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Home > News and Events > News > News Detail
5/1/2000
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It is an honor and privilege to have been elected to serve as President of the American Concrete Institute. I am proud to have the opportunity, for one short year, to work with the many volunteers and staff who make ACI International such a supportive and productive technical society. The strength of ACI comes from the diversity of our membership. The dedicated service of so many of our members has resulted in the production of materials that are highly respected by our industry and used all over the world. To serve as President of such an organization is truly a humbling experience. I look forward to meeting many of you during the coming year and to renewing the many friendships that I have made through ACI activities. ACI is a unique organization. I know of no other technical or professional society that provides so much opportunity for technical service or relies as heavily on the volunteer efforts of its members. Members are encouraged to participate in committees and to attend our conventions, meetings, and technical or educational seminars. Our most important products are Concrete International, our journals and committee documents, and the certification of individuals involved in concrete construction. Our local ACI Chapters constitute the Institute’s “front line” where transfer of knowledge is so important in meeting our goal of better concrete construction. In offering time and expertise to ACI, we become better informed and make contacts that often develop into our main sources of information when problems arise. I am sure all of you have made friendships and acquaintances that would have been unlikely without ACI. My first exposure to ACI was as an undergraduate civil engineering student at the University of Nebraska, where the ACI 318 Building Code was used in a reinforced concrete design course. In my graduate program at the University of Illinois, ACI journals and committee documents were basic references used in our research and courses. From the faculty, we understood the importance of becoming members of ACI and getting involved in ACI activities. My concrete library was greatly expanded when a retiring faculty member offered years of ACI journals that he would no longer be using. Today, information on concrete technology is increasing exponentially. A bookcase full of journals will no longer suffice—we are demanding information that is more accessible and can be delivered immediately. The future of ACI depends on our ability to accommodate the new information technologies in ways that provide better service and value to our members and customers. Many organizations and “information” providers are finding ways to make knowledge rapidly available from a variety of sources in nearly every field. ACI must be seen as the “provider of choice” for those involved in the concrete industry. The name ACI International reflects the international nature of our membership and the Institute’s service to a global profession. One of my goals as President is to attract more international members to ACI and involve them in Institute activities. To tap into the expertise of national and international concrete-related organizations, we must develop working relationships with our colleagues. International collaboration is essential for operating in a global economy and marketplace. ACI is like a family—an extended family of about 17,000 members. Being a member of the ACI family has always been gratifying and rewarding for me, as I know it has been for many of you. The enjoyment of working on common problems and the satisfaction of achieving together what we could never accomplish individually are central to the ACI process. The ACI family is fortunate to have a very capable and energetic Executive Vice President in Jim Toscas, a dedicated staff in Farmington Hills, a magnificent cadre of volunteers, and a membership hungry for concrete knowledge. Let’s make 2000 a year to remember. James O. JirsaPresidentAmerican Concrete Institute Back to Past-Presidents' Memo List
It is an honor and privilege to have been elected to serve as President of the American Concrete Institute. I am proud to have the opportunity, for one short year, to work with the many volunteers and staff who make ACI International such a supportive and productive technical society.
The strength of ACI comes from the diversity of our membership. The dedicated service of so many of our members has resulted in the production of materials that are highly respected by our industry and used all over the world. To serve as President of such an organization is truly a humbling experience. I look forward to meeting many of you during the coming year and to renewing the many friendships that I have made through ACI activities.
ACI is a unique organization. I know of no other technical or professional society that provides so much opportunity for technical service or relies as heavily on the volunteer efforts of its members. Members are encouraged to participate in committees and to attend our conventions, meetings, and technical or educational seminars. Our most important products are Concrete International, our journals and committee documents, and the certification of individuals involved in concrete construction.
Our local ACI Chapters constitute the Institute’s “front line” where transfer of knowledge is so important in meeting our goal of better concrete construction. In offering time and expertise to ACI, we become better informed and make contacts that often develop into our main sources of information when problems arise. I am sure all of you have made friendships and acquaintances that would have been unlikely without ACI.
My first exposure to ACI was as an undergraduate civil engineering student at the University of Nebraska, where the ACI 318 Building Code was used in a reinforced concrete design course. In my graduate program at the University of Illinois, ACI journals and committee documents were basic references used in our research and courses. From the faculty, we understood the importance of becoming members of ACI and getting involved in ACI activities. My concrete library was greatly expanded when a retiring faculty member offered years of ACI journals that he would no longer be using.
Today, information on concrete technology is increasing exponentially. A bookcase full of journals will no longer suffice—we are demanding information that is more accessible and can be delivered immediately.
The future of ACI depends on our ability to accommodate the new information technologies in ways that provide better service and value to our members and customers. Many organizations and “information” providers are finding ways to make knowledge rapidly available from a variety of sources in nearly every field. ACI must be seen as the “provider of choice” for those involved in the concrete industry.
The name ACI International reflects the international nature of our membership and the Institute’s service to a global profession. One of my goals as President is to attract more international members to ACI and involve them in Institute activities. To tap into the expertise of national and international concrete-related organizations, we must develop working relationships with our colleagues. International collaboration is essential for operating in a global economy and marketplace.
ACI is like a family—an extended family of about 17,000 members. Being a member of the ACI family has always been gratifying and rewarding for me, as I know it has been for many of you. The enjoyment of working on common problems and the satisfaction of achieving together what we could never accomplish individually are central to the ACI process. The ACI family is fortunate to have a very capable and energetic Executive Vice President in Jim Toscas, a dedicated staff in Farmington Hills, a magnificent cadre of volunteers, and a membership hungry for concrete knowledge. Let’s make 2000 a year to remember.
James O. JirsaPresidentAmerican Concrete Institute
Back to Past-Presidents' Memo List
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