Thanks to everyone responsible for the 2003 ISPE / CEI (ACEC) annual meeting – it was a great success! If you did not attend the annual meeting this year, you missed some fabulous commentary on the controversial topic of continuing professional development (CPD). Many thanks to our CPD panel presenters including Bill Ancell, Kent Brown, David Couch, David Curtis (mediator), Dr. Jay Kunze, Mike Morrison, David O’Day, John Priester, Dr. Lynn Russell, and Dr. David Thompson. Other highlights: inspirational E-week luncheon presentation by Boise State University football coach Dan Hawkins; presentations by National Society of Professional Engineers President Howard Blitman; and music by the David Affleck Quartet. On our list of things for next year’s annual meeting: consecutive (versus simultaneous) ACEC and ISPE presentations; more world-class presenters; and, exploring alternative venues with functional indoor plumbing (not the Holiday Inn).

The CPD panel presentations at the 2003 annual meeting were outstanding, and convincing arguments were made for and against mandatory CPD. As you may know, ISPE has been focusing on this issue for the last year. Reference material, including the summary results of last years CPD survey, is presented on our website www.idahospe.org ("Connection" Newsletter Editions). ISPE is now seeking your opinion on whether or not to endorse mandatory CPD for Professional Engineers in Idaho. If adopted, a mandatory CPD program for Idaho Professional Engineers would be similar to the existing rule for Idaho Land Surveyors (see page five and six of this newsletter). Please take a close look at the attached rule (also available on the IBPELS website, www2.state.id.us/ipels). Then, complete the postcard questionnaire, stamp it, and mail it back to ISPE. Your response will determine the direction that ISPE will take on this issue. Thank you in advance for responding to this simple but important questionnaire.

On a final note, I would like to express my concern for those impacted by the Iraq war, and wish the soldiers a safe return home. In response to the continuing war in Iraq and the threats of homeland terrorism, NSPE has initiated a national Homeland Security / Infrastructure Security Task Force and encouraged ISPE’s participation (please refer to recent email). We need volunteers for this effort. If you are interested in helping with this program, please do not hesitate to email or call ISPE at ispe@rmci.net or 466-3420. If you telephone and no one answers, please leave a message. We promise to call you back!