This coming month brings us once again to our chapter’s annual community showcase event, the Construction Technology Expo on March 18, but also another great opportunity to bolster our membership ranks with a 50% dues discount for new members. With the success we had last year at the Expo, I am really looking forward to this year’s event, the 30th consecutive chapter products show.
The Expo committee of Jim Gonsman, Craig Peterson, Cecil Spencer, Jim Daniel, and Michael Chambers have been working on the show since October. A new open floor layout will enhance the sense of excitement, while a focus on product specifications should improve the educational value of the dialogue between product representatives and the attendees. Michael Chambers will be giving a special seminar to the exhibitors before the show titled “Getting and Holding Specifications.” If you represent a manufacturing company, please consider getting a booth or table this year and taking advantage of this added value.
The other Expo seminar, titled Integrating Products Into the Design Process, will be a panel of local architects moderated by Danny Strening, AIA. This free program should attract a lot architects, engineers and builders, and will run from 2:00 to 3:00. We are now working with AIA Redwood Empire to possibly add another education program to the schedule, so check www.recsi.org for this breaking development. We will also feature another Design & Built Showcase that will display large photos and renderings of projects
Come out to the Expo. It runs from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Vets Memorial Auditorium. It’s completely free and we’ll have complimentary light finger food and a couple of coupons for every attendee for drinks. Invite your colleagues, project contacts, consultants and friends to attend. You can help make the Expo a grand success by helping boost our attendance.
March 18 also marks the beginning of a two (2) week window in which new members can join CSI and the Redwood Empire chapter for a 50% discount, or $140. Think about why CSI brings value to your professional and personal life. Think about how CSI brings value to construction professionals in another field. Then think about how the people you know would find some of the same benefits to participating in CSI. Invite those people to the Expo and invite them to join CSI. We will have the special membership applications at the Expo. If you sponsor a new member, your name will be in a drawing to win a free CSI membership next year. So, be a leader in helping us grow the rich diversity of our membership by sharing the gift of CSI with a colleague.
I’d like to thank the Expo Committee, and the membership committee chaired by Karen Collins for preparing the upcoming Expo and new member drive. If you would like to help us on March 18, contact Jim Gonsman at jim44314@wildblue.net or 707 876-3044. We can use help throughout the day, setting up in the morning and afternoon, processing exhibitors and attendees, and breaking down and packing up our stuff in the evening. It’s an easy way to help us and you’ll meet people and make new friends. We really do have fun all day. The Expo is a grand educational community event because of what so many members help create. So if you can spare some extra time on March 18, please join us.
I’d like to remind everyone that our Chapter Boosters’ Program has worked very well, connecting members who can sponsor a dinner with members who are unemployed, furloughed or real slow with work, make it to a meeting and get some much needed networking. If you can make such a donation, contact me or Kara Ameral at admin@recsi.org. If you would like to use a donated dinner, contact Kara for the availability.
Lastly, if you would like to serve the chapter in some capacity next year, starting in July, please contact me or President Elect Steve Pestell. We are always looking to add new people and energy to our operations and leadership group. It’s a great way to contribute to improving our local building community and the experience will improve your management and leadership skills. Feel free to join the strong group of committed volunteers that make our chapter so strong.
