Your Opinions on ASCE 12

[B16A2]

To the civil engineers out there, how well do you feel ASCE represents the profession? What do they do well, and what not?

What do you wish they could do better?

 

[bridgebuster]

I quit ASCE about 15 years ago. I moved and with the change of address they stopped sending my publications. They just couldn't resolve the problem. I rejoined a few years later - they sent me special offer on membership. Shortly after rejoining, I asked them not to send me any junk mail, instead, they stopped sending my journals and magazines (I guess they couldn't tell the difference) but continued with the junk mail. Again,they couldn't resolve the problem so I quit - again. BUT I still get tons of junk mail from them.

Both times when I quit, the one thing that struck me: The person on the phone couldn't care less

I got rid of their life insurance about 7 or 8 years ago; I got another policy at a much lower cost.

 

[B16A2]

Manym,
You're singing to the choir. I see a lot of engineers complaining, ranting and raving, but I never see any action to correct the problem aside from an isolated person here or there. Maybe the passive nature of the structural engineer is the root problem of why such a backwards organization has come to govern....

 

[smwpe]

Please help me here.

If ASCE is the bad guy (or gal)what organization do we recommend to our new graduates in Civil Engineering?

And we do have a responsibilty to advise the EIT.

Please tell me about one organization that has a lobby in congress to protect civil/structural engineers.

 

[FSS]

Maybe one of you smart guys can take this whole thread and forward to ASCE and ask for response?

 

[MRM]

smwpe and others,

I think you should take a look at NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers) and also each of the state chapters of NSPE. This organization has done a lot to promote the engineering profession, and more importantly, be an advocate of professional engineers (rather than the corporation who employs the engineers only).

In the last decade or so, NSPE, at the National level, as well as the state chapters, have had very good success on several issues at the legistlative level.

One example is the importance licensure and fighting all the ways that everyone is trying to call anyone and their brother an engineer. And NSPE has recently successfully defeated attempts, in certain locations, for architects to be the one and only go-to person for all projects. Do architects know which walls should be knocked out when renovating a building?

As someone mentioned before, we all have that inner "engineer" in us, but we'd like for that inner engineer to be licensed if they are going to offer services to the public. (Please don't get me started on how we require every driver on the road to be licensed, every doctor to be licensed, and every hair stylist to be licensed, but somehow it's ok for an engineer not to be licensed). Opps, I just started...

I've always had a feeling that NSPE (or any other engineering organization) would rather stay away from politics, but the reality is: you've got to promote and protect your profession at the legislative level if you want to survive. This means lobbying in Washington DC, and at the state capitol buildings. NSPE has recognized this and has been very active on this front.

 

[smwpe]

MRM...YES.

This is what I wanted to hear.

Thank you for this insight into our profession.

Sam