Eric W. Tappert PE
Eric W. Tappert PE

Eric W. Tappert, PE
Spring has sprung, sort of… After a long winter it is pleasurable to relate that the activities of your society have been downright warming. February saw our chapters’ regional MATHCOUNTS competitions display the excellence of the next generation of engineers and scientists. Anyone who attended these events couldn’t help but be totally blown away with the performance of our Mathletes. The Pennsylvania state-wide competition pitted the best from the regional competition against each other on March 28th. It was truly awesome.
February also saw Engineers’ Week celebrations across the Commonwealth, many sponsored by PSPE local chapters. Deserving engineers received awards and banquets prevailed. It was a grand celebration of a grand profession.
There were no breaks from the action in April. PSPE’s Boot Camp East was held in Valley Forge with about 200 engineers receiving up to 24 professional development hours toward their license renewal in September. PSPE Boot Camp West is being held June 7 – 9 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh-Cranberry. Visit www.pspe.org for details. If that’s not enough continuing education for you, you’ll have another chance at the PSPE Annual Conference in September in Cranberry Township. That event will also feature an Order of the Engineer Ceremony as well as the annual banquet and installation of officers.
Speaking of the Order of the Engineer, an induction ceremony was held by the Wilkes University student chapter where 52 (count ‘em, fifty-two!) graduating seniors were inducted into the order. A similar event is being planned for Villanova graduates by the PSPE Villanova Student Chapter. It is rewarding to provide assistance to the next generation of outstanding engineers by introducing them to our professional ethics.
Meanwhile, back in Harrisburg, we are once again introducing a bill to bring the Registration Law up to date and require licensure for engineers currently under the industrial exemption. There are host of other issues being carefully watched to protect your license; details are available on our website. Check the NSPE website as there are a court decisions in other states that could set dangerous precedents for licensees around the country. NSPE is submitting friend of the court briefs in these cases to help protect the licenses of all professional engineers.
All in all it has been a busy winter with the promise of even busier seasons to come. All of which is part of PSPE’s charter to speak for the professional engineer in Pennsylvania and promote our distinguished profession to the next generations. Feel free to join in the excitement and pass the word on to your colleagues about the benefits of membership.