Bring Your Curiosity To Engineering Project Day

Want to know how to protect a pilot’s head in case of high-speed ejection? Or maybe you’d rather see how Superpave PG70-34 will replace a rutted pavement area?

Even if you’re just curious about things in general, Engineering Project Day at Gonzaga University from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday might be worth a visit. Guests can hear formal presentations on projects designed by students in GU’s School of Engineering and mathematics/computer science department.

In other events this week:

Monday

Federal Reserve Board meets and may decide on First Union/CoreStates merger.

Tuesday

Joseph Borich, new director of the Washington State China Relations Council will talk about current conditions for business and trade in China at 7:30 a.m. at the SIRTI Conference Room, 655 N. Riverpoint Blvd. For information or to make an appointment, call 509-777-4279.

All Nippon Airways in Tokyo will sign an agreement on joint operations with United Airlines and Lufthansa.

Oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals are held on Microsoft’s motion to disqualify Lawrence Lessig as special master in the company’s antitrust case. Also, arguments are held on the appeal of a lowercourt order for Microsoft to separate its Internet Explorer software from Windows 95.

Wednesday

Washington Gov. Gary Locke co-chairs the Governor’s Conference on Small Business, held from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Call 459-4109 for information.

Rebecca Nappi, interactive editor for The Spokesman-Review, gives the keynote speech at the Institute for Extended Learning’s Secretaries Day Workshop lunch. The event begins at noon in the Skyline Ballroom at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park, 303 W. North River Drive. The cost is $15. Call 533-3770 for reservations.

Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce members head to Washington, D.C., to call on the federal delegation and federal agencies to discuss economic development and public policy priorities of the greater Spokane region. The trip continues through Sunday. Call 459-4118.

The newest committee of the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, “Flying Solo,” which was established for home-based business owners, will hold a session today at 7:30 a.m. at Associated Industries, 920 N. Washington. Call 459-4120.

Thursday

Take Our Daughters to Work Day The Girl Scouts Inland Empire Council holds a “Take our Daughters to Work” luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Spokane Convention Center. Tickets are $17.50 per person. To reserve a seat, call 509-747-8091.

Friday

The Spokane Restaurant and Hospitality Association’s 11th annual “Rockin’ Auction” fund-raiser begins at 6:30 p.m. at Cavanaughs Inn at the Park. Call 467-7744.

Tokyo’s District Court holds its first hearing in the trial of former top Yamaichi Securities executives charged with payoffs to a “sokaiya” racketeer.

Saturday

The Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute holds a community open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd.

ON THE SHELF Mutual Funds magazine, May edition: Cover story gives the magazine’s picks of the five best funds for the bull market.

Changing profession On the eve of Secretaries’ Day, celebrated Tuesday, the Census Bureau offered these snapshots about changes in the profession from 1983 to 1996: There were 3.2 million secretaries in the United States in 1996, down from 3.9 million in 1983. In 1996, 98.6 percent of secretaries were women, down slightly from 99.0 percent in 1983. Also in 1996, 9.3 percent of secretaries were African American (up from 5.8 percent in 1983), and 6.2 percent were Hispanic (up from 4 percent). According to projections, the number of secretaries is expected to climb 1 percent from 1996 to 2006.