Page 6 - 2019 December E-issue

Rochester History A Sampling from the Archives of the

Rochester Engineering Society...1897 - 1971
by Lee M. Loomis

Continuing with the historical sampling of the earlier Te Rochester Engineer (March 1971) Tis
writings on behalf of the Rochester Engineering Society, issue led of with an appeal from RES President,
the years following "Te Great War," into and through G. Robert Leavitt, for public participation in the
the Great Depression, continued to be a time of challenge recently placed before the Society, to
reaching out for the maturing Society, both locally
and nationally. Te meeting minutes describe a series develop a plan for disposing of municipal solid
of technical discussions and presentations intended waste in our community. Viewed as an imperative
to broaden the technical horizons of the membership to fulfllment of the Societys civic responsibilities,
(especially the CE's, ME's and EE's). Te RES this efort would begin with the gathering of
afliated itself with a number of National technical societies, adopted pertinent information on systems and methods of
local Afliated Societies, frequently held joint meetings with them and waste disposal; currently available, under development or theoretically
continued taking action on a growing list of public matters. Certain issues proposed. Tis would be followed by presentation at public forums,
of standardization, some crucial to public safety, became the responsibility all aimed at developing plans for immediate action and a long-range
of the RES and its afliates. In the pervasive economic downturn of program. A nucleus for a task force was announced, along with the need
the Great Depression, the magazine ofered classifed advertising for for considerable additional project management expertise. Te March
unemployed engineers, technicians and draftsmen and took other steps to
try to deal with the crisis. Still, it continued its efort to shape the function, RES Luncheon Series was announced: Te Airport and its Neighbors,
purpose and infrastructure of the City of Rochester, and beyond. World War by Martin Gach, Eastern Region Noise Abatement Ofcer for the
again afected the Society, taking away many of its leaders while providing FAA; Which Way, the US Economy, by Dr. Harold Passer, former
opportunities for others to step forward to fll these vacancies. In an efort to head of the Kodak Statistical Department, and now Assistant Secretary
provide even greater perspective on the happenings and concerns of the day, a of Commerce for Economic Afairs; Planned Unit Development,
synopsis, featuring selected items from "Te Rochester Engineer" has become by Nathan Jaschik, Monroe County Planning Department; and,
an integral part of this series. Te Second World War and the Korean Getting Your Design Dollars Worth, by Frank A. Zagara, Rochester
Confict are now history, and the Vietnam War has recently become a focal Industrial Designer. Tis months featured RES Afliate was the
point. Tese experiences have changed the face and, no doubt, the future Rochester Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Founded
of the community. Te Rochester municipal leadership and the industrial in 1919 as the Rochester Society of Architects, its purpose is to serve
community have become immersed in the cold-war, growth economy.
as a communications link between the architectural profession and the
Te Rochester Engineer (February 1971) (continued) Rochester community. It membership includes Registered Professional
Te RES Luncheon series for February included: Cyberail Architects and Professional Afliates, non-architects; engineers,
Automated Materials Handling for Hospitals, by Richard M. Beers, planners, landscape architects, sculptors, muralists, and artists. Te RES
Castle Corporation Div. of Sybron; A Mayors View of the Ecological announced its sponsorship of an eight-week course entitled, Efective
Crisis, by Stephen May, Mayor, Rochester, NY; VisicomA Reading. Taught by Jack Whiting, at the Chamber of Commerce, this
Telephone Aid for the Deaf, by Dr. Watson F. Walker, Electrical was designed for professionals wanting to improve both their reading
Engineering Department, RIT; and, Telephony in RochesterNow speed and their reading comprehension.
and Tomorrow, by George S. Beinetti, President, Rochester Telephone April 7, 1971 (Board of Directors Meeting, Taylor
Corporation. Te RES announced a joint meeting, Can Highway
Designers Transit Planners be Right/Wrong? featuring Dr. Dwight Instrument, Division of Sybron) Te Board approved six new
M. Baumann, PE, of Carnegie-Mellon University. Co-sponsored by applications for Regular Membership and one Associate Membership
the RES, ASCE, Society of Automotive Engineers, Society of Logistics application. Additional progress on the Fall 1971 Info Expo was
Engineers, MPES, and others, this presentation would describe a reported, including frm contract for booth space (up to 192 available)
dual-mode system for urban transportation involving gasoline/electric and publicity. It was also reported that President Nixon had declined
powered vehicles. an invitation to address the opening session. Te Solid Waste Advisory
Committee announced a dramatic increase in volunteers for the sub-
March 3, 1971 (Board of Directors Meeting, Taylor committees on Landflls, Incineration, Planning & Coordination,
Instrument Companies) Te Board approved three new Regular Public Relations, and Recycling Methods. Te new name for the project
membership applications. It was reported that the number of volunteers was announced as, Rochester Engineering Society Organized to Utilize
for the new Solid Waste Advisory Committee had risen to fve, and Research to Conserve the Environment, the acronym for which would
the committees organizational meeting was scheduled for March 12 . be Operation RESOURCE. Te High School Guidance Committee
th
RES Director, George Landberg, reported that two special meetings announced that the RES Explorer Post #523 had held eleven meetings,
of general interest had been scheduled, one on Transportation and and that they were in the process of scheduling a trip to Bethlehem
another on Deep Sea Drilling. RES Engineers' Week Committee Steel, in Lackawanna, NY, for the 8 18 Explorers who regularly attend
Chair, Roger Kober, reported that the annual dinner had not been self- the meetings.
supporting and that the Engineers Week exhibits in Midtown Plaza Subsequent articles in this series will describe the RES' continuing outreach to other
had been disappointing. In response to a letter from the Rochester technical societies as it considered its role in this and the larger community, along
Council of Scientifc Societies (RCSS) requesting RES support, the with more of the activities of the RES as it moved to be of greater service to its
Board approved an allocation of $50. It was reported that plans for membership, especially those sufering from current economic crises, and adopted a
Info Expo, to be held at the Rochester Community War Memorial in greater role in shaping the future of the City and its environs. Noted also, will be the
the Fall of 1971, were progressing, with an expectation that the break- contributions made by RES members in the struggle to meet the challenges coming out
even point would happen at 100 exhibitor booths. Lou Boehringers of World War II and the the Korean Confict, as well as a hoped-for period of post-
committee was arranging for seminars, and Jack Schicklers committee war growth and prosperity. Tese articles will also feature an impressive array of RES
was planning the publicity program. activities in support of post-war re-emergence of Rochester area industry. We welcome
your questions and comments on this series.
6 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER DECEMBER 2019 res news - history