2012 Issue

10 Giving Back to Engineering As someone who has benefited by the engineering profession for so many years, I would ask that engineers consider giving back to engineering what it has given to you. Message From The Council’s Vice Chair JOHN RICHARDSON, PE (ASME) Utah Engineers Council 2011-2012 T HIS YEAR WILL mark the forty-fifth year of my career as an engineer at Varian Medical Systems here in Salt Lake City. I will also be retiring again at the end of this year. I tried retiring five years ago, but foundmyself playing Barbie dolls full time with my granddaughter. I love my granddaughter, but Barbie dolls... ? So, in desperation, I returned to the way of life I happened to enjoy and asked my engineering manager if there were some engineering scraps falling off the table that I couldwork on. Fortunately, I was needed and have been enjoying extending my career a few more years. People ask me if I am sane or messed up inside desiring to work rather than enjoy the easy life of retirement. Some people leave the profession and never look back. But I happened to enjoy the culture of engineering, and it had become a way of life that I missed. I enjoyed the work, the company, the challenge, the people and the day-to-day activity that became a way of life for so many years. Engineering has been good tome. I graduated from the University of Utah in Mechanical Engineering in 1967 and went on to get a master’s degree in Engineering Administration. I have been able to buy a nice home in a great neighborhood and raise a family of five with all the benefits of life-sustaining activities. I have been able to travel the world, sometimes with my wife, and enjoy many far off places and cultures. A few years ago, I began to get phone calls from David Merrill, a person I had never met and who was active in ASME and the Utah Engineers Council. At first it was a mild distraction, but he persisted and got me to think about giving back to the engineer- ing community. I had been a member of ASME but not active in the society. He convinced me to volunteer for the Utah section of ASME. That same year, I was appointed by the ASME executive committee to act as liaison to the Utah Engineers Council. I found myself getting involved in activities by being a member of these volunteer engineering groups. I was asked to be a judge for several years on student science projects, attended an elementary school class and discussed the merits of being an engineer. Also, I wrote articles for the Utah Engineers Council Journal , and hosted university students at Varian, explaining what engineering is in the work force. I tutored students, organized and attended tours for students and members of engineering societies in the community and judged student projects, just to name a few of the activities. At the same time, I have enjoyed meeting and associating with many peers in the profession whom I will remember in the fore- seeable future. The activities of the professional engineering societies of Utah and the Utah Engineers Council recognize students, educators, compa- nies and engineers for their excellence in engineering endeavors. These societies cannot function without dedicated individuals giving back to engineering what the profession has given to them. Individuals volunteer their time and talents to sustain these orga- nizations, to keep their life-blood moving for the benefit of our community and engineering culture. As someone who has benefited from the engineering profession for so many years, I would ask that engineers consider giving back to engineering what it has given to you. Become active in your engineering societies. Assist students in determining their course in life. Help organize activities that will bring a greater understanding of the marvelous achievements of engineers in our community.  visit us online! www.utahengineerscouncil.org www.utahengineerscouncil. org