2003 – 2004 Meeting Schedule

OLD BUSINESS:

I would like to thank Wilkes University for hosting our March 31st meeting. Also, I would like to thank A-LV executive committee member Tom Reilly for coordinating this event with Dr. David Wells. As guest speaker Chris Haran highlighted, there is much work and many challenges in starting your own business. It was interesting to review the many resources that are available to help one in this process, such as the Great Valley Technology Institute.

NEW BUSINESS:

April: We look forward to seeing you at our April 21st tour of the Conectiv Generation Plant in Bethlehem. Please make your arrangements with Tom Reilly to attend (as instructed later in the newsletter). There is a good chance that we will have to limit the number of members in our tour group, so reserve your spot now.

May: Our executive group is presently making arrangements for our annual social outing. Under consideration is a kayaking event in Jim Thorpe (May 2nd). Also, a day at Dorney Park is being explored (May 23rd). Additional information on the kayaking event can found later in this newsletter. Information on Dorney Park will follow in our next newsletter later this month.

Doug Robertson, Section Chair

Well last month I opened with the comment that winter appears to be over and then it snowed twice the next week. So I guess I had better refrain from making any further comments on the weather. On April 21 ^st we will be touring the Conectiv Co-Generation Plant in Bethlehem, PA. Details are contained in the meeting announcement, which appears below. Power plant tours always seem to be interesting to our members and tend to draw a good turnout so be sure to make your reservations quickly.

Other items in this month’s Newsletter include: information on a web site for those looking for jobs, the Members Seeking Employment and Members’ Forum Sections, a summary of the recent Regional Administrative Conference, a recap of the March meeting which was Student Night at Wilkes University hosted by Dr. David Wells and the Student Section at the school, a preview of May’s events, an update on Continuity and Change, and some information on Engineers Without borders and humanitarian projects.

If you have comments you want to share with your fellow members and the ASME leadership send them to me at merzr@asme.org and I will put them in the Newsletter. This month Keith Gardiner wrote to let us know about a web discussion group that he is moderating on job issues. See his comments in the Members’ Forum Section. If there is a position open with your organization be sure to check the Members Seeking Employment section of the Newsletter and consider your fellow members. Networking is one of the main benefits of ASME membership, so let’s help each other out. If you are unemployed and would like to have a short piece placed in the Newsletter which describes your background and the type of position you are looking for, send me about 100 words and I will publish it.

ASME’s Continuity and Change initiative is continuing. Check the ASME web site at http://www.asme.org/change and the minutes of the Board of Governors at http://www.asme.org/bog/minutes/march04/index.htm for the latest information. Be sure to read the Continuity and Change Update section below for more details on this activity.

I hope to see you at the tour of the Conectiv Combined Cycle Power Plant on April 21, 2004 in Bethlehem, PA.

Anyone not receiving a hardcopy that wants one needs to notify me at merzr@asme.org . Please keep ASME up-to-date with your preferred email at https://www.asmeny.org/memberaddr/html/security.htm .

Dear Anthracite-Lehigh Valley ASME Members:

We are writing to you to inform you about our engineering job search website InterEC.NET ( http://www.interec.net ). We feel that this website would be very useful to ASME members who are either looking for a job on the internet or looking to hire mechanical engineers.

InterEC.NET features a jobs database, a resume database, and a company database. Job seekers can use these resources to find a suitable job and employers can post job listings and search through resumes to

locate suitable candidates.

We would appreciate it if you could visit this website. Any feedback about this website is also appreciated.

InterEC.NET Home: http://www.interec.net

About InterEC.NET: http://www.interec.net/about.html

InterEC.NET Mechanical Engineering Section: http://www.interec.net/jobsearch/mechanical.html

Thanks, InterEC.NET

Gary L. Dreibelbis: BS, Plastics Engineering Technology, The Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College, BS, Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University at University Park. Multi-year experience in plastic and metal product design and manufacture. Proficient with multiple 3-D CAD packages. Contributed to the new Teleflex Inc. generic pedal system development effort. Designed the new seizureless connector product line for Amphenol Corp., Times Fiber Communications Division. Took the new MicroTouch Systems, Inc. (proxy for Intermec Technologies Corp., Norand Mobile Systems Division) touchpen from concept to preproduction in 5 weeks. Designed the new EDC cable connector family for Augat-LRC Electronics, Inc.

Contact: Gary L. Dreibelbis, (610) 562-4115, dreibelbisg@asme.org

Michael Schanewolf: seeking employment in M.E.P. firm or HVAC design related company. Almost 10 years of engineering experience in piping and HVAC related fields, including three years of design experience as a junior level engineer assisting senior engineers in design of HVAC systems for schools, churches and township facilities. Basic working knowledge of AutoCAD 2000 and Elite CHVAC load calculation software. BSME - Penn State University; EIT certification.

Contact: Michael Schanewolf, (610) 559-0829, jm2938@hotmail.com

Gordon Yerry: seeking an Engineering position that makes use of skills in Mechanical Engineering and Project Management. The ideal position would involve either field engineering or reengineering of manufacturing or business processes. In my position as a Project Manager I developed, implemented and managed numerous plant improvements and modifications. I consistently made significant contributions to corporate goals for business growth and profits. As a Mechanical Engineer I developed a computer based valve maintenance program and a remote radiation monitoring system. In addition, I analyzed data and developed set-up calculations in support of company outages.

Contact: Gordon Yerry, (610) 837-0917, gyerry15@rcn.com

Keith Gardiner wrote:

Executive committee members Doug Robertson and Dr. Richard Merz represented the Section at this spring's regional meeting. The "hottest" topic covered was the recently approved ASME re-organization. All attending were interested in discussing the society's new structure and its possible effects on section operations. At the present time, only the top tiers of the organization have been outlined, so the exact effects are not yet known. It was explained that the goal of these changes is to break down the "departmental silos" that have existed within the organization for the last 20 years. Such changes should improve the coordination of activities inside the organization and increase the benefits the society delivers to its members. By June 2005, the organization's final shape is to be complete. This will come primarily through the work of the existing national and regional officers. (Don't forget, the ASME is a member driven society, so if you have any thoughts on this process, contact a local officer.)

Doug Robertson

March Meeting Report – Student Night at Wilkes University

Section members Richard Merz, John Cox, Tom Reilly, Doug Robertson and Mike Hopstock joined Dr. Wells and his students for a most informative and enjoyable evening.

Mike Hopstock, the Allentown Area Manager, has been working with the Dream Come True organization to put together a fund raising event for the charity. They have planned a day at Lake Mauch Chunk in Jim Thorpe, PA on May 2nd. Activities at the event include kayaking, food, entertainment, and crafters. Those brave folks who would like to get in the water and try their hand at kayaking can do so for $10. If you are interested in this event contact Mike at hopstockm@asme.org or (610) 261-3482. See flyer below for additional information.

The other activity being considered for a social event is a day at Dorney Park on May 23rd. If you like this idea contact Doug Robertson at robertsond@asme.org or (908) 859-8042 to express your interest.

As mentioned in last month’s E-Newsletter, all the interesting parts of the Board of Governors’ minutes relating to Continuity and Change were password protected and not available to the general membership. Well I made enough noise at the Regional Administrative Conference the password protection has been removed. You can now read almost all of the minutes at http://www.asme.org/bog/minutes/march04/index.htm . Appendix 2 contains the interesting details.

It appears that the Council on Engineering which oversees the Technical Divisions and the Council on Member Affairs which oversees the Sections and Regions are to be merged into something that is being called Knowledge and Community Groups. The activities under this heading are to be member-focused – i.e. providing information and services to the member. Sections and technical divisions will now need to be more self-sustaining. There will be support from the national organization but less control and direction from the top. The participants in the sections and technical divisions will have increased responsibility for their activities. Groups that show little activity will be quickly sunset.

The precise details of how this is all going to work are to be developed by the current vice presidents in both the Council on Member Affairs and the Council on Engineering. The two councils will be meeting together between now and June 2005 to develop the new organizational structure. Our current Vice President, Ken Kroos, and his successor, Dyer Harris who takes office in June, will represent us. They have both asked for your input and can be reached through the Region III web page at http://www.asme.org/regions/regioniii .

Engineers Without Borders

ASME April 2004 Meeting Announcement

5:00 PM, Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Tour - Conectiv Combined Cycle Power Plant

Bethlehem, PA

Mid-merit power plants are those that can quickly come on line and produce electricity when demand increases above base levels. Conectiv is a major player in that market through its successful combustion turbine/combined-cycle power plants at the Hay Road Plant in Delaware and Bethlehem Plant in Pennsylvania.

Combined cycle plants burn fuel to power combustion turbine generators that direct their exhaust into heat recovery steam generators. High and low pressure steam is created in the steam generators and utilized to power a steam turbine generator providing additional electric power from what would otherwise be wasted heat.

The Bethlehem Plant consists of two combined cycle "blocks" of generation. Each block contains three Siemens V84.2 combustion turbine generators, three Vogt heat recovery steam generators, and one Alstom Power steam turbine generator. Each block has a rated generating capacity of 530 MW. The combustion turbines are fueled most of the year by natural gas but also burn kerosene when pricing makes it more economical to do so.

Dinner: The Lantern 530 Pembroke Rd. Bethlehem, PA 610-867-9066

Cost:

Reservation:

Conectiv Bethlehem Power Plant 2254 Applebutter Rd.Bethlehem, PA 18018

Directions to Tour from Rt. 78:

1. Rt. 78, Rt. 412 Exit- Turn Right toward Bethlehem- go 0.8 mi.

2. Where main road (412) curves left, go straight on to Shimerville Rd (toward Freemansburg) & go 0.8 mi.

3. Turn right onto ApplebutterRd.- go 1.3 mi.

4.  You'll see the plant on the right.  Enter the first gate you come to at the west end of the property.  The gate will be open.

5.  Go up hill around bend to left.  Park in "gravel" lot on the right before the second gate.  Do not pass through the gate.  Someone will come out from the plant to escort the group to the Admin building.  Please be prompt to avoid delaying the group.

Directions to Dinner:The Lantern 530 Pembroke Rd. Bethlehem, PA 18018 (610)-867-9066

1. Go back to Rt. 412 split (by Shimerville Rd)

2. Turn Right- Follow Rt. 412 toward Bethlehem- go 1.0 mi.

3. Turn Right at Minsi Trail Bridge/Stefko Blvd.- go 0.1mi

4. 1st Light Make Left onto E. Broad St.- go 0.4 mi.

5. Right onto Elm St.- go 0.3 mi.