Chattanooga Engineers Club

www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org

 

 

NEXT MEETING____________________________

Monday, September 28 - Noon – DOUBLETREE HOTEL, Second Floor, Inspiration Room (407 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402)

“The Take Root Project and the Benefits of Urban Tree Planting” - Preston Roberts

In the fall of 2007, members of Leadership Chattanooga partnered with the city’s Urban Forester and the Chattanooga Tree Commission, looking for ways to make an impact on Chattanooga’s urban environmental health. Together, they poured over studies, consulted their neighbors and surveyed Chattanooga’s existing tree population, particularly small in the urban core.

Designated as the “Take Root Zone,” this urban core became a canvas for an ambitious project. In March 2008, Take Root launched an effort with one goal, to double the percentage of tree canopy cover in the urban core.  Take Root is growing a healthy and resilient urban forest in Chattanooga.

Preston Roberts will discuss the various environmental, economic, and social benefits of trees, and will explain how a well-maintained urban forest provides millions of dollars in benefits to our community.  He will also discuss Take Root's success in enlisting a diverse cross-section of supporters to work toward their tree-planting goals. 

 

Preston Roberts is the Project Coordinator of the Take Root Project.

 

FUTURE MEETINGS________________________

The DOUBLETREE staff has asked our Club members to arrive no earlier than 11:30 a.m.  Speakers may arrive 15 minutes before then.  Since the DOUBLETREE staff bills the Club for those who sit at designated dining tables, the Club asks that if you do not plan to purchase a lunch, please sit in a chair at the perimeter of the room.

Monday, October 5 - Noon – “Using Digital Technology to Create Global Maps That Can Fit Together”

Speaker: Alan Stevens, PhD, Scientist Emeritus, Federal Geographic Data Committee

Monday, October 12 – NO MEETING – In observance of Columbus Day

Monday, October 19 - Noon - "Micro Chemical Processing Technology for Production of Biodiesel Fuel"

Speakers:  Trip Dacus and Jennifer Lewis, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, UTC

Monday, October 26 – Noon – “World-Wide Web-Based Engineering Student Laboratories”

Speakers:  Jim Henry; Alan Voss, TVA Retiree

Monday, November 2 – Noon – “Rethinking the Nature and Fate of Our Universe”

Speaker:  Dr. Robert Marlowe, Professor of Physics at UTC

Monday, November 9 – Noon – “Air Permitting Process for the New Volkswagen Plant”

Speakers:  Bob Colby, Director of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau (CHCAPCB); Alan Frazier, Engineer at CHCAPCB; Cynthia McDaniel, EIT at the CHCAPCB

Monday, November 16 – Noon – To be determined.

Monday, November 23 – Noon – “New Events and Activities at Creative Discovery Museum

Speaker:  Henry Schulson, Director at Creative Discovery Museum

 

PREVIOUS MEETING_______________________

UTC’s Foundation Professor of Economics, Dr. John Garret, is a microeconomics expert.  He described where the United States is economically and what we are doing. 

Dr. Garrett reviewed the beginning of the mild recession in December, 2007. U.S. manufacturing capacity utilization dropped to 60-80%.  Inventories declined.  Businesses reduced their new orders for goods and services.  Then, the U.S. Government bailed out several institutions, spent $2 billion on “Cash for Clunkers”, and invested $49 billion to bail out General Motors. 

In August 2009 we experienced “recovery euphoria” with the stock market up 40% since March 2009.  The media reported that the August payroll showed job loss figures less than 250,000, instead of 600,000, reported in earlier months. The actual August job report reflected the second worst recession since the great depression.

Consumers started cutting back beginning in early 2008. The reduced spending “cutting” helped improve the economy. Why do we seem to be recovering?  The consumer is spending a little more money.  He is cautious.  He is buying consumer durables at a moderate rate.    Now businesses are ordering more goods to replenish low inventories.  The economy started improving and made a sharp recovery as businesses rebuilt inventories.  Government’s Fiscal Policy and low taxes have helped during recessions in the past. 

Where are we headed now?  The recovery is in its early stages.  Many myths and few facts are out there.  The politicians worry about the following:  1.If there is inflation, will the economy prosper?; 2. 1% of inflation affects GDP by 0.03%; 3. The 2007-2009 recession will cost us $7 trillion in lost GDP or $40,000 per working person spread over 7 years; 4. Interest rates should rise 1% for each 1% in inflation; 5. Is the U.S. Government Bankrupt? No.; 6. Since WWII we have had large deficits during the recessions; 7. We have had 12 recessions since 1947.  The debt to GDP ratio was lowered by 6 Presidents and raised by 3 Presidents.  Budget discipline requires good leadership.  

 

ITEMS OF INTEREST_______________________

The Chattanooga Engineer's Club meets at the DOUBLETREE HOTEL, CHATTANOOGA, Second Floor, Inspiration Room (407 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402).  Free parking is available in the gated parking lot on the south side of the Hotel only. The gate will be open from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Plan to arrive at about 11:30 a.m., if you intend to park in the limited space available.  No additional parking is available in the pit east of the Hotel on Chestnut Street

Looking for details on a local society meeting? Links to local engineering societies are available to you at: http://www.chattanoogaengineersclub.org/engineer

 

Chattanooga Technology Council October events:

 

Thursday, October 15 – Luncheon, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Chattanoogan Hotel

“Moving Chattanooga Companies Forward in a New Economy” - Dr. Phil Swan, IBM Chief Economist - Cost: $15 for non-tech council members

Reservation deadline is Wednesday, October 7th. To make a reservation, call (423) 209-6813 or email Kelley Evatt, kevatt@chatc.org.

 

Wednesday, October 28 - 9:30 am to 11:00 am at UTC University Center Auditorium - “Making Chattanooga a Smarter City” -Mark Cleverley, Director Global Government Solutions, for IBM presents 

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The State of Tennessee would like to invite each CEC member to be a guest for a day of networking and camaraderie at the Regional TP3 Workshop of your choice.  These workshops will offer guidance on how to advance through the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) levels, promote membership outreach and mentor in sustainable practices, and encourage networking for benchmarking and information transfer.

 Understand the criteria for advancing through the TP3 levels

 Hear innovative P2 projects and the benefits of TP3 membership

 Network with and get assistance from TP3 members in your area

 Share your ideas on what TP3 can do for you

 

There is no fee for these workshops.  All workshops are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. local time.  Please register by the deadline. Send an Email to the Regional Workshop Coordinator listed below.

 

Workshop

Location

Regional Workshop Coordinator

East TN

(Thurs) 10/8/09

8:30a-12:30p

Register by

10/1/09

B&W Y-12

New Hope Visitor Center

602 Scarboro Road

Oak Ridge, TN 37885

Mark Penland

865-594-5512

mark.penland@tn.gov

Middle TN

(Fri) 10/16/09

8:30a-12:30p

Register by

10/9/09

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations

1201 Bridgestone Parkway

LaVergne, TN 37086

Charles Jobe

615-687-7074

charles.jobe@tn.gov

West TN

(Wed) 10/21/09

8:30a-12:30p

Register by

10/14/09

Volvo Penta Marine Products

200 Robert Wallace Drive

Lexington, TN 38351

Vaughn Cassidy

731-512-1343

vaughn.cassidy@tn.gov

 

Resumes:

Captain Jon Norquist is searching for employment in East Tennessee.  He is a graduate of West Point with a degree in Civil Engineering.  He has served in Iraq.  Please contact Captain Norquist by phone at 254-493-6599 or by e-mail at jonathan.norquist@us.army.mil.

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A multi-disciplined field engineer, specializing in coal-fired boiler combustion optimization and FGD systems, is actively seeking a new professional assignment.  If you are aware of an opportunity appropriate for this individual, please contact Doug Mueller, Express Employment Professionals, at 314-968-2700 doug.mueller@expresspros.com

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A local company is seeking a structural engineer to specifically provide drawings and electrical prints for a large sign being planned along I-75 in Ooltewah.  For engineer recommendations, please contact Jerry Sterling at 423-619-9111.

 

QUESTIONS and SUGGESTIONS______________

If you have any questions, items that would be of interest to the Chattanooga Engineers Club, or suggestions for future programs, please contact Joe Robbins by e-mail at jrobbins@robbinsbohr.com or by phone at 423-756-4430. You can find membership application forms, references to future programs, historical data, and other info at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org. To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Chattanooga Technology Organization mailing list at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org/email.