Richard B. Cassin, P.E.

Special thanks goes out to all the spouses and loved ones who have been patient and generous with giving up some of the time away it takes to keep ASCE going strong. The Awards Committee needs to figure out a way to recognize these critical players on the team. I won’t be bashful in nominating my wife (and ASCE member) Stefanie and our newborn daughter, Maia Helen.

An impressive and growing list of employers have done the Society a great service by supporting ASCE both financially and by allowing time to these members to be active in ASCE. Please look through this newsletter and the website to see all the government organizations and private firms that make the Metropolitan Section happen in New York. Please join me in congratulating all these individuals and organizations in keeping the Society strong in New York.

We are not done yet, however. It has been a fun and rewarding year and I expect it to continue, culminating in the Annual Awards Dinner on June 13, 2008 at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. I encourage you to do whatever you can to attend, since we hear, with new ownership coming soon, we may be making our last appearance there for a while.

On March 21, 2008, I sent a letter to Mayor Bloomberg's office to request a conservation conclave (or private meeting) with other technical societies and stakeholders to raise public awareness of the condition of our natural and man-made environment. I have received a response from the Mayor's office and will let you know if and when this meeting will take place. The request has been referred to the Mayor's Operations Department and others.

Good government relations start at the “grass roots”. You can do your part in reaching out to each and every representative from your community to make them aware of the critical state of our infrastructure and the role that engineers can take to educate the public. Let me know if you need help getting started.

In closing, our membership continues to grow, the slate of candidates for Section leadership is impressive, and the Section has achieved its long standing goal (set by Past President Neal Forshner and accomplished by your next President Mike Lorczak) of awarding $25,000 in scholarships to students pursuing civil engineering careers. I sense that the Metropolitan Section of the Society has a bright future for accomplishing the leadership and communication that our profession vitally needs to serve the membership and the public.

Richard B. Cassin, P.E., M.ASCE
President, ASCE Metropolitan Section