Thursday, August 24, 2006

$13.00 with RSVP
$15.00 at the door
Free for students.

You will have a choice of chicken fried chicken, chicken avocado salad, or hamburger & french fries. The price includes drink (iced tea or water), tip and tax. Please let us know at the door.
Cash only please, No checks or credit cards.

Blue Star Brewery
1414 S. Alamo (see below)
San Antonio, Texas 78210
210-212-5506

Please RSVP by Tuesday, August 22^nd, 2006, to Steven Mouser @ 210-658-7250, or steven@grubbengineering.com

James Mercier, P.E., TxDOT

James graduated from the IBEW electrical apprenticeship program in 1979 as a Journeyman Electrician. Afterwards, he returned to college to graduate from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Civil Engineering (1986). James returned to Texas in 1993 and has worked for TxDOT since 1994. His jobs have included Highway Lighting Engineer, Traffic Signal Engineer, and is now a Hydraulics Engineer, specializing in open channel hydraulics. James is a licensed Professional Engineer in 6 states and a licensed Master Electrician by the City of Austin and the State of Texas.

Although he wasn't in the electrical program, James joined IEEE and ASCE as a student member at the University of Cincinnati, and has been active in both. He served as the Chair of the Austin Chapter Power Engineering Society for 2001 and 2002.

Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge Collapse Detection and Motorist Warning System

In September 2001, an errant barge struck a bridge, knocking out two spans. In the dark, several cars drove off the end into the water. After the bridge was restored, The Texas Department of Transportation decided to explore a collapse detection and motorist warning system. Since no such system existed, the entire concept and design was original. The task fell on James Mercier, a Sr. Member of IEEE and a Union (IBEW) electrician with experience in commercial and heavy industrial electrical work. The system is installed and operating today, and has attracted the attention of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Directions to Blue Star:

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From I-35 take the South Alamo exit (spur 536) (on the lower level) and turn east. (That is left if you were southbound and right if you were heading northbound on I-35.)

Pass through two lights at Flores and Main and then take the left fork of the Y following S. Alamo. Turn right into the Blue Star complex just pass the bus stop. The restaurant is in the back of the first building.

Note: If you take the wrong miss the fork, you will be on Probandt Street heading south. Turn around and go back to the intersection and turn right at S. Alamo.

Click here for a map from Yahoo and .here for directions from the Blue Star Website.