Hot off the press: Now more than ever, subcontractors need to review the insurance section of a contract before they submit a bid. In this article , Andy Guzenski of CMR Risk & Insurance Services explains why this is the case and offers five solid tips to avoid unpleasant surprises that can cut or eliminate profit margins or, worse yet, cause the project to go to the next bidder.
SPECIAL EDITION
ASA LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAM
TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO CHOOSE CAREERS WORKING IN THE TRADES
Your ASA president says ...

Our ASA Community Outreach Committee volunteers are outstanding, and I'm not just saying this because they stand out in a crowd wearing their new orange T-shirts that broadcast our message loud and clear: Build a Better World Working in the Trades .

I'm saying this because these dedicated people worked diligently for nearly a year to put together a program to help ensure a strong labor force for the future. On December 7 they launched this program when they set up the new ASA booth at the 5th-annual Construction & Building Trades Fair hosted by Sweetwater Union High School District.

What a great kick-off this was! Nearly 400 students attended the event, and dozens of them stopped by the ASA booth to chat with Toby MacDonald of Western Fire Protection, David Felix of Angelus Waterproofing & Restoration, Jennifer Hartpence of Orbit Industries, Hasani James of WestPac Wealth Partners, Miguel San Martin of Chula Vista Electric, John Bryant of ISEC, and Robbie Goeltzenleuchter of Southland Electric . Will you join me in offering kudos to each and every one of these people who gave up a Saturday morning to be at this fantastic event?

Now, here comes the ask: Will you help staff an ASA exhibit booth at a future career fair near you? This isn't a long-term commitment; it's a one-time gig of about two hours where all you would need to do is talk to the kids about your own experiences working in a trade, answer their questions ... and wear an orange tee-shirt.

Interested? Click HERE to request info on upcoming career fairs. (I'll be wearing orange on Jan. 23 at Noon at San Marcos High School. Won't you join me?)

And, one more ask that's also not a time-sucker: We need subcontractors who are willing to serve as a point of contact for their trade, so that students who want to find out what it's like to work in that trade will have someone to talk with. Please scroll down to the next article, read it through, and get in touch if you work in one of the trades listed. We really need you!

Well, I don't know about you, but I find all of this extremely exciting. As it says at the bottom of our new Community Outreach web page, ASA member companies are committed to building a strong and vibrant skilled labor force to meet the diverse and growing needs of the construction industry now and in the future.

Please help us reach that goal by attending a career fair and/or becoming a contact on our new web page.

John Luft
ASA President
L: Winners of an ASA bag full of goodies M: New ASA banner R: Great reading
At last! A volunteer commitment that takes just about zero time
As part of the ASA's efforts to encourage high school students to choose careers working in the trades, we're setting up a special web page on our website. This page will connect students who are interested in a trade with an ASA member who's experienced in that trade and willing to chat with them about what it's like to work in it.

Specifically, we need people who are working (or have worked) as a:
Heavy equipment operator
Painter
Cement mason
Glazier

Want to see how easy being a contact person will be? Click HERE to go to the (draft) website and scroll through the pages to see how it works. If you click on the Union button at the bottom of the Sheet Metal Workers page as an experiment, you'll see that an email window addressed to Scott Hollingsworth of California Sheet Metal opens up. If you agree to be a contact, a similar window would open for you from the page featuring your trade and specifying either non-union or union.

If you're willing to help with this worthwhile project by being a contact person, please email diana@sandiegoasa.org

We thank these ASA members who've already agreed to be contacts:
Miguel San Martin, CVE
Randy Minnier, Ickler
Jason Sandoval, ISEC
David Blackston, D.A. Whitacre
Scott Hollingsworth, California Sheet Metal
Joel Quinonez, Challenger Sheet Metal
Kevin McMahon, McMahon Steel
Mike Hearne, UMEC
Tim Phillips, Collins Plumbing
Sam Meyer, Marco Crane & Rigging
Tim Fair, South Bay Welding
"We recognize the importance and value of all the specialized subcontractors that go into making up a successful project. As we pursue our business and project objectives, we realize the efforts of our subcontractor team are directly related to our mutual success."

Are you interested in collaborating with this ASA Industry Partner? If you answered yes, you'll have the chance to meet personally with Facility Builders & Erectors  decision-makers and learn what projects are in the pipeline on Jan. 23 at our  Meet Your General Contractor  event. In this casual open forum, you'll be able to discuss operational, contract, payment, or other issues, with the goal of forming mutually beneficial and profitable relationships. Click HERE to register for this members-only event.

WHEN:
January 23 -- 3:00 - 5:00 pm (or stay late until 6:00)
WHERE:
Vintana Wine + Dine
12015 Auto Park Way
Escondido, CA 92029
Note: Vintana is located on the Penthouse Level of The Centre at Lexus Escondido
DETAILS:
Members only
Free to attend
No walk-ins
Credit where credit is due
Richard Gabaldon of Brady SoCal earned a $100 Visa gift card for bringing in new ASA member Karcher Interior Systems , and Scott Hollingsworth of California Sheet Metal received one for recruiting Sunshine Supply Co. Now it's your turn to bring in a member and score a gift card! Executive Director Nancy Grimes has information that will help you. Email nancy@sandiegoasa.org .
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Check out these Holiday Mixer photos
Visit the ASA photo galleries online HERE to see the fun that was had by all who were aboard the William D. Evans Sternwheeler for this year's packed house ... or should we say boat!
Part of the fun was collecting donations of critical baby items for Operation Homefront's Star-Spangled Baby Shower to support military moms.

When it comes to being generous, ASA members take the prize! Not only did we fill three large bins to overflowing at the event, we collected even more items at five satellite locations ... making this a banner year.

Special thanks go to these companies that served as satellite collection centers: Angelus Waterproofing & Restoration, Western Fire Protection, J&W Lumber, Align Builders, and McMahon Steel.
Members-only event
Non-members welcome

2020
JAN 23
Meet Your General Contractor @ Facility Builders & Erectors
FEB 12
Legal Update & Member Showcase @ Admiral Baker Clubhouse
MAR 12
Managing an Aging Workforce Seminar @ TSIB
MAR 20
Sporting Clays Tournament @ Lemon Grove Gun Club
APR 1
Gulls vs Stockton Heat @ Pechanga Arena

Visit ASA's online calendar here .
______________________
Coming soon to a neighborhood near you
ASA mixers are always fun ... and they're also a great way to introduce potential new members to our association. That's why our Membership Committee volunteers have decided to put on a mixer once a month in different locations throughout the county. Watch your inbox for notices and get ready to come, either solo or with a guest who might want to join ASA.

Cheers!
Have you joined The Producers Circle yet?
These generous ASA members have donated $1,000 toward the production of the 30th-Annual Awards & Installation Banquet on July 31, 2020. Your donation would be most welcome! (Please note that donations may be tax deductible; you're encouraged to consult your CPA.) For details, email diana@sandiegoasa.org .
Here's one of the best twofers around
ASA's Legal Update & Member Showcase is the place to be on Feb. 12. (Click HERE to register.)

The event will kick off with cocktails and light snacks during a Showcase and Mixer where you can learn about the products and services of our participating new and affiliate members.

This will be followed by a  Legal Update  presented by ASA's Counsel, Kevin Cauley, along with Kristen Bush and Mark Bale, all of Schwartz Semerdjian Cauley & Moot.

The three presenters will discuss recent legislation on employment matters, including such issues as independent contractors, lactation room locations, amendments to the California Pay Act, harassment training, and paid family leave (to name just a few of the seminar's topics).

The event will conclude with heavy appetizers and additional time to visit the showcase display area.
The ASA website recently benefited from the generosity and support of three members who paid $250 to have their company logo featured on the home page sponsor scroll for a full year.

We appreciate you, Bali Construction , Cavignac & Associates , and C&S Companies !
We're asking our members to help us promote membership in ASA. If you're interested in making this happen, please contact diana@sandiegoasa.org to obtain a file that your webmaster can use.