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Kenneth H. Rosenfield, P.E.
President’s Message
ASCE Orange County Branch
2008-2009
I thank you for the opportunity and privilege to serve the Orange County Branch of the Los Angeles Section of ASCE as your President for the 2008
-2009 year. The Orange County Branch is the best and most active Branch in all of California, ASCE Region 9, and one of the very best ASCE groups in
the entire Country! We can all be proud of the Branch’s legacy and current programs in support of all of
our members. When one reviews the list of Past Presidents of this organization, it is a Who’s Who
listing of the brightest and best Civil Engineers that have worked in the County and provided their time and efforts to ASCE. As an ASCE member, you are a part of this fine legacy.
This organization operates on the volunteer model and only operates with the generous time given by
many of our members, your fellow professionals. Only you can make this Branch even better and only
you can get out of this organization what you put into it. Our Branch has many opportunities for
volunteerism and I invite you to become a regular participant in the Branch and Section activities. Please
contact me for an opportunity to enhance your professional career and lend support to this outstanding
organization. And, should we call upon you for assistance, please consider helping out. Some would say
there is no higher calling to help one another and, in this spirit, I invite you to join one of any number of our standing Committees that can be found on this web site.
In the coming year, this Board will emphasize the valuable relationships we have with our student
groups at the University of California, Irvine, California State University Fullerton, and California State
University Long Beach. Together, these students represent our future and they deserve our continuing
support. In addition to our Student Outreach Committee work, this Board will also place a high priority
on public relations, on legislative affairs and on infrastructure renewal. We will step up our efforts to
issue press releases about Civil Engineering accomplishments in Orange County and maintain regular
contact with the press. Our Legislative Committee will continue to actively track statewide legislation
that impacts our profession in concert with the Los Angeles Section and Region 9 efforts. We will
participate in the ASCE legislative action day in Sacramento in early 2009, regularly monitor legislative
initiatives and provide our insight to Legislators. Much of the State legislation that we monitor applies to
the urgent need for infrastructure renewal. In an era of declining budgets, it is more important than ever
to raise awareness about infrastructure funding gaps and the need to re-invest for our future. We have
committees that work on all of these issues and I ask you to step up, volunteer a few hours per month, and become a part of these most important efforts.
From my early years associated with ASCE, I acquired a copy of the Code of Ethics and this Code has
guided my participation in Civil Engineering since the beginning of my career. The Code has since been
amended to improve its reach and it is now available on line. We, as members of ASCE, are bound by the Code of Ethics and the current version of the Code can be viewed at http://www.asce.org/inside/codeofethics.cfm. This Code provides the underpinnings of the public’s confidence in Civil
Engineers and is hopefully referred to in your regular business practices. But, beyond that, the Code
should be shared with clients and emphasized as the practices that we all follow. The public’s knowledge
of Civil Engineering and our high ethical standards will serve to promote our profession and further the betterment of our society.
The Orange County Branch has longevity that many other professional organizations envy. A part of
this longevity is the result of the consistency of this organization and our excellent monthly lunch
meetings. We will continue the monthly programs and you are encouraged to take advantage of the
learning opportunities that we provide. We have a great line-up of speakers throughout the year and
your suggestions for programs are also invited. The Orange County Branch enters this year in good
financial and operating condition thanks to the prior Board members and all of the fine efforts of our volunteers. With your continued support, this will be another terrific year!
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