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August Message
It has been an honor and
privilege to serve District 6 as your President. I would like
to express my gratitude to all of our Board members for their
fantastic help and support, especially our Past President
Randy McCourt. I would also like to extend my personal support
and best wishes to our new President, Ken Ackeret. If you
were not at our Annual Meeting this year, you missed out on
one of the best ever. There were more than 360 delegates representing
all 12 states that make up District 6. Michael Sanderson and
his "A Team" showed us great Montana hospitality
along with wonderful mountain scenery. I wish to especially
thank the Local Arrangement Committee members for the exceptional
work that made our annual meeting the success that is was:
- Danielle Reagor for all her
assistance with publicity.
- Terry Smith
for work on the budget and finance.
- D. J. Clark
for the social programs.
- Bob Marvin
for the great technical program.
- Laura Stanley
for the Traffic Bowl.
- John Pavsek
for the technical tours.
- Matt Ulberg and Michelle Norsten
for vendor coordination.
- Debbie Abin for
the smooth registration.
- Ivan Ulberg for family and spouse
activities.
- Brent Campbell for transportation
logistics.
- Kathy Harris for technical training.
- Kent J. Fugal for
running the Teller's Committee
The newly established District 6 Endowment Fund
got a big boost at the annual meeting, with donations of $1,000
from the California Border Section, $300 from the Southern
California Section, and $100 from the Riverside-San Bernardino
Section. A big thank-you goes out to these Sections. I want
to encourage the other Sections and Chapters to contribute
to the Endowment Fund. Based on the results of our recent
survey on the topic of supporting student initiatives, we
voted to increase our general dues by 10 percent, or $1-2
depending on membership grade, which will be used to fund
the student initiatives program.
ITE International recognizes two newsletters
annually as the best newsletter in its class; one award is
for newsletters with a circulation of less than 250, and the
other for newsletters with a circulation of more than 500.
District 6 won both of these awards. John Kerenyi won Best
Newsletter for Circulation Over 500 for WesternITE, and Melisa
Bittancourt from the California Border Section received the
award for Best Newsletter with a Circulation Less Than 250.
Congratulations to both John and Melisa for an exceptional
job this year.
Edward L. Cline and Martin A Bowman were recognized
with the District 6 Lifetime Achievement Award. Ed is a past
ITE District 6 International Director and a longtime supporter
of municipal traffic engineering practice. Marty was one of
the pioneering traffic engineers in California and was the
original WesternITE editor. Mike Bitner received the Individual
Achievement Award for his work in revitalizing ITE activity
in the Central California Section.
As one of my final duties as President, I appointed
Jon Upchurch and Jerry Hall to the Advisory Committee, Steve
Sasaki to Membership Chair, Craig Grandstrom to Career Guidance
Chair and Jon Pascal to Web Manager. Doug and Michelle Bitner
Smith will be co-Managing Editors of WesternITE, replacing
John Kerenyi when his three-year commitment expires at the
end of the year.
As your President, I had the opportunity to
visit and meet most of our sections and chapters. It is clear
that we are the best because of the great spirit of volunteerism
that is everywhere throughout District 6. I am truly proud
to be a member such a great family!. I have put together a
collage of pictures taken at the annual meeting that is in
this issue of WesternITE. I included the volunteers that I
was able to recognize and the winners of the various awards.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve
you as your President.
Together we are the best
Zaki Mustafa
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