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CENTRAL VIRGINIA CHAPTER of the CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS INSTITUTEwww.csicentralva.org

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@ Omni Downtown C-Ville

President’s Message

CalendarGreen Word

Product Expo info.

MIA Press Release

Leadership Roster

Membership Report

Minutes

Product Expo info.

Curmudgeon’sCorner

CSI Press Release

Minutes

High Efficiency Fenestration Study: A Panel Discussion Addressing Green Windows

Choosing a window for a high performance building is not an easy task. There are many variables that need to be balanced when making the selection: energy efficiency, cost, aesthetics, and the frame’s material’s effect on the environment. Only after becoming knowleadgeable about all these variables can you make the right decisions for your project. This panel discussion will help answer these ques-tions. These experts will evaluate how windows and doors gain and lose heat and how they contribute to the energy efficiency of the building envelope. They will review methods of installation, flashing, and air sealing and help you avoid com-mon mistakes that lead to major problems. They will discuss the process of win-dow performance selection and review how window characteristic should change in response to orientation and climate considerations. The panel will also help you understand what is really important in window selection and how to evaluate those choices for selecting windows in a high performance project.

Mark Wingerd is on the panel Steve Nunn from Pella Windows and Doors Harry von Feilitzsch, founder and president of Henselstone Window and Door Systems Inc.

Window and Door Pros will be our sponsor for the meeting.

Learning Units available: 1 HSWMembership not required, please plan on joining us!

Reservations by February 12, 2009 to The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5245.

Fenestration StudyFeb. 17, 2009

5:30 - Social Hour | 6:30 - Dinner7:30 - Program

1 HSW Learning Unit

RSVP by Thursday, February 12434-979-5245 - Office of The Gaines Group

Please specify if you would prefer vegetarian option!FREE PARKING AT THE OMNI!

$25 - member $35 - non-member$10 - program only

A Message FromYour President

CVCSI is moving at a rapid pace these days. Our membership is growing, our meetings are well attended, and our expo was a huge success. I am thrilled with all the energy and interest there is in CSI and how it can advance your career. It is satisfying that so many people are realizing the power of this organization to increase knowledge of the built environment and increase collabora-tion between those involved. Thanks to all those that attended the CVCSI expo and education sessions. Please take time to thank all those dedicated volun-teers that gave their time to make the event happen. Tracie Skipper, Adrienne Stronge, and Eric Gilchrist put in countless volun-teer hours to organize the event. They gave their valuable free time to allow CVCSI and all those in attendance to enhance their knowledge and advance their careers. Many others worked tirelessly to bring the details together and I want to thank them all. Those that worked the membership booth, the reg-istration desk, and helped set up and break down the show. This event was the best at-tended Expo we have had in years. Thanks for all your hard work – it really paid off.

At this year’s CVCSI Expo, we had a special membership offer for those attending. I am happy to tell you that 23 new members signed up to be part of this growing vibrant chapter. I hope that you all will welcome them into the membership and help them find their place in this organization. I have to admit, CSI has given me so much to help advance and develop my abilities as an ar-chitect, develop connections in the industry, and grow as a leader. I hope that all of our new members enjoy the same benefits. February is election time at CSI. Please take a moment and consider putting your name in the running for the local chapter leadership. If you have an interest in serving on a com-mittee or on the board of directors, don’t be shy, give Tracie Skipper, Ron Keeney, or me a call and let us know what you are interested in. There is plenty to do to keep this orga-nization running and the more we grow in members the more work there is to do each month. The Harrisonburg affiliate chapter has taken a couple months off from holding meetings, but things are getting back up and going. We have several new members of CVCSI located in the Harrisonburg area and a schedule of meetings will be announced shortly. If you

or anyone you know wants to get involved in CSI in the Shenandoah Valley, please let me know. I would love to hear your ideas for meeting topics, venues, and activities. As the economy struggles and jobs are be-ing lost around us, take a moment and think about how you can help your neighbor. Is there someone you know that is looking for a job or someone that is looking for a new hire? Perhaps you could connect the two. Is there someone that is having trouble keep-ing up with their bills, perhaps you can buy them a dinner. Is there someone that just needs someone to talk to, perhaps you can be an understanding shoulder for them to lean on. I know that Central Virginia is made up of the strongest, most caring people in the world. Let’s remember to support each other, help each other through the tough times, and celebrate with each other as we all emerge as a stronger community in the end.

Charles HendricksCharles Hendricks,

AIA, CSI, CDT, LEED-APPresident, CVCSI 2008-2009

2... SEPTEMBER 2007 - THE PARAMETER

CVCSI Membership ReportCVCSI membership currently stands at 77

February Anniversaries:Raymond Gaines, The Gaines Group, PLC - 21 yrsGreg Heuer, Architectural Woodwork Institute - 21 yrsShawn Green, Atas International, Inc. - 7 yrsCharles Hendricks, The Gaines Group, PLC - 7 yrsWilliam Hale - 5 yrsMatt Keffer, Stock Building Supply - 5 yrs

The Parameter - February 20092

WOODSON D. PARRISHGEORGE LASTINGERJOSH LANAHANPHIL WITRYR. GUY MOFFAT, JR.BILL WALTERCHARLES H. DICKEYBRIAN D. MININGERJOHN H. COTTON, JR.KEITH S. WALSHVLAD WOJCIKNEIL T. JONESANNE G. MARK

DUNCAN J. MORTONRAYMOND G ZEDEKARBENJAMIN Z. MEREDITHTERRY L. HERNDONLLOYD D. BENTLEYLAURA V. FIORIPAUL J. TANGORAGLEN STOLTZFUSD. TRAVIS LAYMANROBERT R. CONNELLYCANDACE M. SMITHJENNIFER MORRIS

New MembersOur list of all 25 of CVCSI’s new members in January 2009:

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

8 9 10 11 12

15 16 17 18 19

22 23 24 25 26

February 2009February 2009

Feb 1 - Super BowlFeb 7 - Ira Glass @ ParamountFeb 6 - 22- Visit to a Small Planet @ Live ArtsFeb 9 - Dublin Philharmonic @ ParamountFeb 10 - Hairspray @ John Paul JonesFeb 11 - Green MattersFeb 14 - Valentine’s DayFeb 17 - CVCSI Fenestration StudyFeb 20 - Larry the Cable GuyFeb 28 - Seussical @ Paramount

March 17 - CVCSI Dinner MeetingApril 21 - CVCSI Dinner MeetingMay 19 - CVCSI Dinner MeetingJune 15 - CVCSI Awards Banquet

June 17-19 - CONSTRUCT 2009 www.constructshow.com

Oct. 8-11 - CVCSI MARC 2009 www.marc09.com

GREEN TERM OF THE MONTH

A measure of how well heat is transferred by the entire window - the frame, sash and glass - ei-

ther into or out of the building. U-value is the op-posite of R-value. The lower the U-factor num-

ber, the better the window will keep heat inside a home on a cold day.

U-Factor

Upcoming Events...

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Hairspray @ JPJ

http://dictionary.babylon.com/U-FACTOR

2009 Mid-Atlantic RegionCSI Conference

Charlottesville, VAOctober 8-11, 2009

www.MARC09.com

The region conference will take place in Charlottesville for the first time in 10 years. We are in the process of scheduling two full days of interesting seminars around the theme :

“Sustaining Mr. Jefferson’s Legacy: Designing for the Future.”

Membership not required, please join us!

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Ira Glass@ Paramount

Valentine’sDay

Larry theCable Guy @ JPJ

CVCSIDinner Meeting

Green MattersDublin Philharmonic@ Paramount

Seussical@ Paramount

Visit to a Small Planet @ Live Arts

Super Bowl

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The Central Virginia Chapter of the Construction Speci-fications Institute hosted our Annual Product Expo on January 29, 2009 at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville. The event that featured packed education seminars and a wide range of products had great attendance and en-ergy. The education seminars at this years show high-lighted cutting edge technologies and products. Topics included BIM, sustainable lighting, LEED in Charlottes-ville, solar technology, and greening your business.

The product show featured a full floor of diverse exhibi-tor tables demonstrating the most innovative construc-tion products available to the Central Virginia Region. Architects and engineers were able to discuss the latest innovations with industry experts, giving themselves a competitive edge. Attendees at this year’s show should have the most up to date product and technology infor-mation, and our exhibitors should walk away knowing that they reached a great diversity of Charlottesville pro-fessionals.

The most exciting news of the evening was that CVCSI signed up 24 new members at our booth at the product expo. Thanks to a deal with national CSI, we were able to offer half-price membership for our day-long event and we have expanded our membership by almost 50%.

Thanks to all the people who made this possible, Tracie Skipper, our product expo chair, Charles Hendricks, our chapter president and product expo second-in-command, Adrienne Stronge, our graphics chair, Duncan MacFarlane our membership chair, Ray Gaines, who handled all of the incoming expo contracts, and Ron Keeney for attending to our massive expo mailing. There are also countless other members who assisted with expo registration, booth set-up, exhibitor feedback, and membership recruiting. It took a lot of people a lot of time to get this expo up-and-running. Special Thanks to SPARK! for partnering with CSI and setting up our energy efficiency seminars!

Please feel free to send any feedback to :[email protected]. We can use your comments as we begin to plan for our Product Expo 2010.

CVCSI must appologize to McElroy Metal. Due to a mis-communication within our organization, McElroy Metals was not given proper recognition in the product expo booklet.

Thanks for your support: • Atas International Inc.• Helfrich Agency Inc.• The Snead Company Inc.• Superior Walls of Central Virginia• Commonwealth H20• Shade & Wise Brick Co• Carlisle Wide Plank Floors• King Architectural Metals• Belgard Hardscapes• Shape & Wise Brick Co.• Virginia Fair Housing office• Demilec (USA) LLC• The Habitat Store• Simpson Strongtie• Conestoga Ceramic Tile• NU Cedar Mills• Charlottesville Gas• Advanced Concrete Foundations• Architectural Resources Inc.• Illumination Concepts• Demilec USA• Seacom• Pella Windows and Doors• Lightstyles Marvin Windows and Doors• Wasco Products, Inc.• McElroy Metal• Artisan Custom Doors• Weatherseal Insulation• The Whitlock Group• ACF Environmental• Benjamin Moore Paints• Lawrenceville Brick• Barranger & Company• The Murus Company• Starlight Skylights• Epic Metals• Gaston & Wyatt

CVCSI Product Expo 2009



Online, interactive versions of current and archived issues offer reader-friendly features

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (January 27, 2009) – The Construction Specifica-tions Institute (CSI) today announced that digital versions of The Construction Specifier magazine are now available online. Archived copies of the magazine, from January 2007 through the current is-sue, are also posted. Future issues will be digitized as well.

The digital version of The Construction Specifier presents the mag-azine in a two-page layout on the computer screen. Arrow buttons allow online readers to “turn” the pages. The digital copies also in-clude other user-friendly features. Readers can:

Click anywhere on the magazine page displayed to zoom in or out. Search individual issues using keywords. Click icons to visit an advertiser’s Website, download video clips or e-mail a colleague. Print a copy of the page displayed. Download an entire issue.“These are true interactive versions of The Construction Specifier,” said CSI Executive Director and CEO Walter T. Marlowe, P.E., CSI, CAE. “The digital issues offer quick access to the magazine and dynamic features online.”

The Construction Specifier, which is CSI’s official magazine, reaches nearly 24,000 readers each month. Its content focuses on the job functions of its core readership – design and construction profes-sionals involved in the specification and construction documenta-tion process. The publication offers insight and analysis on industry topics through news, product announcements, legal columns, case studies and other research, as well as in-depth features on indus-try-related issues. The Construction Specifier is published monthly by Kenilworth Media, Inc. for CSI.

About CSICSI is a national association dedicated to creating standards and formats to improve construction documents and project delivery. The organization is unique in the industry in that its members are a cross-section of specifiers, architects, engineers, contractors and building materials suppliers. The organization has 146 chapters and 14,000 members. Monthly Chapter meetings allow members the opportunity to communicate openly with their counterparts and exchange information for successful project management. CSI is renowned in the industry for its rigorous certification programs for professionals seeking to improve their knowledge of accurate and concise construction documents. CSI provides continuing education, professional conferences and product shows. For more information, visit www.csinet.org or call 800.689.2900.

The Construction Specifier Now Available Online


MIA Launches ‘Home Approved Stone’ Program To Give Consumers Complete Re-assurance That Granite Countertops Do Not Pose A Health RiskCleveland, Ohio — January 05, 2009 — To reassure consumers about the safety, beauty and durability of granite countertops for their homes, and put an end to baseless claims that granite countertops can pose a health risk, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) today announced the Home Approved Stone program, a national stone safety testing program.

All products that pass the uniform test will be la-beled with a Home Approved Stone logo, clearly showing they have been screened and approved for interior use.

“We want to reassure consumers once and for all that the granite countertops they buy for their homes pose no health risk to their families,” said MIA Presi-dent Guido Gliori. “No credible research conducted to date — including the most comprehensive sci-entific study of granite countertops, completed just weeks ago — has ever found a single stone slab that poses a health risk.”

Gliori said that over the past several months, manu-facturers of products that compete with granite countertops have purposely misled consumers about gran-ite’s safety by promoting questionable science as fact. The claims have stemmed from the fact that no single, universal standard has existed to measure radon and radiation ema-nations from stone. The situation has been compounded by inaccurate stories in the media about the issue, he said.

“The lack of a universal standard enabled some organiza-tions with questionable motives to promote the results of research based on testing that was at best inconsistent and at worst, completely flawed,” Gliori said. “Those days are over. That’s great news for consumers because we now have a universal, consistent testing protocol that allows consum-ers to be completely confident that the granite countertops they choose for their homes are every bit as safe as they are durable, practical and beautiful.

“Over the past several months, there’s been a lot of innu-endo promoted by our competitors about the safety of granite,” Gliori said. “It’s time for the ridiculous claims to stop — and that’s exactly what the Home Approved Stone pro-gram) will do.”

The MIA has begun distributing stringent testing protocols across the nation, which granite distributors and fabricators can use to test granite for the presence of radon and radia-tion. Details of the program’s implementation are still being finalized with scientific consultants and will be in place be-fore any stone is labeled with the “Home Approved” sticker.

The testing protocols were developed by independent sci-entists and researchers following the most comprehensive study of granite countertops ever undertaken. The tests

are designed to ensure granite used in home countertops poses no health risk to consumers.

The protocols have been submitted for peer review to sci-entific organizations involved in radon and radiation test-ing. Since the process of creating a universally accepted scientific standard may take years, the industry chose to deploy its protocols to educate and protect the public. If the peer review process changes the test protocols to make them more protective, the MIA will adopt the changes.

“Though all the rigorous scientific studies have yet to find a single stone that poses a health risk, consumers who want to be absolutely, positively, 100-percent confident about their granite countertops need only to look for the Home Approved Stone logo,” said Gliori.

Gliori said granite slabs bearing the Home Approved Stone logo should start appearing in showrooms in the coming months. If ongoing testing identifies specific types of stone that pose a health risk, the MIA will issue an industry warn-ing to its members, to make them aware of the potential problem. The goal is to prevent stones that pose any risk at all from being used indoors.

About the Marble Institute of AmericaFor over 60 years the Marble Institute of America (MIA) has been the world’s leading information resource and advo-cate for the natural dimension stone industry. MIA mem-bers include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world.


December 16, 2008Central Virginia Chapter The Con-struction Specifications Institute Board of Directors Meeting 11-16-08 4:30 pm at Rapture Charlottesville

Call to order: 4:42 pm

Attendees: Charles Hendricks, Tracie Skipper, Adrienne Stronge, Duncan McFarlane, Ron Keeney, Mark Wing-erd, Patrick Wright, Ray Gaines, R. Tucker Shields

Presidents Report: Submitted in ad-vance.

Secretary’s Report: Minutes from the November meeting (submitted by Tracie Skipper) were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report: Submitted in ad-vance. We are still waiting for Ray to submit from the region conference he has until the end of the year.

Newsletter Committee: 662 News-letters went out.

Membership Committee: Submitted in AdvanceDuncan will be contacting people and asking them about their mem-bership.

Program Committee: Submitted in Advance, addt’l info. belowFebruary – Sustainable Fenestration – panel discussion on energy effi-cient window selection and instal-lation (Helstone R30 windows, Pella and Marvin)April – to be determined (Maybe Smart Homes)May – Hard Hat Tour (South Lawn)June – Picnic (Tracie is checking with the Monticello visitors center)

Hospitality:

Awards:Submitted in Advance

Certification: David Groff will be teaching at PVCC in the spring

Education: No report

Technical (Super Committee): Tucker submitted a summery of the recent long range planning commit-tee meeting which included items

fro board consideration and review. -Amending the mission statement to read:The Central Virginia Chapter of the Construction Specifications Insti-tute, Inc. strives to provide educa-tional opportunities to the local construction community and a plat-form for career growth, exchange of know ledge and professional devel-opment through the diversity of its members. The following changes to the committee structure were pro-posed1. Membership (1 chair)-membership2. Education/Programming co-chairs-Education, Technical, Aca-demic Liaison, Program, Hospitality, (Product Expo), (Certification)3. Product Expo (1 chair)- Product Expo, (Hospitality), (Education),(program)4. Communications/Outreach (1 chair)5. Executive (Current and 2 immediate past presidents)6. Regional Conference7. Finance and Advisory

We left this at Tucker and Ray re-viewing the bylaws to determine if the new structure is allowed.

Historian: No report

Academic Liaison: No report

Tellers/Nominating: We need to get moving with this by January 1. 2009.

Electronic Communication: No re-port

Region Conference:We discussed the impact on the chapter if we were to get no spon-sorships for the conference. We have no choice in the matter and must foot the bill.

Long Range Planning: No report

Old Business:

i. Annual Student Scholarship fund - give $500 stipend to a student in a construction related program at JMU, UVA, PVCC to assist with mate-rial / book purchase. This scholarship will be based on submission of a es-say on the importance of (topic to be selected each year) and all essays will be published in The Parameter newsletter. Scholarship winner will

February 2009 - The Parameter 9

be invited to attend a dinner meeting to be formally presented with the check and asked to speak briefly on the (topic to be selected each year). In addition, the win-ner of the scholarship will dinner paid for by the chapter at that meeting. In the fu-ture, I would like to add a trip to the region conference, but I think we should start off small and build the fund up first.ii. CSI Membership Challengeiii. Student Essay Competition - free trip to the Cville region conference in 2009. The competition will be a essay contest for technical article written on the subject of their choice to be published in the Param-eter. This would be a minor expense to the chapter, but should be in the budget if it is acceptable by the board and the Region Conf. Planning Committee. I have not pre-sented this idea to either group yet, but will get to it soon.iv. ACE Mentor Program-Charles will send out and email asking for volunteersv. Speaker System Purchase-We agreed to purchase the speaker system.

New Business: No new business

Next Meeting:

January 20, 2009, 12:00 pm, Ron Keeny’s Office

Adjournment:

5:47 pm

Submitted in Advance:President’s Report - In this time of thanksgiving, I want to con-gratulate those of you who have served on the board of directors this year. Several of you have taken on a bulk of the work load to make this chapter thrive. I encourage all of you to step up and support this chapter and all the work it takes to make it run. Take a moment and ask, how can I help. Take a moment and thank those that have given their time this year.

The industry stands at an unprecedented crossroads. We can take the road least trav-eled and stop making decisions on the ba-sis of “because that is the way we always do it” or we can continue making the same bad decisions. I believe we have had our heads in the sand for far too long. We have believed that a justified basis for making decisions could be solely because we have always done it that way. We continue to build to “code minimum”, with some build-ers even using this as their calling card. Of course, code minimum is the worst possi-ble way you can build a building by law. We continue to debate the basics of construc-

tion – should we insulate higher than code minimum, should we air seal the structure. We should be years beyond this discus-sion. We should focus on issues that have real meaning and real necessity. How can we create a future that is as vibrant for the next generation as our parents had? Who will stand up when their children ask, are you responsible for this mess? We need to act now to advance the construction in-dustry. We need to lead this industry into the future. We need to set a standard for others to follow. I see CVCSI as the organi-zation that can lead this charge. Please take your commitment to this organization seri-ously, bring in the important voices to this discussion, and take a leadership role in this industry. The time for change is now.

Membership:CVCSI membership has seen the effects of the recent economy. We are now down to 52 members total and 49 home chapter members.

December Anniversaries:Henry Zirkle: Morris Industries – 28 yearsMark Klosinski: Moseley Architects – 3 yearsNida Campbell: Martin Horn – 1 yearFreda McClung: Martin Horn – 1 year

Product Expo:Tables sold to date for 2009: 42, 4 gratis tables reservedLast year at this time: 37 tables sold

-Tracie will send an email out to the exhibi-tors in the coming weeks to let them know where to unload and what the schedule will be for the day.

-We need to have something to hand out about the event soon even if we don’t have all the seminars scheduled, to let peo-ple know when the event is and where it is being held.

-We have set up all of the food and the schedules.

-Charles will send out an email to those who have not yet signed up for a table to remind them that time is running out.

-We are all set on the pipe and drape but have not yet heard back from John Grubb about the table cloths and skirts.

Education Sessions / Schedule:8:00 am – noon: “BIM Training Session”8:00 am – 9:00 am: “Regional Blueprint for Energy Efficiency Building”

9:00 am – 10:00 am: “Photovoltaic Systems Achieving Maximizing Value and Code Compliance”10:00 am – 11:00 am: “Designing for Energy Efficient Lighting: New and Retrofit”11:00 am – noon: “Air Sealing and Insula-tion”Noon – 6:00 pm: Product Expo2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: “LEED in Charlottesville – LEED for Schools”4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: “Green Your Business”

Program:February – Sustainable Fenestration – pan-el discussion on energy efficient window selection and installationMarch – Sustainable Strategies – What works, what should we do different – A contractor’s perspectiveApril – to be determinedMay – Hard Hat TourJune - Picnic

Hospitality:Please take time to thank the sponsors for the Holiday Party and speak to every guest that is in attendance.Sponsors: Pella Windows and Doors, Tucker Shields Architect, The Gaines Group, plcMenuChicken Satay SkewersHummus with pita trianglesPeanuts, chips, bar mixMushrooms stuffed with prosciutto, cream cheese, and horseradish

Awards: Institute awards submittals are in the works.


by Sheldon Wolfe, RA, FCSI, CCS, CCCA

identity: the name or essential character that identifies somebody or something, the distinguishing character or personality of a group

I’m sure you have heard about Facebook and LinkedIn, two examples of social networking and professional networking websites. The idea is in-triguing; members have what amounts to their own websites, where they can have their own blogs (online journals where the owner and visitors can post comments), upload pictures, list friends/contacts, and provide contact and employment information, all of which are visible to visitors. These things have been possible for some time, but mostly for those who paid for website design. What’s different now is that networking sites require no knowledge about websites, HTML, or programming. If you have Internet access, you, too, can have a web presence. And you don’t even have to pay for it! With all the existing websites and blogs, a growing number of social and professional networking services, and the new micro-blogging and messaging services like Twitter, Pidgin, and 8hands, it’s hard to know what to use, what to avoid, and where to look for information. The ease of use makes these new technologies irresistible, and the number of users is growing at a tremendous rate. Is this a good thing? Technology itself is neither good nor bad. A knife can be used to prepare food or to murder someone; a word processor can be used to write poetry or pornography; a computer can be used for on-line banking or to steal money from a bank. I see valuable uses for nearly all new technology, but I also know that it isn’t necessary to use all of them all the time. In the early ‘70s, the term appropriate technology came into vogue. The idea was to use the technology most effective in accomplishing the task at hand, not necessarily the newest or coolest technology. Yes, you can kill a fly with a nuclear bomb, but a flyswatter does the job with readily avail-able materials and infinitely less cost. The same thinking can be applied to computer technology. What is the most effective way to contact other people? It might be in-stant messaging, but it more likely would be a phone call or e-mail. What is the most effective way to make your contact information known? It might be a social networking site, or it might be an old-fashioned letter on paper - or a face-to-face meeting. What is the most ef-fective way to promote your business? It might be a professional networking site, or it might be a website. In each case, it is important to choose the most effective tech-nology, to provide exactly the information you want to make available, and to control that information. You may find ads for Chryslers in magazines and newspapers, on TV and radio, and on the Internet, but you can be sure that each of those ads was ap-proved, if not created by, Chrysler’s main office, to present a spe-cific image regardless of the medium. In contrast, CSI has a chaotic Internet presence that does little to tell the world who we are or what we do. A brief search of the Internet will reveal many sources of information about CSI. CSI websites: • Primary Institute websites include CSINet.org, CSI Wiki, and CSI Blog. CSINet has a discussion forum, and the Blog is another. • Secondary Institute websites include MasterFormat.com and GreenFormat.com. • Ten region websites. • We should have 148 chapter websites, but the Institute website indicates there are about 110. LinkedIn groups include: • Construction Specification Institute • CSI - Construction Specifications Institute • CSI Specifiers Practice Group • 5 more identified as CSI chapter groups Facebook groups include: • Construction Specification Institute • CSI - Emerging Professionals • CSI – Students • CSI- Construction Specification Institute (CSI at A&M) • 5 more identified as CSI chapter groups

And then there is 4specs.com, the unofficial online hangout for specifiers for many years. LinkedIn and Facebook groups each host discussions, so we now have about twenty CSI discussion sites. If someone asks a question about certi-fication, or makes a suggestion for improving CSI on a Facebook site, will CSI staff see the question or comment and give the correct response? CSI websites, as far as I know, have been authorized by Institute, region, or chapter boards of directors, and are official sources for information. Some LinkedIn and Facebook sites have been started at the direction of CSI, but others appear to have been started by individuals. We don’t need to have everything on every site vetted by CSI staff, but all sites should be monitored to make sure they accurately represent the organization. Should CSI groups be allowed on LinkedIn or Facebook? Should CSI, its regions, or its chapters have both websites and LinkedIn or Facebook groups? Yes! These services provide easy informal communication be-tween members, and are a great place to post documents, links, and pic-tures that otherwise would not be seen by members. However, all sites should clearly indicate their purpose and the degree to which they rep-resent CSI, as done on Facebook and LinkedIn sites administered by CSI staff and host chapters. I have written before about the importance of keeping websites cur-rent. A visitor who sees under “coming events” a meeting that took place two years ago is unlikely to return. Another thing that influences visitors is the amount of activity on the site. The more sites there are, the less each will be used, and some will die. Unfortunately, dead sites usually remain online, giving the impression that the host organization is dead. Many members have observed that we do a poor job of promoting CSI and what it does, and the Institute Board of Directors has been discuss-ing branding for some time. If anything, the number of social and profes-sional networking sites will grow, and if we’re not careful, CSI’s presence and message will become more diffuse and incoherent. Networking sites can be fun and useful, but let’s take a good look at what we’re doing, and make sure we use them to CSI’s best advantage.

Curmudgeon’s Corner: The Many Faces of CSI

February 2009 - The Parameter 11

PRESIDENT Charles Hendricks, AIA, CDT, LEED-AP, The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5245 [email protected]

VICE-PRES Tracie Skipper Pella Windows & Doors 434-979-3315 [email protected]

TREASURER Ron Keeney, RA, CDT, NCARB Keeney & Co., Architects 434-978-2000 [email protected]

SECRETARY David Groff, CDT Graduate Studies... 434-977-4480 [email protected]

IMMED PAST PRES John Grubb Luck Stone Corporation 434-295-2931 [email protected]

DIRECTOR Meghan Johnston, CDT University of Richmond 804-287-6379 [email protected]

DIRECTOR Adrienne Stronge, LEED-AP, Assoc. AIA The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5245 [email protected]

DIRECTOR Susan Parker Hazard & Associates, LLC 434-295-3145 [email protected]

DIRECTOR R. Tucker Shields, RA, CCCA R. Tucker Shields, Architect. 540-885-8192

DIRECTOR Patrick Wright Luck Stone Corporation 434-985-8830 [email protected]

DIRECTOR Mark Wingerd, CDT Window & Door Pros 434-296-0050 [email protected]

DIRECTOR William Macfarlane Macfarlane Homes, Inc. 434-361-0081 [email protected]

NEWSLETTER Adrienne Stronge, LEED-AP, Assoc. AIA The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5245 [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP William Macfarlane Macfarlane Homes, Inc. 434-361-0081 [email protected]

PROGRAMS Charles Hendricks, AIA, CDT, LEED-AP, The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5245 [email protected]

HOSPITALITY Tracie Skipper Pella Windows & Doors 434-979-3315 [email protected]

PRODUCT EXPO Tracie Skipper Pella Windows & Doors 434-979-3315 [email protected]

NOMINATING Ron Keeney, RA, CDT, NCARB Keeney & Co., Architects 434-978-2000 [email protected]

CERTIFICATION Charles Hendricks, RA, CDT, LEED-AP, Assoc. The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5345 [email protected]

TECHNICAL R. Tucker Shields, RA, CDT R. Tucker Shields, Architect 540-885-8192

HISTORIAN Ray Gaines, RA, CDT The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5245 [email protected]

EDUCATION Susan Parker Hazard & Associates, LLC 434-295-3145 [email protected]

ACADEMIC LIASON Charles Hendricks, RA, CDT, LEED-AP, Assoc. The Gaines Group, PLC 434-979-5245 [email protected]

WEBMASTER Meghan Johnston, CDT University of Richmond 804-287-6379 [email protected]

ADVISOR George Gercke, CCCA Gercke Brothers, Inc. 434-974-1330 [email protected]

CVCSI Leadership Roster

PRSRT STDUS POSTAGE

PAIDCHARLOTTESVILLE VA

PERMIT #422

MAILING LISTc/o Keeney & Co., Architects1413 Sachem Place, Suite OneCharlottesville, VA 22901-2497

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Mailing ListFor name or address changes, to be removed from the mailing list, or for general questions concern-ing the mailing list, please contact the office of Keeney and Co. Ar-chitects at 434.978.2000, or fax to 434.978.7438.

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SAVE THE DATE Please visit www.csicentralva.org for more information

CENTRAL VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS INSTITUTE

Membership Committee - Ray Gaines

Chapter Meetings are held monthly. Chapter meet-ings provide an excellent opportunity to network with other in-dustry professionals. Chapter meetings consist of a social hour, dinner, and a program on an industry topic, followed by an open, informal discussion. All are welcome. Dinner reservations are necessary, please specify specific dietary needs. Those re-serving who do not attend must pay for the dinner prepared for them. Payment is expected at the door. Please support your local chapter by attending dinner meetings!

Hospitality Committee - Charles Hendricks

The Parameter is the chapter’s newsletter and is mailed to members and interested parties all over the country. Outside opinions, technical articles, articles on individual proj-ects, and local news reports are strongly encouraged. Please submit any articles by the 20th of the month preceding pub-lication. Opinions expressed are those of the editor or con-tributers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or practices of the Chapter or the Institute, Copyright 2008 Central Virginia Chapter CSI.

Newsletter Editor - Adrienne Stronge

Advertising rates for 10 issues of The Parameter in print-ed version and as published on our website (www.csicentralva.org) are as follows: Single Issue Ten IssuesBusiness Card Size $25 $175One Quarter Page $75 $525One Half Page $125 $875Full Page $250 $1750

The Parameter is mailed to over 690 construction professionals

Newsletter Editor - Adrienne Stronge

Meeting Sponsorships are encouraged at the general meetings. Whole meeting sponsorship includes 10 min-utes to talk before the featured speaker, a business card size ad in the newsletter, a table top display on each table at the meeting, and a 6’ x 6’ exhibit space at the meeting.

Meeting $300 Annual Picnic (3 Available) $300 Annual Holiday Party (3 Available) $300

Hospitality Committee - Charles Hendricks

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) is a national professional society promoting the advancement of construction technology through communications, education, and service. www.csinet.org

The Central Virginia CSI Chapter (CVCSI) is a local group of construction-interested persons, including design profession-als, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and manufacturer representatives, meeting regularly to improve our in-dustry by openly discussing project interaction, general construction problems and possible solutions. We are committed to the free exchange of information and experiences in the local construction industry. Membership is on an individual basis for $245 annually. ($210 national dues, $35 CVCSI local dues). Discount fees are offered to students and young professionals. www.csicentralva.org

Feb 16CVCSI Dinner

Program

Mar 16CVCSI Dinner

Program

Apr 20CVCSI Dinner

Program

May 19CVCSI Dinner

Program

June 16CVCSI Awards

Banquet

february 2009 parameter

Documents