Invitation to Technical Groups

I am writing to keep you updated on the newly created Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI), and to invite you to join us in this new endeavor.

The mission of the Institute is to serve the engineering community through the development and application of engineering mechanics by anticipating and adapting to new challenges that will face tomorrow's engineers and by creating an environment that facilitates professional growth to ensure that these future challenges will be met. The Institute seeks to establish a presence at the forefront of new thrusts of mechanics by promoting the most innovative developments in the field, regardless of the discipline of the ultimate user. The Institute also seeks to provide a home not only for those involved in the traditional disciplines, but also for those involved with emerging areas of mechanics. Additionally, the Institute seeks to promote the interdependence of engineering mechanics and other disciplines by providing an interdisciplinary forum for researchers, practicing engineers, industry representatives, citizen groups, public officials and others.

The vision for EMI is to be a premier organization representing engineering mechanics by effectively serving the needs of the world-wide engineering mechanics community and promoting both research and application of scientific and mathematical principles to address a broad spectrum of existing and emerging engineering and societal problems.

EMI will continue to conduct all the activities of the former Engineering Mechanics Division, but as an Institute, it will have greater freedom in launching new initiatives, forging partnerships with other organizations, and more generally, in running its own affairs under the direction of its Board of Governors.

As a member of ASCE you can select EMI as your free Institute when you renew your membership. If you are already amember of another ASCE Institute, you can either change your free membership to EMI, or add EMI membership for $20. Individuals who join by December 31, 2008 will become Charter Members of EMI. EMI members will receive our newsletter, EMI News. They may attend EMI programs and symposia at a discounted member rate, purchase EMI publications and subscribe to the Journal of Engineering Mechanics at member-only prices, and will be eligible to join EMI Technical Committees. For details on EMI, visit our new web site at www.engmechinstitute.org/about.html.

In view of your areas of interest, I invite you to join EMI and partner with us in building the future of engineering mechanics, and I look forward to counting you among our active members.

Sincerely,

Wilfred D. Iwan, Ph.D

President