As my year as COPRI President draws to a close, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to work with committees, meet members, and further the work of the Institute. In my first column as President in Winter 2008, you might recall my emphasis on the need to keep younger members involved rather than seeing their membership activity ebb and flow, as individuals join as students and then proceed to rejoin later in their careers as they have more time for volunteer activities and to give back to the profession.
I am proud to report that this year we’ve laid the groundwork for a variety of younger member focused initiatives in 2010. Led by Education Committee chair Martin Eskijian, a Ports 2010 conference task committee has organized a terrific program of student and younger member activities to accompany the conference including an undergraduate student paper competition, a student poster contest, and reception and job fair for students and younger members. These programs will not only make the Ports 2010 more successful, but they will serve as important case studies for enriching younger member activities at other COPRI events. To ensure the sustainability of COPRI’s youngest member activities, we are launching the COPRI Student Participation Fund (SPF) to provide a dedicated source of funding for these efforts. Stay tuned for more details on how you can contribute to the SPF
In 2009, COPRI has seen several members step up to lead committees and take leadership roles that will enhance and grow our activities for all members. Bil Stewart has agreed to lead the new Marine Renewable Energy Committee with much support coming from the committee’s secretary Javier Moncada, a 2008 New Face in Engineering, and one of COPRI’s outstanding younger members. Scott Hagen, a seasoned COPRI member and professor at the University of Central Florida, has taken an active leadership role as both the chair of the new Coastal and Estuarine Hydroscience Committee (formerly the Tidal Hydraulics Committee), and as the treasurer of the Institute’s Governing Board. Discussions are also underway with other members about starting new efforts related to sustainability and mentoring. There are so many projects to be proud of including the Dry Dock Asset Management Manual which is about to be printed and the Engineer Diver Standard which has been released for public comment.
Thanks to the dedicated work of COPRI members, led first by Lesley Ewing and then Billy Edge, you will have an opportunity to take your career to a new level in 2010 as a Diplomate of the new Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port, and Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE). Supported by Civil Engineering Certification, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASCE, the Academy will strive to improve the practice within and elevate the standards of our profession, while also recognizing our colleagues whose professional development goes above and beyond current licensure requirements.
I am especially excited this month to offer you a glimpse of three great projects recognized by COPRI in this year’s Project Excellence Award Competition. Make sure to learn more about the Dames Point Container Terminal construction, the rebuild of a Quay Pier on the Delaware River, and the construction of the Wheeler North Reef off the coast of San Clemente, CA. We’ve always known our COPRI members do great work. But the second round of competition was extremely impressive this year. I hope that you will keep the entries coming. Get them ready now for 2010.
2010 is certain to be benchmark year for the Institute. Membership renewals will be in your hands shortly. I hope that you will join us as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, and I ask you to consider making a voluntary contribution to COPRI to support our important student activities. Organizational membership renewals will also be out shortly. With several special opportunities to get involved in 2010, it will be a great year for our organizational members.
As I’ve discussed above and throughout my columns this year, COPRI is successful because of the creativity, energy and commitment of our members. There will be many opportunities in 2010 for you to get involved by participating on a committee, attending Ports 2010 in Jacksonville, FL, celebrating with us at the fifth annual ASCE OTC Hall of Fame Gala in Houston, TX, or journeying to the International Conference on Coastal Engineering in Shanghai, China. We hope you will plan to join us for the inaugural COPRI Congress next fall to launch the Institute into its second decade of serving coasts, oceans, ports and rivers professionals.
I hope to meet many of you at these upcoming events. Please feel free to contact me as I begin my year as Past President. I am happy to entrust you to the care of my colleague Ron Noble. I have worked with him for a number of years in various capacities, and I know he has great things in store for COPRI.
