Minutes

International Advisory Committee

9:00 am 11:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Room C-101 I
Hyatt Hotel & Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, AZ

MEMBERS in Attendance

Ishita Manjrekar - India

Vilas S Mujumdar - USA
William E Rushing (ex-officio)
James M Shilstone - USA
Roberto Stark - Mexico
James K Wight - USA
Fouad H Yazbeck Abu Dhabi
Doug Sordyl, Staff Liaison

Kari Yuers - Canada, Chair

Khaled W. Awad Lebanon (ex-officio)
Florian Barth - USA
Mario A. Chiorino Italy
John Conn (ex-officio) ACI Staff
Augusto Holmberg - Chile
Thomas Kang South Korea
Robert C Lewis - UK

MEMBERS Absent
Claude Bedard - Canada
Jose M. Izquierdo Puerto Rico
Wen Chen Jau Taiwan
David A Lange - USA

Colin Lobo USA

Ephraim Senbetta - USA
Herbert Wei Zheng Hong Kong
VISITORS
John Glumb ACI Staff
Cheryce Johnson ACI Staff
Jae-Hoon Lee
Amy Ramos
J L Quiros Jr
Ron Watson Chair, IJBRC

Ali-Naji Attiyah
Diane Baloh ACI Staff
Ron Burg ACI Staff
Ramon L. Carrasquillo Chair, IC/C
Geert De Schutter
Anne Ellis
Arturo Gaytan-Covarrubias

Mission of the International Advisory Committee:

To advise the Board of Direction on international strategies and programs consistent
with the objectives outlined in ACIs Strategic Plan.

1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kari Yuers at 9:00am.

2. Welcome and Introductions

Chair Yuers acknowledged Ali-Naji Attiyah. University of Kufa, who is representing ACIs
newest ACI chapter -- Iraq.
All in attendance introduced themselves. Chair Yuers welcomed all, and acknowledged the
new members of the IAC - Wen Chen Jau, Thomas Kang, David A Lange, Robert C Lewis,
Ishita Manjrekar, Vilas S Mujumdar, James M Shilstone, Roberto Stark, James K Wight,
Fouad H Yazbeck, and Herbert Wei Zheng; as well as, ex-officio members Ken Hover
(Chapter Activities Committee) and William E Rushing (International Forum). John Conn is
representing Hover, who has a conflicting meeting.
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes of
the April 16, 2013 IAC meeting in Minneapolis with the correction that item 6.3.1
reference Attachment D and not Attachment C,
the Friday, June 7, 2013 IAC teleconference, and
the Tuesday, Sept 17, 2013 IAC teleconference.
Seconded and unanimously approved.
4. Approval of Agenda additions/deletions
There were no requests for additions/modifications to the agenda.
Motion to approve the agenda, seconded, unanimously approved.
5. New Business
5.1. ACI State of the Institute (2012)
The 2012 State of the Institute (SOI) report was distributed via email prior to the meeting
and copies were distributed at the meeting.
Statistics on demographics of members (p16-20) were pointed out, with special attention
to the age distribution of members.
New to this version are pages 14-15 providing the breakdown on publications by type
hardcopy, CDs, pdf, and ePubs. Hardcopy is still the significant type of publication
requested. Shilstone pointed out page 52 which indicates a significant increase in webbased educational sessions 22K, up from 9K.
President Ellis noted that the SOI is data rich and can easily lead to data overload. The
SOI will be helpful in work to define key performance indicators (KPIs) and creation of a
dashboard of those KPIs.
Carrasquillo noted that overall the Institute appears to be doing well.
5.2. ACI Strategic Plan
The ACI Board approved a new Strategic Plan for the Institute during their
teleconference of Sept 12, 2013. Refer to Exhibit 5.2 of the agenda. Vice President
Rushing presented the plan to IAC, noting that virtually every pillar had objectives in
which IAC could provide supporting activities.
Draft KPIs from the Strategic Plan task group were presented. Prior to the upcoming
Board meeting in Phoenix, these and other suggested KPIs from Board Committee
Chairs will be discussed. It is expected that work on defining KPIs will culminate in
approval of specific KPIs at the Board meeting in Reno, NV next Spring.

Shilstone noted that ACI is the prominent concrete organization, but needs to reach out
to others to join the organization. Rushing noted that outreach is a pillar of the new plan
and requires a dialogue with a goal toward cooperation, collaboration, and information
sharing.
5.3. Possible KPIs related to the ACI Strategic Plan
As requested, Chair Yuers submitted suggested KPIs to VP Bill Rushing. These were
included as agenda Exhibit 5.3, and briefly discussed during the meeting. IAC members
are requested to review and provide further input to Chair Yuers and ACI Staff Sordyl in
the next month as preparation for further Board and Board Committee work proceeds.
5.4. Recommendations for the ACI Executive Committee
Background:TheACIExecutiveCommitteeatitsJune2122,2013meetingrequestedIACs
guidance(tobeprovidedtotheExecutiveCommitteeinPhoenix)onnextstepsandprioritization
ofeffortsassociatedwiththeInternationalSummitTaskGroupworkproducts.Aspointedoutby
IAC,weneedtoidentifyprioritycountries/regionsforfutureefforts.Further,itisrecognizedthe
opportunitiesandmeanstoachievevarysignificantlyandthesedifferencesneedtobeidentified.
Tothisend,theExecutiveCommitteerequestedadditionalinputfromIAC,including1)Whatare
thekeycountriesand/orregionswecanhavegreatestpositiveimpact?2)Whatarethese
impacts?3)HowmightACIbestachievetheseimpacts?4)Whatisareasonabletimeframeto
realizetheseimpacts?5)Whatlocalabilityistheretoassist?
At the request of TAC Chair Ron Janowiak, Chair Yuers met with TAC on Saturday
morning, October 19th. TAC was enthusiastic in its support for IACs recommendation
for additional staffing resources to further technical outreach, to build long term
relationships and to provide focused development of ACI opportunities in receptive areas
of the world. Chair Yuers carried this message to the Executive Committee at this
convention.
As reported in the Executive Committee minutes of October 19/22, 2013:
IACChairYuersreportedthattheIACmembershipiswellrepresentedinternationallybutdoes
nothaveadirectChinarepresentative.IAChasdiscussedobjectivestoexpandACIs
internationaloutreachincludinginternationalreconnaissance,developingrelationshipsfor
codesandstandards,evaluationofInternationalPartnerorganizationsandconferences,and
internationalexchangeoftechnicalinformation.
YuersrelatedthatIAChasbeendiscussingajointeffortbetweenIACandTACtoestablisha
Staffpresenceinvariousinternationalregionsforafewmonthsthatwasendorsedbyastraw
voteofIACmembers.IACrecommendscandidatesforthepositionwouldpossessan
entrepreneurialspiritandgoodunderstandingoftheentiretyofACIofferings.Initialtasks
includereconnaissanceinselectregionstobetterunderstandthehighpotentialopportunities
andbestmeansofenteringthemarket,e.g.utilizingalocalpartnerorotherwise.Regions
identifiedwheresignificantopportunityexistsforpotentialACIcertification,education,and
codeadvocacywereChina,theMiddleEast,India,SouthAmerica,andsoutheastAsia.
TheExecutiveCommitteediscussedconcernwithlogistics,thereturnoninvestment,andwhat
woulddefinesuccessforthistypeofinitiative.Rushingexpressedneedformorenearterm
actionandquickerreturnoninvestment.EllisrequestedthatRushingandBurgdiscussfurther
andreportbackwithsuggestednextstepsincludingresponsetoIACattheExecutive
Committeemidwinter2014meeting.

5.5. Chair Yuers indicated that future agendas will follow the format of this meeting, with
strategic items listed first for discussion/action, followed by old business and administrative
reports, to insure the most important items are provide adequate time.
5.6. Rob Lewis commented that education webinars and broadcasts of ACI convention
sessions are typically based on Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone considerations. Lewis
suggested that EAC consider rebroadcasting webinars at say 2am EST to permit more
appropriate viewing times in other parts of the world.
6. Old Business
6.1. Status of ACI International Conference Speaker Program
Carrasquillo, Chair of IC/C reported that this program was approved at the Spring 2013
ACI Board of Direction meeting in Minneapolis, MN. Criteria and flowcharts for the
process have been developed (refer to attachments 6.1a-d for updated criteria and
flowcharts). Appropriate templates for the ACI web-site will be developed to allow
interested parties to apply for the program. Criteria for selection of venues and speakers
will be circulated within IAC for review/approval.
It is expected that a pilot program of 3-5 good quality speakers will be in place for 2014,
and priority will be given to international partner conferences at this time.
6.2. Contributions to Worldwide Harmonization of Codes and Standards for Structural
Concrete
At the invitation of TAC chair Ron Janowiak, Chiorino met with TAC on Saturday,
October 19 in Phoenix, and presented his outlook on worldwide harmonization of
codes/standards for concrete. This presentation was essentially the same given to IAC
in Minneapolis with minor adjustments.
Pre-standards are being developed by fib, and standards are the purview of ISO TC71.
fib 2010 is being printed and will be out next week printed in Germany, and Chiorino
cites 4 ACI documents referenced in the fib code as a successful case study of
interaction between fib and ACI.
Future possibilities for fib and ACI interaction Gordon Clark, fib President will speak at International Lunch in Reno (Spring 2014)
Possibility of a joint conference in Italy in 2014 and 2015 is under discussion in
TAC, and discussed recently between Anne Ellis/Gordon Clark in a recent
sustainability conference in Japan, and Petra Schumacher, fib Secretary-General
with Dan Falconer, ACI Managing Director of Engineering.
6.3. Update on translation activities for ACI documents
Holmberg reported on behalf of Izquierdo regarding ACI documents currently undergoing
translation. The committee expects to ballot the Spanish translation of ACI 318-14 by
May/June 2014. With its aggressive schedule the Spanish version may be out before
the English version.
6.4. Concrete Technology in Developing Countries
No action since the last meeting. Jay Shilstone is chair of the ad-hoc task group
supporting this initiative which includes R. Lewis, P. Izquierdo, E. Attiogbe, G. Sabnis, S.
Manjrekar, D. Figueroa, P. Herrera, J Uribe, and A. Duran-Herrera. Shilstone will be
contacting members in the coming months.

The 2-hour ACI Session on Lessons from the Past That Which We Used to Do will be
held at the Washington DC (Fall 2014) convention and is sponsored by ACI 120
History of Concrete and co-sponsored by ACI E-702 and IAC. Luke Snell is actively
chasing papers for two session, but depending upon the number, the second session
may be eliminated.
7. Liaison and Subcommittee Reports
7.1. International Certification
Khaled Awad, member of the Certification Committee (CC) and ex-officio member of the
International Advisory Committee, reported that the International Certification Committee
met on Sunday. Several new certification programs are being proposed at this
convention.
International certification activity is seeing a similar rate of growth as activity in the US,
but the US base is significantly higher to begin. The committee discussed the need to
make a break-thru on certification activity, and discussed language and supporting
standards as two the barriers to increasing activity. Regarding language, the committee
discussed formation of a committee/task group similar to ACI 318S, which could provide
translation of certification material. With regard to the supporting standards, Awad has
approached James Cagley, Chair of ISO TC 71 to discuss options via that group.
Presently, ACI uses CSA standards in Canada as part of its certification programs.
A session on ACI certification was presented at the recent Concrete in Americas and
Beyond held immediately preceding this convention. The session was well received.
7.2. Chapter Activities
John Conn reported on behalf of Ken Hover, Chair of the Chapter Activities Committee
(CAC) and recognized Mr. Ali-Naji Attiyah as ACI Iraq Chapter representative, ACIs
newest Chapter. In addition, the Alaska Chapter has also been established and the
Philippines has been reinstated as an active chapter. Current Chapter count is 101 with
57 in the US, and 44 outside the US.
Honduras Chapters charter was recently revoked for lack of reporting. Staff is proactive
in attempting to contact delinquent Chapters and makes several attempts at contact
before revocation is considered.
This CAC meeting was the first to include international chapters and dealt with strategic
items regarding how to connect ACI with Chapters. Interestingly the Alaska Chapter,
founded in Anchorage, will be considering tools for teleconferencing due to the extreme
geographic reach of the Chapter; a similar tool being considered for international chapter
needs. Chair Yuers expressed IACs extreme interest in CACs initiatives and goals, and
offered support for joint initiatives with CAC as deemed appropriate.
Student chapters are growing with new chapters in Saudi Arabia and Guatemala,
bringing the student chapter count to 77 - 43 in the US, and 34 outside the US.
In the past, chapters within a 500 mile radius were invited to a Chapter Roundtable; now
all chapters are invited. Recent roundtables were held in Detroit (Spring), Denver and
Hawaii with 15 chapters (including Egypt and India) attending the Oct 2-3 roundtable in
Hawaii.
Next year will see a new format of roundtables, with one held May 12/13 at ACI
headquarters that will feature Chapter training. Others considered will be October 22 in
conjunction with the ACI convention in Wash DC, and one location outside the US.

7.3. International Partners Forum

VP Bill Rushing reported that the International Forum was held on Sunday, October 20,
2013 and was again well received by all. Representatives from ten International
Partners and Chapters shared specific activities of interest with their counterparts during
this reformatted meeting of international partners and chapters. The presentations will
be posted to the ACI website in the near future.
7.4. International Joints and Bearings Research Council, an IAC subcommittee
Ron Watson, Chair of the IJBRC, provided an overview of IJBRC its beginnings and its
recent activities and interests. The formation of IJBRC was driven by Peter Smith (past
ACI President) and Stuart Watson, and was at one time an ACI Technical Committee.
While expansion joints/bearings represent only about 1-2% of the cost of a bridge
structure, they represent 90% of the problems encountered.
IJBRC has a newsletter with a mailing list of 1200, publications, and offers a $5000
student scholarship. IJBRC is planning its 8th IJBRC conference for Fall 2016, and is
looking at the logistics of a concurrent or pre/post conference with the ACI convention in
Philadelphia. The conference is 3 days of a single track, and a model similar to the
Concrete in Americas conference or the FRP conference is being considered.
7.5. International Conferences/Conventions subcommittee
7.5.1.

Ramon Carrasquillo reported that 89 people attended the international lunch on

Sunday to hear Jorge Luis Quijano, CEO of the Panama Canal Authority, speak
on the expansion of the Panama Canal. The presentation was extremely well
received and Quijano stayed well beyond the lunch to answer questions.

7.5.2.

Future Convention luncheon speaker for Reno (Spring 2014, where the
convention theme is Concrete Endures) will be Gordon Clark, BSc(Eng), ACGI,
CEng, FICE, FIStructE, and President fib. Clark will address fostering worldwide
harmonization of codes and standards for structural concrete and the links
between international associations at pre-standard and standard levels.
Discussion centered on ideas to attract more attendance, and all agreed that a
good speaker/topic and advanced promotion (both public and personal) is
essential. For Phoenix, promotion included
o 1 page leaflet 1 week before
o 1 page emailed
o 1 page flyer at the Concrete in America

8. Next Meeting
The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 9:00a.m.-11:30
p.m. at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.
9. Adjourn

Attachments
6.1a
6.1b
6.1c
6.1d

Flow Chart Conference Identification/Recommendation by IC/C

Criteria to select ACI participation in International Conferences
Flowchart Speaker Identification and Recommendation by IC/C
Criteria for ACI International Speaker Selection

Additional, separate attachments

6.2
7.4

Mario Chiorini presentation to TAC on Contributions to Worldwide Harmonization of

Codes and Standards for Structural Concrete
IJBRC presentation

Attachment 6.1a
Speaker Program
10/21/2013 Phoenix, AZ

CONFERENCE IDENTIFICATION/RECOMMENDATION BY IC/C

Conference
organizersaddto
ACIIntlConf
calendar

StaffaddstoIntl
Confcalendar

ConfOrganizer
requestsspeaker

Staffculls
conferencesfrom
IntlConfcalendar
each6months

Staffassembleslist
ofIntlconferences

IC/Creviews
conferencelist

IC/C
recommends?

StaffaddstoIntl
Confcalendar

YES
ACI EVP
approves

ConfOrganizer
requestsACI
sponsorshipor
cosoponship

CONFERENCE
DATABASE

Specificspeaker
requestedby
conference

IC/Cmatcheswith
specificspeakers

NO

Attachment 6.1b
Speaker Program
10/21/2013 Phoenix, AZ

Criteria to select ACI participation in International Conferences

Criteria for selection of a conference

1. Conference information:
a. Name of the conference
b. Theme of the conference
c. Location of the conference
d. Dates the conference will be held
2. Is the conference
a. On ACIs International Conference calendar?
b. Being requested by the conference host?
c. Being requested by an individual?
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Is international conference sponsored or cosponsored by ACI?

Is the conference host an ACI International Partner?
Is the conference host an ACI International Chapter?
Does the region where the conference is to be held match ACIs current regional
priorities?
What is past history of attendance size at the conference?
What is expected attendance?
Where in the conference will the presentation be placed?
Will ACI leadership be attending the conference?
Recent participation by ACI representatives at past conferences?
Possiblity of local ACI Chapter presentations
a. Name of local Chapter
b. Location of local Chapter
c. Has local Chapter been contacted?

Attachment 6.1c
Speaker Program
10/21/2013 Phoenix, AZ

SPEAKER IDENTIFICATION AND RECOMMENDATION BY IC/C

IC/Cidentifies
potentialspeakers

Acknowledge
andthank

NO
IC/CStaff
inquirereinterest

Candidate
interest?

YES

ACIMember
requestshebeadded
toSpeakerDB

Speakersubmits
interestform

IC/Creviews
interestform

YES
IC/C
recommends?

SPEAKER
DATABASE

NO

Is speaker name
in SPEAKER DB?

YES

IC/Cmatcheswith
specificconference

YES
Specificspeaker
requestedby
conference

Is conference in
CONF DB?

NO

NO

Acknowledgement
letter;nothanks

Attachment 6.1d
Speaker Program
10/21/2013 Phoenix, AZ

Criteria for ACI International Speaker selection

Interest Form completed by speaker candidate
GENERAL
1. Speaker information:
a. Name
b. Area of expertise
c. Fluent in languages - name
d. Topic/Paper
e. ACI Member (shall speakers be limited to ACI Members?)
2. Speaker credentials (attach a short CV)
a. Industry
b. Academic
c. ACI involvement
3. Expectations of speaker
a. Presentation may be previewed by ACI
b. Permission for future use of presentation and material by ACI
c. ACI will provide several slides by ACI about ACI
SPECIFIC CONFERENCE (will be required at a later date if submittal does not identify a conference)
4. Speaker experience with this program
a. Has speaker been sponsored by this program in the past?
b. When?
c. Evaluations?
5. Explain the benefit to ACI
a. Will presentation be a
i. keynote address?
ii. part of a session?
iii. Luncheon/dinner?
b. Investment return
6. Possibility of addition presentation at a local ACI Chapter
a. Local ACI Chapter interest
b. Possibility of presentation at ACI
c. Additional costs associated with presentation at a local Chapter
7. List financial assistance available from the conference
a. Waiver of conference registration fee
b. Transportation to conference city
c. Hotel accommodations
d. Local transportation
e. Waiver of special conference fees such as dinners, social events, technical
seminars, etc.
f. Other