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  • 1.  Can ASCE Institute Model be Improved?

    Posted 03-24-2022 10:10 AM

    Having recently become active in several ASCE committees I've been struck by the perceived autonomy of the Institutes to "run their own business" independent of the larger ASCE organization.  I don't believe there is a perfect business model – there will always be interfaces to be managed and complexities to be dealt with – but wonder if there enough being done to standardize where things can be standardized and to avoid duplication of effort where duplication can be avoided. Examples include focus on leadership development, younger members, and marketing. Content will vary but process is always ripe for standardization. Maybe I'm off base here, but it appears to me that more can be done to ensure that resources are maximized and outcomes are enhanced. I'm curious to hear from others who have more experience.



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    Mitch Winkler P.E., M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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  • 2.  RE: Can ASCE Institute Model be Improved?

    Posted 03-28-2022 03:28 PM
    Hi Mitchel!

    I think that more than focusing in avoiding effort dupplication, we shold be take in account that SINERGY is missed, that is, that separate efforts may have a greater impact and extent when working with others in the same topic or task. This should be a process that must come from the Committee members, more than a policy from the top.

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    Miguel Perez Lara Ph.D., Aff.M.ASCE
    Professor
    Universidad Autónoma De Querétaro, México
    Santiago De Queretaro
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  • 3.  RE: Can ASCE Institute Model be Improved?

    Posted 04-04-2022 09:13 AM
    I try to avoid responding to my own posts but will make an exception here. Thanks Professor Perez Lara for your response. I think you painted the opportunity with a more constructive slant than my original post. One conclusion from the dearth of responses is that members are happy with the status quo, including the possibility that there is duplication of work and that synergies are being missed. In my world, this would call for the creation of a task force or committee to investigate and to make recommendations for improvement and a sponsor(s) that had the commitment and ability to take action. It's all about good leadership in my mind and continuous improvement. 

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    Mitch Winkler P.E., M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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  • 4.  RE: Can ASCE Institute Model be Improved?

    Posted 04-13-2022 05:59 PM
    I might say I'm not expert here but to maximized resources and enhanced outcomes here below are my opinions:
    1.  Stay open to modern approaches.
    2. Open and tuned to modern problems and solutions.
    3. Keeps people involved and engaging.
    4. Motivates people by giving them task or goal a week, like how we do in ASCE Collaborate.
    5. Reach out to other social media platforms. And be the influencer of one goal.
    6. Take advantage of students / professionals activities who wants to contributes in whatever ways by being supportive committees (even it will be financially).
    7. Identify what that "more" that can be done. Make it an articles, make a listing and have a discussions and of course actions to dealt with it.
    8. Review, record in any form of media, acknowledge, make publicity of those outcomes. 
    Some who wanted to be independent from ASCE maybe they feel neglected, lack of support, or have personal financial goals. ASCE should identify their why's and how's. However, I see ASCE always engaging to engineering innovations and this is the key that we should focusing on, leaving them who doubts and continue to ASCE own standards, improvements, vision and mission since we are a growing community or an association, whether this is for leadership development, younger members, and marketing. Thank you for the discussions, hopes to read more people here.

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    Llala Chrishaye Ocampo Aff.M.ASCE
    Student
    City of General Trias Cavite
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  • 5.  RE: Can ASCE Institute Model be Improved?

    Posted 04-18-2022 03:28 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 04-18-2022 04:38 PM
    I would like ASCE maintain a neutral political tone. Too many ASCE publications present a bias to accepting the premise that climate change is real and there are real benefits to reducing the United States carbon footprint. Not all of your members believe climate change is real AND manageable. There are valid arguments supporting both sides of the climate change, however, ASCE appears deaf to the side that believes Climate Change is a political issue not based on unbiased science. The most important word in my last sentence is unbiased. It wasn't that long ago climate change replaced global warming because weather data doesn't support the catch all phrase of global warming.

    So the narrative was change to climate change. Of course the world climate is changing, it has been for centuries. My state used to be covered by 1-mile high glaciers before man. This glacier receded and melted centuries before fossil fuels were consumed. Yet this information is discounted and poo poo'd.

    I am seriously considering terminating my ASCE membership because of the lack of unbiased narrative and articles. We are all scientists, present us data and facts, ALL data and facts and let us draw our own conclusions. We want more than the current political narrative.

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    Debra Tarnow P.E., M.ASCE
    Senior Project Manager
    Dousman WI

    Original Message:
    Sent: 03-24-2022 09:44 AM
    From: Mitchell Winkler
    Subject: Can ASCE Institute Model be Improved?

    Having recently become active in several ASCE committees I've been struck by the perceived autonomy of the Institutes to "run their own business" independent of the larger ASCE organization.  I don't believe there is a perfect business model – there will always be interfaces to be managed and complexities to be dealt with – but wonder if there enough being done to standardize where things can be standardized and to avoid duplication of effort where duplication can be avoided. Examples include focus on leadership development, younger members, and marketing. Content will vary but process is always ripe for standardization. Maybe I'm off base here, but it appears to me that more can be done to ensure that resources are maximized and outcomes are enhanced. I'm curious to hear from others who have more experience.



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    Mitch Winkler P.E., M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
    ------------------------------


  • 6.  RE: Can ASCE Institute Model be Improved?

    Posted 04-19-2022 12:49 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 04-19-2022 01:24 PM
    Policy statement 360 - Climate change | ASCE

    ASCE's public policy on Climate Change can be found within the above link.  There are other related public policies listed, as well.

    Policies can be discussed openly here on Collaborate.  The policies are posted along with the committees responsible for their drafting and approval.  ASCE encourages members to get involved with committee work and provide feedback where it is warranted.

    There are several threads already started regarding Climate Change, it is suggested that they be reviewed before starting a new one.
    Topic Thread - Water Infrastructure Forum (asce.org)
    Discussion: View Thread - Environmental and Water Resources Institute (asce.org)
    Topic Thread - Water Infrastructure Forum (asce.org)

    Regarding publications, the author or editor typically provides contact information for direct feedback.  ASCE Source has a comment section below.

    I was a major contributor to the Energy chapter of the Infrastructure Report Card for RI.  It was my goal to present the issues from an objective perspective.  ASCE staff supported me in this effort and did not influence the message in one particular direction.

    I have participated once in the ASCE Legislative Fly-In and would recommend it to any member.  ASCE does issue talking points and guidance on the issues.  The meetings were ultimately between me and my representatives and I was free to speak on the issues of concern for my state.  I appreciate ASCE for setting up that opportunity!

    In regard to how this relates to the institute structure, it may have influence on one institute more than the others.  The Construction Institute might be mostly focused on green building materials.  The Coasts, Oceans, Ports & Rivers Institute may have a far greater interest in the policy and it its application.  So the bigger question might be are the institutes unified in their approach to Climate Change?  Does the Institute structure strengthen or undermined unified Climate Change Policy (whether it is in need of revision or not)?

    Overall I support the Institute structure.  I found myself surrounded by more like minded engineers within the Construction Institute rather than the Structural Engineering Institute.  As long as there are connections at the local Section level and upper administration level, there should not be too much focus on specialization.  The Institutes allow for competition for membership with discipline based organizations.

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    Chad Morrison P.E., F.ASCE
    Professional Engineer
    Greenville RI
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