VOLUME 60 | ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2019
In the Spotlight!
President's Message
Spring Cleaning
Ali LaManna, CSI CDT - Emerick Construction - President Portland Chapter CSI
“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” - Mark Twain

Welcome Spring! I am so happy to be back to days longer than nights, seeing cherry trees blossom and leaves bud. This is the time of year most people start their spring cleaning, and I am one of them. Recently Jake and I jumped on the Marie Kondo bandwagon, and started going through some things at home. We’ve made it through the clothes (I “thanked” 5 bags worth) and have started in on our books. With both of us being former architecture students, we have a lot of books at home. It was fun going back through some of the course books that I have not looked at in nearly 10 years. It was also comforting to thank some of those books for their service and pass them on to a new home elsewhere, likely facilitated by Powell's City of Books. 

Wouldn't it be nice if we had, no, made the time and found the energy to bring the KonMari method to our specifications and construction documents? I can’t even imagine the number of times specs have been copied and pasted from one project to the next. This is done in the name of efficiency because we assume there is no time to rethink whether the spec section even makes sense anymore. If I was the supreme leader of the world, first I’d ban slow drivers from the passing lane, and suspend the driving privileges for any transgressions. Next, I would make sure each project had a month dedicated to reviewing all the decisions made, making sure they are constructible and clear, concise, correct, and complete-ly communicated in the documents before construction started. Imagine the cost, time, and paperwork saved! But alas, I have not been chosen as the supreme leader of the world. 

Perhaps, just maybe, we could take advantage of the spring cleaning spirit and just pick one spec section on our next project to take a little extra time to dive deep into the specifications or details. Create the opportunity to ensure that specification is communicating what we think it should be communicating. Nothing more, nothing less. And if there are items that are incorrect or superfluous, thank them for their service, and remove them from the spec.

It might not seem like a lot, but even an organized sock drawer can make a big difference in your day. Just imagine what a more organized spec can do for your contractors and owners.
Portland Chapter CSI 2019 Industry Forum – The Party Continues!
Randy Page NCARB, LEED AP - Portland Chapter CSI Board, Industry Forum Co-Chair

The party continues as the 2019 Industry Forum has shown itself to be a premier event in the Portland construction and design community. Thanks to AIA Portland, our thirty-five Exhibit sponsors, 3 door prize sponsors, and our local design community, we were host to over 200 guests and nearly 60 sponsor representatives.

For an update on what you may have missed, including photos, see a full recap of the 2019 Industry Forum by clicking on the logo below .
Learning and Libations
Terry Kastner discusses Plaster and Stucco Systems - April 18th at 5:30 pm
Jenn Thomas - Senior VDC Manager at VIATechnik - Education Co-Chair
Join Terry with the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau for a presentation on the four main players responsible for Plaster and Stucco installations: The Owner, Architect, General Contractor, and Specialty Contractor! A tour of the training lab will follow the presentation!

It's not too early to think about golfing this summer!
Fore!
Erica Bitterman-Ryon, CSI - Senior Sales Executive, Precision Images - Golf Co-Chair

The Annual CSI Golf Tournament is returning this summer!

August 22nd at Lewis River Golf Course

Registration for teams and sponsorship are now open! March sure to register soon! Spaces fill up fast!

Member News
2019 BOARD ELECTIONS
Portland CSI is officially announcing the voting for your 2019-2021 elected board. Three Board of Directors positions are up for grabs this year. We received nominations for these positions this past winter, and an email will be sent to all members for voting in the latter half of April.

Just a reminder, that Board Directors must attend the monthly board meetings to vote on board business, and help oversee the committees. The term is for 2 years from July 2019 to June 2021.

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact us! Nominations will close April 10th.

Region News
West by Northwest Bi-Region Conference in Downtown LA
Where: Sheraton Grand Los Angeles

When: April 25-27, 2019

Who: Network the whole weekend with design & construction professionals from all over the west coast, from Hawaii to Alaska to Montana and Nevada. Meet the architects, specifications writers, designers, facilities construction teams & engineers who specify construction products. 

What: Hear exciting Keynote and Technical Speakers. Listen to educational sessions on high level technical topics & the transformation of DTLA. Work with a team on "Let's Fix Construction." Attend leadership education & trusted advisor training.

Other Industry Events
This year Canstruction is very excited to celebrate the 23rd annual Canstruction Design, Build, Feed Competition. The event will be held in September 2019 to coincide with Oregon Food Bank’s Hunger Awareness Month.

For an overview of the competition, sponsorship opportunities, and volunteer needs, the CAN-OPENER will be Thursday, April 25th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at David Evans and Associates, Inc. (2100 SW River Parkway). Light snacks and drinks will be provided.

Deadline to Sign Up: May 17th, 2019

For more information, click on the canstruction banner above.
Upcoming IMI (International Masonry Institute) Events
AIA Shift 19 Conference