End Of Year Wins For ACEC On FLSA, Outsourcing; Small And Large Firms To Benefit Ken White, chairman of ACEC's Small Firm Council ACEC closed the current session of Congress with significant victories in fighting off amendments that would halt reforms to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and impede the Administration's efforts to promote outsourcing. FLSA reform was the focus of major activity in 2003, both at the agency level and in Congress. ACEC-supported reforms proposed by the Department of Labor last March provoked intense opposition from organized labor and a concerted effort in Congress to stop the reform process. One such amendment was defeated in the House, but a similar amendment offered by Senate Tom Harkin (D-IA) was adopted, setting the stage for a fight in the House-Senate conference committee. ACEC and the business community worked closely with the White House to protect the reforms, an effort which finally met with success in House passage of an "omnibus" appropriations bill that excluded the Harkin Amendment. Numerous amendments to prevent the Administration from opening government functions to competition from the private sector also were repelled. The most onerous amendments, including those offered by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in the House and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) in the Senate, were rejected entirely, and other provisions were modified to enable the outsourcing program to proceed.

Jim Suttle, chairman of ACEC's Design Professionals Coalition Small Firm Council Chairman Kenneth White of H. Kenneth White & Associates, Inc. said, "The gains on FLSA and outsourcing will make a real difference in terms of improving the business environment and business opportunities for small firms. The FLSA reforms in particular will give the small firm owner greater flexibility in accomodating the special needs of our employees." Speaking on behalf of ACEC's larger firms, Jim Suttle, executive vice president of HDR and chairman of the Design Professionals Coalition, applauded ACEC's actions, especially on outsourcing. "Continuing to protect and promote outsoucing is of vital concern and importance to all ACEC firms. We must be grateful for the legislative victories, while at the same time realize the fight is far from over."

New SF330 Form Officially Released The new Standard Form 330 (SF330) has been officially released by the Federal Acquisition Regulation office after years of work. It replaces the SF254 and SF255 forms. This essential form for contracting with the federal government has been streamlined and will become effective January 10, 2004. Click here for the new form.

Are You Making Plans To Be In Colorado Springs? Informative sessions and exciting events await members and guests at the ACEC 2004 Annual Convention in Colorado Springs, May 9-12. Tucker Carlson, CNN's political analyst, and Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton are featured speakers. Guests can enjoy tours and PAC events such as clay shooting or taking a guided hike in the famous Garden of the Gods (pictured above). ACEC members and guests will enjoy discounted rates at the five-star, five-diamond Broadmoor Resort. For reservations call the Broadmoor at 719-634-7111 and mention "ACEC." Or go online at www.broadmoor.com, click on "meeting attendees" and enter group code: 9316. The deadline for making reservations is April 1. For more information call ACEC at 202-347-7474 or go to www.acec.org.

Lone Star State Comes Up Big For ACEC/PAC ACEC/PAC Trustee of Texas Bob Jones Texas has become the latest state to meet its ACEC/PAC fundraising goal for 2003. ACEC/PAC trustees established a goal of raising $250,000 in 2003, and allocated individual state goals based on membership strength. Texas' share of the overall 2003 goal is $13,975. To date, Texas members have contributed $14,872. Texas now joins Alaska, Mississippi, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Wyoming in meeting or exceeding their fundraising goals for the year. In addition to increasing PAC contributions, ACEC members from the Lone Star State have become a driving force behind ACEC/PAC's new Major Donor program, which is harnessing additional dollars to support ACEC's political program (see related story below). "While we met our 2003 goal, Texas sees this as a "minimum " participation level. It is essential that we boost our contributions further to support our advocacy program," said ACEC/PAC Trustee Bob Jones. "Every state needs to step up to the plate and support ACEC/PAC. We also need more involvement from politically active ACEC members to support our Major Donor program, which will make a real difference helping to influence key House and Senate leaders on behalf of our industry."

Save The Date—Major Donors Summit Scheduled For February The ACEC/PAC Major Donor Program will hold its first 2004 meeting on February 9 and 10 in Washington D.C. The gathering of ACEC's key political activists also will include several members-only meetings with key House and Senate leaders. Meeting attendees will discuss key 2004 legislative and political priorities for the Council, and set the stage for additional Major Donor Program events in Washington and throughout the nation. The ACEC/PAC Major Donor program represents a new effort to recruit more politically active members in support of the Council's advocacy efforts. Many ACEC members already are active contributors to federal candidates in their own right. The Major Donor program offers these activists an enhanced opportunity to support House and Senate members and shape ACEC's legislative and political agenda. Mark your calendars now for this important event. For further information about the February meeting, or how to become part of ACEC's premier political and legislative committee, please contact Steve Hall, ACEC's Director of Government Affairs, at 202-347-7474 or shall@acec.org.

Former ACEC President Bill Ratliff Retires From Texas Senate Post Texas Senator Bill Ratliff Texas State Senator Bill Ratliff, a former ACEC president, has announced his retirement from the Texas Senate effective in January. A Mount Pleasant, Tex. native, Ratliff was ACEC president from 1981-1982, and a practicing consulting engineer for more than 35 years. He is the founder of ACEC member firm Bucher, Willis and Ratliff. In December 2000, Ratliff was elected Lieutenant Governor by fellow members of the Texas Senate to fill the office vacated by Rick Perry—marking the first time in Texas history that the Senate selected one of its members to serve as Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate.

New SF330 Form Seminar

Don Evick (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) & Tom Williams (GSA)
December 16     11:00-12:30pm EST
Online

The new form has been officially released! ACEC's SF330 seminar has been rescheduled for December 18 at 12:30pm EST. The SF330 form replaces the current SF254 and SF255 forms, which are required for all federal A/E proposals. Hear from two authors of SF330 on how to complete the new form, with an explanation on how it differs from the SF254 and SF255.

Members $149/non-members $169

Click here to register.

For more information, please call Cortney Coxon at 202-682-4338.

Online Seminar

Ownership Transition: Options and Strategies
Paul Lurie, Schiff, Hardin & Waite and Lowell Getz, Lowell Getz Company
December 17     1:30pm to 3:00pm EST
Online

If you missed this highly popular session at ACEC's Fall Conference in Phoenix, or attended this session and want even more strategies, then don't miss Paul Lurie and Lowell Getz's dynamic seminar on ownership transition.

Learn the advantages and disadvantages of an internal ownership transition, understand the options available in transferring ownership, and explore the principles of a merger or acquisition in order to gain the most benefits at such an important time.

Members $199/non-members $249.

Click here to register.

For more information, call Cortney Coxon at 202-682-4338.

2004 Spring Online Seminar Lineup

ACEC is proud to present some of the most popular topics from our Phoenix 2003 Fall Conference. Presentations are in our convenient online seminar format. For the complete spring online line-up, visit ACEC's website at www.acec.org.

All webinars take place on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:00pm EST.
Members $199/non-members $249

Non-Technical Risks: A Root Cause of Claims and Drains,
By Guy LeVan
January 14

Engineering is risky business. Research indicates the majority of claims made against engineering firms are the result of breakdowns in project or practice management processes, not technical design. Learn how to examine the four major non-technical "risk drivers" and how tighter management of these risks can lead to fewer claims and improved profitability.

How to be Heard, Understood & Win Acceptance—Learning from the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, By Dag Knudsen
January 21

Failed "sales presentations" can have serious consequences. Using the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster as a failed communication example, you'll explore how to create an effective presentation with positive outcomes.

Building Value & Transitioning Ownership, By Colvin Matheson
February 4

Building a valuable consulting engineering firm requires astute business sense and savvy financial management. Learn specific ways to enhance the value of your firm and how to transition ownership in order to capture increased value.

Click here to register for all seminars or call Cortney Coxon at 202-682-4338 for more information.

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