Louisiana Engineering Society Baton Rouge Chapter
President’s Address
By: Robert Degeyter, P.E.
As summer winds down, the presence of leaves changing colors and the fall political season is among us. I ask that everybody exercise your right to vote this election season. Remember, voting is a right that we should treasure because it gives the electorate a decision in changing the political process. We have had a very mild hurricane season thus far this year, with no threats to Louisiana, compared to a record setting season last year, which included Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that devastated the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast. Just a reminder, hurricane season ends in November, so take precaution.
The LES and ASCE Baton Rouge Chapters had a Joint August Meeting on Thursday, August 17th at Ralph & Kacoo’s Restaurant. Our guest speaker was Mr. Peter Newkirk, EBR Public Works Director, and he discussed the operations, procedures and organization of the Department of Public Works. This meeting was followed by a presentation by Mr. Michael Songy, CSRS, who gave an overview of the Program Management of the “Green Light Program”. The Program Manager will administer several much needed roadway widening and intersection improvement projects throughout the Parish funded in part by a $125 million bond sale. The consultant community is eagerly anticipating the challenge from these projects.
The Baton Rouge Chapter will host our next General Meeting on Thursday, September 28th at the State Fire Marshal’s Office, First Floor Conference Room. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Joe Delaune, Chief Building Official for the State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the topic of discussion will be the “Building Code Changes Since Hurricane Katrina”. Please see the announcement in the newsletter for further details. Also included in the newsletter is a tentative calendar for the upcoming year. Please mark your calendars for future events that are of interest to you or your colleagues.
Upcoming events include our annual LES scholarship golf tournament, LSU/SU Student Function and Future Cities competition. We are accepting sponsorships for our annual LES golf tournament to be held at the LSU golf course on October 20th. The format will be a four-person scramble, shotgun start and playing for trophies and bragging rights. Please see the announcement in the newsletter for registration forms. If you are interested in sponsoring a hole, please contact Alan Krouse at (225) 932-2500.
We are also accepting sponsorships for the LSU/SU Student Function to be held in the CEBA courtyard at LSU on November 9th. There will be an Ethics seminar for continuing education opportunities followed by jambalaya dinners served in the courtyard. If you are interested in sponsoring the function, please contact Robbie Lear at (225) 298-0800. All proceeds from both these service events will help fund our annual scholarships to students attending LSU and Southern.
Put the Brakes On Fatalities Day – October 10, 2006
Did you know 116 of our fellow citizens, almost all of whom are someone's friend, family and most beloved become a statistic each day? They are dying in tragic, and what are most often preventable accidents on our nation's roadways.
Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day was initiated by the National Society of Professional Engineers and joined by many partners who are working to lower this statistic. Our efforts to reduce fatalities address the need for improvements to our roadways, our vehicles and basic driver behavior. You too can become involved to promote the reduction of fatalities by utilizing information on this web site. Please mark October 10, 2006 on your calendar "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day." Tell your co-workers, family members and friends to do the same.
We hope you will join us in making a special commitment to reducing fatalities and become involved by changing your driving habits and encouraging others to do the same. We must change our driving habits as evidenced by statistics that say about 42,000 traffic fatalities occur every year. That’s about 115 fatalities every single day—one fatality every 13 minutes. For more information, visit the web at www.brakesonfatalities.org
Call For Sponsors For The 13th Annual
LSU / Southern Student Function
The Baton Rouge Chapter is looking for sponsors for the LSU / Southern Student Function scheduled for November 9, 2006 at the CEBA Building on LSU’s Campus. Proceeds will be put towards the William A. Wintz Scholarship, which is awarded to LSU and Southern Engineering Students by the Baton Rouge Chapter each year. Donations can be sent to Robbie Lear at 10305 Airline Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Any level of sponsorship is greatly appreciated.
Future City Competition Kicking Off
By: Geoff Wilson, E.I. – Baton Rouge Region Coordinator
The start of school marks the start of the Future City Competition. Schools around the state will begin signing up to participate in this year’s competition. So far, 4 schools have signed up. Louisiana needs 25 schools to participate in order to qualify for the national competition. Engineering mentors will be needed to make this LES-backed program a success. The State Competition will be held on January 26, 2007 in Alexandria, LA. Please visit the Future City Competition website at http://www.futurecity.org/ and give me a call at 225-757-0558 or email at for additional information about becoming involved in the Future City Competition.
Welcome New Members
The following individuals are new members of LES. If you see these individuals, please welcome them to the Society.
Dr. Babak Naghavi, P.E. TRC Engineering, Inc.
Megan Allain, E.I. LaDOTD
Dr. Jonathan Bakke, E.I. Stanford University
Thomas Burbank, E.I. Ford, Bacon & Davis
John DiZinno, P.E. Conestoga Rovers & Associates
Keith Dubea, P.E. American Electric Power
Kathryn Kamp, E.I. The Dow Chemical Company
Paul Kocke, E.I. LSU
Christopher Normand, P.E. Cajun Constructors, Inc.
John Prejean, P.E. Icon Environmental Services, Inc.
Eric Roan, P.E. R.H. George & Associates
Dr. Fang-Fu Tang, P.E. The LPA Group, Inc.
Transportation Public Awareness Campaign
The Louisiana Engineering Society participated in a stakeholders meeting on September 14, 2006, regarding transportation needs for the State of Louisiana. LaDOTD Secretary Johnny Bradberry delivered a presentation on the historic and projected needs of the State and the backlog that the LaDOTD faces due to limited funding sources. A movement by LAGC, Concrete & Aggregate Association (CAAL), the Louisiana Asphalt Pavement Association (LAPA) and construction equipment dealers is underway to develop and promote an improved highway program in the State of Louisiana. Our current state highway funding program is critically short of funds to plan, construct and maintain an adequate transportation infrastructure system. One of the first steps in the movement is to improve the public’s perception and image of the LDOTD and gain a favorable public opinion in providing increased funding for future transportation programs. The LaDOTD currently has a back log of $12 Billion in needed transportation improvements. Additional information about this public awareness campaign will be made available in the upcoming months.
Newsletter / Website Ads For Sale
The Baton Rouge Chapter is offering advertisement in both the monthly Newletter and Chapter Website for $100 per administrative year. Renewals will be sent to current advertisers this month. Anyone wishing to place an ad in the newsletter and website can contact Robbie Lear at or (225) 298-0800.
Upcoming CPD Opportunities
The Louisiana Professional Engineering and Surveying Board have posted on their website a list of CPD opportunities within the next few months. Click your browsers to http://www.lapels.com to see what’s coming up. Remember, your membership in LES counts as 1 PDH per biennial renewal period!!!
· The Crash Course in Avoiding Mold – 8 Hour Seminar
September 27, 2006, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Isle of Capri Casino, Lake Charles, LA
$195.00 prepaid - $295.00 at the door for LES members
$695.00 prepaid - $795.00 at the door for non-LES members
Presentation main speaker is Wynn White, P.E.. Contact Brenda Gajan at or 225-924-2021 for registration information.
· Construction Specification Institute All Day Fall Seminar
Agenda: Tankless Water Heaters - LCR, Lighting - Notoco, Painting – Gary Joyner, Intumescent Fireproofing Material - Russ Fruge
October 13, 2006 at the LSU Burden Conference Center
Registration Deadline: October 1, 2006 ($25 late registration fee after this date)
$125 Registration Fee (Includes Lunch)
$100 CSI BR Members
Contact Jeff Howard or Melody Howard for registration information
· ASCE Seminar - HEC-RAS Computer Workshop for Unsteady Flow Applications
September 20-22, 2006, Chateau Sonesta Hotel, 800 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA
2.4 CEU’s available
$1185 for ASCE members / $1385 non-members
Visit www.asce.org/conted/seminars for registration information
· AIChE Cogeneration Seminar
Friday, September 29, 2006, Holiday Inn South, 9940 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA
7 PDH’s available
$70/person for Professional Society Members prior to 9/15/2006
$85/person for non-members and all after 9/15/2006
Visit www.aiche-br.org for registration information
LES Baton Rouge Chapter 2006-2007 Officers
(Left to Right): Ken Robichaux, P.E., Dan Rosenquist, P.E., Geoff Wilson, E.I.,
Robert Degeyter, P.E., Gerald Doyle, P.E, Robert Lear, P.E., LSI
LES Baton Rouge Chapter
2006-2007 Officers
September 2006 Newsletter Page 5
Louisiana Engineering Society Baton Rouge Chapter
President:
Robert Degeyter, P.E.
225-766-6330
President Elect
Robbie Lear, P.E., L.S.I.
225-298-0800
Vice President
Dan Rosenquist, P.E.
225-368-2800
Secretary / Treasurer
Ken Robichaux, P.E.
225-925-4920
1st Director
Geoff Wilson, E.I.
225-757-0558
2nd Director
Gerald Doyle, P.E.
225-381-5895
September 2006 Newsletter Page 5
Louisiana Engineering Society Baton Rouge Chapter
Visit us on the web
http://www.les-state.org/brchapter/
September 2006 Newsletter Page 5
LOUISIANA ENGINEERING SOCIETY
SCHOLARSHIP
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Benefitting the
Baton Rouge Chapter
LES Scholarship Fund
October 20, 2006
LSU Golf Course
INDIVIDUAL
GOLFER'S FEE $50.00
Entry Fee Includes:
** Green fee and cart
** Refreshments
** Dinner and Awards
** Door Prizes
*********************************
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 20, 2006
at LSU Golf Course
4-Man handicapped scramble format.
12:00 PM Registration Begins
1:00 PM Tee times or shotgun start
(contingent upon number
of entrees)
5:30 PM Jambalaya Dinner & Awards
ABOUT THE L.E.S.
SCHOLARSHIP TOURNAMENT
** All Profits from the Tournament benefit the Scholarship Program of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the LA Engineering Society. Each year the Scholarship Committee gives out three scholarships to deserving students in Engineering at LSU and Southern. Additionally, the Committee may make donations to help established professorships.
** Fill out the attached entry form and return it with entry fee by October 16th to Alan Krouse, 8221 Summa Ave., Suite F, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. (Phone #987-7609). Please make checks payable to the Louisiana Engineering Society Education Fund. All entry fees are tax deductible. Contributions are welcome.
** If you would like to sponsor a hole, it is $100/hole, please send in sponsorships by October 12th.
********************************
SPECIAL RULES
Please submit application with handicap. Scores will be adjusted by 10% of team handicap to determine the champions.
OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM
********************************
Name:
(please print)
Company Name:
Address:
Phone #:
Handicap or Average Score:
Place me in a foursome.
Team Request:
List below:
1. Name Handicap
Address
2. Name Handicap
Address
3. Name Handicap
Address
Send to:
Alan Krouse
8221 Summa Ave., Suite F
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Checks payable to L.E.S. Education Fund