Nearly twenty-five years ago, leaders of the Alabama Engineering Community identified the need to establish an organization that represents the interests of any engineering technical society, joint engineering council, land surveyors society or individual engineer committed to increasing professional outlook, sensitivity to professional responsibility of public interest, and dedicated to a leadership role in making technology a true servant of mankind. On November 1,1979, in accordance with the Alabama Nonprofit Corporation Act, Joint Engineers Council of Alabama (JECA) was incorporated as a non-profit organization dedicated to unifying the governmental affairs activities and common legislative interests of the Alabama Engineering Community.

In recent years, the Alabama Engineering Community has achieved momentum in its legislative and governmental affairs activities. Much of the progress is because of JECA's desire and dedication to advocate the engineering profession to our public and elected officials. JECA's annual Legislative Reception, which always occurs during Engineers Week, ensures that the people making laws and policies that will affect every aspect of our daily lives in Alabama recognize the importance of engineers and the unique requirements and needs of our profession.

In order to remain an effective and viable organization, JECA must have a strong membership base. As JECA's membership grows, so does its ability to influence government affairs activities and to represent the interests of the Alabama Engineering Community and the public. Because of its statewide coverage and multidisciplinary scope, JECA is the one organization most looked at to represent all engineering interests in Alabama. Such an organization must have a broad and pervasive membership base to be taken seriously.

Now, more than ever, strong leadership and a revitalization of JECA's goals and initiatives are needed to move JECA forward. The IEEE's Huntsville Section is proud to be a member of JECA and maintains a seat on the JECA Board of Directors. You will find more information on JECA at http://www.jeca.org.

When the Alabama Legislative Session starts on February 3, 2004, you will find information on the various bills being proposed on the JECA website. JECA relies on engineers to review and comment on proposed legislative actions. Your comments are an important part of the political process. Please review the proposed legislative actions and let us know how this will impact the practice of professional engineering in the state of Alabama. You can provide your comments to the Section's JECA Director.

Thomas Jefferson once said, "We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government of the majority who participate." Let's all do our part and participate.