for 2002 at $1,000 each and a contribution of $1,000 to National Engineers Week 2002 were approved. President D.M. Green reported on the ad-hoc Scholarship Development Campaign Committee. 

A report about the meeting of the Trust Advisory Committee in New York City on May 15 was received. James A. Runde, WI B '69, was appointed to the Trust Advisory Committee to complete a term ending in June 2003, and Rodger F. Smith, WI A Õ64, was re-appointed to a six-year term ending in June 2007. 

Councillor C.P. Rice reported on recent discussions with collegiate members about Tau Beta Pi image materials, and she reviewed the status of the AlumNet Program; more alumni are needed to participate and to mentor collegiate members. Director of Communications and Development  P.B. McDaniel reported on the status of the project to update the TBP Chapter Video/CD. She presented a draft proposal for a TBP Corporate Sponsorship/Partnership Program. Discussion was held on a Headquarters report on the impact of the poor performance of large chapters in initiating a small percentage of eligible candidates. Council reviewed plans for a session on strategic planning to be conducted with national officials during the meeting on June 9. 

Mr. Froula reviewed the status of a recent meeting of the TBP Editorial Board. The Council decided to obtain voice-mailboxes for the national Headquarters and reviewed the office-space evaluation and feasibility study for the Headquarters, which concluded that the concerns and needs of the office can be accomplished in its present location. 

The selection of Dr. Louis F. Geschwindner Jr., NY G '67, P.E., Advisor to the Pennsylvania Beta Chapter, as the 2001 National Outstanding Advisor was accepted.  District 7 Director Heather E. Havens-Beardsley, Chair of the 2001 Laureate Selection Committee, reported that her group had selected two Laureates from 11 nominees.  The selection of Dr. James E. Drewry, VA A '60, as the 2001 TBP Distinguished Alumnus was accepted.