October 2011,

Dear Midwestern ITE Members:

As we look forward to fall and all it has to offer I would like to reflect on some really important events that took place this past summer.

The MWITE District meeting in Dubuque, IA in June was a great meeting and a tremendous success. The host community was very gracious, the facilities excellent, local arrangements where impressive and the 185 attendees were treated to a powerful technical program, including Dr. Dan Turner’s presentation on Leadership in our profession. We celebrated along with MOVITE the 60th Anniversary of MOVITE and several Past Presidents attended and reflected on the history of MOVITE, the District and ITE in general. Thank you to everyone who participated in making it an outstanding joint meeting.

The Midwestern District was also the host district of the 2011 International Meeting in St. Louis, MO in August and it was great to see so many transportation professionals take advantage of the opportunity to meet, learn and enjoy all that ITE has to offer.

Congratulations to the Missouri DOT and City of Springfield, MO for being awarded the ITE Transportation Achievement Award for their Joint Traffic Management Center. I was honored to be able to present the award to the Springfield City Council recently and to acknowledge the efforts that went into the design and construction of such a great facility.

I was also honored to be able to present to the Kansas University Student Chapter the award for winning the Districts Traffic Bowl. It is always a pleasure to meet with the students and to appreciate the interest they have in the transportation profession. If you have an opportunity to participate with or support your local student chapter you will be amazed at how engaged the students are and I am always impressed with the skills and knowledge they are bringing to the Transportation Industry.

Please join us in shaping the future of our organization by getting involved. Feel free to contact any current or past board member for ways to assist in the efforts.

Again, we thank you for your membership and involvement and look forward to the future as you help shape our organization.

In Service,

Doug Ripley
2011 MWITE President