June 12, 2010

The Executive Council met in King of Knoxville, TN, on June 12, 2010.

The selection of Dr. Robert E. Efimba, P.E., MA B '63, Advisor to the District of Columbia Alpha Chapter, as the 2010 TBP National Outstanding Advisor was accepted. District 9 Director Brenda A. Kramer, Chair of the 2010 Laureate Selection Committee, reported that her group had named five Laureates from 14 nominees. The selections of Dr. Merl Baker, KY A '45, as the 2010 TBP Distinguished Alumnus and of Dr. Donna S. Reese, MS A '79, as the 2010 TBP-McDonald Mentor were accepted.

The Council re-appointed as District Directors for 2010-13: L.J. Swett, A.J. Rovnan, C.G. Campbell, A.J. Flowerday, M.W. Ohland, R.C. Huck, J.C. Hill, J.G. Dabling, J.R. Burnett, S.E. Fable, and P.D. Homen, and for 2010-11: R.W. Mead. The Council voted Distinguished Service Awards to retiring District 9 Director C.W. Caldwell, CA A '64, and District 10 Director J.N. Comardelle, LA A '01, and a Resolution of Appreciation to retiring District 6 Director C.M. Gearheart, KY B '04.

The Council appointed Kassy Lum, KY A '10, Adriann R. Sullivan, KS G '10, and Brian R. Buisson, LA E '04, as Directors of Districts 6, 9, and 10, respectively, to terms ending 2013. Councillors reported on their attendance at District Spring Conferences with invited alumni and decided to hold a meeting of National Officers and Directors in Knoxville, TN, on June 11, 2011.

The Council voted Distinguished Service Awards to retiring Engineering Futures Facilitators J.A. Huggins, FL A '96, and I.H. Klestadt, CA E '84, and a Resolution of Appreciation to D. Truque, FL Q '04. Engineering Futures Facilitators M.D. Czebatul, C.G. Gorzkowski, N.F. Gray, F.A. Leon, J.R. Luchini, L.A. Matta, J.M. Nolan, M.L. Peterson, and R.W. Pierce were re-appointed for 2010-13; and S.C. Dao, W.A. Hillard, M.D. Lauer, and R. Singhal were re-appointed for 2010-11.

Councillor Pih reported on the meeting of the Engineering Futures Planning Committee in Phoenix, AZ, on May 1. George Morales, FL E '06 was appointed as an Engineering Futures Facilitator for a term ending June 2013.

Executive Director J.D. Froula reported that chapters had ratified the Constitution amendment from the 2009 Convention that now requires an Executive Council to take office within 11-14 months after its election. The Council reviewed and modified plans for the 2010 Convention to be held in King of Prussia, PA, on October 7-9. A proposal to allow more than one officer or director to serve as advisor to a committee was reviewed and will be sent to the Convention. The Council appointed a permanent Convention Chair and a Parliamentarian for the 2010 annual meeting.

The Council approved a petition to establish the Philadelphia, PA, Alumnus Chapter. The Council reviewed the preliminary petitions for new collegiate chapters from the local engineering honor societies at the University of San Diego and Fairfield University, and Norman Pih [Vice President Solange C. Dao] and Executive Councillor Jonathan F.K. Earle, P.E., were named to represent the Council on respective inspection visits on September 16 and 23.

Councillor Earle reported on recent progress in the TBP K-12 MindSET Program. The Council made modifications to a proposed draft of a new Fellowship/Scholarship brochure.

Project grants with cash awards were given under the Greater Interest in Government Program to the California Psi Chapter and South Dakota Alpha Chapter, and the local projects will be reported in later issues of THE BENT.

The Council received the report of the Trust Advisory Committee meeting on April 9 in Ft. Myers, FL. President L.A. Simonson reported on his visits with alumni in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Texas, and Tennessee on behalf of the Financial Development Committee. The Council granted Resolutions of Appreciation to committee members R.W. Pierce, WA A ’70, and C.W. McDonald, NC G ’74, for their service on the FDC.

Mr. Froula reported on the status of the 2010 Alumnus Giving Program, on the status of the multi-state charitable-organization registration project, and on the various information-technology improvements; his third-quarter financial report of the fiscal year had been sent to the Council and was accepted. A contract had been signed with KODA Inc., to provide engineering job opportunities to Tau Beta Pi members. The Council approved the 2010-11 budget and a plan for the July 31 allocation transfers to the trust funds.

The Council established the Charles O. Forge Fellowship Fund with $200,000 and the Forge Scholarship Fund with $400,000 from a recent bequest. The Council added $50,000 to the Convention Fund and $10,000 to the MindSET Fund with the remaining Forge bequest. First priority for use of the earnings will be given to student members of the California Gamma Chapter.