Senate Fight Looms On FLSA Reform; Call To Action For ACEC Members Efforts will be mounted in the Senate to halt long-overdue reforms to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) when legislators return from their summer recess in September. ACEC is working with industry allies to defend the reforms proposed by the Department of Labor, and is asking members to weigh in with letters to their Senators urging them to allow the reform process to continue. ACEC took a lead role with coalition efforts last month that succeeded in defeating the Miller Amendment, which sought to prevent the Department of Labor from moving forward with its proposed FLSA reforms. In a letter to house members, ACEC President Dave Raymond wrote that the "proposed regulations will remedy many of the problems engineering firms face with regard to FLSA compliance." Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is planning to offer similar legislation to the Miller Amendment for the Senate version of the F.Y. '04 Labor, HHS, Education appropriations bill. ACEC, together with the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and other coalition allies are once again engaged in an intense lobbying effort to oppose the Harkin Amendment and protect the FLSA reform effort. Grassroots involvement was a key ingredient in the win in the House, and ACEC members are once again encouraged to send letters to their Senators in opposition to this latest attack against FLSA reform. Click here for a sample letter, and click here for contact information for your Senator.

ACEC Presses For Permanent, Clean Price Anderson Extension Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) introduced Price Anderson legislation. The Senate will continue debate in September over a comprehensive energy package, which includes a permanent extension of the Price Anderson Act. The ACEC-backed legislation provides liability protection for firms engaged in environmental clean-up activities at nuclear sites around the country. Originally introduced by Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), the House-passed energy package (HR 6) extends Price Anderson for 15 years, but includes a limited "financial accountability" subrogation provision that will expose firms to additional liability. ACEC is working to ensure that the Senate language on Price Anderson is adopted when House and Senate conferees meet to develop a final compromise bill. Patrick McCann, CEO Weston Solutions "Long-term reauthorization of Price Anderson will give our member firms that are involved in nuclear programs, including clean-up activities, the essential coverage they need," said Weston Solutions' CEO and President, Patrick McCann. An ACEC letter to House conferees stresses the fact that Price Anderson is the only viable insurance option available, and that permanent reauthorization of Price Anderson would provide the long-term certainty required for proper business planning and commitment of the resources necessary to pursue nuclear activities. The letter further explains that the current law already holds DOE contractors accountable for their actions through the imposition of fines and other penalties.

ACEC Joins Construction Users Roundtable Productivity Committee Raymond F. Messer, ACEC liaison ACEC has joined the Construction Users Roundtable's A/E Productivity Committee which includes major corporate, university and government owners and officials, including those from the Public Buildings Service of the General Services Administration. The move will allow direct representation of ACEC's initiatives on construction-related issues with those important major construction clients. The Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) was formed in the summer of 2000 by construction and engineering executives representing major corporations that are among the largest consumers in the construction industry. The objective in the new organization is to have broader owner representation and increased owner input on industry issues. Raymond F. Messer, president of Walter P. Moore and Associates, and past chairman of CASE, will be the ACEC liaison on the CURT committee.

Update Your Records In Real Time With The New ACEC Member Portal In less then a week, ACEC members will find the ACEC website even easier to use with the new ACEC member portal. Now, employees of all member firms will be able to access and update their records online and in real time. Since these are real-time updates, this information is available to anyone searching for information via the new online membership directory. The member portal also features secure, real time e-commerce applications. ACEC's Fall Conference in Phoenix (October 8-11, 2003), for example, is available for purchase via the portal's technology. And within the next two weeks, Institute for Business Management educational offerings, publications, and products will be added. Log-on usernames and passwords for the new member portal will be e-mailed to selected member firm principals. Others can request access by visiting the portal. Visit ACEC.org and click on the drop down box on the left that says "Membership" and select the word "Member Portal." For more information, contact Patrick Brookover, Director, Membership at pbrookover@acec.org.

FCC Puts "Do Not Fax" Rules On Hold

In response to petitions filed by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and supported by ACEC and hundreds of other associations and businesses, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a stay on new regulations governing fax advertisements until January 1, 2005.

Prior to the new rules, associations and other businesses were permitted to send commercial faxes where there was an "established business relationship" (EBR) in place, such as an association membership. The new fax rules would remove the EBR exemption and require any person or entity to receive a signed, written consent to fax from each recipient before transmitting faxes containing "unsolicited advertisements." These are defined as "any material advertising the commercial availability or quality of any property, goods, or services." The FCC has now placed a hold on removing the exemption and on the requirement of signed written consent for the next 16 months.

ACEC will continue to work with ASAE for the outright rescission of the new fax rules.

On-Site Workshops/Seminars

Senior Executives Institute (Session 1 of 5)
* Registration will close soon
September 6-11   —   Washington

Over the past 60 years, companies that emphasized leadership development outperformed other companies by 15 times, according to a recent report from Cutting Edge Information, an independent research company in Durham, N.C. (Training magazine, June 2003, p. 71.)

ACEC's highly respected Senior Executives Institute still has limited availability for the next class, which begins September 6 in Washington, DC, so act now to take advantage of this exceptional two-year leadership development program.

Click here or contact Kevin Wilson at kwilson@acec.org or 202-347-7474 for more information.

Marketing: Raising the Bar
Co-sponsored by The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)
September 17-18   —   San Francisco

In this seminar participants learn how to analyze industry trends and develop new tools for business development including how to emphasize the marketing function throughout your firm, apply new methods to enhance current relationships, and develop a working plan to position your firm for consistent new business. Don't miss out on your chance to attend this one-of-a-kind marketing seminar designed for the engineering industry. Reserve your space now—the hotel registration cut-off date is August 26-so don't delay. Click here to register.

Early Bird Registration Fee: ACEC/SMPS members   $545/Non-members $745
After August 30: ACEC/SMPS members $645/Non-members $845

Project Management: The Road to Profitability
October 16-17   —   Nashville, Tenn.
November 13-14   —   Houston, Texas

This seminar examines the stages of managing a project and the project manager's role. It will help managers calculate project profitability and understand project budgeting methods and cost estimating. It will also discuss how to build a project team that increases efficiencies and productivity through the allocation of resources, develop a comprehensive and effective project plan, and increase client retention and gain referrals using proven client relations tools and techniques. Two great locations provide two opportunities for design professionals to develop valuable skills that can be implemented on your next project.

Click here to register.
ACEC members $545/Non-members $745

Business of Design Consulting Leadership Seminar
October 22-25   —   Nashville, Tenn.

This intensive, multi-day course offers up-and-coming design firm leaders the chance to look in-depth into eight different management areas and learn from renowned industry experts. Leadership and Human Resources for the A/E Firm with Pat Holcomb of the Picus Group, Finance and Business Management with Bill Fanning of PSMJ, Information Technology with Mike Ingardia of Systems Management Consultants, Inc., Legal & Risk Management with Bob Crist of Black & Veatch and Marketing and Project Delivery with David Stone of FMI. Individual modules feature hands-on activities, extensive discussion and interactive workshops to prepare you for difficult issues ahead.

Click here to register or contact Sandrine Mailli at Education@acec.org.

SAVE $200—Early Bird Registration ends September 30
Early-bird registration: members $1,295/non-members $,1495

The ACEC Institute for Business Management also offers these recurring seminars and workshops in conjunction with our education provider partners:

Project Management Bootcamps* Presented by PSMJ
Brimming with practical information attendees can use immediately to improve daily projects, this bootcamp offers an understanding of the techniques and strategies of today's most successful project managers.

September 11-12   —   Seattle, WA
September 24-25   —   Boston, MA
October 9-10   —   Jacksonville, FL

$995, or $895 if you register 30+ days prior to the event Click here for information or to register for these workshops.

The Next Level: Planned Growth & Sustainable Success for Your Firm* Presented by ZweigWhite
This workshop covers the strategies necessary to have sustainable high performance and provides attendees with specific tools and techniques to make these concepts real in their own firms.

September 16   —   Washington, DC
October 22   —   San Francisco, CA
November 13   —   Ft. Lauderdale, FL

$795, or $695 if you register 30+ days prior to the event Click here for more information or to register for these seminars.

*ACEC members receive an additional $50 discount off registration prices for both seminars.

Online seminars

ACEC's Institute for Business Management (IBM) offers a broad variety of online seminars to give you the latest training and information without ever leaving your desk. All Webinars are from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. ET. Market Forecast Series are held 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. ET.

Click here for more information or to register today! We will also be adding more Webinars throughout the fall, so keep checking www.acec.org for updates.

The fall schedule includes:

September 17	The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in Professional Services Contracts. Richard B. Garber, Vice President. Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc. Presented by CNA/ Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc.
September 18	Market Forecast Series presents David Eakin with the U.S. General Services Administration
September 24	Finance, Colvin Matheson, ZweigWhite
October 1	Relationships Matter…Implementing a Relationship Management Program…How NOT To Be a Commodity Patricia Holcomb, The Picus Group
October 15	The Eight Deadly Sins of Practice. Thomas H. Porterfield, Jr., Victor O, Schinnerer & Company, Inc.
October 22	How to Lead a Resilient Firm Without Losing Your Mind. Po-Sun Chen, ZweigWhite
October 23	Market Forecast Series
November 5	Brains & Alignment? It's the Execution that Bedevils Us. Pat Holcomb, The Picus Group
November 13	Market Forecast Series
December 12	Market Forecast Series

Click here to review past editions of the Last Word.