August 24 , 2002

The Executive Council met in Baltimore, MD, on August 24, 2002.

The Council enthusiastically voted a Tau Beta Pi Superior Service Award and Resolutions of Appreciation to seven retiring advisors of the collegiate chapters and a Distinguished Service Award to retiring District 6 Director Ellen D. Styles, AL D ’85.
Executive Director J.D. Froula reported on the status of the 2002 Alumni Giving Program; his fourth-quarter financial report of the fiscal year had been sent to the Council and was accepted along with his annual report.

The Council disbanded the 2002 Convention International Committee and reviewed the charges to various Committees. Councillor J.A. Atkins reviewed the format and plans for a pre-Convention forum on two pre-selected topics. Plans for a review in October of the effectiveness of TBP communication materials were discussed.

The Council reviewed the Membership Study Report for 2001-02 indicating that a significant number of engineering students continues to seem uninterested in TBP membership. Various actions are being taken to address this concern. The Council discussed potential revisions to the Chapter Project Award Program to require a minimal performance in initiating members. The Council approved pilot funding up to $1,000 to be reimbursed to chapters for expenses associated with sending letters from their deans to parents of candidates for membership. The Council approved a proposal to send reminders by email to chapter presidents to notify them when files of each issue of THE BULLETIN are available on the website. The Council discussed the replacement of old electrical components of initiation kits belonging to various chapters.

A project grant under the Greater Interest in Government Program was given to the Iowa Alpha Chapter, and the local project, for which a cash award was made, will be reported in THE BENT. The Council agreed with a proposal to revise the name of the San Francisco Alumnus Chapter to the San Francisco Bay Area Alumnus Chapter.

The Council modified its policy on the appointment of national officials to require a signed conflict of interest document and revised the travel policy.

Nila D. Bhakuni, OH K ’89; Luke A. Martin, WV A ’02; Richard P. King, MS A ’02; Brenda A. Kramer, KS G ’95; and Scott V. Eckersall, CA I ’96, were appointed as District 1, 4, 6, 9, and 16 Directors respectively for terms ending in June 2005. All members of the Engineering Futures Planning Committee and the Interactive Chapter Exchange Committee were re-appointed for various terms. Councillor-elect D.J. Tyner provided an update on the activities of the E.F. Planning Committee and its meeting in Knoxville on June 29.

The Council revised the design of the Heritage Society Brochure for planned giving and the plans for a mailing to major donors in early 2003.

The Council approved plans to host a reception at the ASEE annual conference on June 23, 2003, in Nashville, TN.

The Council approved candidates for two and three-year terms to the TBP Editorial Board for THE BENT.