In guiding lawmakers, ASME government coordinators serve public and learn legislative process

Melissa Murray
ASME Government Relations

The ASME Board on Government Relations is looking for members who are interested in state government to serve as 2002-03 state government coordinators.

The coordinator program, which began in the early 1980s, enables Society members to contribute their professional experience and expertise to the public policy process on a part-time basis.

Although you must be a current member of ASME to apply — the deadline for application is June 15 — you don't need to have experience in government relations.

Most current state government coordinators have had successful engineering careers in industry, government and academia, but no government relations training until their state coordinator orientation. Coordinators have an average ASME membership of 30 years.

Fred Hanzalek, dean of the state coordinators, who has served in his position since the program's inception, said, "The coordinator position allows me to give back to the engineering profession as well as educate members of the state legislature about mechanical engineering issues. Far too many legislators lack technical experience, yet are making technical decisions affecting engineers."

Examples of coordinator accomplishments are numerous. Lee James, for example, is the Washington state coordinator and currently serves on the Washington State Citizen's Committee for Pipeline Safety. He became a member of that committee because of his role as Washington state coordinator.

James had been a coordinator for only a few months when Bellingham, Wash., had a pipeline explosion. With a background in pipeline safety, James quickly contacted the Washington governor's office and offered his assistance. He was then appointed to the committee, and began to help formulate new pipeline safety standards for the state.

Bob Woodward, South Carolina state government coordinator, has participated in the state coordinator program since 1993. Since that time, boiler safety has been an important issue to ASME. South Carolina is the only state that has not adopted the ASME International Boiler Code Standard.

In July 2001, the South Carolina State Building Code Council, under authority of the South Carolina General Assembly, approved adoption of the new International Building Code-2000 for commercial buildings. This new code also includes the adoption, by reference, of the International Mechanical Code. This action brings South Carolina closer to being an ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code state, which has been a major goal of the legislative bills pending in the South Carolina Senate and House for several years.

Bob Bensching, Colorado state coordinator, has been a participant in the program since the early '90s. At that time, ASME was advocating a model bill on volunteer protection. Bensching met with his state representative and state senator on the issue; the bill was well received and both elected officials agreed to introduce it.

Bensching contacted other organizations on the bill, and was able to form a diverse coalition. He then tracked the bill through the House and Senate, and was present for the bill signing in the governor's office. Although Bensching is resigning from the program, he said, "I encourage all ASME members to apply for this interesting opportunity."

Coordinators use the ASME Public Policy Agenda to determine which state issues are of interest to ASME members (see the related article on public policy agenda above) and draw upon their own personal expertise as engineers.

Preston Holcomb, Texas state government coordinator, said, "State officials are always impressed by the ASME Public Policy Agenda. I personally make sure it gets into the hands of at least 30 elected officials."

Most coordinators are also active on their Regional Operating Boards, and help to facilitate state action programs in their states. Successful "Day at the Capital" events have been held in California and Pennsylvania, while successful Accessing Technology Symposiums have taken place in Maryland and Ohio. In both instances, the ASME coordinators have played integral roles in organizing the event, by securing speakers and helping to choose meeting facilities.

"Some engineers said they had lived in the Capital area for many years, yet had never met with their State Representative or Senator," Pennsylvania state government coordinator Ed Trunk said.

Apply online at http://secure.asme.org/ sgrc/signup.cfm. For more information, contact Melissa Murray, at (202) 785-3756, or e-mail murraym@asme.org.

 

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