MO Public Relations Grant Program Selects Nine Awardees
ACEC's Public Relations Committee announced the FY 2001 recipients of
ACEC's competitive public relations grants for Member Organizations. ACEC had received 20 proposals from MOs in January, reviewed them using a QBS approach, and is funding a total of 9 awards, which were announced publicly on March 13 during the National Directors Update Session at Consulting Congress Day in Washington, DC. The 9 FY2001 grants will go to California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington state. In addition the Western Region Public Relations Coalition, which includes six states (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming), also will receive one of the grants. All 20 public relations grant proposals were assessed as to whether they:1. Effectively addressed the three strategic goals of the national ACEC
public relations plan;2. Provided for products and services that are both practical and easily
replicated or adapted by other MOs;3. Demonstrated MO leadership as fully committed - both strategically and
financially - to an enhanced public relations program;4. Provided a detailed budget with line items that seem realistic relative
to proposed products and services and that these products and services are achievable;5. Showed evidence of a track record and demonstrated ability and
enthusiasm to continue and "grow" a PR program (even after the grant is depleted); and6. Indicated a commitment to a strong PR program through both energy as
well as resources in proportion to the individual MO's overall budget and size.The aggregate total request of these 20 proposals, representing 26 states,
amounted to $716,488, with individual requests ranging from $2,500 to nearly $84,000. The Public Relations Committee's available funding for this program is $190,000, including $10,000 (5%) of that total being reserved for program administration and dissemination of project results to the larger ACEC community.This grant program has spawned several successful programs including ACEC's
National Engineers Week 2000 legacy project, THE INVISIBLE WORLD video produced by the Colorado MO. This grant program also has raised awareness of the importance of public outreach among our members.March 24th, 2000
QBS Awards Program Launches This Month
The 2000 ACEC/NSPE QBS Awards Program, hosted this year by NSPE, will formally begin this month. The QBS Awards Program was begun by NSPE to recognize public agencies that make exemplary use of the QBS selection process at the state and local levels. Since last year, the program has expanded to include submissions from private-sector entities. ACEC has partnered with NSPE in this program for the past three years, and the two associations alternate in hosting the annual program. Last year, ACEC hosted the award presentation at its Annual Convention in Seattle, recognizing the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Designer Selection Board. This year, applications are scheduled to go out to all ACEC Member Organizations and NSPE State Societies the week of March 20. The application will also be made available on the ACEC website.
Submissions will be due on May 1, and award winners will be announced in June. The QBS Awards will be presented at the NSPE Annual Convention in Norfolk, Virginia, on the evening of Friday, July 28, during the PEPP Awards Banquet. ACEC strongly encourages Member Organizations to submit candidates for these awards. For more information, contact Charles Kim (ckim@acec.org) at ACEC.
ACEC to Strengthen Association Health Plans
H.R. 2990, is a congressional bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals greater access to health insurance through a health care tax deduction, a long-term care deduction, and other health-related tax incentives. It will amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide access to and choice in health care through association health plans. Finally, it amends the Public Health Service Act to create new pooling opportunities for small employers to obtain greater access to health coverage through HealthMarts. Specifically, this legislation would allow association health plans, like ACEC's, to operate under the same type of uniform federal regulatory status as corporate and union health plans under ERISA, whether they are fully insured or self-funded plans. The proliferation of state regulations and mandates that apply to small businesses that already have coverage through Association Health Plans, but from which corporate and union plans are exempt, has made it increasingly difficult for associations to serve their small business members. For more information, contact Kate Wallem (kwallem@acec.org) at ACEC.
Volunteers Needed for Habitat for Humanity
Attention: Engineers with a social conscience!! Looking for an easy and fun opportunity to make a lasting humanitarian impact on a community? The Buffalo Region of Habitat for Humanity is looking for a "few good engineers" to construct a home during ACEC's Annual Convention in Buffalo. Approximately 20 volunteers are needed for work on Friday, May 12, 2000. No prior experience is needed to participate. Here's your chance to help build a lasting "monument" to your generosity. A needy Buffalo family will benefit, and you will benefit as you demonstrate your community spirit, generosity, professional know-how, and engage in some good-ole manual labor.
If interested, contact Francis George (202-347-7474, fgeorge@acec.org) at ACEC.
How to Tap the Federal Marketplace for Environmental Projects
If you're interested in doing business in the federal marketplace, there are thousands of environmental projects for you to choose from. The 200-page, 1999 Federal Market Report (Part 2), published by ACEC's Environmental Business Action Coalition (EBAC), describes the FY 2000 final federal environmental management and cleanup programs as well as EPA clean water programs. This is the final appropriations budget for the cleanup projects of 12 federal agencies: DOA, DOC, DOD, DOE, EPA, GSA, HUD, DOI, NASA, NRC, DOT, and USACE. The report lists projects, locations, what legislation covers each, the funding source, and contacts. Order #EBAC-1-00-FNL, $49 EBAC members, $149 non-members, $5 shipping/handling. Order from the ACEC Bookshop, by mail with check (1015 15 St., NW, Washington, DC 20005), by FAX 202-789-7220 or e-mail (acec@acec.org) with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, expiration date, contact name, street address, zipcode.
Estate Tax Relief May Be on the Way
The Wage and Employment Growth Act of 1999, H.R. 3081 passed the House of Representatives on March 9, 2000. This bill actually contains separate legislation that amends the Internal Revenue Code to cut the top estate tax rate of 55% to 50% by 2002 and reduce all rates by 1 percentage point per year in 2003 and 2004. Also, it repeals the 5% bubble, converts the unified credit into a true exemption, and modifies the generation-skipping tax. Additionally, the bill has numerous tax cuts friendly to small businesses. ACEC is a part of a coalition fighting for a repeal of the estate tax. H.R. 3081 is an important first step in chipping away at this burdensome business-hindering problem popularly known as the "death tax." We are optimistic that there will be enough bi-partisan support for the legislation in order to stave off a threatened presidential veto. Currently 39 democrats and 197 republicans have signed on to some form of estate tax relief in the past.
Convention Session Will Teach How to "Raise the Bar" for Business and Self-Improvement Through Creative Strategies
Keynote speaker Mike Vance, co-founder of the Creative Thinking Association of America, and author of Think out of the Box, will demonstrate that by "raising the bar," you and your organization will become "better than the best," and reach a whole new level of experience. Through scores of dynamic, real-life examples, you will learn what it takes to get where you want to go. In addition, you will learn how to apply key strategies to ensure creative and continuous improvement in your workplace and your career. You will also be motivated to take the initiative to get started on the road to improvement. For more information on convention sessions, contact Roger Doucette (rdoucette@acec.org) at ACEC or for information to register for the convention, contact Jen Lobner (jlobner@acec.org) at ACEC.
Mike Vance's book, Think out of the Box, is available from ACEC's Bookshop and will also be available at the Annual Convention in Buffalo.The following editions of the Last Word are available online, to retrieve a particular issue, choose the date from the drop down box below, and click "Go Get It!"