IN THIS ISSUE

** PROPOSED BUSH BUGET WOULD COST OKLAHOMA $114 MILLION IN HIGHWAY FUNDS
** BILLS AFFECTING GARVEE BONDS, TOLL ROAD CROSS PLEDGING FAIL
** IN MEMORY - HERMAN E. SMITH, JR.
** CARIBBEAN CRUISE TO FOLLOW ACEC FALL CONFERENCE
** WORK ZONE SAFETY SEMINARS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL/MAY
** FOUR KEYS TO OUTSTANDING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION DIRECT MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
** STATE BOARD POSITION OPEN
** ANNUAL UPDATE FORMS COMING SOON

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UPCOMING CECO MEETINGS

CECO Board & General Meeting
April 18, 2002 (Dinner Meeting)
Oklahoma City, OK

ODOT/CECO Partnering Conference
May 2, 2002
Clarion Hotel/Conference Center, I-40 & Meridian
Oklahoma City, OK

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PROPOSED BUSH BUGET WOULD COST OKLAHOMA $114 MILLION IN HIGHWAY FUNDS

ACEC has helped to secure more than 300 cosponsors for H.R. 3694 and S. 1917, the bipartisan legislation that would restore highway funding to, at a minimum, the level authorized in TEA-21 for 2003 ($27.75 billion) and would allow additional funds to be appropriated. As of Feb. 26th 265 cosponsors had been secured for H.R. 2694 and 48 senators had signed on to cosponsor S. 1917.

Oklahoma Congressman Brad Carson is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee which originated the House version of the Bill, of which Carson was an original co-sponsor. On the Senate side, Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe was one of the original co-sponsors of the bill. Inhofe is a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation & Infrastructure which has jurisdiction over S. 1917.

In mid-February, ACEC National Director Tony Dark and CECO Executive Vice President Jim Sullins, along with others from transportation-related organizations, met with Karen Campbell, Legislative Director for Congressman Carson. At that time, Ms. Campbell said that the President's budget recommendation would cost Oklahoma over $100 million in federal funding for the next fiscal year.

Additionally, and more importantly, the President's recommendation would move the "base-line" for federal funding back to pre-TEA 21 levels rather than just a one-year "cut" in funding. Moving the base-line would be devastating to Oklahoma as that would not only impact funding for FY 2003, but for future years also. It is estimated that if the baseline is moved back to pre-TEA 21 levels, it would take until the year 2023 for Oklahoma to return to the same level of funding as received in FY 2002.

The administration's budget proposal allocates $24.1 billion for FHWA, including $23.2 billion for the Federal-Aid Highway Obligation Limitation, which is below the funding level authorized in TEA-21 for F.Y. 2003, and the F.Y. 2002 funding level ($31.8 billion). The reduction in funding is due to the fact that gas tax receipts are expected to fall nearly $5 billion short of original estimates in 2003.

Half of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation is on-board as co-sponsors of the bills. In additional to Congressman Carson and Sen. Inhofe, Congressmen Watts and Lucas are signed on for H.R. 3694. To date, Congressmen Istook, Watkins, and newly elected John Sullivan along with Senator Nickles have not signed on as co-sponsors.

CECO will be participating in next week's Consulting Congress Day activities in Washington. This issue will be our #1 discussion item with the Oklahoma Delegation, and we hope that the remaining members of the Delegation will sign on as co-sponsors at that time.

Your calls and/or letter to Congressman Istook, Watkins, Sullivan, and Senator Nickles encouraging their co-sponsorship of H.R. 3694 or S. 1917 will help make our job easier while we're in D.C.

Please write or call these members of the Oklahoma Delegation today expressing your support of restoring the funding and asking for their co-sponsorship of the legislation.

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BILLS AFFECTING GARVEE BONDS, TOLL ROAD CROSS PLEDGING FAIL

A bill that would prohibit the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) from issuing Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to pay for road construction was one of three measures that failed to pass the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Transportation.

HB 2914, by Rep. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, would eliminate ODOT's ability to issue GARVEE bonds for highway project funding. Winchester said a case is pending in the courts that could ultimately lead to GARVEE bonds being declared unconstitutional.

Rep. Dan Webb, R-Oklahoma City, a member of the committee, asked ODOT officials what would happen if such a measure was passed. "We will adjust our projected revenues for future years," said new ODOT director Gary Ridley. "We will reduce the amount of bond indebtedness." A do-pass motion on the bill failed, 2-3.

Another bill that failed to make it out of committee was HB 2372, by Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, which would have prohibited the cross-pledging of funds from toll roads. Benge said his bill would require all future toll roads to be self supporting.

"I simply want to require that turnpikes pay for themselves," Benge said. "In my opinion, we've gotten to the point where we've saturated the state with turnpikes." Benge said all projects not currently under construction would be impacted by the bill. The measure also failed on a 2-3 vote.

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IN MEMORY -- HERMAN E. SMITH, JR.

We are saddened to report that Herman E. Smith, Jr., passed away on February 12th, following a long illness. Smith, 83, was a Vice President and Director of the former firm of HTB, Inc. prior to his retirement several years ago. 

A registered professional engineer and registered land surveyor, Herman was very active in the engineering community both locally and nationally. He was CECO President in 1962-63, and served as ACEC National Director for seven years. He was an ACEC Fellow, and a life member of OSPE, NSPE, APWA, and AWWA. Herman also served three terms on the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and was active at the national level in NCEES from which he received the Distinguished Service Award in 1991.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Lois and second wife Maggie, and is survived by a sister, one son, three step-daughters, and six grandchildren.

Herman's leadership and service to the engineering profession left an indelible mark on the profession and on the community and state that he loved. His passing will leave a void in our profession that will never be filled.

CECO extends our deepest sympathies to his family, and we all share in their loss.

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CARIBBEAN CRUISE TO FOLLOW ACEC FALL CONFERENCE

Last month we mentioned the upcoming ACEC Annual Convention in Las Vegas and the CECO Convention in Branson

One more thing you might want to mark on your calendar is the ACEC Fall Conference and a special post-conference event. The Fall Conference will be held at the Westin Rio Mar Beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 24-26. 

Following the Conference, ACEC will offer a special 7-day Caribbean Cruise on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Adventure of the Seas, one of the world's largest luxury cruise ships. Prices for the cruise will begin at $759.00 per person. To view the ship and itinerary, go to http://www.royalcaribbean.com.

Las Vegas, Branson, and the Caribbean. Three great meetings and three great locations. Hope to see you at all three!!!!!

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WORK ZONE SAFETY SEMINARS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL/MAY

The Oklahoma Traffic Engineering Association in Association with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation will be presenting a series of Work Zone Safety seminars this spring.

Temporary or Work Zone Traffic Control is an element of nearly all street, road and highway projects. The implementation and maintenance of these controls is a duty of the consultants and inspectors overseeing these projects. Oklahoma state law requires that any traffic control devices, i.e., signs, signals and markings be in accord with the latest edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The ODOT and OTEA have four different workshops to train and certify personnel in workzone activities. These are:

* Maintaining Temporary Traffic Controls
* Temporary Traffic Control Certification Course
* Recertification of Work Zone Personnel
* Flagger Instruction and Certification Course

Details are listed below. At the present time they are planned to be taught at Clinton, Oklahoma City and Muskogee during April and May 2002.

1. Maintaining Temporary Traffic Controls

Course Description: Instruction in the review of work zone operations, maintenance of the zone and traffic control devices is the objective of this course. Topics covered are driver information requirements, and human factors, traffic and accident data; proper (and improper) traffic control device (TCD) use, installation and documentation; speeds, and speed limits and enforcement; incident and accident reviews; initial and routine inspection practices and documentation; TCD acceptability, cleaning and removal of unneeded TCD's; and litigation. Class size is limited due to the interaction and discussion. Duration is 7 to 8 hours.

2. Temporary Traffic Control Certification: Planning, Installation, Management, Evaluation, Operation and Maintenance 

Course Description: Instruction in the temporary traffic or work zone operations and maintenance of the zone and traffic control devices is the objective of this course. It provides two and one half days of instruction and a one half day certification examination. Personnel satisfactorily completing the course and examination with a grade of 80 percent are qualified as a supervisor meeting the requirements to plan and operate temporary traffic controls as defined in the MUTCD, state specifications, and CFR.

Class size is limited to 40. Students will be expected to have copies of the latest ODOT Standards and Policies. Class size is limited due to the interaction and discussion. Duration is 7 to 8 hours per day for 2 1/2 days plus examination. The ODOT will provide facilities for the instruction.

3. Recertification of Work Zone Personnel

This workshop will provide 3-hours of refresher materials to individuals previously certified as work zone supervisors or managers by an ODOT recognized agency i.e., OTEA, ATSSA, IMSA, etc. Individuals will be provided with student manuals and parts 1,5, and 6 of the MUTCD. Following the review they will take a 3 hour written examination over the materials included in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, with emphasis on Part 6 and the Oklahoma Standards relating to temporary traffic controls.

4. Flagger Instruction and Certification Course

Course Description: Instruction in the proper techniques and practices of controlling traffic through the use of Flaggers is provided. Part 6 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control devices is the authority for the course. The proper equipment and attire is shown and demonstrated. Participants are given classroom and outside practice experience. Duration is 3.5 to 4 hours. 

Those participants wishing to be certified take a written and practice exam. 

For additional Information on costs and dates contact Leonard West at 405.329.1839.

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FOUR KEYS TO OUTSTANDING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION DIRECT MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

Direct marketing is a vital ingredient of success for design and construction firms- but only if it's done right. REVOLUTIONARY MARKETING'S OUTSTANDING AEC MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, a new publication from ZweigWhite, identifies four common characteristics that make winning direct marketing campaigns stand out from the rest.

OUTSTANDING MARKETING PIECES ARE ABOUT MORE THAN PROJECTS. Many of the marketing efforts implemented by design and construction firms today are self-serving. They focus on the firm's own "star" projects or staff. Instead of presenting information that will interest the intended audience, these types of campaigns usually fall flat because they're essentially a lot of money spent to say "look at me." That doesn't mean firms should ignore their projects in marketing efforts, but they should consider carefully how the projects are being used and why.

OUTSTANDING MARKETING CAMPAIGNS ARE CONTINUOUS. Another common mistake that design and construction firms make is creating marketing campaigns that are not frequent enough. Newsletters that mail twice or four times a year, for example or a postcard "series" that ends up being two or three cards per year. These kinds of efforts miss one of the golden rules of marketing: No matter how strong your message, repetition is the key to success.

OUTSTANDING MARKETING CAMPAIGNS ARE AIMED AT A SPECIFIC AUDIENCE. Many firms that have flopped with direct marketing do so because their intent is to deliver a broadly themed campaign to a wide audience. To develop a truly effective marketing campaign, begin with a targeted audience. Firms should do some research on each of their markets, find out what prospective clients in each of them wants or needs, and give it to them.

OUTSTANDING MARKETING GRABS ATTENTION. Some firms send out marketing piece after marketing piece and see few results. And a simple- and common-reason for this is that these marketing efforts are boring. The audience doesn't care. They end up in the trash.

REVOLUTIONARY MARKETING'S OUTSTANDING AEC MARKETING CAMPAIGNS highlights more than 70 real-life direct marketing campaigns that have worked for design and construction firms of all sizes. The 188-page book is available from the publisher for $125, plus $4 shipping and handling. Contact ZweigWhite, P.O. Box 8325, One Apple Hill Drive, Natick, MA 01760, tel: 508-651-1559, fax: 508-653-6522, e-mail info@zweigwhite.com or visit our web site at http://www.zweigwhite.com/store/igcam.

ZweigWhite is the leading source of management consulting, information, and education for the design and construction industry. The firm is based in Natick, MA, and has additional offices in Oakland, CA; Washington, DC; and Overland Park, KS.

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STATE BOARD POSITION OPEN

As is customary, a position on the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is up for appointment this spring.

Currently Ross Relph, P.E., is completing his term on the State Board which expires in June. Mr. Relph is eligible for reappointment and Governor Keating will be considering him and other candidates for the position.

If you would like to be considered for appointment to a six-year term on the State Board, contact CECO as soon as possible. If there is interest from CECO members, we will be forwarding a list of possible candidates to the Governor in late March.

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ANNUAL UPDATE FORMS COMING SOON

It's just about that time of year again.....the time we ask you to update the information regarding your firm, number of employees, etc.

CECO will be mailing principals the annual Membership Update Form in the near future.

When you receive it, please take a few moments to complete it and return it to CECO as soon as possible.

No, there's no prizes for prompt response other than you won't get continued follow-ups from your humble Executive Vice President, and, his hairline won't recede nearly as fast. My hairline and I thank you in advance for your prompt response.

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