With a swollen heart I write to you about the recent passing of Dan Furlong while mustering the spirit to report about the terrific Construction Technology Expo coming up and the news of our chapter’s receipt of some noteworthy awards.  The life of our chapter right now reminds me of life itself more than ever before.  Joy and sadness often broil together in a striking sweet and sour blend.

Dan Furlong was an engineer, long time CSI member, and a guy I absolutely loved.  I worked closely with him from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s on several chapter boards, committees, and projects.  Dan always chipped in to do something and anything Dan did was done effectively and on time.  He was a gentle, kind, and engaged person, who was always happy, cracking humor, humbly supportive of others and most especially our chapter.  He served as a board member, chapter secretary, and through the leadership chute to become president, as well as chairing the certification committee for a few years and always helping others.

Dan was battling bladder cancer. It happened very fast. Way too fast.  Last year, he and I worked together to revise the chapter bylaws.  He led the effort. I only had ideas. He had a laser-like focus on how the chapter’s governance structure should be set up.  While he was in chemotherapy, barely two and half months before he passed, Dan wrote a thorough and comprehensive memo in which he answered questions the board had posed, in some cases accepting a change and in other instances very articulately rejecting the ideas.  Dan’s meticulous attention to detail never wavered.

We have also, sadly, finished our chapter’s 19 year run of meeting at Josef’s restaurant in the La Rose Hotel.  All of my 18 years of membership are tied to Josef’s and his delicious food and excellent hospitality and service.  The warm, fuzzy feeling of CSI is largely associated with enjoying meals with friends at Josef’s.  A task team, headed by Steve Pestell, has selected Charlie’s Grill, which we just visited, the Flamingo Hotel for April, and the Hilton in June, for us to check out.  The board will decide over the summer which locale we like the most. Please let a board member know of your preferences, both ways!

Our annual community showcase event, the Construction Technology Expo, is set for Thursday March 18 at the Santa Rosa Memorial Veterans Auditorium.  Please come out anytime from 3:00 to 7:00 to walk the show floor, network with colleagues, enjoy some complimentary food and beverages, take a shot at the free raffle, and look over the Design and Built Showcase of projects.  Invite your office mates, colleagues, project contacts and friends.  The success of the show depends on how much we support our exhibitors.  You may also pick up a membership application to recruit a new CSI member for a 50% discount, or $140, and put your name in a raffle to win a free membership next year.  Let Karen Collins or me know if you have any questions about it.

Our chapter and a couple of members have recently been recognized with awards.  Last Friday at the West Region Speak Out in Oakland, I was presented with the Best of the West Award in Membership for last year, when I recruited a senseless 29 members.  All I can say is that I had some help with several and, most importantly, I couldn’t sell CSI and our chapter unless there was something to sell! We have a lot to offer local professionals and that’s only because of the tremendous amount of volunteer effort by many members, who help create all the services members enjoy.  No one can do it alone and our success in growing the chapter is a testament to how good our teamwork is.

It was also just announced that the chapter has received its fifth Outstanding Chapter Commendation, bringing us to the bronze level.  The fact that the chapter continues to earn this award so consistently is another testament to how much we produce in the way of member services.  In addition, the Redwood Bark received another Continuing Publication Award, once again because it consistently is packed with timely information about CSI and member generated content.  Let’s keep it going by continuing to add more articles. Anyone interested in submitting something may contact Cyndi Eberhardt.  And Cyndi, thanks again for all your superb editorial prowess!

I am most happy with the announcement that John Guill will receive the Institute’s Ben John Small Memorial Award for his excellence in specification writing and education. I helped prepare the award submittal and it is right up there my most favorite project this year.  John is very highly respected in the North Bay for his knowledge about specifications and his ever ready willingness to share his knowledge with others.

Lastly, I received an Institute Service Commendation for helping some chapters, a couple of regions, and the Institute over the last year. I was spread out pretty well, and it was nice to work with people around CSI, helping members and leaders.