ASCE Region 8 | March 2019
"advance the Civil Engineering profession by serving the members of Region 8
as an extension of Board of Direction"
Region 8 Director's Column
Aloha and mahalo for your membership in ASCE.

We were honored to have President Robin Kemper and Executive Director Tom Smith participate in the Assembly meeting. They explained the new Society Purpose Statement and explained the six Society Goals listed below. The Assembly members then broke out into smaller groups to brainstorm how the Society goals could be implemented at the local Section and Branch levels.

Purpose : Help you matter more and enable you to make a bigger difference.
Society Goals :

  1. An ever-growing number of people in the civil engineering realm are members of, and engage in, ASCE
  2. Civil engineers develop and apply innovative, state-of-the-art practices and technologies
  3. All infrastructure is safe, resilient, and sustainable
  4. ASCE advances the educational and professional standards for civil engineers
  5. The public values civil engineers’ essential role in society
  6. ASCE excels in strategic and operational effectiveness

The Assembly members got the opportunity to participate in the Hawaii Section’s first Infrastructure Report Card media release event at the Lt. Governor’s office at the State Capital. The format was in a round table discussion with Lt. Governor Josh Green. Lt. Governor Green acknowledged the overall report card grade of D+ and indicated a willingness of the current State administration to learn more about the details behind the grades and work towards improvement.

Prior to the Region 8 Assembly meeting, the Region 8 Board of Governors (BOG) held their Winter face-to-face business meeting on March 6 th in the offices of HDR Engineering. Mahalo to HDR for hosting the Region 8 BOG! The meeting proceeded through a packed agenda of the usual business items regarding how the Region operates and concluded with a tour of the US Navy’s Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility, which was built during the Second World War to provide a bomb-proof facility for the storage of fuel for the Pacific Fleet. The facility is one of only three projects in the State of Hawaii to have been honored by ASCE as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
The Region 8 BOG touring the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility
Mahalo to Anna Denecke and Brian Pallasch of the Society’s Washington DC office for helping the Hawaii Section with the report card and for presenting a session on Legislative Affairs to the Assembly members. It was inspiring to hear that Region 8 is the first Region to have all states with an infrastructure report card. Keep up the great work everyone!!

Mahalo to Nancy Berson, her Geographic Services staff, and Leader Training Committee members for leading a session on Society Resources. We learned about the various support services and documents that are readily available to Sections and Branch officers and committee chairs to help them lead their local groups. Congratulations and mahalo to Nancy for celebrating her 40th year with ASCE.

Mahalo to Ted Smithwick of the Arizona Section for leading an engaging discussion on “How to Give Presentations That Are Not Boring.” I know that I can always improve on this and I personally will take Ted’s advice to heart in my future presentations.

The Assembly hosted a question-and-answer session with the Society’s two President-Elect candidates, Jean-Louis Briand, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, Dist.M.ASCE and Dennis Truax, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, F.NSPE, F.ASCE. Mahalo to Jean-Louis and Dennis for making the trip out to Hawaii to participate in our Assembly meeting as well as the Western MRLC.

Mahalo to the Hawaii Section for coordinating the logistics for our Region 8 meetings, for arranging the Board of Governors tour of the historic Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Tanks, and for hosting Assembly dinners. Your hospitality was greatly appreciated.

We had great attendance and energy at the Regions 8 and 9 MRLC. Concerns about a potential drop in attendance due to the higher air travel and lodging costs turned out to not be an issue. Thanks to everyone involved in the planning and for Governors, ASCE staff and volunteers who executed the conference so well.

I have been a part of 18 MRLCs and 20 WRYMCs to date and I continue to learn at each one. There was a wealth of information learned from presentations and from interaction with other attendees. The one session that impacted me the most was on Saturday morning. A local speaker, Ka`ala Souza, gave an inspiring talk on “Developing a Culture of Aloha in the Way We Work.” He reminded us that our “Values Steer Our Actions.” Three things that I will take to heart are 1) to get agreement on our vision, 2) embrace the differences, and 3) be right in how we interact. Great words of wisdom especially in the current political environment of our nation.

Mahalo to the Hawaii Section YMF for hosting a great WRYMC meeting. It was great to witness the YMFs discussion on Society issues and trying to influence change for the betterment of the organization. It was inspiring to hear about the accomplishments of individuals and groups at the WRYMC Awards Banquet. The future of the Society is in good hands with the current younger member leaders moving up to Section and Branch leadership positions.

It is with sadness that I announce the resignation of Region 8 Governor Jessica Smith. Jessica recently relocated from Alaska to Florida. Even though she only served as a Governor for less than six months, she had a profound impact on our Region 8 leadership. She brought great charisma to our team and to our membership. This was demonstrated during the MRLC Region 8 Breakout session when she presented an overview of our Region with Fred Nelson. I received many positive comments from conference attendees about her positive engagement. We will miss Jessica and wish her well. Region 5 is getting a great leader.

Finally, we welcome Lance Mearig to the Region 8 Board of Governors. Lance is from the Alaska Section, Juneau Branch. We look forward to working with Lance to continue to bring value to the Region 8 membership. Lance officially joins the leadership as of March 16.

Mahalo for being a member of ASCE and for all that you do to help our great profession. #Region8isgreat!!!

Mahalo and Aloha,
Tony C.G. Lau, P.E., ENV SP, F.ASCE
Society Director, Region 8
Region 8 Well Represented at 2019 Legislative Fly-In
Representatives from every state in Region 8 were among the 258 ASCE members from all 50 states and Puerto Rico who attended the 2019 Legislative Fly-in in Washington DC on March 12-13 to advocate for infrastructure investment and the civil engineering community. 

Attendees carried three messages to Congress this year: enacting a 25-cent per gallon motor fuels tax increase to help fix the Highway Trust Fund, fully appropriating key infrastructure programs in FY2020 as well as urging Members of Congress to follow ASCE’s Principles for Investment as they draft a bipartisan infrastructure bill. 

While ASCE has long advocated for raising the federal gas tax, there was a feeling of renewed optimism and enthusiasm at this year’s Fly-In following several recent wins at the state level. Since 2013, more than 29 states have approved state gas tax increases in part due to efforts by ASCE and other organizations.
Fly-in attendees receive training from Society Executive Director Tom Smith, ENV SP, CAE, F.ASCE on how best to approach their members of Congress before descending on Capitol Hill to meet with their representatives and senators.
Oregon Section members David Hurwitz, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, Greg DiLoreto, P.E., P.L.S., D.WRE, Pres.13.ASCE, and Governor Larry Magura, P.E., D.WRE(Ret.), F.ASCE, meet with Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio, Chairman of the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee during the Fly-in.
Arizona Section Dedicates Kaibab Trail Suspension Bridge NHCEL Plaque
On Saturday, February 23, 2019, representatives of the Arizona Section ASCE, the National Park Service, Northern Arizona Branch ASCE, and the Region 8 Board of Governors joined ASCE President Robin Kemper at the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park to dedicate a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (NHCEL) plaque honoring the Kaibab Trail Suspension Bridge. When completed in 1928 at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the bridge was the only crossing of the Colorado River for the 754 river miles between Moab, Utah, and Needles, California. Construction was complicated by the extreme remoteness of the site and the need to deliver all bridge components in loads of 200 pounds or less that could be handled by mules, with the exception of the four 2300-pound, 550 foot-long suspension cables, which were delivered to the project site by a 42-man crew of mostly Havasupai Indians who carried each of the cables by hand more than 7 miles down the Kaibab Trail.
ASCE President Robin Kemper and ASCE member Jonathan Upchurch, who managed the NHCEL application process, unveil the plaque.
Kudos to Ted Smithwick, Arizona Section President, for managing and organizing the plaque dedication ceremony! Thanks also to Lisa Carrico, Deputy Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, for ensuring that the plaque was securely mounted and ready for the dedication ceremony, despite the complication of the recently concluded 35-day long federal government partial shutdown. A major snowstorm swept across Flagstaff and the northern Arizona region on the Friday before the event, dumping almost 3 feet of snow, forcing some last-minute schedule juggling. The Arizona Department of Transportation did a remarkable job of clearing the highways overnight, and the dedication ceremony was able to proceed as originally scheduled on Saturday.
It was a brisk 22 degrees at 3 PM, with a 10 mph breeze blowing when the plaque dedication ceremony began. Why are these people all smiling?
The Kaibab Trail Suspension Bridge NHCEL Plaque
Region 8 Winter Assembly Meeting
The Winter Region 8 Assembly Meeting was held on March 7 th , as the precursor to the Region 8 - 9 Multi-Region Leadership Conference (MRLC) in Honolulu, on March 7 – 9, 2019. A total of 29 representatives from each of the 12 sections that comprise Region 8 were in attendance. We were very pleased to be joined at the Region 8 Assembly meeting by both current Society President Robin Kemper, and Society Executive Director Tom Smith.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the opportunity for attendees to participate in the roll-out of the Hawaii Section’s first-ever Infrastructure Report Card media event in the nearby offices of Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Josh Green. 
Society President Robin Kemper addresses the news media at the roll out of the Hawaii Section Infrastructure Report Card.
Lt. Governor Green acknowledged the significance of the overall report card grade of D+ and some of the challenges that uniquely affect Hawaii, such as sea level rise. He also indicated the willingness of the current State administration to learn more about the details behind the grades and work towards improvement. The event was covered by both print and electronic news media, and clips from the presentation appeared on all three local TV stations evening news casts. Congratulations to the Hawaii Section for a smooth, and very professional Infrastructure Report Card roll-out!
Lt Governor Josh Green and Society President Robin Kemper with members of the Hawaii Section who helped prepare the Section’s first-ever Infrastructure Report Card.
The Assembly meeting also featured a question-and-answer session with the two candidates for the Society 2020 position of President-elect: Jean-Louis Briand, Ph. D, P.E., D. GE, Dist. M. ASCE from Texas A & M University, and Dennis Truax, Ph. D., P.E., D. EE, D. WRE, F. NSPE, F. ASCE. The candidates traveled to Hawaii at their own expense. Each candidate had the opportunity to present his vision for the society, what he hopes to accomplish during his tenure in office, and to respond to questions from the attendees. The on-line election will be held during the month of May. Paper ballots are also available by request. All Society members in good standing are eligible to vote.
Oregon Section Update
Oregon Section
The MRLC for Regions 8 and 9 was held in Honolulu, Hawaii on March 8 and 9. This conference brought ASCE section and branch leaders, younger members, and civil engineering students together for a weekend of networking and training. One of the overarching themes of this conference was “change” – change in the workforce, change in technology, and change in the future world. ASCE held training sessions that focused on how engineers can accept and encourage these changes to improve the civil engineering profession. 

Additionally, through the Hawaiian conference, we were introduced to the concept of “aloha” – a way of life that embodies family and trust – and how we can incorporate that idea into ASCE and the workplace to make an environment that will attract the best and the brightest to the Society and the civil engineering profession. Some additional highlights were the WRYMC banquet, beautiful hikes, technical tours, the roll out of the Hawaii Infrastructure Report Card and the Oregon Section Dinner, pictured below. This has been a very active year for all of the groups that comprise the Oregon Section! Some of the highlights of the various group activities follow. 
Capital Branch
The Capital Branch was happy to host their 12 th Annual Future Engineers Day on February 26th. The event was created to help inspire the next generation of engineers by meeting with professional engineers and learning about what they do. The event included field trips to many mid-valley firms that employ a wide variety of engineering talent, and a sponsored luncheon at the Keizer community center. More than 250 students attended this year’s event.
Mid-Willamette Valley Future Engineers Luncheon
SW Washington Branch
Monthly meetings help professionals stay connected with their ASCE colleagues and keep tabs on other projects. Recent presentations include The Seismic Resilience of Drinking Water Systems , and FEMA Flood Hazard Modeling and Flood Plain Mapping Revisions. 
Environmental Group
EWRG is looking forward to the bi-annual Sustainable Stormwater Symposium, a two-day conference which typically wraps up with a water resources related bike tour around the city! 
University of Portland
The University of Portland ASCE Chapter hosted Meet a Civil Engineer Day in November, an event created to provide students the opportunity to listen to a professional panel, seek professional advice, and network. This year, Meet a Civil Engineer Day had over 75 attendees! 
Portland State University
During Engineers Week (E-Week) this year, PSU hosted Design Reveal , an event in which the Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, Environmental, and Sustainable Design teams reveal what they will take to the ASCE Regional Competitions in April. 
Oregon State University
The OSU ASCE Chapter is currently planning a field trip to Portland to see current civil engineering projects. Other recent activities include volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and a road clean up on Hwy 34. 
Oregon Tech
The OIT ASCE group frequently sponsors events, hosts speakers, and provides opportunities for students to travel to civil engineering events. Many OTI students recently returned from the Western Region Younger Member Council (WRYMC) in Hawaii!
YMF
The Younger Member Forum (YMF) of ASCE-Oregon has an active membership that volunteers, hosts social events, and provides members with professional development opportunities. In the last few months, YMF has been busy organizing and attending the Oregon Section/EWRG Holiday Party, an annual foot golf tournament, various volunteering events and happy hours, and a joint winter leadership ski retreat with the Seattle and Tacoma YMF groups. 
Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) 
This year, SEI Oregon was selected to host one of 4 SEI Standards lectures to be held April 9, 2019. This lecture will highlight the ASCE 7-16 Seismic Provisions and will be delivered by Greg Soules, P.E., S.E., one of the primary authors of this standard.
Geotechnical Group
The Geotechnical Group hosts monthly technical presentations. Recent presentations have included discussions about the Oroville Spillways Incident, and Geotechnical Considerations for the Seismic Design of the Port of Alaska. 
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Region 8 Calendar of Upcoming Events

  • Pacific Southwest Student Conference, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, April 3 – 6, 2019

  • Rocky Mountain Student Conference, University of Colorado, Boulder, April 4 – 6, 2019

  • Pacific Northwest Student Conference, St. Martins University, WA, April 11 – 13, 2019

  • Mid-Pacific Student Conference, San Jose State University, CA April 18 – 20, 2019

  • Society Board of Direction Summer Meeting, Reston, VA, July 12 – 13, 2019

  • Region 8 Board of Governors Fall Meeting, Reno, NV, September 5, 2019

  • Region 8 Fall Assembly Meeting, Reno, NV September 6 – 7, 2019

  • 2019 Society Leader Orientation , Reston, VA, September 20 -21, 2019

  • 2019 Society Presidents and Governors Forum, Reston, VA September 22 – 23, 2019

  • 2019 Society Annual Convention, Miami, FL, October 9 – 13, 2019


Visit  Region 8 Events  for more information.