September-October
Message
It is truly an honor to serve you as President of the Western District (District 6) and to be sworn in as President in my home town of Portland, Oregon.
The meeting in Portland was a huge success and I would like to personally thank Peter Koonce and the Portland LAC for all of their hard work and efforts to make the 2007 District Annual meeting a memorable and fabulous experience for all attendees. The 2007 District Annual meeting in Portland broke many previous records with over 800 meeting participants at the meeting. We beat the record attendance numbers for: Monday Kick-off Luncheon, Tuesday Business Luncheon, Tuesday Annual Awards Banquet and the Western States Luncheon.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Harry Parker and to Gary Tsutsumi. Harry Parker has been a continuously active member of ITE and served 29 years with LA County. Harry was instrumental in one of first left turn lanes in LA County and created funding for intersection improvements. In addition, Harry was instrumental in one of the first protective-permissive left turn phasing installations. Gary Tsutsumi also a continuously active member of ITE and helped to revive the Northern California Section in 1975. Gary was a leader in the effort to develop Measure K (a ½ cent sales tax) which has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to transportation.
Jim Daisa was awarded the Individual Achievement Award for significant contributions to ITE and the profession. Jim is the project manager and primary author for Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities. Jim has shared his knowledge and expertise by teaching seminars on context sensitive solutions.
A few more of the 2007 Portland meeting highlights: Birds of Prey show and train rides through the zoo on Family Night, jamming band and dancing for Banquet attendees, excellent multi-modal transportation technical programs and tours, thought provoking guest speakers, and fond memories and good times by all. Thanks again to the Portland LAC!
A selection committee consisting of Craig Grandstrom, Jon Pascal and myself have made a final decision for the Best Dressed Award for the “Bikes, Brews, Bohemia” theme of the Tuesday Banquet of the District Annual meeting. This year’s Best Dressed goes to Tim and Stephanie Harpst with an honorable mention to Marty Reuben. Tim and Stephanie have been selected for two years in a row, so they are looking for competition in Anaheim next year.
As I write my first President’s message, I am on the plane to attend the ITE International Annual meeting in Pittsburgh. I am very excited for the meeting and will have highlights from the meeting in my next message. I would like to congratulate the Colorado-Wyoming section for receiving the Best Section Activities Award from International this year.
This year, I would like to focus on the Emerging Profession (professional with ten years or less experience). I would like to attract emerging professional to ITE and to our District Annual meeting and activities. I want to challenge seasoned professionals to bring an emerging professional to section meetings and challenge emerging professional to reach out and encourage other emerging professionals to join ITE and participate in ITE activities. I plan to work with the Career Guidance Committee to enhance our District mentoring program and to encourage emerging professionals to take advantage of ITE’s professional development programs.
This year, I plan to build on the work of our Past Presidents and continue to grow the Student Endowment and to support successful student programs and chapter research opportunities.
I would like to hear from our members about what ITE Western District can do for you and to find out what sections and chapters are doing around the District. You may be seeing a survey in the near future to get your input. Feel free to contact me anytime with any ideas or suggestions that you have for the District. A note to sections and chapters: the President and International Directors are available to travel to your meetings and we would like to recognize ITE members who have made contributions to ITE and the professional.
I am looking forward to a successful and fun year serving as the Western District President!
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