A message from the CAEE President, Sharlie Huffman

2021 continued to challenge us with the need for virtual events as well as provide increased member benefits such as our Education Committee’s move to webinars.  They have provided 8 excellent webinars as part of the CAEE Distinguished Webinar Series in Earthquake Engineering and Seismology attracting hundreds of registrants for each.  The webinars are archived in the Members-only section where members are encouraged to access them at their convenience.

Our Newsletter continues as a staple of our member services. We always still need contributors, so please consider submitting articles of general interest or specific to one of our regular columns, questions or comments.

The 2020 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering was postponed to 2021 and then had to be held virtual for those outside of Japan.  The Archive of ”CSI/IAEE Masters Series” from the conference is on the public webpages.

Our next CAEE conference 13CCEE will be held in Vancouver in 2023 and will be a joint conference with the Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering (PCEE), so it is definitely a conference you will not want to miss. So start thinking now about it and consider what presentations you will be submitting. So far we are still expecting we can all attend in person by then.

While expectations of the initiation of annual fees for CAEE membership have circulated the last couple of years, that time has now arrived.  Effective 2023 January 1, membership fees will be implemented.  At that time, our webinars will also garner a fee for non-members of $20 each.  Webinars to be delivered during the rest of 2022 will remain free for all participants.  Webinars will also continue to be free for members and will continue to be accessible after their presentation in the Members-only section of the website.  Full details will be posted on the CAEE website.

The Board continues to work on advancements to member services and our website.  Comments and suggestions are welcomed from the membership.  Our Team and Chairs are all listed on our website as well as on our AGM agenda. We would like to hear from you.

Our Webmaster position is a part-time one and we have been blessed with an enthusiastic, innovative and dedicated colleague in Indira Pandey.  She has juggled multiple part-time positions and motherhood while updating and expanding our website, supporting our new webinar efforts, making sure that everything works as it should and just being there for us.  We now congratulate her on moving on to a new full-time position and wish her success. And yet, she has still agreed to assist us with “works-in-progress” and transition to a new Webmaster.

Thank you so much, Indira.  Know how much you have been appreciated and how much we will miss you.

2023, will be CAEE’s next election year for President and 4 positions on our Board of Directors for 4-year terms.  It is time to consider if you wish to put your name or the names of others forward for one of the positions and how you would wish to contribute to CAEE.  Details on the Nomination Committee and contact details will be posted on our Member’s section.

Thanks to all who voted on the proposed Bylaw change. Our purpose and membership have always included the seismology that defines our professions and our organization.  The proposed change to our name will reflect that.  The results of the vote will be announced at the AGM.

What can you as a member do to help?

  • Please send in your comments and suggestions on every topic. Tell us what you would like the CAEE to be for you.
  • Encourage your students to become involved in the student chapter and help develop fun and worthwhile contests and activities.
  • Send in comments, letters and articles on technical topics to the Newsletter.
  • Tell us what topics you would like to see in a seminar or instructional webcast.
  • What type of Awards do you think CAEE should bestow?
  • If you have an interest in a specific committee and feel you can contribute, please contact the Chair of that committee.

And last, I thank all of you who are able to attend our AGM this year. Stay safe.