Neil Armstrong, James Carville, Mary Matalin To Highlight 2005 Annual Convention In D.C. Washington, D.C. plays host to ACEC's Annual Convention, April 10-13, 2005, featuring Consulting Congress Day, Engineering Excellence Awards and a variety of educational and social activities. The lineup of speakers includes the first man to walk the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong, who will receive ACEC's 2005 Distinguished Award of Merit, as well as James Carville and Mary Matalin, who will provide a spirited debate on political issues. The Grand Hyatt Washington (www.hyatt.com), located in the heart of D.C. will host Convention activities. Call the Hyatt at 202-582-1234 to secure your hotel room. ACEC's discounted room rates expire on February 1. Be sure to watch for the Annual Convention brochure in the mail by late December. Up-to-date Convention information also will be available in Last Word, or by visiting the ACEC website at www.acec.org.

ACEC/PAC Candidates Succeed On Election Day An overwhelming 97 percent of candidates supported by ACEC/PAC—both Republicans and Democrats—won their election bids. Those victorious include ACEC-backed Senate candidate John Thune in his successful race against Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD). ACEC also aided the re-election campaign of Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), who will replace Daschle as the Senate Minority Leader in the new Congress. In the House, ACEC/PAC backed the successful re-election bids of Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO) and Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), three engineering industry supporters who faced very tough challenges. "These wins will breathe new life into longstanding business concerns, including tort reform and regulatory changes that impact our members and their clients," said ACEC Chairman Bill Howard.

ACEC Orientation "Connects" State Leaders To National Organization Left to right: ACEC/DE Executive Director Mike Karia, ACEC/MD President Fred Wagner and ACEC/MD Executive Director Jim Otradovec at the Leadership Orientation. Forty-four ACEC leaders representing 27 State Organizations heard from ACEC national leadership and staff on the Council's agenda, educational programs, legislative initiatives, and member services during orientation sessions at ACEC's headquarters in Washington. The November 5 and 12 events were hosted by ACEC Chairman Bill Howard and President Dave Raymond.

David Pond, ACEC/NC president-elect says: "We're getting good value for our dues." "I have to say that the experience definitely made me feel more connected to the national organization," said Janice Marsters, president-elect ACEC/Hawaii. "I feel the information I received will be invaluable during my upcoming term." "I was extremely impressed with ACEC's staff, especially their knowledge," said Robert Vokes, ACEC/Massachusetts national director. "It definitely makes us feel good that we're getting value for our dues. We need to find a way to communicate this to our members," said David Pond, ACEC/North Carolina president-elect. These leadership sessions, to which all state leaders are invited, will be held again in November 2005.

Tennessee, Kentucky Latest To Cross ACEC/PAC '04 Finish Line ACEC of Tennessee and ACEC of Kentucky became the latest State Organizations to meet and exceed their respective ACEC/PAC fundraising goals for 2004. They join Nebraska and Alaska as states that have crossed the finish line on their fundraising goals for the year. "There are so many important issues at the federal level which affect Tennessee firms that make it essential we get involved through ACEC/PAC," said incoming ExCom Vice Chairman Jerry Stump of Wilbur Smith Associates, in Franklin, Tenn. Added ACEC/PAC Trustee and Chairman's Club member Craig Avery of Fuller, Mossbarger, Scott and May Engineers in Lexington, Ky.: "We'll realize the full potential of our industry's political power when we pool our collective resources and influence." Several states, including Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are close to reaching their goals. ACEC/PAC trustees and state leaders continue efforts to meet assigned goals before the end of the year.

CASE/RMP Convocation Addresses High Insurance Costs For Structural Engineers More than 150 structural engineering principals from across the nation came together to address high insurance premiums, risk management and loss prevention techniques at the November 5-6 CASE/Risk Management Program (RMP) Convocation in Reston, VA. "The Convocation was the first major effort of the new CASE/RMP to reduce the cost and frequency of claims against structural engineers," said CASE Executive Director Ed Bajer. "The healthy turnout proves that many structural engineers see this as our profession's number one problem." Problems of "rogue expert witnesses" and unfair liability were also addressed. Part of the overall effort of RMP will be to join the tort reform movement on the national level.

Copyright © 2004 by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced, stored in any form of retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photographic, or other means without the prior written permission of ACEC.

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