Greetings to all RECSI members and welcome back from the summer season. I hope your summer construction season has been productive and profitable. As we filter back in from the summer season I thought I would recap the RECSI events that have taken place since June.

RECSI had its last dinner meeting in June, which was the annual awards dinner and installation of new officers to the board. The highlights included Don Morton receiving the Jim Williams Award and the installation of several new officers to the board. Board seats included Steve Clark as Vice President, Rob Shimetz as Secretary, Carl Portscheller (Industry Director), Amanda Edvardsson, Martin Price and Barry Grzebik (Professional Directors). I welcome back all the other seasoned folks on the board who’s talent and experience all of us will utilize this year.

As I read through the list of officers and prepare for the year ahead, I am reminded once again how unique the CSI organization is in its membership makeup. The board contains a professionally diverse group of people and reflects the makeup of the Chapter in general. This professional diversity is a great characteristic (and asset) of the RECSI Chapter and is one of the primary reasons I became involved with CSI. I encourage all of you to seek out potential new members or guests who will benefit from this diversity and who will add to it. As Steve Clark said, “Where else can you have dinner with a lawyer, architect, engineer and general contractor for only$35.00?”

The summer was not without event. In particular, the RECSI planning retreat which was held in early July this year along with an early Board Meeting held in August. The planning retreat focused primarily on membership. We broke down membership into two areas, recruitment and retention. Some of the biggest challenges for any organization are membership. RECSI is no different except for possibly the effort, creativity and motivation that are put forth by the members in facing the challenge to attain new members. Membership is probably the Chapters biggest, continual, challenge.

It is important for all of us to take up the challenge of bringing new members into the Chapter or encouraging on-current members to rejoin. Each of us has the ability to connect with potential new members (or non-current members) much further a field than if we were a homogeneous organization. Therefore, as we move into the new season of dinner meetings and events, I ask that you search to bring in guests (and potential members) that will experience the diverse and dynamic nature of our Chapter.

If you have ideas or would like to participate further in membership affairs please contact me or Bryan Varner, we welcome all participants.

Among the other items discussed at the retreat were the implementation of the new website and the filling of Committee Chairs. Again, I encourage all that would like to participate in committees to contact me or any other board member. There are several committee positions that would benefit from having several chapter members involved. These are generally not huge time consuming items and the Committee Chairs appreciate any help offered.

I look forward to seeing you at our first dinner meeting of the new season, Thursday, September 4th at Joseph’s in Railroad Square (6 pm social hour, 7 pm dinner).