When you read this, the State Fair will be over, classes will have started for our kids, and summer will be all but over. For CSI, this is the start of our program year. So let me welcome you all to a fun and exciting year ahead.

A lot of the Chapter’s committees are already hard at work planning out programs and events for your professional growth and entertainment. Let me focus on three key areas that should directly affect you.

To get us started on the year, the Program Committee has planned a very interesting program at Prairie Technologies with tours of their garden roof. LEED certification of buildings and environmentally responsible design continues to grow as an important part of the construction industry. We will also be recognizing members who have attained 5, 10, 20 and more years of membership, as well as some other accomplishments. And if that isn’t enough to get your attention, the dinner will be a pig roast outside under a tent to celebrate the start of the new fiscal year (and a last attempt to enjoy good weather outside.) There are several other great program topics scheduled for the rest of the year, but I’ll let the Program Committee announce those.

The Education Committee is also hard at work developing seminars. Returning for a third year is their flagship program – a full day seminar on CSI’s Project Resource Manual (formally the Manual of Practice), re-titled “An Introduction to Construction Documents.” Extremely well qualified presenters are lined up to teach this very important material. Although the seminar’s main focus is to provide anyone in the construction industry basic principles of the construction documents and contractual relationships, it doesn’t hurt if you are considering getting certified since it’s based on the same material.

Which brings me to my third area I wanted to discuss. The Certification Committee will once again be holding study workshops for those interested in testing for CDT (Construction Document Technologist,) or one of the advanced certifications. While the “Intro to CD’s” seminar is a great primer, it does not replace the workshops. This committee is also hard at work organizing the workshop sessions and arranging top quality speakers.

The reason I mention these three particular areas is to highlight some of the great benefits you can personally receive through your membership with CSI. But it isn’t enough for you to just to be a member. You aren’t really getting much benefit if you don’t participate. If you’ve never attended a Chapter monthly program, why not start with the September program. You can get some education, network with other industry professionals, and have some fun in a relaxed environment. If you’ve been attending meetings, why not check out one of the committees and step up your involvement a notch. It doesn’t mean hundreds of hours of commitment. But I can guarantee that you will benefit. It’s made a big impact on my professional career, as well as the numerous friends that I’ve made.

This year we celebrate the Chapter’s 50th Anniversary. Of course, this means that we will have a great party next May. But stop to think what it means to have survived 50 years as an organization through a lot of changes in the industry. It took a lot of volunteers over the years who continued to see the value in belonging to this organization, to develop the programs and other resources that the Chapter offers.  If you are interested, please contact me, jon.papke@target.com or any of the Board members or Committee Chairs.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Chapter President this year. I’m looking forward to a fun year ahead and hope to see you at upcoming monthly meetings.