news from the Congress 11/17/03

Congress Keynote Session Focuses on the Challenges of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON — Americans did not become more vulnerable after September 11, “we became more aware of our vulnerabilities,” said Charles E. McQueary, under secretary for science and technology in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who was one of three speakers at the 2003 Congress keynote session here tonight.

Because “we can’t go back to the days before September 11” McQueary told the audience of more than 500 people attending the session, engineers have an important role in advancing homeland security and antiterrorism efforts.

At the keynote session: (from left) Reginald Vachon, ASME president; speakers Charles E. McQueary, Hugo Poza and Regis A. Matzie; and Virgil Carter, ASME's executive director.

The other speakers, Hugo Poza, vice president of Homeland Security at Raytheon Co., and Regis A. Matzie, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Westinghouse Electric Co., spoke of their companies’ efforts in the fight against terrorism.

Poza spoke of Raytheon’s efforts to become a solutions provider rather than a developer of products for customers such as airports and others in need of anti-terrorism devices.

Matzie assured the audience that nuclear plants, which are Westinghouse’s domain, are among the most secure assets of the United States.

Further, Matzie described the efforts of ASME’s Critical Assets Protection Initiative (CAPI), which was formed to support the government’s homeland security programs. Matzie, a member of ASME’s Industry Advisory Board, said ASME and other societies are critical in the government’s efforts to battle terrorism.

A New Beginning, and a New Logo, for ASME International

Benedict Bahner
ASME NEWS

WASHINGTON — ASME paid tribute to its history tonight — and took a step toward the future — during a festive ceremony that launched the Society’s two-year celebration of its 125th anniversary.

The anniversary kick-off, which took place just after the keynote address at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, was hosted by ASME President Reginald Vachon, executive director Virgil Carter, and Don Zweip, chair of the Society’s anniversary steering committee and an ASME past president.

ASME President Reginald Vachon was the star of a skit that introduced the new ASME logo to the public.

Following an overview of the people and events that helped shape ASME since its inception in 1880, the three used the ceremony as an opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the Society’s next 125 years — by unveiling a brand new ASME logo at the gathering.

ASME’s future will be one of growth and change. An example of that transformation is the Society’s new Continuity and Change initiative, which was discussed at the General Assembly session earlier today. The new plan aims to make ASME as successful in the future as it has been its first 125 years. And that desire is reflected in the new 125th Anniversary Logo.

Reginald Vachon kicks off the unveiling of the new logo with a bang.

“What I know about history is that change is what history does best,” Vachon said before unveiling the dynamic new Society logo. “The new logo celebrates our history and looks toward the future.”

With great fanfare, Vachon then detonated a large wooden box that he had earlier helped transport into the hall. The sides of the box fell open, revealing searchlights that illuminated the front of the room. Colored lights swirled around the room as balloons embossed with the 125th Anniversary Logo were dropped from the ceiling. The logo then appeared on video screens on and beside the stage.

And here it is: the new ASME International logo!

Following the ceremony, attendees filed out to see Vachon officially open the meetings exhibits, the RD&D and DREX expos, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The expositions, which fill two huge halls at the hotel, feature dozens of companies representing areas including design tools, engineered materials, OEM components, control systems, defense contractors, and technical publishers.

 

BOG Accepts Preliminary Plan for “Looking and Moving Forward” at 2003 Congress

Emily M. Smith
ASME NEWS

WASHINGTON — ASME will better serve members, the engineering profession and industry under a proposed plan to reshape the Society that the Board of Governors approved here yesterday during their meeting at the Society’s 2003 International Congress.

The preliminary plan outlines concepts for a new organizational structure that will enable ASME to expand its legacy of service to the profession by being more agile to emerging opportunities.

“At this juncture, ASME is not announcing specific new programs,” ASME President Reggie Vachon explained to the BOG when introducing the plan yesterday. “What you will see here is an organizational structure serving as a roadmap.” The organizational structure, he added, will allow “ASME’s valued members to help direct our course and to have input into what you think should be the Society’s new directions and programs. Our objective today is not so much to determine specific needs, but rather to create a methodology for anticipating those needs in the future.”

The plan identified six tasks that ASME needs to implement: create a new vision; establish ASME knowledge and technology enterprises; link strategy with execution; create an organizational model that enables better market focus; improve ASME policies, processes and practices; and implement changes incrementally in a staged migration process.

The complete report that was presented yesterday to the BOG is available at www.asme.org and at www.asme.org/change.

The preliminary plan will be presented today to those attending the Congress during the General Assembly meeting. Four more presentations on “Continuity and Change: Looking and Moving Forward” will be made throughout the country in January and February. For information on locations, see the “From the President” column in the October issue of ASME NEWS at www.asmenews.org or check www.asme.org.




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