Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association

ECEDHA Gavel

Since 1992 the annual passage of ECEDHA leadership has been marked by the presentation of a large, heavy gavel by the outgoing ECEDHA President to the incoming President. This ceremony now occurs during the Annual Business Meeting, which is held during the ECEDHA Annual Meeting, typically in March of each year. Originally the ceremony was held at a less widely attended meeting in June of each year.

The gavel was designed and fabricated by Keith R. Carver, who was at the time the NEEDHA Chairman. His statement below describes the materials used. The red velvet pouch that accompanies the gavel adds to the regal atmosphere of the ceremony.

Passing of the Gavel

Some of the moments of passage have been caught by the camera:

Keith R. Carver (r) to Mario J. Gonzalez, June 23, 1992, Toledo, OH

Mario J. Gonzalez to Marion Hagler, June 22, 1993, Urbana-Champaign, IL

Marion Hagler to Timothy N. Trick, June, 1994, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Timothy N. Trick (l) to Sherra E. Kerns, March 28, 1995, Nashville, TN

Sherra E. Kerns (l) to Paul Penfield, Jr., March 26, 1996, San Diego, CA

Paul Penfield, Jr. (l) to William D. Brown, March 18, 1997, Orlando, FL

William D. Brown to Barry E. Spielman, March 17, 1998, Kahuku, Oahu, HI

Barry E. Spielman (l) to Roger P. Webb, March 9, 1999, Destin, FL

Roger P. Webb (r) to John A. Orr, March 21, 2000, New Orleans, LA

John A. Orr (l) to James H. Aylor, March 19, 2001, San Diego, CA

James H. Aylor to David A. Soldan, March 18, 2002, Stuart, FL

David A. Soldan to Stephen M. Goodnick, March 17, 2003, Oahu, Hawaii

Those to whom the gavel has been entrusted

In the pouch is a collection of business cards of those NEEDHA or ECEDHA Chairmen or Presidents who have had the gavel available for their use:

	Keith R. Carver 1991-92
	Mario J. Gonzalez 1992-93
	Marion Hagler 1993-94
	Timothy N. Trick 1994-95
	Sherra E. Kerns 1995-96
	Paul Penfield, Jr. 1996-97
	William D. Brown 1997-98
	Barry E. Spielman 1998-99
	Roger P. Webb 1999-00
	John A. Orr 2000-01
	James H. Aylor 2001-02
	David L. Soldan 2002-03

Designer's Statement

This ECEDHA gavel is for use by the ECEDHA Chair in opening and closing ECEDHA meetings, and for maintaining order in ECEDHA Business Meetings. In recognition of this latter purpose and in consideration of the tradition of spirited discourse at ECEDHA Meetings, the gavel has been made of ample size to assist the Chair in the performance of his or her duties. The gavel shall stay in the possession of the ECEDHA Chair, and shall be turned over to the incoming Chair at each year's ECEDHA Business Meeting in August.

The gavel, made by me especially for ECEDHA, is constructed from two contrasting hardwoods. I turned the mallet and handle on a wood lathe, starting from glued-up blocks of padauk and zerbawood. The gavel was finished with several applications of Danish oil, followed by two coats of wax. A velvet pouch has also been made especially for this gavel.

Keith R. Carver
Amherst, Massachusetts
June, 1992

1997 photograph showing Keith Carver using the wood lathe on which the gavel was turned.