The Northwest Houston Subsection of ASME International is a technical society for Mechanical Engineers who live or work in the Northwest portion of Houston. Northwest Houston Subsection ASME members are interested in technical subjects and fellowship with other Mechanical Engineers of similar backgrounds. Technical meetings are held periodically as described below--and you don't have to be an ASME member to attend programs.
by
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Want to host a meeting or conduct a plant tour for your company? If
so, send e-mail to the Program Chairman, Wade Vinson, by
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If you are interested in hosting a meeting, conducting plant tours for
your company, or have ideas for meetings, please send e-mail to Wade Vinson
about your interest by
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Editor's Note: This is the subsection newsletter
"northwest.news". If you would like to contribute an article or assist
in the editing call Richard Biel at 955-2900 or send me a message via e-mail
to rcb@hou.stress.com. We'll make it easy for e-mail to Richard Biel: by
clicking here
We need your participation in ASME activities. We'll even bring ASME meetings to your facility - just leave any of the officers e-mail messages in our mail boxes at our web site http://www.barringer1.com/asme-nwh.htm and we'll handle the rest. Each of us can find dozens of good reasons for not participating in ASME. However we gain as individuals and we gain for our oganizations by participating in ASME activities.
The contacts you make with experts at ASME meetings is valuable for reaching out for assistance. At ASME meetings the advice/suggestions/contacts you get doesn't cost you anything-clearly the price is right. Well nothing is really free-because you've got to invest time and effort to make things happen. We need a little of your time and some of your good ideas to grow the Northwest Houston Subsection. Come participate with us-if you don't, your competitors will take advantage of the benefits-so get on board or obsolescence will take its toll. Can your afford to be left behind for the small price of ASME involvement?
South Texas Sub Sections have developed into diverse operating groups, several with focused technical themes. With this recognition Technical Chapters were established to provide additional linkage and support of these activities. The transition has increased the distinction and responsibility of the related Chapter and Sub Section. We are fortunate to have the level of activity to support this environment. Our NWHSS supports two Technical Chapters: Applied Mechanics, currently led by Keith Mott; and Plant Engineering/Maintenance currently led by Richard Ellis.
Possibly the greatest benefit of these functioning units is to provide opportunity to participate in the management of the unit. This "off the job" leadership training is a valuable asset in our professional lives. By participating we can interact and work with great people outside of our routine corporate culture. We learn by doing.
Leadership travels in two directions. First, we provide a place for experienced Section leaders to be re-cycled and stay involved. Second, we provide training for the move up to larger responsibilities of Section management.
Previous NWHSS Chairs have included Dr. Joe Fowler and Phil Carpentier, both are well known in the ASME community and for their achievements in the Petroleum Division. Phil is currently our Region X Vice President. He has been very successful in representing our Membership on a national level. Our current two term Chair, Paul Barringer is a previous Chair of the Applied Mechanics Technical Chapter. His contributions and leadership have essential to the success of our Sub Section.
Will you help and be a part of this heritage? As this Subsection expands in activity so does the opportunity to participate. Paul Barringer has really done a great job developing and maintaining the subsection web site. Check it out for additional information and some neat hyperlinks to subjects of interest to mechanical engineers.
Every year, ASME members convene at the Astroarena for reviewing and awarding the best Senior Division science fair projects in the Science Engineering Fair of Houston. This year the judging will be on Friday evening, April 4 starting at 5:30pm. Come out and meet some fellow members, have some fun, and help encourage and reward the up and coming engineering students. If you are interested, we would sure enjoy having you join us! Call Donnie Curington, 281-955-2900 to sign up.
Membership in ASME is encouraged but not required to participate in the activities of the Northwest Houston Subsection!
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 1997 Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Hughes Christensen, The Woodlands* Dinner: $10.00 for barbecue or bring your own ($0.00)
Topic: The Space Shuttle Challenger as a Model to Change Organizational Behavior
Speaker: Roger Boisjoly Roger was the Challenger accident whistle blower concerning O-Ring problems.
Reservations and inquiries to: Richard Biel, phone 281-955-2900 or e-mail rcb@hou.stress.com
Please reserve your spot by Monday Noon, March 17.
April 25, 1997 Lunch --Richard Ellis - Business Internet Web Sites
May 22, 1997 Lunch --Donnie Curington - Interactive Web pages.
Due to short notice and lack of funds to mail a formal meeting announcement to the membership, the next meeting notices will be posted on the NWHSS web site at http://www.barringer1.com/asme-nwh.htm
The Northwest Houston Subsection has set a new mark in TTT points. The Thompson Traveling Trophy points for this year are 430 and still counting. This is far more than the 336 points we had for 1996.
We compete with other subsections for the TTT. Each year the subsection with the highest score wins the competition. "What counts for the score?" you may ask. TTT points are awarded to the units of ASME Region X that further the goals of the society. These goals are in the following areas: Attendance at Regional Activity Conferences, Programs (meetings), Membership Interest, History and Heritage, Professional Development, Industry Relations, Honors and Awards, Education and Innovative Activity. This year, the maximum points available are 2700. You can see that we have more room for growth.
In order for us to improve, the NWH Subsection needs more workers to carry the message of ASME and have fun in technical fellowship.
We are looking forward to next year so that we can set yet another record! Be a part of one of the fastest growing ASME subsections on earth.
Anyone interested in the activities of the subsection is encouraged to vote. Anyone voting will be considered a member of the subsection whether a member of ASME or not! You are encouraged to make copies of the ballot for your friends and associates. The enclosed ballot is for officers for the upcoming 1997 - 1998 ASME year. It gives you a vote and a voice in subsection activities. Use your vote! Encourage others to join in!
The names listed were chosen by the nominating committee during their meeting on February 13, 1997. The nominating committee selections for candidates do not constitute an "automatic" election. You are encouraged to use the write-in selection for officers. Ballots must be returned by March 31, 1997 to be counted.
Voting Procedure:
1. Mark the ballot with your votes for the listed offices.
2. Sign your name.
3. PRINT your name and preferred mailing address, phone, fax, and e-mail numbers.
4. Add suggestions for meeting topics, meeting places, "How can the subsection serve you?"
Mail your ballot in a long envelope and mail to the following address:
ASME Election Committee
2010 Briarstem Drive
Houston, TX 77077-5339
or
FAX to: Richard Biel 281-955-2638
or
e-mail your vote to: rcb@hou.stress.com
Your name and comments will be separated from the ballot before the votes are counted.
Webmaster's Note: The ballot shows the following names (with space for write-in votes for each office):
Vice Chair/Programs: Wade Vinson
Secretary: Donnie W. Curington
Treasurer: Edmond I. Bailey, Ph.D., P.E.
Without Mechanical Engineers you would be doing a lot of low tech things like:
Engineers have a different mission than scientists:
Rarely can you find an area of everyday life that has not been influenced
by the efforts of mechanical engineers. ASME members in the NW part of
Houston plant to make your life better every day by their technical efforts.
Historical Review of NWHSS, Part 4 by Richard S. Boswell, P.E. (From the March 1997 Northwest Houston Subsection Newsletter)
South Texas Sub Sections have developed into diverse operating groups, several with focused technical themes. With this recognition Technical Chapters were established to provide additional linkage and support of these activities. The transition has increased the distinction and responsibility of the related Chapter and Sub Section. We are fortunate to have the level of activity to support this environment. Our NWHSS supports two Technical Chapters: Applied Mechanics, currently led by Keith Mott; and Plant Engineering/Maintenance currently led by Richard Ellis.
Possibly the greatest benefit of these functioning units is to provide opportunity to participate in the management of the unit. This "off the job" leadership training is a valuable asset in our professional lives. By participating we can interact and work with great people outside of our routine corporate culture. We learn by doing.
Leadership travels in two directions. First, we provide a place for experienced Section leaders to be re-cycled and stay involved. Second, we provide training for the move up to larger responsibilities of Section management.
Previous NWHSS Chairs have included Dr. Joe Fowler and Phil Carpentier, both are well known in the ASME community and for their achievements in the Petroleum Division. Phil is currently our Region X Vice President. He has been very successful in representing our Membership on a national level. Our current two term Chair, Paul Barringer is a previous Chair of the Applied Mechanics Technical Chapter. His contributions and leadership have essential to the success of our Sub Section.
Will you help and be a part of this heritage? As this Subsection expands in activity so does the opportunity to participate. Paul Barringer has really done a great job developing and maintaining the subsection web site. Check it out for additional information and some neat hyperlinks to subjects of interest to mechanical engineers.
Historical Review of NWHSS , Part 3 (From the October 1996 Northwest Houston Subsection Newsletter) by Richard S. Boswell, P.E.
Our South Texas Section developed the concept of focused Study Groups which were well attended by the members. These were scheduled immediately after the monthly Section meeting at HESS downtown. Sub Sections were developed as hosts of these technical Study Groups. Officers were elected and their job was to represent specific assignments of postal Zip codes in our area. Eventually, the Study Groups were promoted to Technical Chapters with sponsorship by Technical Divisions. This is why Technical Chapters, Study Groups, and Sub Sections are "kissing cousins", and all part of the same big family.
As a the North West Houston Sub Section, we have meetings to serve our membership. We also sponsor two Technical Chapters, and will promote and encourage any interest you have with new ones.
Last week [September 28, 1996] we hosted Boy Scout Explorer Troop #550 from Lake Jackson for a discussion of bridge building relevant to contests they have with other Posts locally and nationally. This was an impressive group of high school boys and girls, and they were "lectured" on stress and strain, and truss analysis. They toured a large structural testing lab. And with the compliments of Engineering Cybernetics, they were given a complete Student Edition of ANSYS finite element software to perform designs of bridges with. Lots of Science Fair material there. Our thanks to Bill Baker and Brad Williamson of ECI for their donation, and to Stress Engineering Services for the Saturday morning tour.
Historical Review of NWHSS ,Part 2 (From the September 1996 Northwest Houston Subsection Newsletter) by Richard S. Boswell, P.E.
Time passes by faster than we can keep up, especially technology time. This perception increases as we age. When we were younger, who cared? As we traveled the path, we participated in the advancement of this phenomena as Mechanical Engineers. Eventually we find the calmer eddies and appreciate the pace of the flow around us. Technical feats are often appreciated better from a distance, especially when they are highlighted as Historical Engineering Landmarks. My favorite is the 610 Locomotive now living at the Texas State Railroad Museum. For more information on this and our other ASME Landmarks, check out the ASME web page on the Internet. Look for Public Affairs and then History & Heritage Landmarks. Enjoy the experience of modern computer technology as it brings the past back in the form of historical accounts.
As a Subsection, we made our own bookmark in history last May by having two different meetings on the same day. Both were well attended with a different audience in each. We are encouraged that our geographic area as a Subsection can support numerous opportunities to gather. Our goal is to become active in all of North Harris County, including Kingwood and in Montgomery County areas such as The Woodlands. Please make an effort to gather and lead in this organization. Make a history that will last.
Historical Review of NWHSS , Part 1 (From the April 1996 Northwest Houston Subsection Newsletter) by Richard S. Boswell, P.E.
When I was Chair of our South Texas Section at the start of this decade, I developed a great appreciation of the active membership in our ASME, as well as an understanding of what has brought us to today's organizational structure. I have been privileged to know you and to have been a small part of your history. Now, my task is to shepherd the news into a historical rendering, and to dig out the old news that arrived without notice and passed on to a dusty and obscure cubbyhole. Help me if you can, because I was not there for all of the work you have done, and the opportunities happening now.
The South Texas Section (STS) is comprised of the Section and many Sub Sections. Combined, you are the largest . Period. You are 1/3 of the Great International Southwest Region X and you are a significant percentage (~4%) of all of the ASME membership. Many of you are leaders who determine how our organization operates. You are important people within ASME International.
Your membership dues are partially returned to the Section through an allocation formula. These funds support our Section Newsletter and meeting activities. However, most of the local operation funding is provided through your participation in local Professional Development Courses, without which we would certainly be more humble and less active. A while back, we figured out that we were financially penalized by our large size, and we created Sub Sections. People such as Al Woelfel, Sam Collier, and Keith Thayer were there, and they campaigned to get your membership money back for local use. Phil Carpentier is doing this now from his position as Regional Vice President.
Sub Sections are determined by ZIP codes, and if you received this Newsletter, you are probably in northwest Harris County. That is where the line stops. Montgomery County and surrounding communities are not yet included in our Sub Section, but we are working on this. If you are not assigned to a Sub Section, then you do not have dual membership and are only a member of STS.
As a Sub Section, you have power just like the Section does with a membership of approximately 250 people. You have a funded seat at the Regional Administrative Conference each year to vote on National Agenda Items. You have a seat on the STS Executive Committee. You sponsor two Technical Chapters: Applied Mechanics and Plant Engineering & Maintenance. Until this year, your meetings were held in conjunction with the STS meeting in town.
Now, you have an opportunity to develop and conduct meetings where you live and perhaps work. This year under the leadership of Paul Barringer, you have held two lunch meetings to review current issues of personal computer technology. There is one more meeting this season, a double hitter if you will. One at lunch and another in the evening to review some valuable fundamentals of meeting management and teamwork solutions. Then we regroup, take a vacation, and start again in September. Plan to attend and be a part of this. We need your support.
Membership will cost you ~$85/year. That's a lot of $s! It's an investment for your professional development--you can invest $0 and save bucks, but of course you get just what you paid for. The dues for ASME reflect the amount of money it takes the organization to deliver programs and servic7es that help ASME members in the business career. You'll get a good return on your $85/year investment--particularly if you participate in some of the activities for professional development.
So you don't have time to participate and you think joining ASME without adequate participation time is just a waste of your money? Think about your participation in ASMEs insurance programs, web site publications, government programs, codes and standards, and a host of other features that will save you time and money by not reinventing the wheel. All ASME members are busy folks and you'll find many ways to receive a return on your dues that don't include spending a lot of time attending meetings.
Gee, I'd like to spend some time with ASME members, but I already belong
to X, Y, and Z technical societies. OK so times are tough for you and you'll
need every networking contact you can get to maximize your job enhancement
opportunities. So think about networking through ASME meetings and conferences--you
never know where that important link will give you the boost you need for
building a better career. Value exists through ASME membership for increasing
your impact in a variety of efforts to promote your personal marketing
skills. You'll get good benefits by joining ASME just as with other X,
Y, and Z memberships.
These Notes From The Chair appear in the Northwest Houston Subsection Newsletter.
March 1997:
We need your participation in ASME activities. We'll bring meetings
to your facility--just leave any of the officers e-mail messages in our
mail boxes at http://www.barringer1.com/asme-nwh.htm and we'll handle
the rest. Each of us can find dozens of good reasons for not participating
in ASME. However we gain as individuals and we gain for our organizations
by participating in ASME activities.
The contacts you make with experts at ASME meetings are valuable when reaching out for assistance. At ASME meetings the advice/suggestions/contacts you get doesn't cost you anything--clearly the price is right. Well, nothing is really free--because you've got to invest time and effort to make things happen. We need a little of your time and some of your good ideas to grow the Northwest Houston ASME Subsection. Come participate with us--if you don't, your competitors will surely take advantage of the benefits--so get on board or learn to live with obsolescence. Can you afford to be left behind for the small price of ASME involvement?
October 1996:
The executive committee of the chapter is trying to take our chapter
"high tech" by use of the Internet. We believe this is in concert with
ASME's goal of transmitting new technical events to our members. The number
of ASME members with e-mail and Internet capabilities is growing by the
day. We want the Northwest Houston Subsection to be ready in implementing
"Engines Of Our Ingenuity" for a technical society.
Check out our web site at http://www.barringer1.com/asme-nwh.htm and you find a variety of items that may interest you. In particular, check out our program schedule.
To help us reduce the cost of running the subsection, we'd like to communicate with you by e-mail. Please surf the site and leave us your e-mail address so we can reduce our mailing costs and provide you quick updates on coming attractions.
If you haven't had experience with e-mail and the Internet, join us on October 16 for an hour of show and tell about the Internet from two perspectives: 1) A user and 2) An Internet Provider. During the meeting, we'll build a quick page listing the meeting attendees, and you can see your name "in lights" on the Internet. Who knows, this show and tell may become our next addition to the Web Site so we can click on members names and send e-mail!
September 1996:
We are looking forward to a year of technical fellowship and some fun
in the Northwest Houston Subsection. The subsection has made progress since
our last newsletter. We had a good turnaout for the doubleheader meeting
featuring training on effective meetings and team problem solving. We hope
that the technical fellowship is interesting to the participants so that
they are encouraged to continue with us. Also of note are the articles
submitted by Richard Boswell and Richard Biel.
We invite you to help us grow as a subsection so that all can benefit from your participation. We welcome your suggestions for meeting topics, meeting times and locations so that we can increase our coverage.
Our next meeting date is announced in this newsletter. Come join us for the presentation which we think is the first of its kind at Compaq.
April 1996:
The Northwest Houston Subsection of ASME made considerable progress during the '95-'96 year. We had organizational meetings, programs, and participation in numerous activities. We scored 336 points on ASME's Thompson Traveling Trophy compared to previous years when scores were much lower--we think we were the most improved subsection in our region. The TTT is a standardized scoring system within Region X for measuring both activities and accomplishments for ASME sections/subsections/technical chapters. Super active sections/subsections score above 1700 points (out of 2700 points available) so we have much room for future growth, and we need your assistance.
For the Northwest Houston Subsection to grow, we need your interest and participation. Please send us your ideas for meeting subjects, times, and locations. Use the "suggestions" space on your ballot for the '96-'97 officers. Also tell us if you're interested in being a speaker or offering a plant tour at your company. We're soliciting your comments. We need at least one idea from each ASME member.
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Phone:
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e-mail to Wade Vinson: by
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clicking hereThe South Texas Section has a dynamic organization made-up of the following subsections and technical chapters:
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