Information and History Information and History NASTT Northwest Chapter NASTT Northwest Chapter
By: Dan Willems, P.Eng.
NASTTNASTT
• North American Society for Trenchless Technology.• Established in 1990.• NASTT is “dedicated to promoting the benefits of
trenchless technology for public awareness through education, training and research.”
• Currently seven regional chapters across North America.• Presents annual North American No-Dig Conference.
NASTT Chapters (2008)NASTT Chapters (2008)
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots
• Development of the Northwest Chapter started in 1995.• Founders were Rick Prentice and Ken Chua.
• Due to a long history of trenchless construction, the City of Edmonton’s support was essential in successfully initiating the chapter.
Ken ChuaRick Prentice
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots
• Edmonton-area industry representatives were gathered to expand support for a new chapter.
• With Edmonton support secured, Rick traveled to Vancouver and Seattle in early-1996 and secured additional support in those regions for the new chapter.
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots
• A number of meetings were held over the course of 1996.• The Northwest Chapter was officially chartered in early
1997 at the NASTT No-Dig Conference in Seattle.• The Chapter originally included Alberta, British Columbia,
and Washington State.
NASTT Chapters (1997)
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots
The first Board of Directors:
ChairKen Silvester (BC)
Vice Chair SecretaryKen Chua (AB) Sam Ariaratnam (AB)
TreasurerDave Otto (BC)
Directors:
Dave Krywiak (AB) Dave O’Sullivan (BC)Ken Fender (WA) Michael Kirby (WA)John Jurgens (WA)
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – Past ChairsPast Chairs
Ken Silvester (BC) – 1998-2000Ken Chua (AB) – 2000-2001
Ken Fender (WA) – 2001-2002Chris Skowronski (AB) – 2002-2003
Dave Krywiak (AB) – 2003-2005Kim Staheli (WA) – 2005-2008
Albert Kwan (AB) – 2008-present
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – ActivitiesActivities
• The Chapter’s first symposium was held in Edmonton in Fall 1997.
• An annual event since 1997 which has grown into a two-day event including a short course, conference, and trade show.
• Today, the annual “Alberta Trenchless Conference” rotates host cities between Calgary and Edmonton.
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – ActivitiesActivities
• The Edmonton Section of the Chapter has hosted monthly technical lunches (September through April) since 1998.
• The Calgary Section has hosted 2 to 3 technical lunches per year since 2004. Local support is still growing.
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – ActivitiesActivities
• From 1997 until 2007, the Chapter issued a semi-annual newsletter summarizing trenchless activity in the region.
• Replaced by the NASTT-NW Chapter Journal in 2007, currently issued annually in September/October.
Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – British Columbia SeparationBritish Columbia Separation
• B.C. officially split from the Northwest Chapter and started NASTT-BC in 2005.
• Separated due to difficulty in coordinating chapter-wide activities and local membership was high enough to establish an independent chapter.
• Washington remained with the Northwest Chapter.
NASTT Chapters (2008)
Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Current Board of DirectorsCurrent Board of Directors
Chair Past Chair Albert Kwan (AB) Kim Staheli (WA)
Vice Chair Secretary Michelle Ramos (WA) Vacant
TreasurerNeil Kucharski (AB)
Directors:Duane Strayer (AB)Jack Burnham (WA)
Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Recent Bylaw RevisionsRecent Bylaw Revisions
• In January 2009, the Chapter membership voted on, and accepted, a number of proposed changes to the Bylaws.
• The most important change was the revision of the Chapter’s geographic area to include Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Washington state is currently working towards establishing its own chapter.
Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Recent Bylaw Revisions Recent Bylaw Revisions
Potential Layout of NASTT Chapters – 2009 (Unconfirmed)
Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Involvement OpportunitiesInvolvement Opportunities
Chapter involvement opportunities:– Editorial Committee– Project of the Year Committee– Conference Organizing Committee (Calgary - 2009)
Contact [email protected] for more information.
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