June 5, 2008

The Executive Council met in Charleston, SC, on June 5 and 7, 2008.

The Council enthusiastically voted Tau Beta Pi Superior Service Awards and Resolutions of Appreciation to retiring advisors of the collegiate chapters. The Council was pleased to note that the chapters ratified the Constitution amendment from the 2007 Convention that clarified the proof of eligibility of engineering graduate students. Two chapters were removed from probationary status.

Councillor J.F.K. Earle reported on plans for empowerment training of K-12 regional committee members to include the use of laboratory modules, to develop a comprehensive implementation manual, and to plan teacher-training activities in various regions.

The Council reviewed preliminary petitions for new collegiate chapters from local engineering honor societies at Western Kentucky University and Boise State University. Councillor J.A. Huggins and President L.A. Simonson were named to represent the Council on inspection visits.

The selection of Dr. Richard B. Hayter, P.E., SD B '65, as the 2008 Tau Beta Pi National Outstanding Advisor was accepted. Dr. Edward P. Gorzkowski III, Chair of the 2008 Laureate Committee, reported that his group had selected five Laureates from 15 nominees. The selection of Dr. Steven M. Cramer, P.E., WI A '79, as the 2008 Tau Beta Pi-McDonald Mentor was accepted. The Council revised the nomination process and extended the deadline for the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award. District 12 Director T.E. Schwaller was appointed to the Distinguished Alumnus Selection Committee to a term ending in 2010.

Re-appointed as Engineering Futures Facilitators for 2008-09 were M.D. Czebatul, L.A. Matta, and R. Singhal; and for 2008-11: H.R. Bhambhani, J.P. Blackford, C. Cheng, J. Chong, S.P. DeCabooter, A.L. Hu, S.K. Kramer, M.W. Ohland, N. Pih, and A.J. Pinkus. Alan J. Passman, FL A '06, was appointed as Engineering Futures Facilitator to a term ending June 30, 2011. The Council enthusiastically voted Resolutions of Appreciation to retiring Facilitators J.E. Andrade, R.F. Andre, W. Cheng, T. Chu, P.W. Gleason, E.R. Whisler, and S.M. Willems and Distinguished Service Awards to M.W. Raschke and L.A. Simonson.

The Council re-appointed as District Directors for 2008-11: T.A. Pinkham IV, D.G. Rice, J. Rogan, E.P. Gorzkowski, J.P. Blackford, R.A. Holcomb, E.A. Stephan, C.D. Gomulinski, B.A. Kramer, J.N. Comardelle, S.D. Jennings-King, W.A. Hull, J.A. Hester, and S.V. Eckersall. Matthew V. Paragano, NJ A '08, and Malena L. Foster, WA A '06, were appointed as District 1 and 14 Directors, respectively, for terms ending June 30, 2011. The Council enthusiastically voted a Tau Beta Pi Distinguished Service Award to retiring District 4 Director Luke A. Martin and Resolutions of Appreciation to retiring Directors Matthew Ayer and James E. Mitchell. The term ending date of another District Director was changed to expire June 30, 2008. Councillor J.A. Huggins reported on a meeting of the District Program Planning Committee in Knoxville, TN, on May 3.

The Council reviewed and modified plans for the 2008 Convention to be held in Sacramento, CA, on October 23-25. The Council appointed a permanent Convention Chair and Parliamentarian for the 2008 annual meeting. District Directors S.J. Houghton, D.A. Kamat, T.A. Pinkham IV, and A.J. Pinkus and Engineering Futures Facilitator C.M. Gorzkowski were appointed to the Interactive Chapter Exchange Committee. Dr. John W. Prados, P.E., and Russell L. Werneth were appointed to the 125th Anniversary Convention Committee to terms ending October 30, 2010.

Secretary-Treasurer J.D. Froula reported on the status of the 2008 Alumnus Giving Program and information-technology improvements at Headquarters; his third-quarter financial report of the fiscal year had been sent to the Council and was accepted. The Council approved the 2009 budget and approved a plan for the year-end allocations to the trust funds. The Council noted a bequest of $10,000 received from H.L.J. Kolff van Oosterwijk, CA A '50, and approved naming Tau Beta Pi-van Oosterwijk Scholars in 2009-13. The Council allocated a special gift of $50,000 from the Vincent A. Stabile Foundation to the V.A. Stabile Scholarship Fund and noted that $23,366 had been received for the new Shawn R. Schwaller Scholarship Fund.

Councillor Norman Pih reported on his participation with Mr. Froula in the meeting of the Trust Advisory Committee (TAC) in New York City on May 12. The Council enthusiastically voted a Tau Beta Pi Resolution of Appreciation to Rodger F. Smith, WI A '64, for 25 years of service to the TAC. The Council appointed Ronald C. Clark, MA B '56, to the 2008-09 Financial Review Committee, subject to his acceptance.

President Simonson reported on his successful meetings with alumni in Phoenix, AZ; Arlington, VA; Manhattan Beach, CA; and Palo Alto, CA, in the spring.

Vice President Solange C. Dao gave a demonstration of the TBPCONNECT online community comprising 234 collegiate chapters and nearly 1,800 participants. Ms. Dao reported on the progress of the Advisor Recruitment and Development Committee.

Councillor Huggins reviewed a tracking document and the status of progress of actions underway to achieve the Council's strategic goals, and the Council approved this Integrated Action Plan. The Council established a new policy on Travel Expense Reimbursement of International Inspections and Installations and modified its policy on Whistle Blower Protection. The Council noted that some chapters prohibit their inactive members from purchasing and wearing stoles.