East Central Branch of the ASCE Florida Section Water Resources Technical Committee: Winner of the 2005 EWRI Outstanding Technical Group Award

The East Central Branch of the ASCE Florida Section was the recipient of the 2005 EWRI Section & Branch Council Outstanding Technical Group Award presented at the 2005 World Water & Environmental Resources Congress in Anchorage, Alaska on May 18, 2005. Ms. Tatiana Hernandez, a member of the ASCE Water Resources Technical Committee, accepted the award on behalf of the East Central Branch. The award was presented during a social event at the Alaska Native Heritage Center with a Salmon Bake cookout and Native Alaskan entertainment from five indigenous village sites surrounding a two-acre lake.

The East Central Branch of the ASCE Florida Section Water Resources Technical Committee

The EWRI Outstanding Technical Group Award annually recognizes an ASCE Section or Branch environmental and/or water resources technical group for its outstanding contributions both to the ASCE and the local community.  The award selection is based on active participation in their programs, community service, philanthropic activities, career guidance, involvement in non-practice activities, and membership in EWRI.

The ASCE Water Resources Technical Committee is one of several technical committees in the East Central Branch.  The Branch has approximately 1,254 members, from which 245 are EWRI participants.  The Branch covers Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties.

The ASCE Water Resources Technical Committee consists of over 20 local engineers from government agencies and consulting engineering firms working together to promote, sponsor, or co-sponsor the following activities:

• Monthly professional development and networking luncheons including a 30-minute presentation by a guest speaker. Professional Engineer (PE) attendees can earn continuing education credits.
• Annual Water Resources Seminar which consistently draws attendees from across the state.  Continuing education credits are provided for this event.
• Annual charity golf tournament
• Fall Networking/Career Fair at the University of Central Florida
• Order of the Engineer Ceremony
• Adopt-A-Road Clean up.  This event consist of cleaning up approximately ¼ mile of highly traveled urban roadside in Orlando
• Monetary donations to charities and college students.  Donations in 2004 included a yearly contribution to the University of Central Florida Annual Teach of the Year Award ($1,000; the committee was instrumental in establishing the award); and a donation to the American Red Cross to help victims of the four major hurricanes that devastated Florida in 2004 ($1,000).

Only ASCE Section or Branch Technical Groups or EWRI Chapters are eligible to receive this award. If your Section or Branch has an active environmental/water resource group, and want to apply for next year’s award, contact Dennis Richards at drichards@westconsultants.com or Karen Kabbes at KCKabbes@kabbesengineering.com .