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March 2021
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
I hope everyone
is doing well and was able to find a way to celebrate and recognize the amazing
accomplishments of our colleagues during Engineer’s Week with me! Spring is on
the horizon and brings with it hope of a return to normalcy. The days have been getting noticeably longer,
the weather seems to be improving and the Covid-19 case counts continue to
drop. I am optimistic that the worst may
be behind us, but caution against becoming complacent in our habits and planning
of events. ASCE Executive Director Tom
Smith provided an update on the Society’s commitment to working and meeting
virtually through June 30th.
The Pittsburgh Section is following the Society’s lead and will
reevaluate the ability to resume in-person events this summer. Be patient, be diligent, and be safe!
Section Awards
Typically, we
would have celebrated E-Week with our annual banquet and awards ceremony. However, like most events this past year, we
are celebrating the achievements of our honorees virtually. I ask you to join
in the unique experience and share in congratulating our 2020 award recipients. I hope that you all have been able to enjoy
the content that has been shared on our social media platforms. All of this was made possible by the hard
work and dedication of the Programs Committee and Communications
Committee. I thank them for another
outstanding job to provide a safe and accessible program!
Section
Board Nominations
Our organization
is able to provide value to its membership because of the help of our amazing
volunteers. The Pittsburgh Section is seeking nominations for the positions of
President-Elect (Vice President) and three Directors (2021-24 terms). Nominations are being received by the
Nominating Committee through March 15th. Please give serious consideration to this
opportunity to contribute to the future leadership of the Pittsburgh Section
and submit your nominations (for yourself or someone else) by March 15th
to the Nominations Committee Chair, Sam Shamsi, at sam.shamsi@gmail.com.
Infrastructure
Report Cards
I am looking forward to the release of the 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
coming next Wednesday, March 3rd in a virtual press conference that you can
attend. The overall GPA grade from among 17 categories always
attracts media notice, and this year’s release will come at an opportune time,
as the new Biden administration seeks to make infrastructure investment a key
to its economic recovery program. It is also time to begin preparing the 2022 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s
Infrastructure. The Pittsburgh Section is actively looking for
professionals and students interested in preparing the 2022 Report Card.
Volunteers will work on teams of engineers from across the state to gather
background information for each of the report’s categories from professional
societies, non-profit associations, and local, State and Federal agencies.
Anyone interested should contact the Section’s Government Relations Committee
chair, Greg Scott, at scottgf@cdmsmith.com.
Diversity
& Inclusion
I also want to
highlight the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice and Systemic Racism Speaker Series that has
been presenting research and providing educational programs that align with a
couple of the Section’s goals this year.
The Mapping Inequality Project
provides publicly accessible versions of redlining maps. On Thursday, March 4th at 12:00
EST the first part of the five-part series kicks off. These are important
issues we need to consider as civil engineers and planners. To register or
learn more, please visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mapping-inequality-project-tickets-136940963107.
If you are interested in bringing these topics to our region, I encourage you
to contact me about participation in the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
In closing, I
thank you all for supporting ASCE as an engaged member, and applaud each of the
2020 Society, Region 2, and Pittsburgh Section Award winners. Please contact me anytime at jshimko@mckimcreed.com
if you want to become more involved by participating on the board or on a
committee.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Shimko
President
ASCE –
Pittsburgh Section
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