[President Perspective] [Meet The Member] [Monthly Meeting]
I am sure I am not the only engineer in our branch who both looks forward to and dreads the first significant rain event of the year. On the one hand, you can't wait to visit those challenging sites you've designed that were constructed over the past year or two to see the results of what civil engineers do. On the other hand, you worry about projects that are under construction and how your erosion control plan and SWPPP will hold up.
For me engineering has always been about seeing projects constructed. It's one thing to plan and design a storm drain, it's another to see 10 or 20 cfs running down a stretch of curb and gutter, or a drainage channel, and seeing it disappear into a debris clogged inlet.
Living in San Luis Obispo and commuting to my office in Atascadero, I've looked forward to driving the Grade these past few days to see how 40 acres of erosion control fabric and 2 miles of straw waddles survive the first three inches of rain of the year. With the exception of a few waddles breaking away, things look pretty good……
Now a brief update on some ASCE Section issues:
The ASCE Los Angeles Section Strategic Plan Workshop was recently held in Los Angeles. The workshop focused on planning for ASCE programs and building consensus on specific Key Program Objectives. One of the more interesting ASCE goals is "Policy 465" as adopted by the Board of Directors. It is stated as: "The American Society of Civil Engineers supports the concept of the Master's degree or Equivalent as a prerequisite for licensure and the practice of civil engineering at a professional level."
The concern stems from a growing trend in other professions to require more education prior to licensure. The higher requirements would counter shrinking core curriculum content in undergraduate degree programs, and better prepare engineers who wish to eventually become licensed. ASCE has established a committee charged with developing, organizing and executing a plan for the full realization of Policy 465. It is anticipated that the process of developing and implementing the program may take ten years or more.
There is no question we need to maintain high standards to ensure our profession remains a respected part of the professional community. I guess I'm just not convinced requiring a master's degree is the answer. There is no substitute for solid field and office experience.
So the next time we get a good storm blowing through, take an hour or two and visit a few project sites with the young engineers in your office. Let them see what 10 or 20 cfs really looks like, and show them why we assume inlets are 50% clogged.
by Russ Thompson
This month's meet the member column spotlights Jeff Werst, P.E.
Jeff Werst is one of the newest members of the San Luis Obispo Branch of the ASCE. Just last month, he was elected as this year's branch treasurer. Congratulations to Jeff on a great start.
Jeff got his real start right here in San Luis Obispo. He was born at the old French Hospital located on Marsh Street. He grew up in Arroyo Grande and attended high school in Santa Maria where he developed his love for science and mathematics. Although high school counselors tried to steer him toward real estate or air traffic control, Jeff chose engineering. He attended one year at Allen Hancock Community College before enrolling in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1982.
Jeff began his career at Diablo Canyon, where he worked as a construction engineer from 1982 to 1984. Having saved up bit of money from his work at Diablo, Jeff decided to take a year off for missionary work. Through his church, and an organization called Youth With A Mission, Jeff spent four months in training in Lancaster, California, then spent the summer of 1985 in Western Europe before traveling to Hong Kong, China, and the Philippines later that fall. Upon his return to the states, he took a job with a plastering contractor in Los Osos. Jeff soon realized that he would rather put his engineering skills to work.
In 1986, Jeff took a job with Russ Thompson at Twin Cities Engineering in Templeton. He started out as a technician doing soils work and gradually worked his way into preparing grading plans, subdivision design and office support for survey crews. In 1991, Jeff took and passed the P.E. exam. That same year, he began working for John L. Wallace and Associates, where he worked mostly on municipal water and wastewater projects. In 1999, Jeff moved to the project development department at Caltrans, working as an engineer on "Minor A" projects. Some recent projects include the new auxiliary lane on southbound Highway 101 between Marsh and Madonna Streets in San Luis Obispo, and an acceleration lane on southbound Highway 101 at the Spring Street onramp in Paso Robles. Jeff is currently working on a left turn channelization and streetscape project on Highway 9 in Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County.
Jeff is married and is blessed with an eight-year-old son Brian. His wife Catherine is the webmaster and a computer instructor at Cuesta College. Jeff and his family live in Atascadero. His hobbies include playing guitar, fishing, and camping. He has been playing the guitar for twenty-six years and currently plays lead electric guitar for his church worship band in Templeton.
by Greg Ray
During the past year we have recognized in many ways the fact that ASCE was founded 150 years ago. This month's meeting will officially mark the anniversary of the founding of our Society. We will admiringly look back at the legacy and great works of the civil engineers who preceded us.
Back in ASCE's earliest days, a major project was in the making. Under the Lincoln administration, and in the midst of the Civil War, Congress authorized the construction of the transcontinental railroad to connect California with the rest of the United States. The construction took place from 1863 to 1869, with the Union Pacific Railroad working towards the west, and the Central Pacific Railroad working towards the east. Eventually these two lines met to form the first transcontinental railroad. This begs the question, "How'd they do that way back then?"
Ed Strobridge will attempt to answer that question for us at our November meeting. Ed is the retired District Operations Manager for Southern California Gas in San Luis Obispo. Ed worked for 45 years in the construction, maintenance and operation of SoCal's pipelines. Through his hobby in genealogical research, Ed connected with J. Strobridge, who was the superintendent for the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad from Sacramento, over the Sierra Nevada, and eventually to Promontory Point in Utah. A key reference of Ed's research is an 1870 paper about the railroad construction that was prepared for and presented to ASCE.
This meeting will also include a brief history of ASCE prepared by our 150th committee chair, David Beard; an overview of our local 150th anniversary activities; and special recognition for the volunteers and sponsors who made it all happen.
by David Beard & Jon Blanchard