March 22, 2003

The Executive Council met in Las Vegas, NV, on March 22, 2003

The Council enthusiastically voted Tau Beta Pi Resolutions of Appreciation to two retiring advisors of collegiate chapters and established a policy to require approval from District Directors during the award process.

Executive Director J.D. Froula reported on the status of the 2002 Alumni Giving Program; his second-quarter financial report of the fiscal year had been sent to the Council and was accepted. The Council reviewed the status of the incomplete chapter balloting to ratify four constitutional amendments from the 2002 Convention.

Dr. Susan L.R. Holl, CA L ’76, was re-appointed to the Fellowship Board for a term ending July 31, 2006. D.S. Pierre Jr., P.E., AL E ’90, was re-appointed as Director of Fellowships, and Annette M. Brenner, OH K ’92, was re-appointed as Director of Engineering Futures for terms ending June 30, 2007. Alan R. Hirsch, MA B ’66, was re-appointed as Director of Rituals for a term ending June 30, 2004. Jason A. Huggins, FL A ’96, was appointed to chair the ICE Committee for a term ending in June 2004.

The name of the Detroit Alumnus Chapter was changed to the Southeastern Michigan Alumnus Chapter.
The Council enthusiastically voted a Tau Beta Pi Distinguished Service Award to retiring Brain Tickler Judge R. Wilson Rowland, MD B ’51, who has served since 1982.

Dr. Don P. Giddens, GA A ’63, was appointed for a three-year term to the Dean’s Selection Committee for the National Outstanding Advisor Award.
Sponsorship of six Tau Beta Pi -SAE Scholarships for 2004 at $1,000 each was approved. The salary schedule for the Headquarters staff was modified in accordance with merit policy and the cost-of-living index.

The Council noted a memorial donation in honor of Dr. Emanuel M. Honig, TX B ’70, and a bequest from the estate of Charles J. Utt, IN A ’50, and named the 2003 Honig Scholarship and 2003 Utt Scholarship. James A. Runde, WI B ’69, was re-appointed to the Trust Advisory Committee for a term ending June 30, 2009. Mr. Froula reported on his participation in the February ACHS meeting in Savannah, GA.

Program grants under the Greater Interest in Government Program were given to California Upsilon and Virginia Gamma, and the local projects for which cash awards were made will be reported in a later issue of THE BENT. A proposal for a grant was rejected because it did not meet the program guidelines. The Council reviewed the inspection report of the visit to a petitioning group at Grand Valley State University; that petition will be presented to the 2003 Convention.

The Council discussed the status of a chapter recently placed on probation and established a plan to correct the election procedures of another chapter. In response to a request for a mail list of undergraduate members, the Council confirmed its policy of encouraging advertisements in THE BENT instead. The status of the initiation-kit replacement project was reviewed. The Council adjusted plans for the 2003 Convention to be held in Lubbock, TX, on October 23-25.

Reports of five recent District Conferences were presented. Preliminary plans were made for the June 7 meeting of National Officials in Scottsdale, AZ. The Council revised the Tau Beta Pi Travel Policy and approved a charter for the new Financial Development Committee. The Council approved and modified the plan for improvements in information technology projects in the Headquarters and approved a construction project for minor revisions to the Headquarters offices.

The Council reviewed the evaluation of proposed new image posters, approved a proposal from GEICO to sponsor Association activities subject to certain provisions, and continued preliminary discussions on consideration of a national project.

A proposed policy on Association Governance was reviewed, and the Tau Beta Pi vision statement was modified: Tau Beta Pi will be universally recognized as the premier honor society.