Construction Materials Engineering & Testing Section (CMET) ExCo Phone Conference
May 9, 2013
Meeting Minutes
Participants: Greg Schmidt (Geotest) – Chair; Steve Bowser (Bowser Morner); Steve Elliott (Material Testing Consultants); Jim Kuhn (Atlantic Testing); Mike Card (A2LA); Douglas Leonard (L-A-B); Milton Bush (ACIL CEO); Richard Bright (ACIL COO); Jerry Weathers (ACIL); Robert Uttenweiler (ACIL SEO)
1) Call to order – Greg Schmidt
a) The chair, Greg Schmidt, called the conference call to order at 2:04 p.m. EST
2) Introductions – Bob Uttenweiler
a) Mr. Uttenweiler introduced himself as the new Section Executive Officer for ACIL and asked everyone else on the line to identify themselves.
3) Antitrust Statement – Bob Uttenweiler
a) Mr. Uttenweiler read the Antitrust Statement and members acknowledged they understood their obligations under the statement.
4) ACIL Marketing and Membership Report - Richard Bright
a) Starting this coming week, the marketing directors at member firms will receive the letters as agreed to by Steve Bowser to assist with membership and marketing for the CMET Section
i) Members will be kept informed of progress
5) Communications Committee – Bush
a) The second goal of the ACIL Strategic Plan talks about the improved communication to members and outside organizations
b) The Strategic Plan suggested that a Communications Committee be formed to as a principle communications tools
c) Action Item: If there are individuals who can take part in the work of the Communications Committee or have someone on their staff that can participate via teleconference four times per year, they should pass that information on to Bob Uttenweiler
6) April 11, 2013 Meeting Summary – All
a) There was a short discussion about the summary
b) The motion to accept was made by Steve Elliott and seconded by Jim Kuhn
c) The summary was accepted unanimously
7) NETTCP Report – Jerry Weathers
a) During discussions with NETTCP, it was stated that the Asphalt Institute is doing similar program similar to what is being proposed by ACIL
i) The main contact person – Mike Bevin – has not responded yet to calls from Jerry Weathers
(1) Weathers will attempt to contact Bevin
(a) It is suggested that Chris Bowker, NETTCP Executive Director, be asked to provide a copy of the MoU between NETTCP and the Asphalt Institute so that ACIL can model after that approved plan
(b) ACIL would like to establish a more formal and positive working relationship with NETTCP
(c) This particular effort is focusing on accrediting in soils work
(2) This is a NETTCP Board meeting set for May 16, 2013
(a) Jim Kuhn is a member of the NETTCP Board
(i) Action Item: After discussion, it was decided that it was important for Jerry Weathers and Jim to talk to Chris Bowker prior that board meeting to ensure that the ACIL position was properly understood
1. Since Bowker has participated in both meetings and phone calls, it is important that the key details of the ACIL proposal
(b) A question was raised as to whether or not NETTCP was interested in expanding its accreditation program outside of its current area and the general response was that NETTCP was not interested in expansion
(i) This is one reason that there is a strong positive feeling that the ACIL proposal will be accepted once a mutually beneficial agreement can be made with NETTCP
(ii) The final MoU will help spell out the benefits to NETTCP and ACIL
(c) In the future, ACIL and its members may be in position to help NETTCP computerize its accreditation testing procedure and move away from a paper-based testing system
(i) A large ACIL member currently involved with computerized systems and testing could be an interesting partner supporting ACIL and the program
(ii) Milton Bush will be meeting with a Vice President from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to discuss this issue
(d) Action Item: – ACIL will look to see if it is possible to join NETTCP
8) A.O.B
a) New Agenda Item – Greg Schmidt
i) The American Concrete Institute has item out for review which includes a laboratory accreditation piece
ii) The wording in the proposal is not currently satisfactory to ACIL as it is not inclusive of all options for accreditation
b) New Agenda Item - Doug Leonard
i) David Savage and Doug Leonard are meeting with AASTHO re: NACLA recognition program on May 20
c) ACIL Membership Initiative
i) Richard Bright will send out list of labs and other potential membership opportunities
(1) Executive Committee members will be asked to help with the membership pitch to colleagues they know
(2) Action Item: Richard Bright will copy the list of contacts and sample letter to the CMET ExCo
(a) Any members who can support this membership initiative are encouraged to do so
d) New Agenda Item – A soils course in New York
i) Jerry Weathers mentioned that an organization will be hosting a three day Soils course in Schenectady, NY on May 21-23
(1) It may be possible for individuals to attend and audit the course
(2) Steve Elliott and Doug Leonard may see about getting individuals freed up to attend the course
9) There being no further business – the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted for the CMET Executive Committee,
Robert Uttenweiler
ACIL Section Executive Officer
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