Newsletter March 2013

Engineers News

March 2013 – Vol. LXXV No. 7

March Tour

Summit City Bicycles & Fitness
Thursday, March 28th at 6:30 PM
3801 Lima Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46805

The March FWEC tour will be at Summit City Bicycles & Fitness (summitcitybikes.com).  David Coar (Store General Manager) and Tim Wegner (Service Manager) will discuss different aspects of cycling.  David will talk about modern bicycle fitting, frame materials, pedals, and shoes.  Tim will talk about modern shifting technology, including electronic shifting, and modern wheel systems, including aerodynamics.

It is requested that tour participants park across the street at the Aldi grocery store on the far West side or North side of their parking lot.  Please leave spaces close to the Aldi entrance for Aldi customers and use caution when crossing Lima Road.

June Event

Fort Wayne Tin Caps
Thursday June 20th, First Pitch at 7:05 PM
Parkview Field, 1301 Ewing Street, Fort Wayne, IN  46802

The FWEC will have a night out at the ballpark.  Grab the family and join your fellow FWEC member for an all-inclusive night.  For $25/adult participants will have seating in the “Home Run Porch” with the Tin Caps “Grand Slam” package.  The “Grand Slam” package provides dinner in an all-you-can-eat variety from 1 hour prior to the first pitch and 30 minutes after (for our night from 6:05 to 7:35).  The dinner menu includes:  hamburgers, hot dogs, brats with sauerkraut, pasta salad, potato salad, macaroni & cheese, apple crisp desert, and soft drinks.  To up the ante, June 20^th’s game is a “Thirsty Thursday” where domestic beer is $1 and boasts post-game fireworks.

The FWEC only has a specific number of seats held in reservation.  Please let treasurer Ryan Stark know if you (and your friends and family) will be attending at fortwayneengineersclub@yahoo.com.  You will then need to mail your check to:  FWEC Treasurer C/O Ryan Stark, 828 West Oakdale Drive, Fort Wayne, IN  46807.  All tickets must be paid prior to June 1st.

February Tour History

Twenty-seven people attended the February 21st FWEC tour of the Aviation Technology School at Smith Field, operated jointly by Ivy Tech Community College and Fort Wayne Community Schools.  Less than a year old, the new building is two and a half times the size of the former, allowing individual classrooms to remain set up for different aspects of aviation and to allow the school’s many, many engines and other teaching units to be approachable rather than tucked away in a loft.  Sections of aircraft and work areas, such as sheet metal fabrication, were also more accessible.  Enrollment has already expanded to near maximum, with students at work even during the evening tour.  The FWEC was able to poke fingers over and often into a surprising array of items, including a variety of turbines that surprised many.  The guide, Sheena Nolan, clearly loved her subject and teaching all levels of students for more than a decade.  Most students end up with real-world credentials which have helped many “kids” find themselves and accelerate their way into careers with military and private employers.  The overall mood was somewhat infectious.  A few older folks inquired, somewhat dreamily, what the age cut-off was for students.  Ivy Tech community College has a universal policy that tuition is free for any over 60-62 years old.  A sincere thank you to FWEC board member Deb Pitzer for setting up this engaging tour.  It would be well worth repeating, and bringing youngsters along.

Northeast Indiana Engineers’ Week – Banquet

The Northeast Indiana Engineers’ Week banquet will was held at Indiana Tech’s Andorfer Commons on Saturday February 23rd.  The FWEC contributed over $1,500 toward academic awards to local students.  Congratulations to Erik Subler (Purdue University, Mechanical Engineering Technology) and Jessica Stahly (Purdue University, Industrial Engineering).

Future Tours

The FWEC is investigating Lingenfelter Performance Engineering as a potential April tour and a Chevy Volt presentation as a potential for May.

Allen County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy

In 2012 FWEC member Jake Dinius participated in the Allen County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy; he highly recommends it to other civic minded persons interested in better understanding law enforcement operations.  The Sheriff will take applications from July 1-31 for the 2013 Academy scheduled to start in August.  There is no cost for this program.  Additional information is available at:  http://www.allencountysheriff.org/humanresources/citizens.html.  For an application, please contact Laura Braun at (260) 449-7415 or laura.braun@co.allen.in.us

The Allen County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy offers residents the opportunity to have an in-depth exposure to the real world of law enforcement, along with learning the many divisions of County Government.  Department instructors and staff will give presentations about the many aspects of law enforcement including patrol, criminal investigation, crime scene processing, K-9, SWAT operations, along with touring many of the County buildings.  The Academy meets every Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM for 12 weeks.  The Citizen’s Academy is open to all Allen County residents 16 years and older.  Citizens 13 to 15 years old may attend the Academy if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  The next session of the Allen County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy will be August 21st through November 6th, 2013.  The classes will be held at the facility located at 5080 Adams Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN  46806.

Welcome New FWEC Member

Welcome to new members:  Al Potter BSEE retired, Craig Smith BSEE of Exelis, Edward DeWitt BSME MBA of GE Power Conversion, and Douglas Corbin BSEE retired.

Please encourage your co-workers to join the FWEC; at $10/year it’s one of the best deals in town!

In Memoriam

The FWEC would like to remember Michael Flanigan.

2012-2013 FWEC Board

President:  John Magsam
Vice President:  MieLecia Martin
Treasurer:  Ryan Stark
Secretary:  Elizabeth Garr

1st Year Board Members:  Dan Delaney & David Momoh
2nd Year Board Members:  Jim Delaney & Jack Phlipot
3rd Year Board Members:  Deborah Pitzer & Robert Vargo
(Replacement for Ralph Snyder)