Anthracite - LV Website www.asme.org/sections/a-lv/

2000 - 2001 Meeting Schedule

June 2, 2001

Strasburg Railroad Ride
 

October 12, 2000 Allentown Area Dorney Park

November 14, 2000 Bethlehem Area B. Braun Medical

December 2000 No Meeting

January 25, 2001 Delaware River Area / EastonVictaulic Inc.

February 23, 2001 Engineers’ Week Banquet Sheraton Jetport,Allentown

March 20, 2001 Student Section Night Lehigh University

April 19, 2001 Reading Area Parsons Energy&Chemical

June 2, 2001 Section’s Social Event Strasburg Railroad

Officer Elections and MIS Voting

After tallying the votes and taking input from the executive committee members, the section intends to vote "yes" on both MIS proposals at the RAC meeting this year. I am also pleased to report that the entire slate of officers, as presented on the ballot last month, were elected to their respective posts. I would like to thank you for your confidence in our executive committee. I can only assume that we are running the section to your liking and arranging tours that meet the professional interests of the membership. I especially wish to thank the members present at last month’s meeting at Parsons for submitting their votes in person before leaving Emily’s Pub.

On the same issue, this will be my last newsletter as chairman of the section. Tom Reilly will take over as chairman, effective July 1. Tom currently works for Emcore Corporation on some high-tech machinery which dope silicon chips with special compounds such as gallium arsenide. Formerly, he was an engineer at Alstom Power. Tom has some excellent ideas for the future of the section, and will continue to be an asset to the executive committee. For my part, it’s been an enjoyable two years as chairman. I have learned a great deal, made some good industry contacts, and made a few friends along the way. I intend to fully support Tom during his tenure as section chairman.

Job Opportunity

The Mechanical Engr. Dept. at Lehigh University is in need of a qualified person (Adjunct Professor) to teach the ME323 Reciprocating and Centrifugal Engines (3 credit hrs) course this Fall '01. For further information, please contact: Bob Lucas, Associate Chairman \ MEM Dept. Lehigh University (610-758-4112), or ral1@lehigh.edu.

Industry Award

Our section presents an annual Industry Award to a company in our section’s territory which has done a great job of supporting mechanical engineers in their

careers. This could include providing continuing education, allowing ME’s time off for educational reasons, and supporting/encouraging ME’s to attain professional licensure. Also, allowing our section to tour their facility goes a long way at voting time. The candidates for the Industry Award this year are: Schott Glass, Dorney Park, B Braun Medical, Victaulic, and Parsons Power. The award is typically a nice plaque for the company’s office, along with any recognition we can muster such as newspaper coverage for the company. If you have an opinion on which tour was the best, let any member of the executive committee know.

--Jeff Daniels

Review of April meeting at Parson’s Energy & Chemicals, Reading, PA.

Our members in attendance were treated to a demonstration of how three dimensional computer modeling of the major components is improving power plant design at Parsons Energy & Chemicals. The various disciplines: mechanical, electrical, structural, etc. develop the design simultaneously in a 3D computer model and each can see the locations of all components, down to 2" pipe, and check for interferences. The entire plant can be viewed from any angle and rotated to different views in real time. Parsons has developed relational database software which is used in conjunction with the 3D Plant Design Software, from Intergraph, to provide a complete project solution allowing all project staff access to design, bill of material, cost, schedule, and planning information. On Parsons projects computer systems are setup in the field offices to provide on-site personnel access to the same design and project execution information in one integrated system. This integrated project management solution has allowed Parsons to improve their design efficiency and reduce errors in the field. Parsons is using the 3D modeling and integrated project solution for the design of the Calpine Ontelaunee Power Plant under construction north of Reading.

Our thanks go out to Dan Martin, Engineering Manager of the Reading Office; Alan Smith, Engineering Systems Director; and Gary Derstine, Pro Systems Support Services for hosting our section members and demonstrating the state-of-the-art in plant design. Our thanks also go to Anup Singh for arranging the demo at Parsons. -- Tobi Mengle

THE ASME/BOY SCOUTS PARTNERSHIP

In 1998, ASME and the Boy Scouts of America signed an Agreement of Affiliation, whereby both organizations will work together to promote technological literacy. As part of the program, ASME helped BSA revise and update the Engineering Merit Badge.

ASME is proud to announce the publication of this new Engineering Merit Badge Guide by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). With new requirements and up-to-date text, much of it contributed by ASME volunteers, this guide offers members a new opportunity to introduce Boy Scouts to engineering in a hands-on, fun way. All ASME members - not excluding women, or students! - are encouraged to become Engineering Merit Badge Counselors with their local Scout troops To learn more about the BSA Merit Badge Program, and the roles of Merit Badge Counselors, visit http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-500.html To locate the scout organization nearest you, visit  http://www.scouting.org/councils/index.html

• Volunteers Needed! Boy Scouts Jamboree, July 23-August 1, 2001 The Engineering Merit Badge Booth and the Engineering Exploring Booth at the National Scout Jamboree need help from engineers!
• Engineering Explorer Posts ASME encourages members to start or support Engineering Exploring Posts in their companies as an excellent way of introducing young men and women to engineers and careers in engineering

PA LEGISLATURE ACTIVITY REPORT FOR MARCH, 2001

STATE NEWS

Committee budget hearings are winding down. The governor’s $20.8 billion budget plan, with some changes, has passed through the Senate with unanimous approval. Note that this budget would consume all of a projected surplus of $368 million that is expected to be left over this year. Extracts from the Governor’s Budget Presentation follow:

A review of A Day At The Capitol was included in the April edition of ME NEWS The event has received good publicity so far within ASME and at the State Capitol. Survey returns from the participants gave a high approval rating, recommend doing it again, and would be interested in attending again. The next page contains excerpts from the second speaker’s presentation.

COMMENTS FROM THE ADAC PRESENTATION BY REP. BUD GEORGE ON ELECTRIC DEREGULATION.

• A pessimist will look at a glass half filled and say it is half empty. The optimist will say it is half full. But you engineers would say they built the glass too big! Similarly, deregulation was built on faulty specifications.

• Proponents of deregulation never mention the increased distribution rates and the stranded costs. The rate cap was supposed to last to year 2009, but GPU Energy has already sought to increase rates. Promises made that low rates of job and population growth would enable PA to become a net exporter of power, yet the number of generating suppliers in PA dwindled to 6 from a high of 25. Some have fled, saying it costs too much money to attract residential customers. Incidentally, Myself, I have been kicked off 3 times (after subscribing with a company). We have seen a contraction, not an expansion, of the power industry under deregulation.
• Nationwide, an estimated 150,000 jobs in the utility industry have been eliminated under deregulation. I don’t believe regulation is evil in all cases. Regulation in public interests protects industries, businesses, residential rate payers and their homes & habitat, and frequently the monopolies that are trying to escape responsibilities & safeguards. We need regulation to insure safe water and air, and to safeguard medicines & food. It should be no different with electricity, which now is a vital commodity in this information age. PA has only grown 3%. I dare say that if we had grown to the extent of CA & other states have grown, we would have a situation as bad as CA at this moment!

He sees them as stock holder oriented rather than for the ratepayer and taxpayer. He points to "the $11 billion in stranded costs approved for PA utilities during restructuring negotiations." He sees as his role, in the event that "if government puts up the taxpayer’s money it should have a say in how it’s spent."

He wrote that the briefing certainly stoked his fires and was pleased to share his views with ASME. -- Ed Trunk, ASME PA. Legislative Coordinator, 143 Race Street, Middletown, PA., 17057-2241, Phone (717) 944-6119, Email -- Evtrunk@aol.com
 
 

Strasburg Rail Road

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Strasburg, Penna.

We welcome the following local Societies who have chosen to join us:

ASME - Susquehanna Section

Society of Automotive Engineers

Society of Women Engineers - Lehigh Valley Section

Society of Manufacturing Engineers - Lehigh Valley Chapter

Strasburg Rail Road

It’s a magical ride as children stare wide-eyed at the billowing steam and hear the whistle blow. Imagine the feeling as you ride in a meticulously restored Victorian passenger train and pass through breathtakingly beautiful Amish farms, pulled by a huge, coal burning steam locomotive. Experience America1s oldest short-line railroad... an exciting, memorable and educational trip into the past. -- http://www.strasburgrailroad.com

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Sit in the engineer’s seat of a powerful locomotive. Inspect a 62-ton engine from underneath. Relax inside an early 19th century replica passenger depot. Experience hands-on exhibits in the innovative education center for children and adults.

Our visit on June 2nd coincides with "Pennsy" Days. Noted Railroad artists and authors sell their works. Special lectures, demonstrations and memorabilia are featured. http://www.rrmuseumpa.org

Schedule

Noon Ride Strasburg Rail Road!

12:38 pm Train drops our group at the Picnic Grove. BRING YOUR OWN PICNIC LUNCH.

1:38 pm The next Train picks us up from the Picnic Grove and returns us to the station.

2:00 pm Visit the Railroad Museum! (across the road)

4:00 pm Charter Bus leaves for return trip to Allentown.

Pricing

Coach Rail Road ticket & Museum Entrance:

PLEASE MAKE RESERVATIONS AND PRE-PAYMENT BY May 18, 2001.

Make checks payable to "ASME Anthracite/Lehigh Valley".

Contact:

To Allentown Bus pick-up:

From Route 22, take Route 309 South. Quickly take the exit for Tilghman Street West. BigK is ~ 1/4 mile west, across from Ollie1s Outlet. Park in the BigK lot, close to the bank.

To Strasburg Rail Road:

The Strasburg Rail Road is located in Strasburg, Lancaster County. If you are traveling along Route 30, turn onto Route 896 South. Turn left at the traffic light in the center of Strasburg, onto Route 741 East. Follow Route 741 East right to the Rail Road.

If you are traveling along Route 1, take Route 41 North to the village of Gap. Turn left onto Route 741 West, and follow this road for about 8 miles to the Rail Road.

If traveling on Route 222, turn at the traffic light in the center of Strasburg, onto Route 741 East - and follow it right to the Rail Road.