Every spring, the Southern District of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE) and the Mid-Colonial District of ITE (MCDITE) each sponsor an annual meeting for its members. This extravaganza of technical presentations, vendor displays, networking, social contests, and awards is the highlight of the year for our members. This meeting has all the camaraderie, entertainment, and educational opportunities the membership has come to expect. Both districts have a long history of annual meetings; for example, the first Southern District Annual Meeting was held in 1953 in conjunction with the Southern Safety Conference and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. In both Districts, the meetings are rotated between the Sections that make up each District. The Annual Meetings both have a rich tradition of bringing transportation professionals from academia, government, and private practice together to exchange practical ideas and experiences while socializing with colleagues, mentors, friends, and family.
2019 is a unique opportunity to experience the first ever Joint Annual Meeting between SDITE and MCDITE in Arlington, VA! Located near our nation’s capital and near Amazon’s new HQ2 proposal, this year’s meeting is also located at the intersection of both Districts and allows us to embrace the energy and technical knowledge that both Districts provide. The Annual Meeting includes numerous excellent technical sessions with engineering and planning tracks, a golf event, a much anticipated social event sponsored by the Associated Business Division (ABD), spouse/guest program, and a half-day professional development seminar.
The technical program, as always, keeps the membership informed of the latest innovations and current practices in the profession, while the ABD displays demonstrate the latest technologies. The Scholarship Challenge, known better as the Traffic Bowl, provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in a team competition of “transportation knowledge”. For the membership, it is a chance to root for our respective alma maters. However, one of the most rewarding aspects of the Annual Meeting is the renewal of old friendships and the making of new ones.
The grand finale of the annual meeting is the annual banquet. As part of the program, SDITE and MCDITE present awards to the sections and student chapters for their efforts in the previous year as well as to members who have written noteworthy technical papers. SDITE and MCDITE both recognize members who have advanced the transportation profession whether it was for their efforts over the past few years or a lifetime.
We hope you can join us in Arlington!