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September 2002

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Terrance N. Glunt, P.E.
Broward Chapter President, 2002/2003

A few of my fellow FES members have recently asked me if it will be a big relief to “pass the baton” to Tim O’Neil this month after my year as President. The normal reply would be to respond in the affirmative with an emphatic sigh of relief. It would only be natural given the level of activity that our Chapter has initiated over the years. However, there is something about FES that makes you selfish. That’s right! Selfish for our profession, our image, our status in society and even for the future of our next generation of engineers! Even though I am somewhat tired from all of the various events that have occurred over the last year, it is our Chapter’s volunteer events with the students that always seems to revitalize me. These activities make me want to continue with all that FES does and stands for.

Last weeks “Plywood Regatta” was a blast. It was all the fun things that engineering can be rolled into one great weekend. There were 35 teams, comprised mostly of middle school and high school kids, making “water craft” out of three sheets of plywood, two 2 by 2’s, four 1 by 2’s and a case of marine caulking. Your society was sponsoring three of the teams and each was coached by members of FES. To make a long story short, the kids made us proud, we all had fun at the beach and we even got to parade the FES banner in front of our boats, as well as hundreds of cars and pedestrians, as we took them along SR A1A to the beach. Did I forget to mention that one of our teams, Stranahan High School’s Engineering Magnet School, won the award for most creative boat? We have already had requests to help additional teams next year in addition to the three we sponsored this time. What an impact FES has had in this event. And every time FES gets mentioned in public like this, we are making even more of an impression on our kids.

So do I really want to pass the baton? Yeah I guess, so that we can bring in yet another great year of fun and excitement under Tim’s leadership in the Fall. And it will start with a blast from the Annual Meeting that Broward County is sponsoring later this summer. What an opportunity to shine for our Chapter and our local engineering firms. We will be sponsoring a couple of special activities including a reception for the new State FES President, Shannon LaRocque, and a dinner for the Florida Engineering Foundation.

As I finish my year as President, I want to thank all of the committee chairs that made this past year a great success. Without them, our activities would not have become the major achievements that they were. Secondly, I want to thank all of you for attending our functions and supporting the Chapter personally and financially. And finally, I want to thank my fellow board members, Sandy, Tim, Jim, Peter and Ben for all of the ideas, support and cooperation that you provided to me during my year as President. Without you, I could not have done it..