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July-August
Message
District 6 Members,
Did you ever get the sensation that something just happened, and yet occurred long ago, all at the same time? My year serving as President of District 6 is certainly feeling that way right now. It seems like only yesterday that I took the oath of office and wrote my first President's Message for WesternITE, and already I'm writing my last and counting down the days until I become the Past President. But at the same time, when I think about all of the trips made, members met, and actions taken, it seems impossible that it could only have been a year!
My highest priority this year has been on our student initiatives, programs designed to encourage more students to major in traffic engineering, and getting donations for the Endowment Fund so that we can attract more candidates. I have heard several student paper presentations and met some of the students, and I'm really excited about these successes. The establishment of a new student chapter at UCLA was one of the highlights of my term
In recent weeks the District has received numerous donations to the Endowment Fund, and hopefully this is just the beginning! There are two persons responsible for this recent jump in the Fund balance, and I want to thank Julie Townsend and Zaki Mustafa for all the efforts they've made to bring this charitable opportunity to the attention of our membership. Zaki was originally responsible for establishing the Endowment Fund, and he has made a point of talking to members of his home Southern California Section about donating, and they've done so to the tune of literally thousands of dollars. Julie and her husband Clark issued a challenge last fall to match, dollar for dollar, donations made by Sections that she visited, and allowed me issue that challenge for her during some of my visits as well. She has also sent emails to more than 400 members that she knows personally encouraging them to donate, and many have. During the Annual Meeting in Portland we will be recognizing everyone who has donated since the inception of the Fund, but sincere thanks also go out to those who aren't able to come to Portland and be recognized.
The Endowment Fund will ensure that we can continue the programs we have already established, but it will also allow us to expand our programs and make them more attractive. It was recently noted that some students have indicated an unwillingness to put in the time necessary to apply for a scholarship that is only $500. Once we reach our goal for the Endowment Fund, we should be able to offer scholarships in amounts that will be substantial enough to get more students' time and attention.
As I end my term as President, I want to thank all of the officers, committee chairs and other leaders who have helped and supported me. So that this doesn't sound like a bad Oscar speech, I won't list everyone who contributed to making this year such a pleasant experience, but I do want to highlight a few whose support was so critical. It was my good fortune this year to serve with four International Directors who took our message to Headquarters, and represented us admirably. My thanks go out to Rock Miller, Rory Grindley, Randy Miller and Julie Townsend for their willingness to lend me an ear and a word of advice when I needed their wisdom. Thank you to my fellow officers, Ken Ackeret, Jennifer Rosales and Monica Suter, who have been there for me all year long, helping me keep the business of the District running smoothly. Our District Administrator, Jenny Grote, has my undying gratitude for her insight and generous sharing of the experience of many years serving ITE. Finally, I want to thank Jon Pascal, our webmaster, for helping me keep in touch through mass emailings and posting information quickly even when I waited until the last minute to give it to him.
Most importantly, thank you for allowing me to serve the District as your President. I have truly enjoyed every meeting I've attended, and have taken so much more from this position than I could ever have put in to it. It has been an honor and a privilege for which I'm truly grateful!
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