T his year we have faced changes, challenges and high expectations as both an organization and a country. As our nation's leaders chart the direction of our global interactions, we seek to set a course for both the Society and the profession that will ready us for civil engineering in the 21st century. For the past 151 years, the American Society of Civil Engineers has created opportunities for civil engineers to improve our national infrastructure. Today, ASCE members are building a better world, improving the quality of life, championing essential infrastructure, and advancing the Society to become a truly global organization. We continuously strive to support ASCE members in these efforts. Together we have worked to advance President Galloway's pledge to raise the bar for our profession and answer the question, "What is a civil engineer?" We believe that civil engineers are not just the stewards of infrastructure, but should be civic leaders as well. And we believe that upgrading the professional standards of civil engineering will help secure our place in the future of our country as respected leaders and valued contributors. ASCE took a large step in 2003 to raise the bar for the civil engineer profession. Building on years of investigation and discussion, the Task Committee on Academic Prerequisites for Professional Practice drafted the Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge outlining and expanding on the information, skills, and attitudes future professional civil engineers will need to master. The final report will redefine educational requirements and set new standards for continuing professional development. Ultimately, the Body of Knowledge will raise the value and status of a civil engineer in our global society. Yet the future of our profession will not be set solely through new knowledge goals. To attract and retain professionals to the profession, this year we established the Task Committee for Pre-College Outreach to develop a plan that establishes priorities and measurable goals to guide ASCE's pre-college outreach activities. Civil engineers are needed everywhere. This initiative helps ensure that we can meet those needs through the next generation of talented and engaged practitioners. ASCE shone a spotlight on our national infrastructure needs when we released 2003 Progress Report for America's Infrastructure. This report updated the findings from the 2001 Report Card for America's Infrastructure and detailed current trends that indicated whether improvement or decline was on the horizon. Save for a few encouraging areas, our nation is still struggling with aging infrastructure stretched to its absolute limits. The Progress Report garnered the attention of the public and congressional leaders, with its release coming just days before the expiration of the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21). Hundreds of media outlets reported the findings, making millions of U.S. citizens aware of the critical role civil engineers have in supporting and securing our national infrastructure. Through these projects and programs, we affirmed our role as responsible leaders and stewards. As the worldwide leader for excellence in civil engineering, we have taken the small steps and put forth the comprehensive plans that will improve our Society, our profession and our country. We will achieve this goal though the vision, dedication and unwavering work of our members to build a better world and improve the quality of life, and we appreciate your trust and support as we continue for work for you. Patricia Galloway, P.E., F.ASCE, PMP Patrick Natale, P.E., F.ASCE