December 4, 2010

The Executive Council met in King of Knoxville, TN, on December 4, 2010.

The Council enthusiastically voted one TBP Superior Service Award to a retiring advisor of the collegiate chapters. The Council voted a TBP Distinguished Service Award to retiring District 5 Director Curt G. Campbell, TX B '03. Richard Della Rovere, NJ G '09, was appointed as Engineering Futures Facilitator to a term ending June 2013.

The 2010 Convention held in October in King of Prussia, PA, and Lehigh University celebrating the Society's Quasquicentennial was reviewed and judged to have been successful, and the Council reviewed a recommendation presented during the annual meeting and revised plans for the 2011 Convention. The Council reaffirmed its policy to limit either on-site or full reimbursement of advisors attending a Convention to one per chapter in 2010. In compliance with a recommendation from the 2010 Convention, the invitation of the Iowa Alpha Chapter to host the 2013 meeting in Ames was accepted.

Vice President Solange C. Dao, P.E., was appointed Installing Deputy for the Florida Iota installation on March 12.

Dr. Cheryl B. Schrader, IN D '84, was appointed Chair of and Drs. Robert J. Marley, MT A '83, and Marc S. Ingber, LA B '72, were appointed to the National Outstanding Advisor Selection Committee. District Directors J.A. Hester, C.D. Gomulinski, and L.C. Gascoigne were appointed to the Laureate Selection Committee.

Councillor J.F.K. Earle reported on recent progress in the TBP K-12 MindSET Program and on the Society's successful participation in the inaugural USA Science & Engineering festival on the Capitol Mall in Washington, DC, October 23-24. A grant of $50,000 was received in November 2010 for MindSET from the Stephen Bechtel Fund, and plans were being made for a training meeting for five-to-seven chapters in Laurel, MD, December 11-12. Ashish Myles, FL A '02, was appointed as Chair of the MindSET National Management Committee and Dr. Edward P. Gorzkowski III, PA A '99, to the Region 1 Management Committee for terms ending June 2013.

A schedule of Spring District Conferences was reviewed, and assignments were made for national-official representation at all 16 Districts. The Council reviewed arrangements for the June 11, 2011, meeting of national officials to be held in Knoxville. The Council established a policy allocating $1,000 for each District and allowing District Directors to recognize chapters for implementing or completing projects relating to the ICE Chapter Growth Cycle in order to impact leadership, membership, projects, or image.

Executive Director J.D. Froula reported on the status of the 2010 Alumnus Giving Program and on the various information-technology improvements; his first-quarter financial report of the fiscal year had been sent to the Council and was accepted; the Michigan Gamma Chapter received 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status in July; and an additional $11,000 distribution from the bequest from the estate of Charles O. Forge, CA G '56, was received. The Council allocated this distribution to the General Fund and designated $9,000 that could be reimbursed to the California Gamma Chapter during 2010-11 upon submission of four special-project reports with documented expenses.
Mr. Froula reviewed his response to the auditor's management letter with respect to segregation of duties and the small size of the Headquarters staff. He reported that the Texas Delta Chapter planned to elect and initiate members at the Texas A&M University-Qatar branch campus, and the Council modified the TBP International Official Travel Policy.

The Council approved a new TBP Trust Investment Policy and revised the trust-spending guide to five percent of trust market value based on a 48-month rolling average.

President L.A. Simonson reported on his planned visits with alumni on behalf of the Association. The Council established an Executive Advisory Committee to assist the Association with its capital fund-raising campaign.

The Council appointed four members of the Executive Director Search and Screen Committee, chaired by Russell W. Pierce, WA A '70, and made plans to prepare a review and interview process to be used by the committee after applications and nominations were received on December 31, 2010.