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Volume XXIII,
Number 16
May 3,
2002
1015 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-7474
Fax
202-898-0068
www.acec.org
E-mail acec@acec.org
Ellen
Mullally, Editor
Francis George, Production Manager
___________________
ACEC Means
Business
ACEC's Market Watch provides insights on economic trends and market developments impacting your business today. Check out the free trial issue attached to this edition of Last Word and subscribe today.
Las Vegas And Marketing: A Winning Combination!
Marketing probably isn’t the first thing you think about when someone mentions Las Vegas, but that will change soon! ACEC’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas May 12-15 defies the odds by offering stellar speakers covering a variety of marketing issues that will increase your chances for business growth. Go to www.acec.org for detailed convention information.
HR Directors: Opportunity Is Key To Retention
After spending hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars training new hires, it is frustrating to watch another firm lure them away. ACEC's new seminar, Human Resources: The Art of Compensation and Transition (HR A.C.T.) focuses on employee retention and succession planning from the perspective of an HR director or administrator. The Coxe Group, one of the oldest and largest multi-discipline management-consulting firms serving the design profession, will explore more than 15 kinds of opportunities that will help you retain employees.
Early bird registration (through May 20) is $179 for ACEC members and $250 for non-members. There are eight dates and locations to choose from. Click here for a complete list or contact Anna Johnson (ajohnson@acec.org or 202-682-4349).
Unlock Your Potential At HR Seminar
ACEC's second new Human Resources seminar, Unlocking the Potential of Human Resources: An Interactive Seminar for Principals and CEOs, gives firm leaders insight into the benefits and methods used to energize the HR function. The seminar is being held on May 31 in Chicago and June 3 in Philadelphia. The registration fee is $355 ($300 for multiple registrants from the same firm) and includes a luncheon with a speaker from an ACEC member firm. For details on this seminar and for registration information, visit http://www.acec.org/
meetmein/seminars/hrp.pdf or contact Roger Doucette (rdoucette@acec.org,
202-682-4330).
ACEC's programs and services are developed and refined to present the most valuable information and provide the best service available to the engineering industry. Visit the ACEC display booth during the Annual Convention in Las Vegas May 12-15 to discover the latest additions to long-standing program areas such as publications, quality management, and continuing education. In addition, check out ACEC's newest program, Market Central, which includes ACEC's Market Forecast Series and the new ACEC Market Watch newsletter. And don't forget to solve the Puzzler and enter the drawing for a chance to win a Palm Pilot handheld!
Managing Martians...And Others Closer To Home
Annual Convention keynote speaker Donna Shirley gained recognition as the manager of the Mars Exploration Program. As she explains in her book, Managing Martians, "For creative teams to not only generate good ideas but bring them to reality requires a combination of near anarchy and discipline, a balancing act between stability and total chaos, often conducted in an environment not conducive to creativity." Attend the luncheon session on Monday, May 13, in Las Vegas and find out how her proven techniques can be applied to your firm. Go to www.acec.org for program details and registration information.
NACECE Seminar In Las Vegas Offers Self-Audit Advice
Robert Harris, a long-time association management consultant and chairman of Harris Management Group, will discuss association self-audits with MO executive directors and guide them through this process during an NACECE Association Management Seminar Saturday, May 11, from 2-5 p.m. at the Rio All-Suites Hotel in Las Vegas. Harris' Association Self-Auditing Processã is used by nonprofit organizations around the world to increase organizational productivity, effectively train staff and reduce risks. The seminar is sponsored in part by CNA Insurance Companies and Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. For more information, contact Andrea Keeney (akeeney@acec.org or 202-347-7474).
New Engineer/Owner Short Form Agreement
The long-awaited engineer/owner short form agreement (# E-520)-an abbreviated version of the flagship EJCDC Owner/Engineer agreement 1910-1-is now available for downloading on the ACEC Web site. The cost to download the document is $100 for members and $200 for non-members. A hard copy version is $25 for members and $50 for non-members, plus $4 shipping and handling. Purchase it online at www.acec.org/publications or contact Rina Lee (publications@acec.org, 202-682-4332).
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ACEC Stops Anti-Outsourcing Effort, But The Fight Isn't Over ACEC led a successful lobbying effort that halted the latest effort by the government employee unions to curtail outsourcing by the Department of Defense (DOD). During the Armed Services Committee's consideration of the F.Y. 2003 DOD Authorization Bill, Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) and Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) introduced a TRAC-like amendment that sought to hinder DOD's ability to outsource services. They later withdrew the amendment in the face of an intense lobbying effort by ACEC and other contractor organizations. ACEC was successful last year in killing a similar effort to stop DOD outsourcing by Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii). Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) was prepared to offer a compromise amendment, and further efforts may be made to fashion a compromise before the authorization bill goes to the House floor next week. ACEC will continue working to ensure that the engineering industry is fully protected from all anti-outsourcing measures. House Committee Passes ACEC-Supported Funding Legislation The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee took action on Wednesday to restore at least $4.4 billion in highway funding by unanimously approving the Highway Restoration Act (H.R. 3694). ACEC launched an all-out lobbying effort on behalf of H.R. 3694 during Consulting Congress Day in March, and also generated more than 2,000 letters in support of this important infrastructure legislation. H.R. 3694 would authorize at least $27.7 billion in highway spending in F.Y. 2003, a $4.4 billion increase over the $23.3 billion proposed in the administration's budget. Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate (S. 1917). "Investments in the nation's infrastructure facilitate economic growth and a more durable, long-term economic recovery," said ACEC Chairman Steve Goddard. "The Federal Highway Administration's own studies show that every $1 billion invested in highways creates 42,000 jobs. The committee's action is needed to ensure that these essential investments continue." "The approach advocated in this legislation preserves needed transportation spending and protects the integrity of TEA-21," added ACEC President Dave Raymond. "We fully support the actions of Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska), ranking member James Oberstar (D-Minn.), and the members of the committee who have demonstrated time and again their understanding of our nation's infrastructure investment needs." Energy Secretary Stresses Support For Liability Protection In a breakfast meeting this week with ACEC Director of Government Affairs Steve Hall and others, Energy Secretary Spence Abraham emphasized the Bush administration's strong support for the reauthorization of the Price Anderson Act. ACEC is working to ensure that reauthorization language is included in the energy legislation currently pending in Congress. Price Anderson was created to extend liability protection to firms engaged in nuclear facilities work of all kinds, including clean-up activities at nuclear sites. The Act will expire this August. Last week Tennessee became the 32nd MO to adopt the new unified name. Click HERE for the complete list of MOs that have made the change. "We hope this change in name communicates more effectively what we are--an organization of Tennessee engineering companies," said Candy Toler, executive director of ACEC/Tennessee. "With this change will come a stronger identification with our national organization. When we go to Washington, D.C., for Consulting Congress Day next March, it will be easier for our elected officials to make the connection between the Tennessee organization and our national organization." There's Still Time To Support ACEC/PAC in Las Vegas It's not too late to register for the ACEC/PAC events in Las Vegas, donate auction items, and sponsor events. There is still space available for the PAC golf tournament, the 5K walk/run, and the off-road tour of the majestic Red Rock Canyon. Please note that the Cirque du Soleil show is sold out.
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