GFR magazine has added three members to its International Technical Advisory Committee: Mark E. Smith, Vector Engineering, Peru; Oscar R. Couttelanc, Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA), Mexico; Dr. Han-Yong Jeon, Chonnam National University, Korea. For more information, contact GFR

Marc S. Theisen, formerly the Director of Business Development of SI Geosolutions, has over 20 years of experience in geosynthetics and erosion control and is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC). He is Chairman of the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC), a Directing member of the Geosynthetics Institute (GSI), and is a member and formerly served as Technical Vice President of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). For those of you looking to contact Marc at his new venture,The Erosion Control Alliance, he can be reached at 3118 Bee Tree Lane, Signal Mountain, TN 37377 Phone: 423-605-5251 Fax: 423-886-9859 e-mail: marcmel@bellsouth.net.

Peter Novella, Manager - Waste Disposal at Cape Town Metro and President of the IWMSA, is leaving the Council after 33 years of service and is joining the Wasteman Group (http://www.wasteman.co.za/) on 1 March, as their regional manager for the Cape Province. Anyone who deals with Peter and/or wants to wish him well can contact him at his Metro office (+27 21 487 2716) or peter.novella@capetown.gov.za.

Written by Dr. Robert M. Koerner, Director, Geosynthetic Institute, the conference review of GRI-17 in Las Vegas, Nevada, is included in the December GSI Newsletter/Report. Learn more here.;

GFR magazine, published by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), has featured a "Designer's Forum" column since 1997. Throughout, the articles have been moderated by--and generally authored by--Greg Richardson, Ph.D., P.E., of the North Carolina-based firm G.N. Richardson and Associates (www.gnra.com), often with co-author support from consultants, manufacturers, installers and other site-experienced professionals. The IFAI Bookstore has compiled 50 Designer's Forum articles in a single volume available for purchase. The black-and-white booklet, GFR's Designer's Forum 1997-2003, has been broken into various application- and material-based sections: 1) Covers and Caps 2) Drainage 3) Geosynthetic Clay Liners 4) Geotextile Tubes 5) Landfills 6) Miscellaneous (e.g., tank lining, gas transmission in geocomposite systems, interface shear strength) 7) Roadways 8) Surface Impoundment. For more information, please contact Barbara Connett, IFAI Bookstore, 1801 County Rd. B West, Roseville, MN 55113-4061; +1 651/225-6913, fax +1 651/631-9334, e-mail bjconnett@ifai.com, Web site www.bookstore.ifai.com.

On January 13, 2004 Jeff PanKonie was named the Senior Sales Engineer for Specialty Products Department at Firestone BP. Jeff PanKonie has worked for Firestone Building Products for 15 years in various positions. Previous to his new move, he was the Technical Coordinator for Eastern Sales Region, Senior Engineer for Tapered Insulation Department, Senior Engineer for the Marketing Department, where he was the technical liaison between the Marketing Department and the Technology Department. When he first came to Firestone he worked on the task force to rewrite the Firestone Technical Specification Manuals. He was also involved in the creation and review of many of the technical literature that Firestone has available including the Sweets Brochures. Prior to coming to Firestone he worked for approximately five years as a designer and project manager for United Consulting Engineers, Inc. in Indianapolis. He has an engineering degree from Purdue University.

Dave Wyant used to work for the Virginia Transportation Research Council. He is a past chairperson of D35 (1995-1997), preceding David Suits' second six year stint as chair. While working for the VRC he was a college football official, and while still working at VRC was invited to become a NFL Official. He works as a side judge , and wears number 16. He officiated at the recent New England Patriot/Indiana Colts Championship game. He continued to work at the VRC for several years until retiring 4-5 years ago. He has been an NFL official for over 10 years.

The still-unopened Central Maui Landfill Phase IV-A has leaky liners, an inadequate operations layer and a vastly overdesigned leachate collection system. Learn more here.;

Three companies have recently joined the Geosynthetic Materials Association's (GMA) Mexico chapter: 1) Promotora Mexicana de Industrias, S.A. de C.V 2) Inarmex 3) Maccaferri de Mexico S.A de C.V. For more information on GMA membership and activities, contact Danette Halloran, Managing Director, Geosynthetic Materials Association, 1801 County Rd. B West, Roseville, MN 55113-4061; +1 651/225-6942, fax +1 651/631-9334, e-mail dfhalloran@ifai.com, Web site www.gmanow.com.

The Awards are designed to acknowledge excellence in innovative and integrative green roof design and to raise awareness of the multiple benefits that green roofs can provide clients and the general public. Last year’s six award winners included: Number 10 Architects; William McDonough + Partners; Olin Partnership; Katrin Scholz-Barth Consulting; Buettner and Associates; and the Conservation Design Forum. Under the direction of the six-member, multi-disciplinary judging team, this year’s awards include a number of changes designed to improve the detailed evaluation and comparison of projects. The contest was very close last year so a thorough completion of the project descrption below should be undertaken. Contest officially opens January 15, 2004. Submissions will be accepted until March 31st, midnight, Eastern Standard Time. Submissions must be received by courier or mail by that date. Judging will take place in April and the six winning submissions will be notified by April 30, 2004. In early May, project details will be reviewed with winning applicants to prepare print and electronic promotional materials. Awards will be presented during the Gala Awards Dinner in Portland, Oregon at the Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities, Conference, Awards and Trade Show on June 3, 2004. News releases will be sent out to national and international media beginning June 3, 2004.