I believe the season has officially changed. And by “officially,” I mean what I experience in my own lived environment, my personal truth. Never mind the calendar. Never mind the blooming plants and my raging allergies. We had the rain, we had the cold, and then, seemingly overnight, summer arrived in full force. Now we have 85-degree days, AC units blasting their winter dust, and me wondering if that Goldilocks lunchtime walk (not too cold, not too hot) will ever materialize. Spring has sprung? No, spring was skipped and summer has fully arrived.

As I write this, I am sitting poolside at my son’s first swim meet for the season (time trials). I woke up far too early, waited hours and hours, volunteered a good chunk of my day, and was rewarded with watching my decidedly non-athletic child swim for approximately 30 seconds for just a few heats. I could say sarcastically what a joy it is to be a parent, but honestly? I find myself genuinely enjoying these bizarre, tortuous days, and that is how late spring starts for me.

And what does late spring means for SEAOCC? GOLF! Well, not for me — I prefer the miniature version— but many of our members are spending the glorious month of May outdoors, soaking up their vitamin D and G(olf). Our YMF kicked off the season with a trip to Top Golf, and by all accounts it was a great time. Many thanks to Catherine Moore for taking the lead in coordinating that event. I was unable to stop by, but I heard wonderful things from attendees.

For the more serious golfers among us, our annual golf tournament is coming up on May 14th. A peek behind the scenes in our database confirms this will once again be a well-attended event. Many thanks to Nick Herskedal for making this such a fun and must-do community tradition, and all the SEAOCC golfers, their guests, and donors for supporting this event.  Proceeds will go towards scholarships for students.   Also, have I mentioned our amazing volunteers in these pages before? 

On the awards front, Vice President Alban Gjongecaj has been hard at work organizing the SEE Awards and our June dinner meeting. I’ve heard the judges have met and winners have been selected. I can’t wait to SEE the results! Winners will advance to the state level, where we’ll celebrate their entries and hopefully add even more accolades at the state convention. Be sure to sign up for this outstanding event at the always top-notch Mulvaney’s in downtown Sacramento. Yes, you need to buy a ticket, but this event is heavily subsidized by SEAOCC and our generous sponsors, so we truly hope to see you there.

The June meeting isn’t just an awards celebration; it also honors all of SEAOCC’s incredible volunteers. As my term winds down, one of the clearest things I’ve learned about myself in this role is how much I love SEAOCC volunteers. They are simply good people: smart, honest, generous, and dedicated. They deserve every accolade we can give them.

The June dinner meeting is also when we recognize those who have gone above and beyond for our organization and profession with the distinguished title of SEAOCC Fellow. I don’t yet know who our fellows have chosen this year, but it will be announced at the dinner meeting, and I’m certain it will be well deserved.

Looking back at recent events, a heartfelt thank-you to Tim Nelson from Degenkolb for speaking at our May dinner meeting. Tim is a recognized leader in shoring and construction engineering, and I’m grateful he shared his expertise with our membership. I hope everyone left with more knowledge than when they arrived.

In other local news, Laura Rice and the mighty Bylaws Committee have completed the bylaws update and voting process and all sections passed! We are now officially in the 21st century with digital voting. And as a female engineer in a thankfully growing minority, I’m particularly pleased to note that engineers are no longer referred to as “him” in our bylaws. It’s a small thing, but it means a great deal to some of us. Thank you.

You should have one more survey item in your inbox: the annual SEAOCC elections ballot. I know, the competition looks fierce (sarcasm), but we genuinely appreciate your participation. Please complete your ballot by May 31st and show your favorite candidates some support.

At the state level, SEAOC is working hard on a more centralized, unified membership experience, including a new Association Management System called Novi. The first member organization to onboard will be SEAOSC — and SEAOCC plans to follow once they’ve worked out the kinks for us. 

At the national level, NCSEA will hold its annual Leadership Week in Chicago later this month. NCSEA no longer uses a delegate structure, but SEAOCC maintains two representatives at the national level: our President and Vice President. Historically, our Vice President attends this leadership event, and this year Alban will represent SEAOCC as part of his transition into the presidential leadership role.

Having attended last year myself, I can say it’s an excellent opportunity to connect with structural engineering leaders from across the country, share challenges and successes, and learn about the unique issues facing our profession in different regions. Feel free to ask Alban how it went when you see him at our June membership meeting.

And with that, I’ll wrap up this newsy newsletter. Thank you all for your contributions to this profession and our community. I look forward to seeing you and celebrating you at our fancy dinner in June.

Warmly,

Sonia Eliseo, SE

SEAOCC President