Information and History Information and History NASTT Northwest Chapter NASTT Northwest Chapter

By: Dan Willems, P.Eng.

NASTTNASTT

• North American Society for Trenchless Technology.• Established in 1990.• NASTT is “dedicated to promoting the benefits of

trenchless technology for public awareness through education, training and research.”

• Currently seven regional chapters across North America.• Presents annual North American No-Dig Conference.

NASTT Chapters (2008)NASTT Chapters (2008)

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots

• Development of the Northwest Chapter started in 1995.• Founders were Rick Prentice and Ken Chua.

• Due to a long history of trenchless construction, the City of Edmonton’s support was essential in successfully initiating the chapter.

Ken ChuaRick Prentice

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots

• Edmonton-area industry representatives were gathered to expand support for a new chapter.

• With Edmonton support secured, Rick traveled to Vancouver and Seattle in early-1996 and secured additional support in those regions for the new chapter.

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots

• A number of meetings were held over the course of 1996.• The Northwest Chapter was officially chartered in early

1997 at the NASTT No-Dig Conference in Seattle.• The Chapter originally included Alberta, British Columbia,

and Washington State.

NASTT Chapters (1997)

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – RootsRoots

The first Board of Directors:

ChairKen Silvester (BC)

Vice Chair SecretaryKen Chua (AB) Sam Ariaratnam (AB)

TreasurerDave Otto (BC)

Directors:

Dave Krywiak (AB) Dave O’Sullivan (BC)Ken Fender (WA) Michael Kirby (WA)John Jurgens (WA)

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – Past ChairsPast Chairs

Ken Silvester (BC) – 1998-2000

Ken Chua (AB) – 2000-2001

Ken Fender (WA) – 2001-2002

Chris Skowronski (AB) – 2002-2003

Dave Krywiak (AB) – 2003-2005

Kim Staheli (WA) – 2005-2008

Albert Kwan (AB) – 2008-present

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – ActivitiesActivities

• The Chapter’s first symposium was held in Edmonton in Fall 1997.

• An annual event since 1997 which has grown into a two-day event including a short course, conference, and trade show.

• Today, the annual “Alberta Trenchless Conference” rotates host cities between Calgary and Edmonton.

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – ActivitiesActivities

• The Edmonton Section of the Chapter has hosted monthly technical lunches (September through April) since 1998.

• The Calgary Section has hosted 2 to 3 technical lunches per year since 2004. Local support is still growing.

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – ActivitiesActivities

• From 1997 until 2007, the Chapter issued a semi-annual newsletter summarizing trenchless activity in the region.

• Replaced by the NASTT-NW Chapter Journal in 2007, currently issued annually in September/October.

Northwest Chapter History – Northwest Chapter History – British Columbia SeparationBritish Columbia Separation

• B.C. officially split from the Northwest Chapter and started NASTT-BC in 2005.

• Separated due to difficulty in coordinating chapter-wide activities and local membership was high enough to establish an independent chapter.

• Washington remained with the Northwest Chapter.

NASTT Chapters (2008)

Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Current Board of DirectorsCurrent Board of Directors

Chair Past Chair Albert Kwan (AB) Kim Staheli (WA)

Vice Chair Secretary Michelle Ramos (WA) Vacant

TreasurerNeil Kucharski (AB)

Directors:Duane Strayer (AB)Jack Burnham (WA)

Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Recent Bylaw RevisionsRecent Bylaw Revisions

• In January 2009, the Chapter membership voted on, and accepted, a number of proposed changes to the Bylaws.

• The most important change was the revision of the Chapter’s geographic area to include Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Washington state is currently working towards establishing its own chapter.

Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Recent Bylaw Revisions Recent Bylaw Revisions

Potential Layout of NASTT Chapters – 2009 (Unconfirmed)

Northwest Chapter – Northwest Chapter – Involvement OpportunitiesInvolvement Opportunities

Chapter involvement opportunities:– Editorial Committee– Project of the Year Committee– Conference Organizing Committee (Calgary - 2009)

Contact dwillems@nastt-nw.com for more information.

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