"The following cover letter was received from Dr. George H. Kyanka, Chair, Construction Management & Wood Products 
Engineering Faculty. A well illustrated 16 page brochure entitled, "The Appeal for the Hugh P. Baker Laboratory" was 
also mailed with this letter."

Subject: Renovation of Baker Laboratory

I am excited by the progress that has occurred in our project to upgrade the teaching, demonstration and research spaces in 
Baker Lab. This is the first renovation of the facility since it's construction in the 1950s. The multi-phase project represents 
the College's commitment to provide innovative instruction, training, and research to construction and wood products students 
and industry members well into the 21st century. Phase I of the renovation project is complete. The one-story wing of Baker 
has been modified to include new lab spaces, "high-tech" classrooms, and computer clusters for the use of all ESP students.

The enclosed brochure described: 

• Current projects that members of ESF's Faculty of Construction Management and Wood Products Engineering 

are pursuing in the newly renovated labs and support facilities.
• How your contributions will allow ESF to purchase advanced research and teaching equipment and provide 

fellowships for meritorious CMWPE students.
• An opportunity to have your name, your company or the name of a colleague, faculty member, or loved one 

permanently displayed in Baker Lab.

George Kyanka 

For more information contact Brenda Greenfield, ESF Development Office, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 
13210-2778. Phone 315-470-6683. Fax: 315 470-6978. e-mail: bgreenfield@esf.edu

Civil and electrical engineering classes for engineers
preparing for the Professional Engineering Licensing 
examinations are scheduled to start January 8 and 9 
respectively. The eleven civil engineering classes will 
be taught on Wednesday evenings at C&S Engineers. 
The nine electrical engineering classes will be taught 
at Robson & Woese Engineers on Thursday evenings. 
The classes begin at 6 PM and last two hours. They 
are sponsored by the Syracuse Section of the 
American Society of Mechanical Engineers and run 
from 6 PM until 8 PM. For further information and 
registration forms visit the website.

http://www.asme.org/sections/SyracuseNY/pd.htm/
or call Fred Wenthen at 315 637-5577.

Material Tested - Metals, Plastic, Rubber, Coat-
ings, Platings, Paints, Weldments, Circuit Boards
Services - Metalurigical Testing, Failure Analysis, 
Chemical Analysis, Mechanical Testing, Micro-
electronic amalysis, Weld Testing, Environmental
Simulation, Polymer Testing, Full Machine Shop

The November Sweet lecture was held at the Lodge at Welch Allyn and hosted by Scott Gucciardi, Welch 
Allyn MPD manager and newly elected TACNY Director. Paul Henson, President of Pair Gain Communic-
ations Inc. and Priority Connections, presented an outstanding discussion on the change from narrow band 
communication services to broadband internet services of today. Paul covered early telephone twisted pair 
technology and how communication service evolved through DSL to today's fiber optic light transmission of 
audio and video data. Pair Gain provides Engineering, installation and services for local, long distance and 
cellular telephone companies. Priority Connections provides voice/data/audio/visual cabling and equipment 
solutions for commercial & residential customers. Paul brought plenty of show and tell items and explained 
the complicated terminology in such a way that people with diverse or limited technology backgrounds 
easily understood. From the sheer number of questions asked, it was obvious that the 20 attendees 
thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. After the presentation there was an optional catered dinner buffet 
which was a big hit with all who elected to take advantage of the superb accommodations. Many thanks to 
Scott Gucciardi and Welch Allyn for their hospitality.

Future presentations: There will be not be a Sweet Lecture during December, but TACNY will co-
sponsor a Non-Sweet Lecture in January, followed by the SWEET Lectures described below in February, 
March, April, and May: 

January 23, 2003 at 7:30 PM:........"Making Science Exciting" A non-Sweet lecture and TACNY co-
sponsored event at the Westcott Community Center. Expect an exciting multi media presentation from 
Marvin Druger, Professor of Biology and Science Education at Syracuse University and an SU Meredith 
Professor for Teaching Excellence. Druger will demonstrate his innovative teaching strategies and address 
the vexing problem of how to motivate unmotivated students. Although there is a normally a charge for 
these Wescott lectures, simply indicate at the door that you are a TACNY member and there will be no 
fee required. 

February 10:...... Modern Cosmology and the Building Blocks of the Universe}, presented by Professor 
Mark Trodden from Syracuse University, an expert in the physics of the universe. Let's face it; the universe 
is really, really big! If we want to understand it, we need to know about the physics on very large scales. 
On the other hand, atoms and their constituents are really, really small! To understand them requires us to 
know about physics on very small scales. The challenge of modern cosmology is to use these seemingly 
different aspects of physics to explain how a young, hot, small universe became the old, cold, huge universe 
we see today: to understand the physics of the Big Bang. In this lecture Prof. Trodden will guide you through 
the major ideas of 20th century cosmology, highlighting some important unresolved questions along the way. 
If time permits, he will try to give a picture of how particle cosmologists are trying to address these questions: 
Why does the universe look the way it does today and what do quantum mechanics, superstrings and the 
cosmological constant have to do with all of this? 

March 4:....... Distributed Power Generation} or "How the juice gets from here to there", hosted by Neil 
LeBrake of Niagara Mohawk, a National Grid company. Presentation at 6:00 PM at the Niagara Mohawk 
building. Details to follow. 

April 16:.......Integrated Airport Surface Management Systems, hosted by Mark Viggiano, President of 
Sensis Air Traffic Systems. The lecture will consist of a brief discussion and then a tour of the testing 
facility at Syracuse International Airport. These systems are designed to provide seamless coverage and 
aircraft identification to air traffic controllers. The integration of multiple sensors provides data with an 
accuracy, update rate and reliability suitable for improving airport safety in all weather conditions. Time 
and meeting place TBD.

May 15:......... The Technology of Lawn, Landscape and Garden Design and Management
(just in time for lawn mowing and planting season), presented by Terry Ettinger. Terry, host of the weekly 
call-in Time Warner Cable television program "Garden Journeys", and News Radio 570 WSYR's 
"Weeder's Digest", is a leading speaker, educator and communicator in the field of environmentally 
sensitive lawn, landscape and garden design and management. He has spoken to professional groups 
across North America and both professional and general interest publications have solicited and 
published his writings for over a decade. Place and time TBD. We'll keep you posted on any further 
updates and meeting particulars. 

Recognizing the vital role that teachers play in the preparation of future technologists, The Technology Alliance 
of Central New York established The Outstanding Teacher Awards Program in 1988, to honor Central New 
York's most distinguished teachers of technology. The awards are given to recognize extra-ordinary contribut-
ions to the advancement of mathematics, science, and Technology Education for the elementary and secondary 
students residing in the five counties of Central New York State: Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and 
Oswego. Seventy-two awards have been conferred to date. Generally, up to five awards are given each year.

The process of identifying the 2002-2003 award winners is well underway. Invitations to nominate teachers 
were mailed to all schools in the five counties in September. Nominations were due by October 7, and 23 were 
received. Teachers must now fill out an information form containing details of their work that address the 
criteria. Those forms and three letters of support are due on December 2. The Awards Committee will meet 
on December 11 to receive the nominees' files. They will have until January 3 to read the materials and rate 
each teacher on the award criteria. The committee will meet again on January 15 to receive the tabulated ratings 
and formally determine the recipients of the 2002-2003 awards. During late winter and early spring, represent-
atives of the committee will go to each recipient's school district to formally present companion plaques to the 
teachers and the districts. This is often done at meetings of the Board of Education. The concluding recognition 
of the teachers will be done at our Awards Banquet on May 2, when they will receive checks in the amount of 
$500.

The criteria for the awards require documentation that the teachers: 

Inspire students to pursue study in fields related to mathematics, science, or technology. 

Encourage students to demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. 

Involve students in co-curricular activities such as mathematics, science, or technology 
exhibits or competitions. 

Serve as role models for students in the responsible use of technology. 

Demonstrate active participation in professional development. 

Share their expertise and enthusiasm with colleagues.

Teachers may be nominated for the award by anyone who knows of their work and how it compares with the 
award criteria. This includes superintendents of schools, students, colleagues, principals, parents of students, 
board of education members, and business, industry, and technology leaders. Our objective is to find the best-
qualified teachers who meet our criteria and who will supply the requested documentation of their work and 
will ask three other people to write supporting letters of reference. 

Teachers who are selected to receive awards are recognized at a local event such as a Board of Education 
meeting, school assembly, teacher workshop, or the like, by the presentation of identical plaques to the teacher 
and to the school district for public display. The teacher and a guest, as well as the nominator, are guests of 
TACNY at a banquet held in the spring. At the banquet program, each teacher is given a check for $500. The 
Club encourages local and regional publicity of the teachers' awards in the hope that communities will become 
more aware of the excellent instruction available to their students. It is also hoped that other teachers will be 
encouraged by the performance of the recipients and the availability of the awards program. 

Additional information about the Teacher Awards Program may be obtained by contacting the chairman, 
Vernon A. Tryon at Vernon@Tryon.com or Telephone (315)-343-9692 Cell (315) 529-0120 or Mail to 
4444 County Route 4, Oswego, NY 13126-9359.