Conference Tours and Ticketed Events

November 20, 2008

Tours and Ticketed Events

NSPE 2008 Annual Conference
Portland, Oregon
July 24–27

Plan your travel and include extra days before and after the annual conference to see the beauty and attractions of Oregon.

Mount Hood – Mount Hood is located about 50 miles east-southeast of the city of Portland. Mount Hood's snow-covered peak rises 11,249 feet and it is home to 12 glaciers. It is the highest mountain in Oregon and the fourth-highest in the Cascade Range. Mount Hood is considered the Oregon volcano most likely to erupt.
Oregon Coast – Lush evergreen forests, picturesque coastal scenery, rugged cliffs, impressive sand dunes, and vast sandy beaches await you along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, U.S. Highway 101. The Oregon coast has fully developed resort communities with every possible amenity, to quiet coastal towns where the loudest sounds you'll hear are waves on the shoreline and seagulls overhead.
Oregon Wine Country – Unique growing conditions and favorable clay-loam soils have fostered Oregon's rapid emergence as one of the world's finest wine-growing regions.

Thursday, July 24

Thursday, July 24, 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., NSPE Golf at Heron Lakes Golf Club (Great Blue Course)–$120
Play the Great Blue Course at Heron Lakes Golf Club. Win money for your state or interest group scholarship program. The competition will be a handicapped, two-person scramble format.
This tournament benefits the NSPE Educational Foundation, state scholarship programs, and NSPE interest group scholarships. Sign up now to play; become a corporate sponsor ($600/$500) or hole sponsor ($100). Meeting registration is not required to compete in the tournament. Come play the course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and experience unique and thrilling challenges. Fairways on the 6,902-yard course ramble between Scottish-style mounds and pose a collection of excellent risk/reward riddles for all golfers. Fees include box lunch, green fees, golf cart, range balls, and guaranteed spectacular vistas. Two-person scramble format and state challenge could add to your Educational Foundation scholarship fund. Rentals are available.

Thursday, July 24, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., Technical Tour: Managing a Complex Multi-Purpose Hydropower Federal Facility, USACE Bonneville Lock and Dam (Part II)
The Army Corps of Engineers offsite tour of the Bonneville dam project will complete a two-part education session that is worth a total of 4.5 professional development hours. Participation in this technical tour requires preregistration for Part I. Registration deadline is July 15. Proof of citizenship is required.

Thursday, July 24, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., Fun Tour: Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls–$50
Visit many of Oregon's most famous and scenic attractions in one afternoon while touring the
Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge! Tumbling waterfalls, incredible scenic overlooks, orchard-filled valleys, and majestic mountains await you on this tour.

Thursday, July 24, 6:00 – 10:30 p.m., Fun Tour: Portland's Microbrewery Tour–$70
Portland is the new microbrewery capital of the world. During this evening tour, you will learn about the microbrewing process, enjoy hearty microbrew samples from among hundreds of locally produced varieties, make new friends, and have some fun. Relax and enjoy local nightlife while our designated driver guides you through Portland's microbrewery maze. Food is included in the package.

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Friday, July 25

Friday, July 25, 7:30 a.m., NSPE Order of the Engineer Breakfast–$30
Enjoy networking breakfast with professional peers. Stay to support new inductees of the Order of the Engineer at a ceremony following the breakfast. Participate in the Ring Ceremony and join other engineers who have been inducted and have accepted the Obligation of an Engineer during the Order of the Engineer ceremony. To be inducted into the Order, you must also purchase Order of the Engineer Induction.

Friday, July 25, 8:00 a.m., NSPE Order of the Engineer Induction–$20
Participate in the Ring Ceremony and join other engineers who have been inducted and have accepted the Obligation of an Engineer during the Order of the Engineer ceremony. Sign up to be inducted into the Order of the Engineer. Required for all new inductees.

Friday, July 25, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Fourth Annual Young Engineers' Forum – Free (for all engineers 35 years and younger)
Join us for a day of learning and networking at the Fourth Annual NSPE Young Engineers Forum with great topics designed to help you get ahead and achieve the professional life you deserve!

Friday, July 25, Noon – 1:30 p.m., NSPE Networking Lunch (with speaker)–$55
Following lunch, enjoy a presentation by Val Baldwin on how you can "Become the Ultimate Communicator." Do you avoid sensitive subjects and tough topics because you don't know how to handle them? Be entertained while you learn life-enhancing skills that will help you gain the crucial communication skills necessary so you never have to avoid a conversation again.

Friday, July 25, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., Fun Tour: Oregon Wineries–$65
Savor award-winning pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, and riesling while your designated driver guides you through the rolling hills of the picturesque Willamette Valley. Visits to at least two wineries and a step-by-step tour of the wine-making process are included. Package includes wine-tasting fees at each stop.

Friday, July 25, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m., NSPE Ice Breaker Reception (included with all registrations)
Join professional engineers for a reception to kick off the Portland conference. Enjoy a cocktail reception–great food, great company, and great networking!

Friday, July 25, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., NSPE-PAC Wine and Cheese Reception–$50 (tickets only sold at the door)
Join NSPE-PAC for a reception with members of the Oregon Congressional Delegation.* This special event, which will feature a selection of local wines, is your opportunity to meet with federal legislators and discuss the issues important to you as PEs. *Invited

Contributions to NSPE-PAC are used to support pro-engineering federal candidates. Contributions to NSPE-PAC are not tax deductible as charitable contributions. Under federal law, all contributors must be U.S. citizens. Only NSPE members, employers, and their families may contribute to NSPE-PAC. Contributions to NSPE-PAC are voluntary, and you have a right to refuse to contribute without reprisal. You may contribute any amount to NSPE-PAC, as long as it does not exceed $5,000 per calendar year. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 per calendar year. NSPE-PAC may only accept personal or non-corporate checks. If you prefer, contributions can be made by corporate check to support the NSPE Legislative Education Fund. NSPE-LEF supports the administration of NSPE-PAC.

Friday, July 25, 7:00 p.m., NSPE-PEPP Dinner–$55
Join your colleagues for NSPE-PEPP's dinner and enjoy the view. The evening promises to be very special. All guests will enjoy a cocktail reception (cash bar), dinner, and awards ceremony.

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Saturday, July 26

Saturday, July 26, 6:00 – 7:00 a.m., NSPE Political Action Committee Fun 3K Walk, 5K Run Along the Willamette–$50
Join NSPE-PAC for a 3K walk or 5K run along the scenic Portland waterfront. In this important election year, a robust PAC will allow engineers to elect leaders who understand and support the profession.

Saturday, July 26, 8:00 a.m. – noon, NSPE-PEPP Council of Principals Roundtables–Free
The PEPP Council of Principals is your one-stop resource for the tools and support needed to become a successful leader and principal in private practice. Join your colleagues for open discussions and presentations. Attendance is limited to the first 40 people.

Saturday, July 26, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m., NSPE Awards Breakfast–$35 (with speaker)
Celebrate NSPE engineering innovation and excellence at breakfast today. Linda Hofmann, planning manager for Exxon/Mobil Research and Engineering Company, is the invited speaker. Hoffman will talk about energy in the 21st century and the critical role of innovation. Following the speaker, the Professional Engineers in Industry New Product Awards and the Professional Engineers in Higher Education Engineering Excellence Award will be presented. Join your peers for the celebration.

Saturday, July 26, Noon – 1:30 p.m., NSPE Awards Luncheon–$50
Celebrate NSPE excellence at lunch today. The three most prestigious awards granted by the National Society of Professional Engineers—the NSPE Award, the NSPE Distinguished Service Award, the NSPE Young Engineer of the Year Award, and the QBS Award—will be presented. Join you peers at the celebration.

Saturday, July 26, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Fun Tour: Mount St. Helens Volcano–$80
Learn about the "blast zone," mudflows, pyroclastic flows, biological regeneration and the largest avalanche recorded by man. The immense effects from the eruption of Mount Saint Helens on the surrounding region must be seen to be appreciated. Many incredible photo stops including the new Johnston Ridge Observatory. Package includes monument entrance fee and box lunch.

Saturday, July 26, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Fun Tour: Portland Tour (Wine & Cheese Too!)–$50 (per person)
(Hosted by the NSPE Educational Foundation to raise funds for engineering scholarships)
Imagine an informative tour through downtown Portland, seeing all of the most important sites, and then enjoying the beautiful Willamette River waterfront! Our guide will keep you laughing as you find out Portland's inside secrets while discovering it's most popular attractions. Our fun and award-winning guided walking tour will explore the history, food, architecture, neighborhoods, bridges, parks, fountains, artwork, and other unique places in Portland - the "City of Roses" (one of top five walking tours…reports USA Today). An unexpected benefit, the carbon footprint for this evening will be "zero" thanks to you! Laugh, learn, and enjoy the lure of Portland while supporting this NSPE Educational Foundations' fund raising effort in support of engineering scholarships. [Approximately one-third of each event ticket price will fund engineering scholarships.]

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Sunday, July 27

Sunday, July 27, Noon – 2:00 p.m., NSPE Installation Luncheon–$60
NSPE will recognize outgoing NSPE President Bernard R. Berson, P.E., F.NSPE, and the NSPE Board of Directors (2007–08) and install incoming President Bradley F. Aldrich, P.E., F.NSPE, the 2008–09 elected officers, and the 2008 House of Delegates. The celebration will be held in a professional setting following the leader networking luncheon.

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