BRANCH MEETING: JANUARY 16, 2014

"PITKIN'S CURVE" BRIDGE AND "RAIN ROCKS" ROCK SHED

The project is located on Highway 1 just south of Lucia in Big Sur. The Bridge was designed to span an active landslide with the center span being cast-in-place segmental concrete. The rock shed was designed to span an area of extensive rock fall.  Construction started in December 2009 and the project will be completed in January 2014. The Contractor for the project is Golden State Bridge and the contract bid amount was $30 million.

Charlie Hench is the Caltrans Resident Engineer for the project. Charlie has been working 34 years for Caltrans and is a graduate of Michigan State with a degree in Civil Engineering. Wayne Walker is the Caltrans Structure Representative for the project. Wayne has been working 28 years for Caltrans and is a graduate of Fresno State with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Additional links to check out for more information on the project:
CALTRANS: Why we need… a bridge at Pitkins Curve and a rock shed at Rain Rocks
MNS: Pitkins Curve: Transportation Construction Management and Project Overview and Site Photos
bigsurkate: Rain Rocks/Pitkins Curve Project

"Pitkins Curve Bridge" and "Rain Rocks" Rock Shed, Hwy 1
(Photo by Wayne Walker)

LOCATION:
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

DATE & TIME:
Thursday, January 16, 2014
12:00 p.m.

MENU:
- Roast Sirloin of Beef – Tender slices of roast beefwith a touch of au jus.
- Sundried Tomato Chicken – A marinated boneless chicken breast topped with a sun-dried tomato cream sauces.
- Vegetarian Lasagna – Chef’s vegetables layered in Marinara Sauce.

RESERVATIONS:
Please sign up by 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 10th, at the Branch web site (www.asceslo.org). Please attend the luncheon if you sign-up – some restaurants will charge the Branch for every seat we reserve, regardless of the actual attendance. If you have specific dietary restrictions or have questions, please contact Ryan Hayes, ASCE Secretary at rhayes@rickengineering.com or (805) 544-0707. The cost is $20 for members and guests and $10 for students.

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

Connecting Over the Holidays

December 2013

Happy holidays everyone!

December Meeting Dinner at Giuseppe's in SLO on 12/13/2013

LA Section, ASCE Region 9

I love the holidays for the connections and kindness they inspire. It’s a perfect time to express gratitude to our communities and support systems.

With that said, I’m very grateful for our ASCE community. We have a strong sense of unity and support among us. And believe it or not, that support system is more complex and extensive than you might imagine. Our ASCE community starts here in San Luis Obispo and includes a diverse network of engineers from all arenas: public and private, application and institution, student and professional. But it also reaches out regionally, statewide and globally.

Over the past decade or so, our Branch Board has been trying to improve connectivity with our “parent” entity, the Los Angeles ASCE Section. The Section represents seven Branches: Desert Area (Mono and Inyo), San Bernardino/ Riverside, Orange County, Metropolitan Los Angeles, Southern San Joaquin, Santa Barbara/ Ventura and SLO. It’s the second largest ASCE Section with roughly 8,000 members (for comparison, SLO has 275+ professional and 300+ student members). The Board of Directors stands at the helm of the Section. This includes the elected Section Officers as well as Directors representing each Branch (held by the Branch President) and subsidiary groups, such as YMF. Historically, Section Board meetings have taken place in Los Angeles or Orange counties. Our remote location makes it difficult for our local Branch President to attend and creates a bit of disconnect with our regional community.

Last week we broke new ground. Our Branch hosted the Los Angeles Section Board’s December meeting. Section Directors traveled as far as 300 miles to SLO to discuss current issues and operations. To celebrate this monumental step, 20+ members representing the Society Board of Direction, Region 9, LA Section, SLO Branch, YMF, and Student Chapter (and of course, supportive spouses!) enjoyed dinner in downtown SLO. Yaz Emrani, Section President, like our Board, encourages institution of new practices that develop and strengthen our connections between all levels of ASCE. I hope to see future Branch Presidents, Boards, and members fostering a sense of community with our neighbors in southern California. There’s a great ocean of potential waiting as we begin to open doors to our ASCE neighbors, both locally and regionally. I encourage you to open your door and welcome in communities and support systems around you - old and new, near and far!

A special thanks to Kyle Anderson for posing the idea of hosting the Section meeting, and to our Branch Board (especially Steve Tanaka, Anthony Severy, and Wes Thomson!) for coordinating the meeting and travel accommodations. And of course, to all of the individuals who spent their Friday evening welcoming and celebrating with our wonderful guests. This event certainly will leave a lasting impression on our partners and will foster a stronger, growing community.

Enjoy your holidays everyone! I look forward to connecting with you in the new year!

Carolyn K. Berg, P.E.

2013/14 Branch President

YMF NEWSLETTER: FALL 2013, LA SECTION

The Fall 2013 newsletter for the LA Section (of which this branch is a member) was recently published. Take a look to find out what they've been up to, including highlights from the LA Aqueduct Tour:

http://free.yudu.com/item/details/1534385/ASCE-LA-Section-YMF-Fall-2013

BRANCH MEETING: DECEMBER 2013

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS: CAL POLY INDIA TRIP

For the past 5 years, the Cal Poly Engineers Without Borders student chapter has been working hard to develop a relationship with a remote village in Northeastern India. Year after year, a group of students travel to the village with a faculty mentor and a professional mentor. The initial trips were primarily to assess the needs of the community and determine what type of project would provide the greatest benefit to the community. Based on these assessments, sanitation was determined to be severely lacking in the village, leading to health issues.

The village of Sainji is located in the Uttarakhand region of India, northeast of Delhi, and sits at the top of a bluff located at the base of the Himalayas. Approximately 250 people currently reside in the village. The nearest town is approximately 40 minutes away, with limited vehicular access. Most of the people in the village are outcasts and live in extreme poverty. They farm corn in terraced crops located on the hillside below the village. As is common in remote villages like Sainji, sanitation facilities are few and far between. Approximately half of the homes don’t have bathroom facilities of any sort. This has led to some serious health problems, primarily diarrhea and intestinal diseases.

In 2011, Brianna Daniels was asked to join the team on their annual trip to Sainji as the professional mentor. Brianna graduated from Cal Poly in 2000 and is currently a principal engineer with Penfield & Smith. Leaving behind her family to live in Sainji for a full month was difficult, but it was an opportunity that she could not pass up. She will be sharing some of her experiences and details of the project’s current status during our next meeting.

LOCATION:

Rosa’s Italian Restaurant
491 Price Street
Pismo Beach, CA 93449

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, December 19, 2013

12:00 p.m.

MENU:

Family Style meal including salad, Summer Pasta with sautéed chicken (includes fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basil) and Pasta California (Vegetarian) with artichoke hearts (includes sun dried tomatoes, shitake mushrooms, over penne pasta in a light cream sauce).

RESERVATIONS:

Please sign up by 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 13^th, at the Branch web site (www.ASCESLO.org). Please attend the luncheon if you sign-up – some restaurants will charge the Branch for every seat we reserve, regardless of the actual attendance. If you have specific dietary restrictions or have questions, please contact Ryan Hayes, ASCE Secretary at rhayes@rickengineering.com or (805) 544-0707. The cost is $20 for members and guests and $10 for students.

ASCE Region 9 Membership and Improving Student Transition by Gregg Fiegel

One of our local members, Gregg Fiegel, was recently published in the December 2013 LA Section newsletter. His article focuses on fostering student transitions to YMFs/ Professional ASCE. It is a well thought out discussion that we hope will serve to encourage our local efforts here in San Luis Obispo. His article can be found on page 8 of the PDF linked below:

http://www.ascelasection.org/images/uploads/196847-ASCE_Newsletter_(Dec).pdf

K-12 OUTREACH – CAREER DAY 1/31/14

Are you brimming with excitement over the career you chose?  Do you find yourself sharing interesting facts about Civil Engineering at each possible chance? 

SLO High School has invited ASCE to participate for another year in its Annual Career Fair—the perfect opportunity to convey your love of Civil Engineering to fresh, young minds.

What?              Career Fair Booth

When?             January 31, 2014, 8:15 to 11:00 a.m.

Where?            SLO High School

Who?               10^th – 12^th graders

Volunteers simply need to show up (either for a couple of hours or the entire session, depending on your availability) and be ready to get kids excited about exploring engineering.  The career fair is a rare opportunity for our K-12 Outreach Program to engage a very large group (500+ students) in one setting. This is an exciting time for young people as they become inspired about their possible futures.

SIGN UP TODAY!  Contact Cara Martinez at (805) 503-4526 or caram@cannoncorp.us for more information or to become one of our booth volunteers!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LOCAL YMF

San Luis Obispo Younger Member Forum Awarded for State Public Affairs Grant Proposal

A BIG congratulations to Kyle and the YMF Board who received $1000 SPAG grant to conduct a SLO Co Infrastructure Report card!  More details to follow as they move forward. For now, be sure to congratulate Kyle Anderson and our YMF leaders on this big success!

PROFILES: CITY OF SLO, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, DARYL GRIGSBY (PART 1/2)

Daryl Grigsby

Photo by: Brian Minami

Written by: Stephanie Hunting

This month’s "Meet the Member" article is taking a bit of a different turn – we’re introducing you to the City of San Luis Obispo’s newest Public Works Director, Daryl Grigsby. Daryl’s story is an illustration as to how hard work, a willingness to learn, and a passion for people can lead to a fulfilling career and life.

Daryl’s journey started in 1978 in San Diego, where he worked for a non-profit that specialized in providing jobs for developmentally disabled adults. While at the nonprofit, he worked with a man who always seemed full of life and energy. When Darryl asked his associate his secret, the response changed Daryl’s life. Darryl’s co-worker said he was a cyclist, and cycling into work each morning started his day off right. With his co-worker’s encouragement, Daryl started riding to work as well, taking it slow and building his endurance. Eventually, he began making the 17-mile trek to work on his bike every morning and catching the bus home.

Daryl’s passion for his work at the non-profit was personally satisfying, but the pay was lacking – especially because he was newly married with a little one on the way. Through a neighbor, Daryl heard about a job opening as an administrative analyst working for the City of San Diego. Out of the staggering 2,000 applicants, he was one of five selected interviewees. He ultimately gained the position through his work with the non-profit. From this role, Daryl began his upward trajectory though the City’s government. This was just the beginning of a path of civil and public works service that included stops in Seattle and Pomona before his eventual move to the Central Coast.

Daryl currently lives in Shell Beach with his wife, Leslie, who works as a hospice social worker, whom he says “provides perspective.” In regards to his new location/work environment, “I can’t complain about anything,” he says. Daryl plays drums in his neighborhood band and even has a djembe – a type of hand-played West African drum. A lover of “straight-ahead jazz” (which he is quick to define against “smooth jazz”), he is also gaining proficiency with the upright bass.

When he’s not preoccupied with public works directives, Daryl loves to read (he’s got quite the review history on goodreads.com) and has even published several of his own books. He has an M.A. in Theology and Pastoral Studies, and he continues to study theology while also reaching out to children through mentorship and tutoring programs. His focus often revolves around children who face obstacles with their education. Daryl also founded the San Diego African-American Authors and Writers Association, which meets and organizes activities such as children’s poetry contests. Established in the 1980s, this group is still active three decades later.

Daryl was recently designated as a Public Works Leadership Fellow by the American Public Works Association (APWA). As one of only 246 fellows, Daryl will mentor public works professionals enrolled in APWA’s Leadership Excellence program.

Quality of life and sustainability are fundamental contributors to peoples’ sense of fulfillment and value, Daryl says. It’s important to be a part of organizations as a means of achieving personal growth and making connections with others, or learning from peers and networking.

“The most enjoyable thing about management is dealing with people,” Daryl says. He typically finds the people with whom he works and does business more memorable than his actual projects, and he makes it a point to meet with each of his employees for at least 20 minutes to get to know them and their stories. To Daryl, people’s back stories are among their most fascinating attributes. Individuals’ personal depth and multiple layers allow them to “move beyond their names and titles,” he says. If you get a chance, take a minute to introduce yourself to Daryl and share your story (and learn more about his). You’ll be glad you did, and you might just find yourself with a new friend. 

BRANCH MEETING: NOVEMBER 2013

LOS OSOS WASTEWATER PROJECT

The Los Osos sewer project has been a local controversy since the 1970’s.  More than 30 years after the regulatory mandate to build a community sewer, the project is finally on a path to success.  Construction has been underway for more than a year and the largest portion of the $173 million project, the collection system pipelines, are nearing completion.  The completed project will convert about 5,000 homes and businesses from septic systems to a community wastewater system.  The project includes 49 miles of pipelines and 21 pump stations.  The water recycling facility will have a capacity of 1.2 million gallons per day, and all of the wastewater will be treated to Title 22 tertiary standards and reused within the community.  The project is scheduled to be ready for connections in about 2 years.

John Waddell is San Luis Obispo County's project manager for the Los Osos sewer project. He has been with County for 13 years and has been working on the Los Osos project since 2006. Prior to his involvement in the sewer project, his experience includes design and construction of various public works utility and transportation projects. John is a graduate of Cal Poly with a degree in environmental engineering. 

LOCATION:

Sea Pines Golf Resort

1945 Solano Street, Los Osos, CA 93402

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, November 21, 2013

12:00 p.m.

MENU:

Sandwich buffet with choice of turkey, ham or roast beef, and all the toppings.  Served with fresh green salad, homemade potato salad and drinks.

RESERVATIONS:

Please sign up by 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 15^th, at the Branch web site (www.ASCESLO.org). Please attend the luncheon if you sign-up – some restaurants will charge the Branch for every seat we reserve, regardless of the actual attendance. If you have specific dietary restrictions or have questions, please contact Ryan Hayes, ASCE Secretary at rhayes@rickengineering.com or (805) 544-0707. The cost is $20 for members and guests and $10 for students.

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

The year has flown past and the holidays are upon us. I don’t know about you, but my perception of how quickly time passes seems to increase each year. And so I find it increasingly important to reflect on the past year and to think about what to do moving forward.

In light of that, we recently asked our Branch Members (you!) to help by completing a membership survey. Over 50 responses came in. A few take away points:

- Branch meetings, networking, professional development and technical tours/seminars opportunities all equally motivate local engineers to be members.

- Members are primarily interested in technical site visits and professional development activities; though many are also interested in K-12 outreach, Cal Poly mentorship, YMF, etc.

- Members would like more networking opportunities (especially happy hours).

- Most members have not visited our new Branch blog yet. (Please take a moment to explore it today: http://asceslo.blogspot.com/).

- Oh, and fun fact, a majority of members identified themselves as practicing water resources and/or construction. (Way to go water!)

After seeing the results, our Branch Board considered current activities and ways to improve our Branch. We discussed increasing our networking and fostering connectivity between members. We brainstormed potential joint events that would help form relationships between Cal Poly SCE, the new Younger Member Forum and our Branch members. And we focused on the importance of providing technical opportunities – whether through tours, seminars, or other events. Of course, we also plan to continue our usual annual activities: Branch meetings, K-12 outreach, Cal Poly resume review/ mentoring opportunities, etc. We look forward to forming these ideas into actions, and hope that you will join us.

Thank you all for taking the time to provide feedback! Your thoughts and interests are always welcomed and encouraged.

Carolyn K. Berg
ASCE SLO Branch President