Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT
Senior Member
Username: rliebing
Post Number: 1334
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 08:05 am: |    |
120815
WHEN IS
“NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS” WEEK?
by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI,CDT
Cincinnati, OH
Well, why not????? We have National Sandwich Month; National Pickle Week: National Fire Prevention Week; Building Safety Week; perhaps even National Kiss Your Own Spouse for a Change Week!
So why shouldn’t we have a week devoted to education within the construction industry? And to introduce a real new twist, the presentations presented this week MUST be different and unique to the organization-- a topic or something allied to the work of the organization but not an integral part of everyday operations.
Well, sure the idea is to “learn something new”!!! What’s wrong with that?
We could “talk” to new people; meet new allies and resources; and come to better understand what the others are doing, within their prescribed realm. Also, we could boost and boast our efforts, show our “new” colors, and pontificate on our latest accomplishments and successes [i.e., show the new “toys” we’ve developed and their benefit to the others]
Why not involve CSI [should/could we start it?], AIA, AGC, ABD, CII, CEEC, NSPE, ASME, ASTM, BIA, PCA, ACI, and the rest of the alphabet soup so prevalent in the world on construction. We can do “one-on-ones” locally, tele-conferences, bring in locally available “experts” [waive the "expert is over 50 miles from home" criteria for now], and seek out.
Hey, may be a round-robin day of sessions, perhaps 1-2 hours each just to expose [no, not a good word] to portray ourselves with the new ventures we’re engaged in. New documents; new procedures; new alliances; new resources; new faces; new hands to shake and business cards to collect.
Gosh, we could even be creative, and really get into this-- and why not?
WHAT MORE???????????????????
Now the immediate amenities could be "Take your Specifier to Lunch"; "Have you Hugged Your Specifier Today?" And "Make Your Specifier Feel Special" day! In all this, personalized stuff would be great and immediately satisfying, and would hopefully be sincere-- i.e., a “real” lunch, not a brown bag or Fun Meal; a really firm, honest bear hug of some duration; and, well, for the last one, be a little creative [you might even use something that lasts beyond one day-- a plant, not cut flowers, or a cactus; a complimentary plaque; a giant mug; or a very large check!]. Why not?
We could crib a lot of stuff that others do-- proclamation from the Mayor; tribute from the local AIA chapter; PR in papers; radio, TV spots [as info to public]; posters for offices; ads in various construction trade mags with some really good, nifty and informative copy; OK, a plane flying over with a sky message [as tribute from Heaven].
Now I think we shy away from protest rallies; parades; concerts even by the SpecTones; and anything that is less than professional, astute, and upright. We could inundate the schools; talk even to elementary school classes like the AIA and CSI schools programs [our office goes to schools throughout the year].
Guess the local chapter could come up with Specifier of the Year award! Perhaps a “revolving” trophy [as in moving from person to person-- must be “specific” mustn’t I?] with engraved name [see how many times you can get your name on it!] We could invite ourselves to speak at meetings of other construction organizations in the likelihood they don’t invite us!
All in all, the concept is to be informative and not merely self-promoting; to add to the understanding of specifications, the need for them, and the people who dedicate themselves to producing them-- for the good of all owners, and the public in general. Not to show off, but to express the fact that there is yet another group of well-trained, highly expert people who work hard to the benefit of others.
We make safe; save money; coordinate others for a common cause; act for others, daily, on-going and expertly. So why not celebrate us and what we do? |
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