Lowell A. Benson - Engineer/Manager, retired 12/01
Please Drive Sanely and Safely!!

  07/14/2009

PROJECTS:  I'm busy with grandchildren, volunteer activities, etc..

Current/Recent Activities ?	Consulting for Mn/DOT - Spent almost 5 months reviewing materials then facilitated ordering almost 500 new technical books to modernize the Mn/DOT Library resources.  Citizens League for Environmental and Economic Responsibility (CLEER), just starting a new initiative to support this group.  Wrote a position paper objecting to a new lake sewer system and did a water clarity analysis of Douglas Co. lakes. VIP CLUB Board   Elected as Vice President for 2009 calendar year.  Appointed CLUB treasurer in August '06, elected for 2007 then re-elected for 2008.  Developed a membership 2008 membership directory.  Co-chair of the VIP Club's Legacy Project.  Club web Webmaster since October 2007. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, computer committee - maintaining their web site since 2006. Helped a friend - Technical writing to create a small company's web site in 2007. http://dcfmfg.com. AHS '56 - keeping AHS web page current, see AHS '56 button above, wrote class booklet for July, 2006  50th reunion and the March 2008 gathering in Phoenix. LMA Board of Directors, Area 7 - focusing on Lake Miltona outlet dam maintenance, analyzing outlet water flow & lake levels. In 2009, I accepted responsibility for the LMA website and began serving on the newly formed Water Quality Committee.  On a 2008 committee for boat landing signs.  Provided 2006 membership directory cover photo, one of several 2008 directory cover photos. CTS Safety and Traffic Flow Council - focus is on Toward Zero Deaths' SAFETY outreach initiatives and their annual research conference planning.
	After retiring from the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota in December 2001 – I contemplated what to do with my extra time!!  Could I help reduce crash and death rates on public roadways?  To make a difference, I've created two concepts focused on the driving public view of traffic signals and leading vehicles. First is a roadway safety concept, " Display Enhanced Signal Lights."  Second is a vehicle safety concept, "Vehicle Information Safety Light."  To date, no organization has provided experimental model funding. Organizations interested these concepts should contact me. The DESL concept was a poster paper at the Center for Transportation Studies 17th Annual Transportation Research Conference on April 29th, 2005.
Work products  U of MN, Center for Transportation Studies	Implementation Plan for Snowplow Systems Outreach Report "Technical Tour Management" Draft Flyer: "Technical Tours - Real World, Real Results" Workshop Report: Planning and Designing Roads for Older Driver Safety" Project Report: "Older Driver Education Enhancement Project" Project Paper: "ITS Improves Transit way Safety"

  Sorry, Closed for the winter, will open again in May, 2009

Summer weekends we really enjoy the sunsets {roll your mouse pointer to the cabin!}  and atmosphere of our Lake Miltona cabin near Alexandria.  The coffee pot is always on in the morning, cool beverages in the fridge for afternoon breaks!  On good-weather days we may be fishing, lake cruising, swimming, tubing, or water skiing.  We also walk through the woods or stroll with grandchildren to see the neighbor's pasture of cows.  Evenings are spent playing board games, roasting marsh mellows over a camp fire, or watching TV in front of the fireplace. 

  Our grandchildren as well as their parents come often to help with yard work and enjoy the lake side environment.

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