CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB

www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org

 

NEXT WEEK (The Read House)_____________________________________________

 

Monday, May 10, noon, The Read House, Continental Room

 

Topic:   “Knowledge Preservation” - Tom Carson, P.E. ACE and Dr. Greg Sedrick, P.E., PhD

 

Mr. Carson and Dr. Sedrick will present and demonstrate a knowledge preservation system being implemented by Chattanooga State’s New Economy Institute for NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy.

 

Invocation/Pledge Chair for May:  John Thornburgh

 

OUR PREVIOUS MEETING________________________________________________

 

Topic:  “Engineering Technology is Alive and Well at Chattanooga State - Dr. Jim Catanzaro, President, Chattanooga State Technical Community College

 

Dr. Catanzaro assured the CEC members that Engineering Technology (ET) programs are alive and well at Chattanooga State.  The ET programs are more important to the economic and community development of Chattanooga than any other programs at the College.  He suggested that we all need to work together to maintain the vitality of the ET programs.  “Imagineering” is the term Disney uses for the work its engineers perform.  Maybe Chattanooga State should use that word in describing its ET programs.  A comparison between Nursing and ET applicants was described.  Those interested in nursing choose that area because the majority of applicants believe they can make a difference in the lives of those they serve.  He pointed out that generally speaking, people don’t make a connection between engineering and having impact on people when in reality it is just the opposite because everything humans use has to be engineered and produced.  He asked the question, “How can we guarantee the long term vitality of Engineering Technology at Chattanooga State?” and then answered it with four suggestions.  (1) Provide an endowment for the ET programs as endowments outlive the tenure of presidents.  (2) Describe ET programs differently, similar to the approach Disney takes.  (3) Help ET faculty understand their role as recruiters.  (4) Raise the bar for ET applicants.  Everyone working together can continue to make the Chattanooga State ET programs viable.

 

Thanks to Jim Barrott for the meeting summary.

 

FUTURE MONDAY MEETINGS_____________________________________________

 

May 17:  “The Chattanooga Chestnut Tree Project” - Dr. J. Hill Craddock, Robert M. Davenport Assistant Professor of Biology, UTC

 

May 24:  “Adobe Acrobat to Set Up Knowledge Base Networks for Manufacturing Environments” - Chris Carson, Environmental and Safety Engineer, Mueller Co.

 

May 31:  No Meeting - Memorial Day Holiday

 

June 7:  “The Tennessee Lottery and Educational Funding” - Jonathon Looney, Financial Aid, UTC

 

WHERE WE MEET _______________________________________________________

 

We meet at The Read House, and lunch is be $11.  Parking is free at the Days Inn across MLK Blvd. but you’ll need a note in your windshield that you’re with the Engineers’ Club.  Valet parking (by AAA, the manager of the Read House Hotel parking garage) is $3 for lunch events.  The Read House Hotel garage entrance is now on Broad Street

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? ______________________________________________

 

If you have any questions or suggestions about program items please call Tiffany Gibby at 423-751-3168 or email her at tjgibby@tva.gov. You can find references to other Chattanooga Engineers Club members at our web site: www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org.