24
American Traffic Safety Services Association
COMMITTEE
NEWS
Guardrail Committee
Chairman Brent Tewksbury thanked Paul Kelley, Virginia DOT, for his service on the committee.
He led a strategic planning discussion focusing on membership recruitment, government relations,
education and training.
ATSSA Director of Government Relations Nate Smith provided a government relations update,
which included ATSSA’s Bid Enforcement Policy and efforts to obtain grant money for guardrail
installation, inspection and design training. Joe Jones, of the Missouri DOT (MoDOT), provided
an update on the state of guardrail in his state. He also discussed MoDOT’s System-wide Safety
Focus program. Andy Artar, of Gregory Industries, Inc., updated the group about activities of the
NTPEP meeting. John Durkos, of Road Systems, Inc., informed attendees of ongoing NCHRP
research projects. He also reported that the next webinar in the Guardrail Committee series will
be “State of the Guardrail Industry: Legal Liability and Documentation.” Scheduling information
will be forthcoming.
ATSSA Chapter Presidents Council
The Chapter Presidents Council convened with 19 of the current 25 ATSSA chapters
represented. Three newly-chartered chapters (Chesapeake, Kentucky and New England) and
the reactivated Michigan Chapter were announced, and new chapter presidents and presidents-
elect were welcomed.
ATSSA President & CEO Roger Wentz presented a “special report” and discussion of the Federal
Highway Authority’s “Every Day Counts” program and State Transportation Innovation Councils
(STIC) that included activities and sample projects the chapters could engage in. ATSSA Associate
Director of Member Services Bob Felt provided an update about public agency memberships and
reviewed the roles of public agency officials in ATSSA. ATSSA Director of Member Services
Dan Williams followed with updates of chapters’ strategic plans, participation matrices,
committee and meeting schedules, followed by discussions of states’
QPL/APL information, chapter liaison evaluations, meeting
evaluations and “Top 3” referral forms.
Georgia ATSSA Chapter Past President and Board of Directors
Chairman Steve Hayes presented detailed information about his
efforts in getting the chapter’s 501(c)(6) status updated and annual tax
filing requirements. Northland Chapter President-elect Reed Leidle
spoke about the commitment required by chapter members and their
respective DOT officials for a successful “How-To.”
Williams reviewed the 2014 ATSSA Leadership Program and
provided information about the 2015 Leadership Program. The group
discussed chapters that offer scholarships to ATSSA’s Annual
Convention & Traffic Expo, Fly-In and Leadership Program, followed by chapter “assessments vs.
fundraisers” and webinar topics. Government Relations Director Nate Smith presented guidance
on Chapter/DOT Strategic Highway Safety Plan participation. Foundation Chairwoman Sue
Reiss gave an update on the Foundation’s programs and goals.
Council Chair Troy Hill advised the group that his term will be up during the 2015 Convention &
Traffic Expo meeting and solicited volunteers/nominations to succeed him. Several volunteers
stepped forward, and the Council will have a formal election before the end of the year. The Council
will also elect a vice chairman and appoint a secretary. Special thanks go to Council Secretary
Rob Buerer for serving an additional two-year term with superb meeting summaries and minutes.
Nearly all of the 25 ATSSA chapters were represented
at the Chapter Presidents Council during the Midyear
Meeting in Kansas City, Mo., August 20.
All committee meetings
were held at the
ATSSA Midyear Meeting
in Kansas City, Mo.,
August 20–22.
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