All members, families and friends of Polish-American Engineers Association are cordially invited to attend our February meeting.

                  
         DATE:         Friday, February 17, 2006

         TIME:          7:30 p.m.

         PLACE:      Holiday Inn O’Hare”
                     8201 West Higgins Rd.
                     Chicago, Illinois

 
         SPEAKER:   Mr. Michael Niedzinski, M.S.
                    Director of Technology 
                         and Standardization USA
                    Alcan Aerospace

         TOPIC:     New material solutions for A380
                    and A350 aircraft

Mr. Michael Niedzinski, the PAEA President, is responsible for introduction of aerospace related products and technologies developed by Alcan Aerospace to airframe manufacturers such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and government agencies such as NASA, FAA and Air Force. Additionally as Director of Technology for Alcan Aerospace, Michael Niedzinski is responsible for assessment and transfer of materials technology from USA to Europe and Asia, This includes unique processing technologies and or new metallic solutions related to aerospace, marine and defense applications. His presentation will concentrate on new materials used on the new generation of aircraft developed or proposed by Airbus"

Prior to the current assignment Michael Niedzinski held position of Vice President of Technology and Quality Assurance at McCook Metals, manufacturer of plate and sheet products for aerospace and defense industries.

While working at Reynolds Metals, in the capacity of Director of Technology, he was responsible for the program management of Aluminum-Lithium manufacturing technology needed to produce Super Light Weight External Tank needed for the Space shuttle missions, which delivered components of the International Space Station to its high altitude orbit. In 1996 he received prestigious Sustained Effort Award from Lockheed Martin and NASA. Concurrently he managed product and technology development related to the F-16, C-17, F-22 and F-35 military aircraft.

Michael received his BS and MS (thesis “Thermodynamics of argon-oxygen Steelmaking”) from University of Illinois. Later he obtained an MBA from Illinois Institute of Technology. He published technical papers in Light Metals Age and Transactions of Metallurgical Society. He holds a patent related to development of Aluminum-Lithium alloy used for the new generation of F-16 interceptor. During his twenty five plus years in the industry he worked on projects ranging from aluminum automotive applications, architectural, nuclear and marine products, armored personnel carriers and seemingly mundane technology of rigid containers and food packaging.

PAEA was invited and enjoyed “Tango” a play by Slawomir Mrozek About 45 members and guests crowded Chopin Theatre on January 29th

A business meeting will precede the technical presentation. Coffee and pastries will be served during the intermission.

SPECIAL INVITATION for Polish engineers and technicians who recently came to Chicago.

WASHINGTON AWARD: The Washington Award Banquet is scheduled for February 24, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. Martin Luther king Drive, Chicago. Tickets are $75.00 per person. Reception: 5:30 p.m., Dinner: 6:30 p.m. In 1931 Ralph Modjeski received this prestigious engineering award. This year this award will be presented to Professor Henry Petroski. Professor Petroski is of Polish heritage. His grandfather left Poland at the end of the 19th Century. He worked in Pennsylvania coal mines. In American press reports Professor Petroski has been called “the poet laureate of technology”. Professor Petroski’s books are read by millions of people all over the world. They provide an outstanding history of engineering, invention, manufacture and business; a history of cultural life. He has written books explaining the engineering behind the small and ordinary (pencils, paper clips, bookshelves, etc.) as well as behind the large and extraordinary (bridges, skyscrapers, and other projects), arguing that understanding the former helps understanding the latter. An important theme in his writing is the importance of history to engineering. Professor Petroski states, “A knowledge and appreciation of the history of engineering not only gives us pride in our profession but also help us to be better engineers”. PAEA will participate and provide a donation of $300. Anyone interested in attending this event should contact Dr. John Plachta.

BUILDING FOR EXTREME EVENTS: Lessons Learned from Katrina. The Structural Engineers Foundation will host a lecture on Hurricane Katrina by Bill Coulbourne, PE. Bill is with URS Corp. and is managing the Mitigation Assessment Team for FEMA in Mississippi and Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. The title of his presentation is “Building for Extreme Events – Lessons Learned from Katrina”. The lecture will present overview the structural damage in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and address the question raised by a lot of survivors, “would stronger building codes have resulted in less damage?” Lecture will be given at The Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL. On April 4, 2006. Reception 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Program 6:30 p.m. The reception and program are free of charge and open to the public. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (312) 649-4600 ext. 200.

POLONIA TECHNICA from New York is informing us about a group of students from the Warsaw Polytechnic in Poland that is coming to United States for model airplane competition. This competition will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from 21st to 23rd of April. They are coming to Chicago on April 18, 2006. On 28th of April they are flying back to Warsaw. They are asking for financial help to cover their expenses in United States. Any donation will be greatly appreciated.