December 2018

Volume 34, Issue 3
Akron-Canton Section Newsletter
  
  
I do it every year. The same thing, every December. I don't mean ice skating at Lock 3, attending our ASCE December lunch meeting, putting up decorations, or eating too many Christmas cookies. I do all those things, but that's not what I mean.

I forget about my 5 free PDHs from ASCE until the month of December. Then I try to cram them all in the remaining available lunch times I have in the year. You too?

I generally pick courses in areas of expertise that I don't have so that I can better understand project team members who do have that expertise. Myriad webinars are offered in eight categories, both technical and managerial. Ready to get yours? Start here: https://www.asce.org/continuing-education/free-pdh/

New Year's Resolutions are right around the corner. NewEngineer.com published 10 New Year's Resolution Ideas Perfect for Engineers , summarized below. If you decide to adopt any of them, we can help! I've put my suggestions in italics.

1. Evaluate Your Career Trajectory - Our local section members have a wealth of engineering experiences! Strike up a conversation at a meeting or on our facebook page for some insight and advice.  
2. Focus On Your Health - We're no help here. Unless you're not drinking enough water. ASCE engineers help keep your drinking water safe!
3. Grow Your Engineering Network - A professional meeting each month: good food and conversation paired with an interesting topic.
4. Research an Interesting Topic - See above for starters.
5. Mentor a Young Engineer - You want 'em, we got 'em! The Younger Member Group has a social event planned January 24 open to everyone, regardless of age. See you there?
6. Volunteer - We have opportunities aplenty! Judging local science fairs, helping students spruce up their resumes, and participating in the 2019 Ohio Valley Student Conference hosted at the University of Akron this year. We also have positions open on many committees.
7. Banish the Clutter - Boy, am I the wrong person to preach about this...
8. Create More - The Cleveland Section is looking for miniature golf hole submissions for their Mini Golf Fundraiser . Grab some coworkers and make a challenging competition.
9. Learn a New Software - Ted Howard, our FY19 Treasurer just learned Quicken financial software. And Judy Bennett, our FY19 Secretary, just learned ConstantContact publishing software. Just sayin'...
10. Automate Admin - If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

I hope to see you at our meeting on December 13 - one big project, two ODOT district updates, and seven speakers!
    
December Section Meeting
 
Thursday, December 13
at Firestone Country Club
11:30 a.m. Social with ODOT Officials - 12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. Program - 1:15 p.m. Conclusion
$32 Members and Guests -  $15 Students


University of Akron
Student Chapter News
 
The University of Akron Student Chapter of ASCE recently participated in Make a Difference Day with 5 members volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They helped ease the burden on staff by loading materials for customers and moving materials within the facility.

The student chapter was also active at ZipFest on October 27, with 13 members helping set up inflatables before the football game, supervising assigned stations, and cleaning up after the event. Their efforts raised $200 for the Student Chapter, which will be put to good use.
ASCE Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Goodyear Airdock
Don Gallimore, M. ASCE
After numerous unsuccessful attempts over the years to determine if the ASCE plaque for this Landmark was on display and where it might be located, an inquiry to the webmaster and Board Member of the Lighter-Than-Air Society (LAS), Alvaro Bellon struck pay dirt. In a response to an inquiry, we were informed that one of the members of our Board of Trustees of the Lighter-Than-Air Society , located the plaque by one of the Airdock clamshell doors on the south side of the building, near the small building that houses the motors that open and close the doors. 

We will be working with the Lighter-Than-Air Society and Lockheed Martin on better access to the plaque including the possibility of a relocation to the Fulton Airport Terminal (an architectonic jewel in its own right) where other historical plaques have been placed and can be viewed.

The Goodyear Airdock was designed as the construction site for the huge U.S. Navy airships, the USS Akron and USS Macon. Each airship was 785 feet long. However, the building was designed to house an airship considerably larger than the two contracted for by the Navy. The company designed the airdock to accommodate an airship of 10,000,000 cubic feet capacity. The building was completed in less than a year for a cost of $2.25 million. The Goodyear Airdock remains among the largest buildings ever designed, covering an area larger than eight football fields set side-by-side and is roughly as tall as a 22-story building.

Fun Facts:
  • The building is 1,175' long, 325' wide and 211' high.
  • The obstruction-free floor space is over 364,000 square feet.
  • The last airship constructed at the airdock was the U.S. Navy's ZPG-3W, completed in 1960.
  • The building is semi-parabolic in shape. The sections across it form parabolas and its longitudinal section also forms two half parabolas, connected by a straight line. The shape has been likened to a half of an egg or a silkworm's cocoon, cut in half lengthwise.
  • The shell of the building is supported by 11 structural steel arches.
If you are interested in helping organize information on local civil engineering landmarks, please contact Bill Rudlosky ( wrudlosky@neo.rr.com). He is looking for technical help to develop a gallery of photos and information to promote and preserve our local civil engineering history.
City of Akron Job Opportunity                                     
The City of Akron has issued a job bulletin for the position of Transportation Engineer.  This bulletin may be viewed on the City's website at http://agency.governmentjobs.com/akron/default.cfm .
 
You can apply online through our website or through www.governmentjobs.com.
Job Postings!
 

Employers: Post your job openings for free!

The ASCE Akron-Canton Section website posts career opportunities in our area which may interest you. We provide this page free of charge to local employers. No postings will be accepted by recruiting or headhunter services. Check back regularly for updates. 

PDH Documentation
 
Did you attend a recent section meeting and need documentation for proof of attendance for tracking PDH's? Visit the  Resources  page on our Section's website  to find meeting attendance records.

Current Contact Information for our

Board of Direction, Committee Chairs, and University of Akron Student Chapter Officers

 

Click the link below to view the current Section officers contact information. 

 

Board of Direction Contact Information

 

In This Issue
December Section Meeting
Younger Member Events
Student Chapter News
Job Postings
Newsletter Sponsors


 
   

 
















 




Thank you for your support!


Akron-Canton Section
Board of Direction
2018-2019

President
ReneĆ© Whittenberger
Vice President
Ruth Klee
Secretary
Judy Bennett
Treasurer
Ted Howard

Gregg Loesch
Ken Kostura


Upcoming
Section Meeting

December 13 , 2018


Upcoming Board of Direction Meeting

December 17, 2018
5:00pm

Environmental Design Group Office
450 Grant St., Akron


Links to
ASCE Websites
 

Judy Bennett, Secretary and Newsletter Editor
ASCE Akron-Canton Section