Good afternoon,
I hope you all fared well during Hurricane Ian. We fared ok here at ACEC-HQ, but we realize others may have not.
ACEC-SC was put on alert on Friday evening by emergency management. During the State of Emergency, engineers can volunteer to do assessments, inspections and other duties thanks to the Volunteer Engineers Act we passed years ago. When the State of Emergency is called, engineering associations and professional societies are third in line (behind the State and the State Guard Engineering Detachment). Luckily, the damage must not have been too bad, as I have not heard anything since Friday night.
President Jeff Mulliken (CarolinaTEA) and I attended yesterday’s South Carolina Civil Justice Coalition’s (SCCLR) membership meeting. At the meeting, we heard from SCCLR’s Chair Leslie Clark (CarolinasAGC), President Tom Mullikin, JD (Mullikin Law Firm), and retired General Mark Martins, JD. He is doing in-depth research into South Carolina's legal system. The Coalition has drafted a bill to deal with Joint and Several Liability and will work on finding sponsors soon. The path forward was discussed. ACEC-SC and many Coalition and Business community members sent letters to the House Republican Caucus asking for this issue to be in their top five issues they want to see passed in the 125th General Assembly. Click here to see the letter from ACEC-SC and click here to see the letter from the Coalition.
Joint and Several is a complicated issue. Click here to watch a video on what the SC Fair Share Act is trying to fix.
As we look toward the 125th General Assembly, we know two bills that are the highest on our priority list. Those bills are the Fair Share Act and ACEC-SC’s “Designer Fair Contracting Act”/Indemnity and Duty to Defend legislation (S.422 during the 124th General Assembly). ACEC-SC is not the only membership organization fighting for “Designer Fair Contracting.” ACEC-SC, ACEC-NJ, and ACEC-WI have been awarded an ACEC Minute Man Fund Grant for ACEC to have two videos made on the issue - one video to easily explain the issue to its members and one to easily explain to legislators. Click here to read talking points on the Designer Fair Contracting Act.
The ACEC-SC Political Action Committee Trustees will vote on Thursday on which candidates to support as we approach the elections. Trustees will look at prior voting records, business friendliness, and other issues when making decisions. We will be scheduling in-district meetings to deliver these contributions soon. We hope to schedule one – three lunches in larger areas and invite legislators to come to us. Please join if you can. We will keep you posted on these.
Speaking of the PAC, our Future Leaders raised a good deal of money for the ACEC PAC with their Wooden Car Derby this summer with the Boys Scouts of America. Every year ACEC-SC raises close to $13,000.00 for the ACEC PAC. These dollars go to our Congressional Delegation for their reelection campaigns. The Future Leader's efforts took a lot off the burden of the membership, so help ACEC-SC send the winning car and team leader to ACEC’s Fall Conference to race their car. ACEC-SC will be the first member organization ever to send some of its Future Leaders to a National event, and what a treat for their hard work it is. Click here to see the video about the derby, and click here to help support their trip to Colorado for the Fall Conference. Every dollar counts. Please help send them to race at the Broadmoor.
We have heard you and extended the deadline for the ACEC-SC Engineering Excellence Awards Notice of Intent. Click here to fill out your Engineering Excellence Awards Notice of Intent.
ACEC-SC has a busy fall. We have several events on the horizon. The National Steel Bridge Alliance and ACEC-SC are hosting Steel Bridge Forum. This all-day seminar focuses on steel bridges and will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott on Assembly Street on November 8, 2022. Click here for the schedule and registration information.
The ACEC-SC / SCDOT Annual Meeting is on December 14, 2022. We are finalizing the agenda, but registration, sponsorships, and exhibit space are now open. Click here to sponsor and or exhibit. Click here to register.
As you can see, we have a lot going on, and we are working hard to give our members the return on investment they deserve.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Thanks,
Adam B. Jones
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Events:
October 6, 2022
ACEC-SC Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 AM
Davis & Floyd HQ in Columbia, SC
October 7, 2022
ACEC-SC Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Notice of Intent Due
October 15, 2022
NSBE's STEMapalooza
Charleston, SC
Volunteer here
October 16-19, 2022
ACEC National Fall Conference
The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO
October 19, 2022
ACEC-SC EEA Notices of Intent Due
Submit here
October 27, 2022
ACEC-SC Transportation Committee Meeting
2:00 PM
Michael Baker Int'l HQ in Columbia, SC
November 3, 2022
ACEC-SC Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 AM
Davis & Floyd HQ in Columbia, SC
November 8, 2022
Steel Bridge Forum
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Courtyard Marriott
Columbia, SC
Register here
November 11, 2022
ACEC-SC Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Materials Due
ACEC-SC HQ
November 14, 2022
Lowcountry Golf Tournament
The Golf Club At Wescott Plantation
Oyster Roast & Live Music to Follow
Register here
November 18, 2022
ACEC-SC Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) Judging
(TENTATIVE)
December 14, 2022
ACEC-SC/SCDOT Annual Meeting
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
Sponsor/Exhibitor: register
General Attendee: register
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ACEC-SC Future Leaders to ACEC National for Derby Competition
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The ACEC-SC Future Leaders is a great program. This year’s class chose to give back to the Boy Scouts of America and the ACEC Political Action committee as their class project.
Every year ACEC-SC raises close to $13,000.00 for the ACEC PAC. These dollars go to our Congressional Delegation for their reelection campaign. The Class of 2021-2022 put on a Wooden Car Derby with the Boys Scouts of America (BSA). They reached out to BSA, set up sponsorship opportunities, built cars, and had the BSA come to help run the races.
The Future Leader's efforts took a lot of the burden raising $13,000.00 off the ACEC-SC membership. To reward them for their hard work, ACEC-SC is sending the winning car and team leader to ACEC’s Fall Conference to race their car. ACEC-SC will be the first Member Organization ever to send some of its Future Leaders to a National event.
Click here to see the video about the derby, and click here to help support their trip to Colorado for the Fall Conference. Every dollar counts. Please help send them to race at the Broadmoor.
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Infrastructure Law Will Help Unlock South Carolina’s Offshore Wind Energy Potential
South Carolina is moving forward with an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes significant investments in offshore wind exploration and development, which is good news for our economy, as well as the future of energy production in the Palmetto State. The passage of H. 4831 earlier this summer is a clear indicator that state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are ready to unlock our state’s offshore wind energy potential.
Click here to continue reading.
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ACEC-SC Extends Engineering Excellence Notice of Intent Deadline
ACEC-SC, members, we have heard you and we have extended the deadline for the ACEC-SC Engineering Excellence Awards Notice of Intent. Click here to fill out your Engineering Excellence Awards Notice of Intent.
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ACEC-SC/NSBA Steel Bridge Forum
The National Steel Bridge Alliance and ACEC-SC are hosting Steel Bridge Forum. This all-day seminar focuses on steel bridges and will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott on Assembly Street on November 8, 2022. Click here for the schedule and registration information.
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ACEC-SC Coastal Golf Tournament & Oyster Roast
The ACEC-SC Fall Golf & Oyster Roast is on November 14, 2022. You don't have to play golf to come to the Oyster Roast. We will be at Wescott Plantation for both. Click here to register for golf, the oyster roast, or both. Proceeds from the Golf Tournament and Oyster Roast will help ACEC-SC implement its strategic plan and increase our legislative influence. We will be inviting legislators to join us at the Oyster Roast, and we'll have live music from the bluegrass band Blue Plantation.
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25th Annual ACEC-SC/SCDOT Annual Meeting
The ACEC-SC / SCDOT Annual Meeting is on December 14, 2022. We are finalizing the agenda, but are happy to announce our Keynote Speaker. Jack Uldrich is a Futurist and speaker who will give us an idea of what the future in infrastructure may look like. Help us make the 25th Anniversary ACEC-SC/SCDOT Annual Meeting our best yet. Registration, sponsorships, and exhibit space are now open. Click here to sponsor and or exhibit. Click here to register.
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Nominations for Alternative Delivery (formerly Design Build) Now Open
ACEC-SC/SCDOT/CAGC Alternative Delivery - Nominations
The ACEC-SC Alternative Delivery subcommittee is now accepting nominations for the ACEC-SC/SCDOT/CAGC Alternative Delivery subcommittee. Click here to see the guidelines for seating. Submit nominations by October 14, 2022, to subcommittees@acecsc.org.
Click here to submit your nominations.
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Submit Your Transportation Committee Subcommittee Nominations Now
ACEC-SC/SCDOT Transportation Committee - Subcommittee Nominations
The ACEC-SC Transportation Committee is now accepting nominations for the ACEC-SC/SCDOT Transportation Committee subcommittees. Click here to see the guidelines for seating. Submit nominations by October 14, 2022, to subcommittees@acecsc.org.
Click here to submit your nominations.
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NSBE's STEMapalooza - Volunteers Needed at ACEC-SC's Booth!
STEMapalooza is coming up on October 15, 2022. The event is FREE and great for all ages, so bring your families. ACEC-SC has made a coloring sheet to inspire kids to explore STEM careers. Download and print a copy for your own children. Once they've finished their masterpieces, we would love to see - tag us on social media!
We also need volunteers! If you'd like to help introduce kids to STEM, email Sarah Waldrop to let her know you'd like to assist at our booth.
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Mid Career PAC Campaign
As we put the primary elections behind us, it is time to look to the future. We lost seven incumbents and 14 other legislators to retirement this year. That is a lot of new faces and new names. ACEC-SC will launch its off-season lobbying effort next month, and it is time for you to get plugged in. You have reached the time in your career where you have settled in, you are seeing your hard work pay off, and you realize that the advancement of your industry helps you both professionally and personally.
Read more.
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Did you know ACEC can provide you with Life/Health Insurance, Business Insurance, and Retirement Insurance? Check out the ACEC Trusts here.
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