Society Notes - June 2004

1. OSPE takes care of business at 2004 Annual General Meeting

On Saturday, May 29, 2004 OSPE members, volunteers and staff gathered at the Carlisle Golf & Country Club in Carlisle, Ontario for this year’s Annual General Meeting. In one of his last official acts as OSPE President and Chair, Daniel J. Young, M.Eng., P.Eng. ran the meeting and offered a detailed retrospective on the Society's accomplishments throughout his tenure.

Mr. Young touched on membership growth and the many Society programs launched during our first months as a fully independent organization, completely separate from Professional Engineers Ontario.

“December 31, 2003 marked a critical milestone for the Society,” Mr. Young said. “We knew that by that date we had to establish ourselves as a strong, independent and viable organization, capable of representing the voice of Ontario engineers for many years to come. I am very pleased to tell you that this goal was successfully achieved.”

Mr. Young introduced the Society’s new CEO, Sharon Glover, who provided a brief report from the staff.
“Each day brings something new for your professional staff to consider and act upon,” Ms. Glover said. “As your support system, we are, of course, accountable to you. But we are also passionate about your cause. Believing in the engineering profession motivates everything we do each day.”

Following additional brief reports from the Society’s Nominations, Finance, and Audit and Investment Committees, members voted unanimously to accept a proposed bylaw revision. With the change to Bylaw 2, Article # 6 – Governance, 6.5. Nominations and Elections, 6.5.1., the number of supporting signatures required for OSPE election nominations has been reduced from twenty-five (25) to six (6).

The formal business of the day concluded with an opportunity for members to pose questions to members of the Board from the floor. The meeting wrapped up with the presentation of an award to the Engineering Student Societies Council of Ontario from the Canadian Society of Professional Engineers Trust, and an OSPE Award for Meritorious Service to outgoing President and Chair Daniel Young.

The Society would like to thank the many sponsors and volunteers who made this year's Annual General Meeting a success. Visit our wwww.ospe.on.ca to download a copy of the 2003 Ontario Society of Professional Engineers Annual Report, distributed to all members at the AGM.

2. OSPE welcomes 2004-05 Board Directors and Officers

Among the many business items on the agenda at the Society's Annual General Meeting on May 29 in Carlisle, Ontario was the installation of our new 2004-2005 Board of Directors. As one of its first orders of business, the twelve-member Board met immediately following the AGM to elect new officers for the coming year.

After serving as Vice-Chair and Secretary for the past 12 months, Annette Bergeron., M.B.A., P.Eng., a resident of Kingston and Director of First Year Studies in Applied Science at Queen's University, was very pleased to be elected President and Chair of the Society.

“There are many critical issues facing Ontario engineers today,” Ms. Bergeron said. “It is an honour for me to help lead an organization that was created by engineers to help address those issues and build a better engineering profession for the future.”

Toronto engineer Chris Cragg, M.A.Sc., M.B.A., P.Eng., was selected for the position of Vice Chair. Cindy Krenosky, M.B.A., PMP, P.Eng., of Waterloo was re-elected to a second term as Treasurer and former Chair Catherine Karakatsanis, M.E.Sc., P.Eng. will take on the role of Secretary. Last year's President and Chair, Daniel J. Young, M.Eng., P.Eng. will remain on the Board in the position of Past Chair.

View all Board member profiles at www.ospe.on.ca.

In addition to the new Board or Directors, the Society announced the appointment of new CEO Sharon L. Glover, M.B.A., at the Annual General Meeting. Sharon comes to OSPE with 17 years of experience working in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Her biography is available on our website at www.ospe.on.ca.

For ongoing updates on Board and staff activities throughout the year, please continue to consult www.ospe.on.ca.

3. Ontario engineers support restructure of province’s electricity system

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers expressed support today for the McGuinty Government’s plan to introduce new legislation that will restructure Ontario’s electricity system. The statement came after Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, MPP announced plans to develop new supply, boost conservation and introduce price stability for consumers.

“We’re pleased that conservation and renewable energy is being viewed as a priority by this government,” said Chris Cragg, MBA, P.Eng., Vice Chair of OSPE and Chair of OSPE’s Energy Working Group. “We have long held that conservation and sustainable new generation are of equal importance to the economy and quality of life in Ontario. We look forward to reviewing the new legislation in detail and sharing the expertise of Ontario’s engineers with the government during the consultation process.”

In February 2004, OSPE made a Pre-Budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, urging the government to actively promote conservation and invest in generation. The submission strongly endorsed the creation of an “Office of Energy Efficiency” and a central electricity system planning and implementation authority, as suggested in the government’s Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force Final Report. As such, OSPE was very pleased to see that the new legislation will provide for the creation of a new Ontario Power Authority to ensure an adequate, long-term supply of electricity, as well as a Conservation Bureau to promote demand-side management.

OSPE also supports plans to implement true value pricing for electricity. “As we have stated in the past, only by paying the true cost of electricity will consumers realize the need to conserve,” Mr. Cragg, MBA, P.Eng., said. “At the same time, we recognize that the price cap must be eased off gradually to mitigate the impact on consumers.”

Keep up to date on all the Society’s ongoing advocacy work by visiting, www.ospe.on.ca.

4. Deputy Minister of Transportation hits the links with OSPE at the “The Pengy”

On Saturday, May 29, immediately following the Society’s AGM, OSPE members and guests turned out to play in our First Annual Golf Tournament – “The Pengy.” Held at the Carlisle Golf & Country Club in Carlisle, Ontario, the tournament provided members with the opportunity to network with fellow engineers and enjoy a terrific day outdoors.

“The weather was perfect and the day was just wonderful,” said Daniel Couture, P.Eng, who was part of the Tournament’s winning team. “I entered as a single and was paired up with an excellent group of fellow engineers and we unexpectedly ended up playing very well. As a member of the OSPE Government Relations Committee, I was also very pleased to see the Deputy Minister of Transportation at the event.”

An invitation was extended to Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Transportation, Saäd Rafi, as part of the Society’s ongoing efforts to reach out to governments. In addition to formal meetings at Queen’s Park, informal contacts like these provide excellent opportunities to offer constructive input into legislative and regulatory processes that promote the concerns of our members. This casual afternoon on the golf course provided a first opportunity for OSPE representatives to raise our position on Quality Based Selection (QBS) with the Ministry of Transportation, one of the largest procurers of engineering services in Ontario.

Currently, most engineering services are contracted on the basis of "low-fee bidding” – a model where the lowest bid typically wins the contract. With this emphasis on short-term cost versus long-term sustainability of the project, engineers are often forced to focus on immediate financial parameters rather than solutions that will be more cost effective and innovative long term. While the Ministry of Transportation’s current procurement process is not based solely on price, OSPE is encouraging the formal adoption of a QBS model, which will benefit engineers, offer better value long-term, and help put Ontario at the forefront of innovation.

To find out more about OSPE’s position on QBS, visit our website at www.ospe.on.ca. The Society would like to thank the many sponsors who made the day possible and all of the participants. More photos from the day will be posted on our website in the near future.

5. The 2004 Ontario Engineers’ Salaries: Survey of Employers is on now

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers is now implementing the 2004 Ontario Engineers' Salaries: Survey of Employers.

Conducted by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) for 50 years, responsibility for this important survey was transferred to the Society in 2003. Salary surveys were among the many non-regulatory programs transferred from PEO to OSPE, as prescribed by the PEO-OSPE Agreement.

The comprehensive Survey, conducted on the Society’s behalf by an independent research consultant, will provide engineers and employers with a valuable picture of hiring trends and compensation levels across all categories and disciplines of the engineering profession from the engineering employers’ perspective. This survey is a highly used source of reliable information on engineers’ pay and is continually updated to reflect trends in pay administration.

In the summer of 2003, a questionnaire was distributed to all past participating engineering employers, gauging their interest in continuing their participation with OSPE. Over 180 engineering employers agreed to participate in the survey with OSPE.

Several detailed reports produced from this survey will be available for purchase in the fall. Participating employers will receive a complimentary copy of the Summary Report and can take advantage of special discounts on the detailed reports.

Those interested in purchasing these valuable 2004 reports can pre-order before August 6th, and get an additional 10% off! See more information and rates by downloading an order form today!

In the meantime, you can view a sample of last year’s Survey of Employers Summary Report at www.ospe.on.ca.

For more information on the 2004 Ontario Engineers’ Salaries Survey of Employers or to find out how you can participate, contact us at careercentre@ospe.on.ca or by phone at (416) 223-9961, ext.232. All information collected by our independent Research Consultant will remain confidential and secure and is used for the sole purpose of publishing the Ontario Engineers’ Salaries Survey of Employers Report.

6. OSPE launches new wireless program with TELUS Mobility

Engineers are always on the go. That’s why OSPE is pleased to announce the launch of our newest affinity program from TELUS Mobility. This exceptional plan offers better-than-corporate rates on wireless communications exclusively for OSPE members.

With this program, OSPE members can realize substantial savings on Audiovox 8300 and LG TM – 520 phones, the Velocity Wireless 1X Card, and the popular TELUS Mobility Blackberry 6750. Plus, TELUS offers a variety of rate plans to any need or budget.

Additional benefits of our new program include:

- The best value wireless airtime rates in the market
- Free evenings and weekends
- 10% off additional features
- Discounted tri-mode digital handsets
- An easy online ordering process

The new TELUS program replaces our previous programs with Bell Mobility and Baka Wireless Services.

“We chose TELUS because they offered a much wider range of products and services and a real partnership approach,” said OSPE Past Chair Daniel J. Young, M.Eng., P.Eng., who spearheaded the selection process. “We are very pleased to offer yet another program that offers our members an opportunity to realize substantial savings on a high quality product.”

Log into www.engineersfirst.ca now for complete details on the OSPE TELUS Mobility program, or contact us at memberservices@ospe.on.ca.

7. Engineers learn about contracting and consulting realities

On June 5, OSPE ran its final workshop in its “Shift Your Career Into High Gear!” series. Offered in collaboration with the Association of Career Professionals International (ACPI), the workshop, entitled “Engineers Breaking Free: Exploring Contracting and Consulting Realities”, provided OSPE members with invaluable insights on the realities of starting their own engineering consulting practice. Mark Venning, President of ACPI, facilitated the half-day workshop, providing attendees with key ideas on how to remain successful as a consultant.

The workshop highlighted the following areas for success:
• investing in professional development
• crafting your “Personal Value Proposition”
• building broader networks
• forming strategic alliances

In addition, Mr. Venning discussed the key skills associated with developing a contract, conducting market research and many of the other key elements of contracting and consulting.

To learn more about contracting and consulting as an engineer, join us for the next series of “Shift Your Career Into High Gear!” workshops to be offered again in the fall. Each half-day workshop takes place on a Saturday morning and a light breakfast is provided.

Get more info and sign up now for the next “Shift Your Career Into High Gear!” series:

• Selling Yourself in a Competitive Job Market (Sept. 25, 2004) <link>
• Strategic Networking, Tapping into Where the Work is (Oct. 23, 2004)<link>
• Interviewing in a Competitive Job Market (Jan. 22, 2005)<link>
• Negotiating the Right Job Offer (Feb. 26, 2005)<link>
• Engineers Breaking Free: Exploring Contracting and Consulting Realities! (April 23, 2005)<link>
• Exploring Career Options for Engineers; What's Next? (May 21, 2005)<link>

To find out more, visit our www.ospe.on.ca. Space for upcoming workshops is limited so sign up early!