THE COMPASS - PSPE 2013.pdf · o Deadline next week. o 4 applications received so far. Mathcounts o February 9th, March 2nd snow date, William Tenent High School o Planning meeting

VALLEY FORGE CHAPTER

PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS P.O. BOX 585 WORCESTER, PA 19490-0585

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

THE COMPASS Volume 47. Number 3 January/February 2013

(Read the COMPASS on-line at www.pspe.org/valleyforge)

President’s Message By: Randy Cleaver, PE VFC President Today’s world technology is growing at a rapid rate. There is an ever-greater demand for Scientist and Engineers. The governing bodies whether they be local, state or federal, are reaching out to our young students to follow a technical path. The federal government’s acronym STEM can be witnessed daily as found in NSPE Daily Designs, PE Reporter, newspapers, TV broadcast and other journals reflecting the emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Encouragement for women and minorities to follow STEM is greater now than ever. The stereotype that women will not do well in a STEM program is no longer valid. Universities are witnessing 1 in 15 female students pursuing a STEM curriculum. Two states, Florida and California have proposed an undergraduate engineering degree for $10,000 to attract low income students. The question is, in ten years will the level of scientists and engineers be in parity to their demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts in this time frame the growth of 10% will be seen in all engineering fields. Industry has fortified the point that there is a shortage in qualified engineers to meet their R & D requirements. To reduce this shortage, industry has lobbied our politicians to increase the number of H-1B visas (a work permit allowing foreign scientist and engineers to work in the United States for a maximum of 6 years). It is of my opinion that American Industry can reverse this shortage of scientists and engineers by emphasizing employment for US citizens. For the past 10 years or more, our politicians have offered industry the concept of offshore outsourcing taking advantage of the sub-standard labor cost for financial gain. With this outsourcing the US gave the world our technological competitiveness. The Obama administration faced with a paradox of high unemployment while industry commands more STEM qualified employees by increasing the present 85000/year H-1B visas. This visa employee, accepting a lower pay grade, allows businesses to realize a short term financial advantage but long term loss in that the visa individual is sent home taking with them the training and experience. Hopefully, the political community will do their homework and have foresight to invest in our up and coming STEM graduates.




EVENTS

The Villanova University National Society of Professional Engineers (VUNSPE)

And The Valley Forge Chapter of the

Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE), Announce a

Special Presentation & Dinner Meeting on January 31st

5:30pm Networking with Valley Forge PSPE Members • Meet practicing engineers from our area

6:00pm Buffet Dinner • FREE for NSPE members (sponsored by Lukoil)

6:30pm Presentation Presentation Abstract: By the time you are wrapping up your senior design projects and ready to bring a close to your tenure as an engineering undergraduate, your cumulative achievements will have already extended far beyond just diplomas and updated sections of your resume. While your engineering education has prepared you well for the technical problems unique to your field of study, an even more valuable asset is this realization: engineering is more than just a degree. Engineering is a WAY OF THINKING. The capabilities you have developed provide you with unique CHOICES, giving you a significant competitive edge in your career path across multiple fields.

I’m About to Graduate With an Engineering Degree … Now What?

THE CAREER ENGINEERING ROADMAP (CER) is your strategy for the multifaceted choices that you will encounter throughout the development and expansion of your career. In this seminar, we’ll journey along these guideposts: I. THE STARTING LINE Engineering is a Way of Thinking: Beginning Career Choices II. ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS Building Your Career with Mentors, Professional Associations & Networking III. FELLOW TRAVELERS Engineering Careers in Industry, Private Practice, Government & Academia IV. THE SCENIC ROUTES Alternative Careers to Traditional Engineering V. THE ROAD AHEAD Your Engineering Career, The Future of the Profession and the Global

Economy RSVP to [email protected] with your NAME and NSPE number by January 24th.Sponsored by:




MATHCOUNTS® is an academic competition to encourage math skills for children in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades providing today’s students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematical careers. During its thirty years of competition, Southeast Pennsylvania Schools have participated in the competition at the local, state and national levels. In years past, students from the Valley Forge Chapter competition went all the way to the National Competition! More than 300 students are expected to participate in this years joint Bucks County Valley Forge Chapter Competition. It is a wonderful day that cannot be accomplished without the help of many volunteers and donations from local companies. This 30th year, as in years past, the Valley Forge Chapter and Bucks County Chapter competitions will be held together on February 9, 2013 (with a snow date of March 2nd if necessary). This will then be followed by the state competition in March at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel and the grand finale, held in May is the 2013 Raytheon National Competition in Washington, D.C.. By supporting the MATHCOUNTS® program, you are aiding to improve the math abilities of the area’s youth. There are many opportunities to help make

MATHCOUNTS® a success! All donations are appreciated, no matter how large or small! The funds collected go towards materials for the competition, facility costs, awards, snacks, lunch, and entertainment for the Mathletes® (children). All contributing companies will receive mention in the competition brochures. Please contact us for the forms for all contribution levels and tax information. If you have any questions, or would like to contribute to the MATHCOUNTS® Foundation in another manner, please feel free to contact me at the number or email address listed below.

Thank you in advance for your support of

MATHCOUNTS®.

Sincerely,

Daniel Humes, P.E. MATHCOUNTS® VFC Coordinator Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers – Valley Forge Chapter

The Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers

www.mathcounts.org

The top 10 individuals from the Valley Forge 2011 MATHCOUNTS® competition.




Hosted by the Philadelphia Chapter on behalf of the Southeast Region

2013 NATIONAL ENGINEERS’ WEEK BANQUET

Recognize, Promote and Celebrate the Role Engineers fill in the Greater Philadelphia Area

Saturday - February 23, 2013

5:00 PM to 10:00 PM Springfield Country Club 400 West Sproul Road Springfield, PA 19064

(610) 690 – 7600 Free Parking

Cash Bar in Table Top Exhibit Hall

90 Minute Reception with Hot Butlered Hors d ’Oeuvres Full Course Dinner

60 Minute Dessert Reception and Networking in the Exhibit Hall

**** Keynote Address by Derek Gillman **** Executive Director and President of The Barnes Foundation

Price per person � $60.00

Price per person � $75.00 (after February 15, 2013)

Make reservations and payment via website “www.pspe-philly.org” or by check made out to:Philadelphia Chapter PSPE

and mailed to Rich Horenburger, PE

24 Hagerty Boulevard, Unit 11, West Chester, PA 19382

For Sponsorship and Exhibitor Information see the above website or

send an email to: [email protected] All sponsors and exhibitors will be listed in the 2013 National Engineers’

Week Banquet Brochure




BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING MINUTES Meeting January 3, 2013 Wegmans, King of Prussia Those in Attendance Randy Cleaver, P.E. (President) Mike Fischer, P.E. (President-Elect) Dan Humes, P.E. (Vice President) Chad Camburn, P.E. (Past-President) Lindsay Musselman, E.I.T. (Secretary) Jim Thompson, P.E. (Treasurer) Paul Dugan, P.E. (State Director) Tony Dougherty, P.E. (Director) Kristin Norwood, P.E. (Director) Bruce Rhoades, P.E. (Director) Jay Rooney, P.E. (Director) Nate Zipay, E.I.T. (DirectorCall to Order 6:10 pm October Meeting Minutes

Resend and vote via email. Treasurer Report

On track.

Old Business Membership – Lindsay to update December Day at the Races – 20th Anniversary Past President’s plaque Compass – out next week.

Chapter Meetings

January 31, 5:30pm o Planned by Villanova Student Chapter o Sponsored by Lukoil o Location – Villanova campus, exact location TBD

February – no meeting – SE Regional takes place March – TBD; possibly attorney? April – Award dinner Other options

o Fracking (Randy) o Pharma (Lindsay) o Battleship NJ tour (Lindsay) o Chemical Engineering, Dr. Weinstein (Lindsay) o Coatings (Randy) o PSPE office in Harrisburg has list of PDH ideas/speakers.




Location options o Wegmans conference room, KOP or Collegeville ($100 food min, 2 entrees + 3 sides + salad

+ rolls = $16.99 + $5 per person cleanup, up to 3 hours) o No discount for multiple meetings at Crowne Plaza o Brittingham’s in Lafayette Hill ($24 per person incl tax, buffet, min 24, dessert not included) o DeVry University. Rent a classroom for $50.

New Business

Engineering Achievement Award o Attended by Randy. o Marlton circle elimination was the winner.

Southeast Regional Engineers Banquet o February 23rd at Springfield Country Club o Flyer out soon. o Each chapter to provide a judge and can award a service award for a member.

VFC award to Kurt Leininger ($100 gift card to Makenzie’s) and pay for his and wife’s meal at banquet approved.

Randy to attend (maybe Tony too) and present award. O&D Insurance

o Increased small amount – covers past incidents. o Question is PSPE covers chapter – no. o Jim sending renewal info – vote via email.

Committees

Scholarship o Deadline next week. o 4 applications received so far.

Mathcounts o February 9th, March 2nd snow date, William Tenent High School o Planning meeting Sunday with Bucks. o Volunteer emails will be sent next week. o Dan to send updated article for Compass.

Golf Outing o Book course next week – Hickory Valley. o 2nd week of June o Last year low on volunteers (non-golfers).

Other Business

January 19 – State meeting in Harrisburg o Paul to attend, maybe Tony o State looking for secretary

Adjournment: 6:52 pm Next meeting: February 7, 6pm, Wegmans King of Prussia




A FEW WORDS ON SAFETY

Energy-saving Bulb Dangers By Salisbury Fire Department

Lt. James L. Jester

By now, we have all seen them. We probably all have some in our homes. We most certainly have come into contact with them in the homes to which we respond. I am talking about energy-saving light bulbs. They have many different names; compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), compact fluorescent light, and compact fluorescent tube, all describe a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp. Compared to their incandescent brothers producing the same amount of visible light, CFLs consume less power (from 1/5 to 1/3) and have a longer service life (8 to 15 times). But the news in our quest to be better stewards of our planet is not all good. These CFLs have a small electronic ballast in their base. There is a fire hazard associated with these ballasts, but that is a conversation for another day. Let’s talk about another danger posed by these “green” lamps: mercury exposure and poisoning. Like all fluorescent lamps, CFLs contain mercury. This fact not only complicates their disposal under normal conditions, the problem is exacerbated when the lamp is broken and the mercury is allowed “out of its box.” The symptoms of mercury poisoning typically include sensory impairment (vision, hearing, and speech), a lack of coordination, skin discoloration, tingling, itching, burning or pain, and desquamation (shedding of skin).




Mercury in lamps is typically present as either elemental mercury liquid, vapor, or both, since the liquid readily evaporates at room temperature. When broken indoors, lamps may emit sufficient mercury vapor to present health concerns. Breakage of multiple lamps presents a greater concern. Injection of mercury into the body through broken glass that is contaminated is of particular concern. The following are the recommended actions to take in the event of a broken CFL. * Evacuate the room, taking care not to step on the broken glass littering the floor. * Ventilate the room for a MINIMUM of 15 minutes (EPA recommendation) * DO NOT clean the debris of the broken lamp with a vacuum cleaner as this will spread toxic mercury droplets throughout the house either immediately or upon the future use of the vacuum. * Wear protective gloves; use a broom or brush to sweep the debris into a dustpan; empty the contents of the dustpan into a plastic bag; seal the plastic bag. * DO NOT dispose of the plastic bag into an ordinary refuse receptacle * The debris is lawfully a Hazardous Material and must be disposed of accordingly. Depending on the severity of the spill, a more thorough clean-up regimen may need to be employed. Private companies exist that specialize in this type of operation. Mercury is a toxin, and should be treated with the utmost of care and respect. A CFL may look benign, and make you feel good about “going green,” but once the poison is “out of its box” and able to cause an exposure, it’s a brand new deal. Stay Safe folks!




2012-13 CHAPTER OFFICERS and BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Randy Cleaver, P.E. Chapter Director Anthony Dougherty, P.E. President-Elect Mike Fischer, P.E. Chapter Director Kristin Norwood, P.E. Vice President Dan Humes, P.E. Chapter Director Nate Zipay, E.I.T. Treasurer Jim Thompson, P.E. Chapter Director Bruce Rhoades, P.E Secretary Lindsay Musselman, E.I.T. Past-President Chad Camburn, P.E. State Director Paul Dugan, P.E. Committees: Committee Primary Secondary Audit: Mike Fischer Kurt Leininger Awards: Bruce Rhoades Kristin Norwood By-Laws: Nate Zipay Dan Humes Engineers Week: Tony Dougherty Ethics: Bruce Rhoades Legislative/Gov’t: Paul Dugan Tony Dougherty Mathcounts: Dan Humes Lindsay Musselman Membership: Lindsay Musselman Jim Thompson Nominating: Chad Camburn Dan Humes Programs: Randy Cleaver Dan Humes Publications: Kristin Norwood Chad Camburn Scholarship: Chad Camburn Nate Zipay Science Fair: Tony Dougherty Jim Thompson Web Site: Mike Fischer Practice Division Primary PEPP (Private Practice) Paul Dugan PEC (Construction) Tony Dougherty PEG (Government) Paul Dugan PEI (Industry) Lindsay Musselman PEE(Education) Nate ZipayNext meeting: TBD You can now follow our Chapter on LinkedIn and Facebook. Check us out!!




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THE COMPASS - PSPE 2013.pdf · o Deadline next week. o 4 applications received so far. Mathcounts o February 9th, March 2nd snow date, William Tenent High School o Planning meeting

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