NEWSLETTER Editor: Allan D. Johnson

Vol. XXXI No. 7 2531 Martin Lane

September 20, 2001 Anthracite Area / Scranton Scranton Area H. S. Tour

October 2001 Bethlehem Area Post Office (cancelled)

November 2001 Delaware River Area / Easton Praxair (cancelled)

February 11, 2002 Allentown Area Atlas Machining Tour

February 22,2002 Engineers’ Week Banquet Radisson Hotel, Bethlehem

March 27, 2002 Student Section Night Penn State - Hazelton

April 18, 2002 Reading Area Baldwin Hardware Tour

May 18, 2002 Section’s Social Event Red Barons Baseball Game

My wife is going to kill me!- well, only in the figurative sense. I attended the Balwin Hardware tour with all of the elegant brass fixtures and I didn’t even bring home some samples. I had a great time and I want to thank Tobi Mengle, Reading Area Manager, for setting up another excellent event. Tobi had to fly out of town on business so you’ll see the write up by Glenn Lunger, Program Director, following later in this letter.

Also see Doug Robertson’s (Vice Chair) comments on our Student Section Night at PSU-Hazelton. Good work, Doug. Check out our Social Event advertised for this May. We’re going to the ballpark.

I attended the conference Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and found that the three things that make an event go well are place, topics, and people. The Bethlehem Radisson Hotel can’t be beat. The seminar topics ranged from a career path, personal path, and technical path. And the people were especially eager and interesting.

Yes, I have to admit that being out numbered fifty to one was slightly intimidating. But then, isn’t that the way a woman or even a minority might feel in the same situation. Well, the ice was broken quick and I had an enjoyable time meeting other engineers from the region.

As a personal note, Kathryn Kinsey of Air Products was the conference chair and is also an ASME member. She is a credit to SWE, ASME, and the engineering profession for the work and time she put into this conference. My congratulations on a job done well.

Dr. Kendra Sharp of Penn State University provided a seminar topic entitled "Science Policy in Washington: A Congressional Perspective". The seminar was

sponsored by a grant from the ASME. Dr. Sharp recently completed a congressional fellowship through the American Institute of Physics, working for Joe Lieberman from January to December 2001.

She related some of her experiences about setting national priorities, making policy, learning civics again, meeting interesting people, gaining perspective on news coverage, and forming contacts with other fellows during her time in Washington. She explained that the government does actually work and the professionals are a resource that the lawmakers use daily.

Dr. Sharp is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State. Her research interests include micro fluidics, multi-phase flows, and fuel cells. She encourages young professionals to be involved with government to support our democracy.

The yearly RAC for Region III will be held on April 25-27^th in Baltimore, MD. Our section will be sending two delegates to cast nonbinding votes on the following initiatives.

02.1 Orienting K-12 Educators- It is proposed that ASME prepare and implement a four(4) hour K-12 teacher in service training manual for a practice session to be conducted by an ASME member. The program could be offered to current school systems as a Math, Science and Technology introduction as part of teacher required in-service training. To do this the 4-hour manual and 4-hour in-service training sessions will need to be developed.

02.2 Capturing K-12 Educators- It is proposed that ASME prepare and send on an annual basis to each new incoming K-12 teacher in the US an invitation to use an ASME K-12 web site page hot button.

1. Compelling examples with drawings and animations are needed to illustrate that K-12 ASME Math, Science and Technology opportunities are available to promote Math, Science and Technology education.
2. A method to contact the new incoming teachers through their professional associations/schools is required.

02.3 ASME Loans for Education of Family members- It is proposed that ASME provide loans for higher education to a member of an immediate family of an ASME member. A limit of two of these low cost loans per ASME member is suggested.

02.4 Review of Section Activities- It is proposed that the Council on Member Affairs appoint a committee to study the existing Section system with the consideration to have six regional offices provide technical meetings in each of the large dormant metropolitan section areas, provide meeting places together with a program of general interest. This can be accomplished with the assistance of local member volunteers. This "Section Review Committee" should research all alternatives to provide meetings and services to members in these large metropolitan areas.

02.5 Term Periods for Society Officers- It is proposed that ASME change society by-laws to change the lengths of the term of holding office as members at large of the Board of Governors, Senior Vice President and Vice Presidents from three years to two years.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.- Arthur C. Clarke

--Tom Reilly

Last month's tour of the Baldwin Hardware factory in Reading was well attended and enjoyed by all. This plant manufactures decorative brass hardware and fixtures.

We started with an overview of their raw bar stock receiving docks and store. Before long, we were sweating our way through the forging press rooms, where hot billets of brass are smashed into rough parts. These parts are soon sanded of flashing. Such pieces may pass as serviceable doorknobs or votives.

But at Baldwin, the process of quality forging has just begun! Many parts are immediately hand polished to a high brass shine. Many more pass through automated processes for alternate surface finishes, including color choices, "antiquing," and a "lifetime" finishing process for exterior products utilizing physical vapor deposition technology!

Our tour concluded with a trip through Baldwin's own tool and die shop.

Many thanks to the employees (and robots) at Baldwin who made our visit enjoyable, especially Dennis Stufflet and Rol Sugg. Rol happily answered Section member questions after our supper at Chef Alan's. And thanks to Tobi Mengle for organizing another super tour. – Glenn Lunger

Our group traditionally labels March as "Student Sections Month". Every year we organize a joint meeting with one of the five colleges in our geographical area. This year, Penn State University in Hazelton was the next on our rotation.

The meeting began with a pizza / social hour where the senior and student members were able to casually meet and enjoy plenty of pizza together. The highlight of this period was an informal discussion session. Here, the senior members described their engineering experiences and answered questions posed by the students regarding employment and schooling decisions. This interaction truly displayed the benefits of ASME involvement.

Following the pizza / social hour, the main speaking presentation began. Chris Davey, Assistant Director of Comminution at Cornerstone Technologies, discussed the water jet technology his company is developing. By applying this technology, his company is able to micronize various materials, which become raw material for other products (paints, coatings, etc). This revolutionary technique has many benefits over current micronizing technologies and opportunities for its application are abundant (which keeps Chris busy).

Thank you to Student Section Officer Andrew Barnasevitch and Faculty Advisor Prof. Wieslaw Grebski for arranging the on campus location and for their generous hospitality. Thanks also to Chris Davey for providing a dynamic and interesting presentation. --Doug Robertson

Section Web Site: http://www.asme.org/sections/a-lv/index

Due to recent web access and software problems, our Section Website has languished for some months. We feel this communication resource needs more attention and possibly a revamp or expansion. Section Website Editor Glenn Lunger is looking for help from members who are more active and knowledgeable in web page editing and publishing. Now would be a great time to use your skills for the benefit of the Section! Please contact Glenn at lungerg@asme.org or telephone 610-867-1611. --Glenn Lunger

Penn State Lehigh Valley is looking to organize a PE and EIT Review Program for mechanical engineers starting this Fall, with an eye toward the April 2003 Exams in Pennsylvania. They plan to send flyers on the classes in July. If interested, please contact Sandy Litzenberger at 610-285-5054. As always, you can contact me with any other questions - Glenn Lunger, tel 610-867-1611, lungerg@asme.org.

ASME members who would like to receive the Anthracite – Lehigh Valley Section newsletter as an email attachment in addition to the printed copy should send an email message containing their name and the email address where they would like to receive the newsletter to the newsletter editor’s email address allanjohnson@compuserve.com.

This year's Section Social will be a trip to Lackawanna County Stadium to see the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons take on the Norfolk Tides (minor league for the NY Mets). Join us Saturday, May 18th. Game time is 2PM. The family can enjoy a Spring afternoon watching once and future Phillies stars. Plus, the game will feature a Red Baron Duffel Bag giveaway! Other local engineering societies are being invited to join us.

Our Section has reserved a block of discounted reserved seats (only $5.00 each). Simply reserve your spots with Glenn Lunger at 610-867-1611 or lungerg@asme.org prior to May 13^th (the sooner the better). You can pay for your tickets on game day at the Group Ticket counter.

The stadium is easy to get to: Take exit 182 off Interstate 81 and proceed to Montage Mountain Road. Get more information and follow the progress of the Barons at http://www.redbarons.com. See you there!

--Glenn Lunger