A Redwood Empire New Year Message

As the year and decade comes to a close, I hope that all of you can look back to many things that have fulfilled and enriched your life. I also hope that you have enjoyed a peaceful, joyous and safe holiday season with your family and friends. No matter how hard the economic nightmare has hit many of us, sharing time with the special people in our lives at this time of year can be a tremendously positive life and spirit sustaining experience. I hope you were able to enjoy the special people in your life over this holiday season.

Many of our chapter members enjoyed a wonderful time at the Holiday Party at the Hilton Wine Country Sonoma on December 3rd. Many thanks are extended to the planning committee chaired by Jennifer Alexander, and especially new member Terry Reap whose spirited enthusiasm and new ideas helped create a spectacular party. Terry arranged for La Crema winery to present a complimentary wine tasting of a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir before dinner, which turned out to be a great hit. Thanks also to Karen Collins who landed harpist Laura Simpson, who played beautiful Christmas songs during dinner and then lead a circle of carolers after dinner. Lastly, thanks go to Richard Todd of BCC Builders for sponsoring the really nice wine we enjoyed during dinner, and to Carl Portscheller who finds and recruits the wine sponsors each month.

As the first half of the year comes to a close, I also want to thank a lot of other noteworthy performances so far this year that I have not previously mentioned in this column. The Programs Committee, chaired by Rob Cox, and members Dmitri

Rusov-Morningstar, Steve Pestell and Jerd Lapham have put on three great programs so far and have great plans for the coming new year. The raffle committee of Lois Lebovich, Deborah Geitner and Linda Sarti has very nicely changed up the raffle, as well as the fun!

The Construction Technology Expo committee, chaired by Jim Gonsman and members Cecil Spencer, Craig Peterson, Jim Daniel and Michael Chambers, has met a few times already and some great new ideas that I’m sure will improve the event. The Membership Committee, chaired by Karen Collins, and members June LeGare, Jennifer Alexander, Nicole Gross, Justin Beasley, John Dolan, Jim Gonsman, Jennifer Oliviera, DeeLynn Carpenter, Mike Bocklund, Terry Reap, Jerd Lapham, Dallas Lowry and Carl Portscheller have put in countless hours keeping in touch and reaching out to members to make sure they are informed and aware of important information and dates. Lastly, although we pay her, Kara Ameral has become a vitally friendly and important part of how we deliver good member services. Thanks very much Kara.

Our Chapter Boosters Program has already produced several chapter meeting appearances by members in need of our help. I thank again the anonymous donors and invite you to help a member in need by buying a dinner at an upcoming meeting. I am aware of a recently unemployed chapter member who made a job contact at the table he was sitting at during the holiday party this month. Our CSI chapter really is a healthy and vital community. The more we give to it, the more it helps us.

I mention all these volunteer performances and donations in this column because I truly appreciate how much so many people do to make our chapter what it is. I know I say this on behalf of our Board of Directors who also contribute in managing and guiding chapter activities. The Redwood Empire is a shining example of how CSI is supposed to work in a local community, bringing us together to enjoy camaraderie, while gaining personal contacts and learning about interesting, seminal, technical topics. Participation in this organization is something that has certainly enriched my life, and I am sure many of you would agree it has done so for you as well.

The chapter’s annual study program to prepare for the Construction Documents Technology exam will start on Monday January 4^th, and run 12 weeks. Winzler & Kelly is again generously hosting the study sessions. We have brand new teaching materials generated by the Institute Certification Committee to use. I encourage all of you who have not taken the CDT exam to consider doing it this year. We are pioneering a new development this year: we will web cast the study sessions through gotomeeting to 15 remote participants. Please see further details at www.recsi.org. If you have hesitated to take the CDT exam before because it was not convenient to attend our study sessions, well, now you can participate from your office or home.

In closing, I hope all of you have a healthy and prosperous new year. I am hearing more good things about the work and prospects people have now. Let’s hope things improve faster. I look forward to seeing you and your guests at upcoming meetings. And if you would like to help the chapter, contact myself or a committee chair about how you would like to help.