ITE councils--gateways to knowledge and advancement

Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal, Nov 2000

Members belonging to one or more of the ITE Councils saw their services and programs continue to expand during 2000. As a result, membership in ITE Councils has continued to grow. Approximately 3,950 Institute members and about 200 companies have joined at least one ITE Council.

Council members have found that keeping up-to-date on issues and activities within their major disciplines is one of the major benefits of belonging to an ITE Council. Council newsletters, Internet listservs and special mailings to members provide them with news, announcements, answers to questions, proposed legislation and regulations, opportunities to provide input, announcements of Council projects and opportunities to become involved in those activities. To enhance these communication activities, the Councils are actively gathering e-mail addresses so they can quickly convey critical and time-sensitive information. If ITE does not have your e-mail address, please send it via e-mail to Shawn Harbaugh at sharbaugh@ite.org. Please remember to include your fill mailing address in the e-mail to ensure that the database is updated correctly.

The more than 150 activities currently underway by the Councils include the development of standards and recommended practices for the profession, informational reports, handbooks, sessions for meetings and conferences, seminars, issue briefings, awards, tours, etc. These activities are coordinated through the ITE Coordinating Council, led by Chair Thomas E Larwin and Vice Chair Wayne K. Tanda. The Coordinating Council also manages joint Council activities, such as the development of the ITE Spring Conference and Exhibit, and Annual Meeting and Exhibit programs.

In 2001, ITE Councils will be addressing a number of "priority issues" such as transportation management and operations, providing transportation in societal context, safety, ITE membership development, and transportation workforce promotion and development along with a wide variety of other issues of importance to ITE members. For additional information on activities associated with these issues or any other issues being undertaken by ITE's Councils, see ITE's Web site at www.ite.org or contact Russell W. Houston at rhouston@ite.org or +1202/554-8050, ext. 144.

Some of the 2000 highlights from each Council are summarized below.

Membership in ITE Councils is open to any ITE member. If you are an ITE member, you may join as many Councils as you have an interest in. Simply indicate the Council(s) you wish to join on your 2001 ITE dues form and mail it along with the Council dues payment(s) to ITE Headquarters.

If you would like to become involved in one or more Council activities, contact ITE Headquarters (+1202/554-8050; fax: +1202/863-5486), the Council chair, or the leader of the specific project in which you are interested (see the Council section in the About ITE section of the ITE Web site at www.ite.org). If you have an activity of your own in mind, feel free to suggest it.