By Ashraf M. Ghaly, P.E., F.ASCE

This is my first message and I want to use this monthly platform to keep our members informed with the Section’s news of interest.

I would like to start by thanking our Section’s Past President, Ed Twiss, for his service and dedication to the civil engineering profession.

Our annual dinner took place on April 19th at Union College and was very well attended by an enthusiastic crowd.  Our keynote speaker was Professor Tom Zimmie of RPI who shared some of his latest experimental results on centrifugal modeling of blasting and explosion.  It was an informative talk that all enjoyed and appreciated.  We also had an opportunity to honor the students that received prizes from RPI, HVCC, and West Point.  Twelve of the members of the Section reached a note worthy milestone and became Life Members.  All were invited to our annual dinner event and several were able to attend where they were honored with a pin and a plaque commemorating this occasion.  Congratulations to Chris Lesher on the Engineer of the Year Award; Andrew Jensen on the Young Engineer Award, Tony DeFranco on the Meritorious Service Award; and to Carsten Floess on his election to the Fellow grade.  We also had a great time listening to a singing group of Union College students, The Eliphalets, thrilling the audience with their musical talent.

The annual dinner also witnessed the installation of the new officers.  I am very pleased I will be able to serve along side with Jennifer Everleth, President-Elect, Chris Lesher, Vice President, Dave Emerich, Treasurer, and Jenny Lipmann, Secretary.  Our team is dedicated to serving our Section, members, and profession.  Please feel free to contact any of us with any ideas, suggestions, comments, or thoughts that can further the mission of our Section.  The new officers were installed by our Region 1 Governor, Mark Rusnica whose term is ending later this year after three years of dedicated service for which we thank him.  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our retiring Environmental, Geotechnical, Structural, and Transportation Technical Committee Chairs and welcome the new Chairs.  The unyielding will of all those involved in the works of these committees is the fuel that keeps these engines running.  In addition, our committees on membership, younger members, and those involved with the website and the newsletter deserve a lot of credit for their effort and time in helping our Section achieve its mission.  The Editor position for our newsletter is still vacant and we can use all the help we get.  Please contact me if interested.

This year is the 11th Annual ASCE Mohawk-Hudson Section Golf Outing.  The event is scheduled for Friday, July 23rd at Airway Meadows Golf Course in Gansevoort.  This year’s event includes 18 holes of golf, door prizes, and a dinner.  The registration form can be found elsewhere in this newsletter, and on the Section’s website.  The proceeds from the golf event help fund the high school scholarship that the Section awards each year.  We received this year 30 applications from students seeking our Section’s Scholarship award.  This is a significant increase over last year’s number.  The pool of applicants is very strong and competitive.  We anticipate completing the review process and announcing the winner within a few weeks.

Frank Griggs, a Fellow Mohawk-Hudson Section member and a member of the ASCE National History and Heritage Committee, submitted paperwork to name RPI an ASCE National Civil Engineering Landmark.  We have recently heard the good news that the application had been accepted.  The celebration will coincide with RPI’s 175th anniversary and will take place during RPI’s Homecoming scheduled on October 15th-17th.  It is anticipated that ASCE National President, Blaine Leonard, will be in attendance.  We look forward to a great celebration and stay tuned for more updates in future newsletters.

Many of the activities of the Technical Groups, including field trips, are detailed elsewhere in this newsletter, please share this information with your colleagues and participate in as many activities as you can.  The success of these activities is dependent on all of us.

Our section can use all the help any of you wishes to provide.  There is a role for every one that wants to make a contribution.  No matter how small these roles are; they add up toward achieving great goals.  Greater success can only be achieved with more involvement, so please consider this invitation.  Let’s all work together to make a difference in our community and to give the civil engineering profession the status and prestige it richly deserves.