MGEC 2008 Annual Meeting - President Joe Pignato (MnDOT) (right) welcomed nearly 185 guests to the MGEC 40^th Anniversary Annual Meeting September 8^th at StoneRidge Golf Course. 

Committee Chair Pat Ferrin (MnDOA) (left) called for nominations for the Executive Board. Nominations are being accepted through September 30, 2008.  Open positions include: Secretary, Vice President, and five Directorships.  Nominate yourself by contacting us at mgec@mgec.org or call 651-774-0996.  Terms begin January 1, 2009 and last two years (three for VP progression).  The Board meets the 2^nd Monday of each month from 4:30-7:00 p.m. with dinner provided.  Serving on the Board offers you insight into MGEC, a direct voice in pertaining to terms and conditions of your employment, an opportunity to interact with agency leadership, leadership experience and more.  Contact us with your interest today!

 Congratulations to this year's award recipients:

Photo on left: Awards Committee Chair Len Leitner (MnDOT) (left) and President Pignato present the 2008 Golden Slide Rule Award to Dave Dahlberg (MnDOT) (center)

                                             



Ben Jilk (MnDOT) (above-center),
is awarded the
2008 Minetor Memorial Scholarship

Michael Scott (MnDOT) (above-center),
accepts the 2008 Family Member Scholarship
award on behalf of his son Justin Scott.

The second Family Member Scholarship was awarded
to Cody Beckes, son of Richard Beckes (MnDOT).

Legislative Committee Chair John Siekmeier (MnDOT) (right) informed the group of efforts to update the MGEC brochure.  MGEC is updating the material used to communicate to the administration, legislature and public, the diverse impact of the public engineers who work for the State and the collaborations among those engineers that result in innovations and better and more efficient service.  Members are asked to submit detailed story ideas to mgec@mgec.org.

Executive Director Dana Wheeler (left) summarizes MGEC activities in FY 2008.  Highlights included: additional budget savings, labor management meetings across agencies, increased use of the Engineer Principal classification; a collaborative comprehensive compensation study with the State; collaborative voice for engineering concerns at state legislature and congress; continued resolution of individual employee representation issues.  Wheeler was elected to serve a two-year term as Vice Chair of the Council of Scientists and Engineering Organizations (CESO), one of two national organizations (also National and State Highway Transportation Unions (NASHTU)) in which MGEC regularly participates to ensure that the concerns of employees working in engineering fields are heard.

At the September 15, 2008 CESO meeting, Congressman Bart Gordon (left) met with MGEC and other organizations to discuss the passage of  HR. 2272.  The America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science (COMPETES) Act, makes improvements to math and science education and strengthens the nation’s commitment to scientific research.  The discussion focused on: concerns over outsourcing technology, safeguarding American defense secrets, the continuing need for science education along with a need for competitive wages in the engineering fields if work is to be done in-country by Americans.  Such discussions need to address balancing those needs with the programmatic realities of the available international workforce at lower wages.