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From the President, October 2000
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We are really “cooking” with our chapter activities for this year. I am pleased to report that we had 150 CSI members and guests registered for September’s meeting at the Historic Milwaukee Road Depot in downtown Minneapolis. The interesting and informative tour from Mike Kraft of Shea Architects, the overview of train and station history by CSI member Del Sheets of Genesis Architects, and our keynote speakers Joseph Quinlan and Timothy Dolan of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter updating us on global economics (and also sharing some stock tips), rounded out a great kick off for the Minneapolis – St. Paul Chapter’s first meeting of the year. We owe Bor-Son Construction a very special “thank you” for their cooperation in allowing us to tour the project, and all their preparation at the site to arrange for our chapter’s visit. Fall is here and winter is moving to the “front burner”. It may sound early to start thinking about events for next year, but I am going to remind you of a few important activities that need to be “blended” into your CSI calendar for 2001. National Engineer’s Week, 19 – 23 February 2001CSI is a national sponsor of this event and it gives our chapter the opportunity to work more closely with the engineering community. Not only are we planning a Construction Documents Program and a Quality Assurance Seminar for our February chapter meeting, but we are also looking for volunteers, especially engineers, to help organize special activities for the week. This event would include a special “Teach-in” at one of our local middle schools to help our youth understand the importance of engineering and to introduce them to careers in construction. If you are interested, please contact me at grif@empirehouse.com or call 612-338-5877. Minneapolis – St. Paul Chapter Product Fair, 19 March 2001We will again be presenting a product fair with educational seminars. However, we have a new format for this season! Please plan on attending a day packed with information, education and great opportunities to network with other construction industry professionals. For more information on exhibiting or participating in this show, please contact Mike Boulka at 952-938-7223. Dallas 2001 CSI Convention, 21 – 24 June 2001If you have never attended a CSI national convention, this is an opportunity you do not want to miss! The convention floor is always loaded with new products, construction services, and top sales people to help solve your construction problems. In addition, there will be over 60 educational programs and seminars to address a wide variety of construction issues. However, from my personal viewpoint, the most important aspect of the Convention is your chance to network, socialize, and enjoy the camaraderie of 10,000 other CSI members and construction professionals! Please be sure to add this to your list of activities for 2001. Join other CSI Minneapolis – St. Paul Chapter members as we learn, share, and enjoy at the Dallas 2001 CSI Convention! On another note, my wife, Alana, just returned from the CSI Board meeting in Alexandria, VA. She is the Institute Immediate Past President and is very active on the Board and in CSI programs and events. She asked me to start “raising” awareness of the need for volunteers for committees, task teams and corresponding committees at all levels of CSI activities – Chapters, Regions and Institute. If you wish to “give back” to CSI and have specific interest for working on committee activities (either large or small), please contact me and I will get you connected to the proper persons. For those of you with past service experience but have been on a sabbatical leave for a while from chapter activities, I ask you to please get back in the “mix” - CSI needs your talent to be shared! I look forward to seeing you all at the October meeting at Dunwoody Institute. Let’s “heat it up to boiling” – take advantage of CSI and the best network of information, contacts, services, and people in the construction industry. Questions? Please call, email or write me. I look forward to hearing from you. John “Grif” Griffith, CSI |
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