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Meeting held March 9, 1998, Art Institute of Seattle

AES PNW Section Meeting Report
PNW's 20th Anniversary
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PNW past chairs and officers with cake (l-r) David Christian, Dan Mortensen, Rick Smargiassi, Roger Ponto, Herb Chaudierre, Dan Kingsbury, Rick Chinn, Van Browne (obscured), Lew Barrett (with cake), Tom Stiles, David Scheirman, Terry Denbrook, Gary Louie and Western Region VP Roy Pritts. 		image linked to 16group3.jpg
Non-alcoholic toast to the AES PNW Section.

Photos above by Ron Hyder

The PNW Section gathered at the Art Institute of Seattle on March 9, 1998, for a special celebration and a look toward the future. 50 people attended a special observation of the PNW Section's 20th anniversary and to hear Roy Pritts, AES Western Region Vice President and AES Education Committee Chair.

Section chair David Scheirman opened the meeting by thanking the hosts - the Art Institute Audio Club and their advisors Tom Dyer and Rich Hinklin. After introductions all around, David introduced Roy Pritts, who played the AES video, "AES Goes Gold." This production, specially prepared for the AES Convention 50th anniversary, highlights the 50 years of audio and the AES, and the special AES pioneers involved.

Next, Roy fired up his laptop and presented the role of the AES Education Committee that he chairs. He pointed out that the AES is unique: unlike other professional organizations, it is worldwide. Roy covered the Education activities at AES conventions and conferences, student sections and the student delegate assembly. He described the AES in the Schools program, with a nicely produced counselor's guidebook and video, and showed the AES Educational Program Directory. All attendees received a copy of the directory.

The slides included pictures of new AES sections around the world. There are now 101 AES Sections, 42 of which are student sections. For the future, Roy described how we need educatable and flexible minds to groom for future audio engineering careers, as well as strong local ties between student and professional sections, mentorship/internship programs, and AES in the Schools. Roy then showed the AES Careers in Audio videotape.

A special part of the evening was to honor the 20th anniversary of the PNW Section. Past Chairmen and special officers were honored with AES Certificates of Appreciation. Honored were:

  • Terry Denbrook, founding chair in 1977 and Treasurer Emeritus;
  • David Christian, Secretary Emeritus;
  • Roger Ponto, Chair 1978-80;
  • Herb Chaudierre, Chair 1980-81;
  • Dave Moore, Chair 1981-82;
  • Lew Barrett, Chair 1982-84 and 89-90;
  • Dan Kingsbury, Chair 1984-86;
  • Gary Louie, Chair 1986-88 and 90-91;
  • Rick Chinn, Chair 1988-89;
  • Tom Stiles, Chair 1991-92 and 94-95;
  • Al Swanson, Chair 1992-393;
  • Van Browne, Chair 1993-94;
  • Rick Smargiassi, Chair 1995-6;
  • Dan Mortensen, Chair 1996-97.
David Scheirman announced the PNW Section's Audio Mentoring Program (AMP), where seasoned audio professionals would mentor local students. Then the drawing for the door prizes was held, with Terry Denbrook winning a shoulder tote bag and Ryan Smith winning an ATM Flyware rigging handbook. Finally, a Martinelli's toast and cake cutting was held for the honorees.

Reported by Gary Louie, AES PNW Secretary.


last modified, 08/02/2019, 15:30:00, dtl