News from the ACEC Oregon Website http://www.acecoregon.org 2010 Get involved & develop your leadership skills—volunteer for an ACEC Oregon committee today! The work carried out by committees is the backbone of ACEC Oregon. Participation in committees directly affects the organization and helps to advance the mission of the council. Committee service provides an opportunity to interact with other members which can lead to improved business practices in their firms. Participation on an ACEC Oregon committee is also a great way to gain leadership skills and give back to the profession.   If you are already on a committee and would like to continue, no action is required.  Click here for list of committees and their objectives. If you would like to serve on a committee, please reply to echurchill2@acecOregon.org and indicate on which committee(s) you’d like to serve, or fax the committee sign-up form to (503) 292-2410.   Deadline for committee sign-ups is Monday, August 3rd.   Get involved today! http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#40 06/15/2009 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#40 BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! If you missed Mandeville Techniques training in December, or know a colleague who would benefit from Mandeville training, we're offering it again on Tuesday, February 2. Winning projects and building client relationships depends on information. What do clients really want? How do the decisions really get made? How do the decision-makers really feel about you/your firm? In this one day session, Mandeville guru Stu Rose will present techniques that your staff will immediately put to use. If you or a colleague attended the training in December, you know how valuable the Mandeville training is for client development. Here are some comments from the December sessions: "Absolutely INCREDIBLE! I usually have the attention span of a gold fish, but Stu's presenting skills were the best I've ever attended. Not once did I reach for my phone to check e-mails. The information and techniques presented were exactly what we were looking for when we signed up. It was worth every dollar." "I have actually had training similar to this before, and Stu ranks up in the 'cream of the crop' in delivery and content." "Stu does a good job of presenting his material with illustrative examples of how to apply it. He covered material that I'd not seen before, so for me it was worthwhile, despite its duration." SOLD OUT! Click here for more information and registration form. CLASS IS FULL! Registration for this session is closed. Let us know if you'd like to be on a wait list. http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#59 10/01/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#59 with ACEC's Matt Reiffer, Director of Transportation Programs David Evans and Associates, Inc., Portland, 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. The presentation will feature an update on federal transportation policy issues and legislation of interest to the engineering industry. Click here for more information and registration form. Registration deadline is February 25.    http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#66 09/29/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#66 A.M. session - "How to Protect Project Profits During Lean Times" P.M. sesion - "Electronic Discovery: What to Save & What to Delete" David Evans and Associates, Inc., Portland A.M. session runs 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon P.M. session runs 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Click on each workshop above for more information and registration form. Registration deadline is March 11. http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#67 09/29/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#67 with Tom Puttman, P.E., AICP, LEED AP, David Evans and Associates, Inc. Come learn why "Ecodistricts could be the neighborhoods of the future." Join others from the A/E/C community for a panel discussion regarding the future of sustainability in the built environment—and how ACEC Oregon engineering firms will be central to it’s success. David Evans and Associates, Inc., Portland 7:30 a.m. - Check-in and breakfast 8:00 a.m. - Progam begins, includes Q&A session 10:00 a.m. - Conclusion Good for two CPD credits! Click here for more information and registration form. Registration deadline is March 26. http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#68 09/29/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#68 AASHTO is releasing a new Uniform Audit and Accounting Guide--which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) plans to incorporate into future regulations--that dramatically changes how engineering firms are compensated and audited. The new Audit Guide affects every A/E firm with DOT clients and will change how you do business. After extensive collaboration with ACEC and FHWA, AASHTO has updated their Audit Guide to ensure compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), improve audit consistency and quality, promote the recognition of a single cognizant audit and improve government oversight and overall guidance. Click here for a Fact Sheet, “AASHTO Uniform Audit and Accounting Guide” with background and key points. http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#54 09/28/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#54 Governor Ted Kulongoski signed the Jobs and Transportation Act on July 29 at Portland's Union Station. The bill calls for more than $1 billion in infrastructure funding and raises Oregon's gas tax for the first time since 1993. Oregon's gas tax will increase from 24 cents to 30 cents after two consecutive quarters of statewide job growth or in January 2011. Click here for a one-page press release from the state of Oregon and ODOT: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/pdf/JTAhandout_final.pdf. Pictured from left: ACEC Oregon Executive Director Alison Davis; ACEC Oregon President Gayle Harley, OBEC Consulting Engineers; Governor Ted Kulongoski; ACEC Oregon Secretary/Treasurer Kay Van Sickel, Otak, Inc.; ACEC Oregon Past President Mel Sears, Parametrix, Inc.; and ACEC Oregon lobbyist Marshall Coba. (photo courtesy of ODOT) http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#43 09/20/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#43 In May (2008), the board of directors launched a comprehensive membership survey designed to help ensure that the association is heading in the right direction and meeting the needs of its members. In addition to the electronic survey, several board members conducted interviews with a number of member firms to further access the needs of members. Prior to launching the survey, staff, board members and the consulting team also reviewed innovative programs developed by other ACEC member organizations and similar associations. Survey response was tremendous. For the full, 4 page report, click here. http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#46 09/01/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#46 Often times the terms electronic signature and digital signature are misconstrued as the same terms. However, registrants are cautioned that the electronic signature and digital signature are distinctly different with respect to the information security world. In October 2007, the Professional Practices Committee (PPC) met with the Rules & Regulations (R&R) Committee to continue the discussion of digital signatures. With the assistance of Ron Singh, PLS, the R&R Committee drafted language for Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) 820-010-0010, 820-010-0620, and 820-015-0010 to incorporate the use of digital signatures. During the July 8, 2008 Board meeting, the amendments to the aforementioned rules were finalized. Click here for a PDF document summarizing the details, or visit OSBEELS website at www.osbeels.org and click on the "proposed rulemaking" link. http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#32 08/30/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#32 On January 1, 2008 Senate Bill 10 relating to the limitation of gifts to public officials became law. Employees at all levels of state and local government have received training on the new law and its impact on historical business practices with, among others, private sector consultants. The law includes significant limits on gift giving, meals, and travel between persons who have a "legislative or administrative interest" before a public body. Since ACEC members are seeking work or are currently working with state or local governments it is important that you understand these rules and comply with them. Click here for full text of alert and links to more information. http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#12 01/01/2008 http://www.acecoregon.org/index.php#12