Maine-ly Specs

In this Issue
Administration	Members	Committees	Other
President's Report Next Meeting Chapter Bd Minutes Pin Fine Institute Director's Report	Membership Employment News of Members Member Profile	Awards Committee Academic Programs Committee Certification Education Membership Technical	Chapter Wiki Opinion Chapter History Per-SPEC-tives Sheldon Wolfe BGS Comments

News from the Chapter President, Bill Charland, CSI, CCCA, MAI

February  2012

How quickly the weather changes here in Maine. On New Years Day, January 1, 2012 a Golf Tournament was held at the Penobscot Valley Country Club on open ground and the temperatures were in the 50s! Just 2 weeks later and the ground is white with snow and Winter 2011-12 is here in full force, and yet half over at the same time. Soon it will be time to refill the oil tank again and hunker down for the rest of the winter weather, yet to come. Even if you haven’t needed them yet, don’t forget the snow tires! The Patriots continue to march into the post season. Now that Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos have been dispatched in fine Brady fashion (45-10), just one game left to reach the Super Bowl, Will it be Houston or Baltimore? No matter, it’s just one more game. With one more win the Patriots could be in the Super Bowl, pursuing another Championship.

Lots to think about and do! Even with all the things we all need to do on a daily basis we must consider MECSI.

Our current membership is at its lowest level in many years, most likely due to the struggling economy however, I’m hopeful our chapter will see more new members joining our ranks. We’ve had several new members join the chapter since July and we hope to grow over the next year. New members will provide the life blood of our chapter for the future. They will become the new leadership and provide the direction of our organization for years to come, as we mentor these emerging professionals. If you know someone who might be interested or have questions about joining the Maine Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute, please contact Steve Dunn, our Membership Committee Chair. Steve.dunn@gliddenprofessional.com 800.300.9533 .

With that thought in mind, did you have a chance to invite a friend and/or a colleague to attend a MECSI meeting? This is such a great idea that CSI has initiated a membership recruitment program called “Every 1 Counts”, 1 phone call, 1 e-mail, 1 letter, 1 cup of coffee, any 1 of these can encourage 1 new member. If every 1 of our current members could get 1 person to become a member during the next year, MECSI could double its membership. Think about it, give it a try, you might surprise yourself. Invite a friend or colleague to attend with you, or when you are there invite someone there to attend a future MECSI meeting with you.

The next Maine Chapter Meeting will be held on Tuesday February 7, 2012 at the Muddy Rudder Restaurant in Yarmouth. Reservations can be made at the MECSI website www.mecsi.org


I hope to see you in Yarmouth.
 
Bill Charland, CSI, CCCA, MAI
President MECSI

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COMMUNICATION is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, an an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast distances in time and space. Communication requires that the communicating parties share an area of communicative commonality. The communication process is complete once the receiver has understood the sender. - Wikipedia

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3 reasons to not get certified by Sheldon Wolfe, RA, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, CSC

Aren't you tired of all this talk about certification? No one will tell you, but there are a few good reasons to save your time and skip the exams. Why waste the time and effort on something you probably don't need? If any of these reasons apply to you, sit back and relax - you're in great shape.

You're irreplaceable

Doesn't it feel great? The principals understand and love what you do, and the rest of the staff simply can't believe you know as much as you do. If you're a consultant, your clients realize there is no one else who can do the job quite as well as you. Sure, there might be other people who can do your job, but it's obvious to everyone, they are far less qualified. You're on top, and no one can take your place. Certification won't make you any more valuable.

You have a great job and you don't need another one

You have looked around, and it's clear there is no better place to work. You have a great compensation package, and, because you have been holding the same job almost twenty years, you know your firm or your clients are completely loyal. There is no way they would turn you loose or cut into your income or benefits. If you are approaching retirement, you know you will never need to work again. You're not going anywhere, and you don't need to be certified.

You make too much money

I'm sure you're quite comfortable with your salary, even after the sagging economy of the last few years. You make more than enough to take care of your needs, with plenty left over for your cabin, your annual vacation to the Bahamas, and your flourishing Keogh plan. Kids in college are no problem, and you may even have a fund set up for the grandchildren. You can't possibly make any more money even if you do get certified.

Reality check

I don’t know anyone who fits in any of these categories, and I don't know many people who would not benefit from certification. While certification won't make you irreplaceable, or ensure you'll keep your job, or get you a raise, it increases the possibility of all of those things.

Like it or not, the business world relies on credentials, at least for preliminary evaluation. A person who graduates from a school or apprenticeship program may have a good education, but when a company is hiring, the person with credentials is considered more valuable. A graduate architect or engineer has less to offer than a person with a professional license, and a master mason looking for work will have an advantage over an apprentice.

In the construction industry, CSI credentials are significant. As a , I have great respect for the CDT. When new sales representatives visit my office, the first thing I look for on their business cards is CDT. If they have it, they automatically get more respect and credibility, because I know they are familiar with conditions of the contract and Division 01, and I know they have an understanding of the relationships between owner, designer, contractor, and supplier. If they don't have it, before they leave my office they get a brief sermon about the value of the CDT. I know I am not alone in this; virtually every cifier I know feels the same.

In my corner of the world, specifiers' jobs are rarely advertised; when positions open, architectural firms seek out those specifiers with the CCS, and recognize the value of the CCCA. Similarly, many manufacturers look for representatives with a CDT. Some require their reps to have a CDT; others may not have a formal requirement, but do encourage their reps to obtain CSI credentials.

When I became a specifier, I knew little about specifications and nothing about CSI. I had graduated from an accredited school of architecture, but the only reference to specifications I recall was a casual mention in our Professional Practice class. The school apparently believed there was nothing essential in contract documents - specifications or drawings, at least nothing that could not be picked up on the job with little effort.

Not long after taking the job, my boss suggested I join CSI. That being a time when a suggestion from the boss was tantamount to an order, I joined the local chapter, and quickly acquired CSI's Manual of Practice. Eureka! All was revealed! What previously had been a confusing collection of documents suddenly took on meaning, as, for the first time, I was able to see all of the documents as an integrated, coordinated whole. I joined the chapter study group, and passed the CCS exam about a year later. Without the understanding I gained from the MOP, and from studying for the exam, it would be much more difficult to do my job.

Well, it's certification season again. If you work with specifications, either preparing or reading them, I urge you to pursue CSI credentials. If you're new to the industry, studying for the CDT will be an eye-opening experience. If you've been around a while, but haven't taken the exam, you may be surprised to find that there is logic behind the documents and processes we use daily. "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." (Mark Twain? Will Rogers?)

Rather than give you all the details about this year's exam, and take the chance of providing the wrong information, I'll just refer you to www.csinet.org/certification. There you will find everything you need to know about exam dates, registration for exams, and a free online seminar that will help you learn about the benefits of the CDT.

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Maine Chapter Wiki

The Maine Chapter has created a "Wiki" for the benefit of the Chapter Members. The term "Wiki" is derived from a Polynesian word meaning "quick". Any member of the Maine Chapter can apply to join this Wiki and once the Member has joined, they will be able to post information to the Chapter Wiki as well as upload documents and photos.

Click here if you would like to join the Maine Chapter Wiki or only view the Wiki. If you do not already belong to "Wikispace", you may be asked to subscribe to this service prior to applying for Membership in the Maine Chapter Wiki.  The "Join" button is at the top of the left Navigation Bar

A Wiki is somewhat like a Forum but with more flexibility. Pages can be easily created or edited by any Member of the Chapter Wiki. Only Chapter Wiki Members can publish to the Wiki but any other person can view the site. For more information about the ease of use of a Wiki, Click Here. You will not need to set up a new Wiki as it has already been established but the Video shows the ease in posting information.

The uses of this Wiki are numerous and are only limited by the imagination. 

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EMPLOYMENT

This section provides an opportunity for any Maine Chapter Member to post a brief informational statement if the member is looking for employment or the posting of a Job Opportunity that might be of interest to Chapter Members.  This is a free service provided by the Maine Chapter to its Members -

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BGS Comments
QA, QC and other Queues -  Joe Ostwald

If a line formed with all the Maine Architects, Engineers, Contractors, suppliers, and even spec writers who made any sort of error, miscalculation, or omission over the course of, say, calendar year 2010, it would be a long line, indeed. I can picture it. It wouldn’t be that inexplicably long distance from Portland to Orono, but it would be a remarkable distance. I would be in that queue, wouldn’t you? It’s the human condition, isn’t it, to make mistakes? CSI members also needn’t be embarrassed to see other CSI members in line because although we make mistakes, we learn valuable lessons, make improvements, and move on.

I imagine the Maine Chapter CSI members who might be in that line would be queuing up for some professional development work, or to get into a chapter meeting, or to assist someone who needed their particular expertise. We are always looking for ways to improve our professional skills and the status of our profession. Mistakes don’t discourage us. In fact, we’re believers in QA/QC.

This topic is on my mind because my work is frequently involved with identifying, interpreting, documenting and resolving the mistakes of very competent people such as you, and other people, too. I have been working on improving the forms we use in our projects for clarity and ease of use; essentially to try to make the forms “bullet proof”. Is this a Sisyphean task?

I I have seen a spate problems caused by, in my opinion, poor quality control. Bid forms, no matter how clear, are regularly in question. (Why does it seem the bid form of the low bidder is always the one that has the anomaly?) A recent bidder included some notes on a sheet of their letterhead, indicating the bidder excluded some scope of work and also expected escalation costs for certain items, which was not allowed by the spec. When asked about it, they confirmed that they did intend to qualify the bid in that way. They were not awarded the contract. That’s not an example of an inadvertent mistake, per se, but it makes me wonder if anybody reads the instructions. We say: you must send a .doc file; we get .pdf files. We say: put the project name on the envelope; we get no name and sometimes no envelope.

Our office has the pleasure of working with many different entities on our projects. We work with managers of state agencies, tenants, school district business managers, artists, contractor’s project executives, judges, jailers, owner’s representatives, state representatives, spec writers, custodians, biologists, attorneys, etc, etc. No one is immune from having their work slip below certain standards, and sometimes, in the world of capital projects we live in, the consequences are substantial. Here are the questions I’ve been leading to: >Is QA/QC out of fashion? Can an organization composed of many individuals, disciplines and perspectives such as CSI revive the value of a QA/QC program? I think what CSI Maine would do would have a great ripple effect. We should not underestimate our influence. I’m not saying BGS wouldn’t get any more bidding documents that omit window flashing (which somehow get built that way!), but our collective efforts would have a positive effect.

Aristotle put it this way: Quality is not an act, it is a habit. Let’s pledge to make QA/QC our habit.

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Technical Committee

Technical Information

MasterFormat.com Trial Period Ends (Members Still Get In FREE)
Access to the content of the MasterFormat.com website has been free since the site’s debut. The free trial period came to an end. Effective Monday, November 1, 2010, access to the numbers and titles portion and select other portions of the MasterFormat.com website will be limited. CSI and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) members will have access to the site as a member benefit for the length of their membership. Non-members of these two organizations can obtain access to the site for a year as part of their purchase of that year’s MasterFormat update. Not a member of CSI? Join now, or purchase a copy of MasterFormat 2010 from the CSI Store

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Maine Concrete Technicians Certification

Are your interested in taking the exam to become certified to perform Field or Plant Concrete Testing in Maine? If so "Click Here" to learn when and where the Exams will be given and to download an exam application form.

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January  Board Meeting

Board Meeting Minutes of Maine Chapter of CSI
January 10, 2012
Kennebunk Inn; Kennebunk, ME

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Bill Charland @ 5:15pm

Introductions: All around

Secretary’s Report: Nov Board Meeting Minutes- Accepted as published on Website

Teasurer’s Report: Denis Lemieux- Treasurer not present, No Treasurer’s Report

Committee Reports
 

Academic Program	Dave Early - Reports that CSI CDT questions are being used in USM class; discussed Dale C. Moll Award for 2013
Awards	Steve Dunn - NER Education Award Nomination of David Early submitted; Knowlton Awards Committee no response yet from organizations, Letters to 18 organizations to be sent out by Troy Johnson, Committee Secretary
Bylaws	Dick Eustis - MECSI Bylaws are up to date
Certification	Troy Johnson - Troy will provide info for Feb Newsletter
Electronic Communications	Dick Eustis - Needs Newsletter Material
Membership	Steve Dunn - 91 Home Members; Dick Dolby Retired Status waiver; Brad Armstrong Membership renewal, Steve will contact Brad
Newsletter/Web Site Ads	Keith Lowell - Dick Eustis reports Web Ads up to date
Newsletter Editor	Keith Lowell - Dick Eustis needs material
Scholarship Committee	Dick Eustis - Largest number of qualified applicants this year; Scholarship awarded to USM Student Greg Roy, CDT
Social Committee	Steve Dunn/ Bill Charland - Steve Dunn reports that he is working on a Lobster Boat Trip @ Boothbay for our June Awards Event. More details to follow at Feb. Meeting

Unfinished Business

Future Meeting Plans
    Feb.7, 2012 Brunswick Redevelopment @ Muddy Rudder, Yarmouth Speaker Jeff Jordan Mid-coast Redevelopment Authority

    Mar.6, 2012 Panel Discussion re: IPD TBD

    Apr.3, 2012 Contractor Issues Panel CMCC

    May 1, 2012 Hampden Academy Tour TBD

    June ?, 2012 Annual Awards Banquet TBD

New Business:

    Need Nominating Committee to meet and develop a list of Nominees for Board of Director and Officers with terms ending in 2012

Items not on the Agenda:

Adjournment: The Meeting was adjourned @ 5:45

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Pin Fine Drawing

At the June 1969 Board Meeting, the Maine Chapter Board voted to institute a "Fine" for CSI Members who failed to wear the CSI Recognition Pin to Chapter Meetings.  The funds received from the fine would be given to a member whose name was draw from a pool consisting of all of the current Chapter Members. If the member whose name was drawn was not present, the funds would be carried forward to the next meeting, in addition the Chapter would add to the fund.  This process would continue until someone won the accumulated amount.

Over time, the amount of the fine has increased but the basic concept has remained the same.  Current, the "fine" amount is $1.00 for failure to wear the CSI Recognition Pin to a Chapter Meeting but by acclamation, the fine may be increased to $5.00 or more for former Chapter Presidents.

Names of Chapter Members recently drawn;

• September 2011 Meeting - Jerry accidently through away names.
  October 2011 Meeting - Joe Ostwald's name was drawn but he was not in attendance so the "pot" continues to grow.
  November 2011 - Rick MacKenzie's name was drawn but he was not there - The "pot" continues to grow.
  January 2012 - There was no "Pin Fine" drawing

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News of our Members

Floyd Lawrence's photo appeared in a a local Florida newspaper showing him participating in the  a Weekend "Paint the Beach" Celebration. Floyd reports that he did not win a prize but had fun taking part in the activity.

Richard Eustis, PE, FCSI, CCCA, CSC was Awarded "Distinguished Membership" at the Honors and Awards Gala at the Institute Convention. This is CSI's most prestigious honor and is conferred on individuals who have performed distinguished services to the construction industry over a long period of time in fields of activity related to the purpose of the Institute.

Denis Lemieux, CSI, CDT was nominated by the NE Region to serve a second 2-year term as NE Region Institute Director.

Gregory Roy, CSI-S, A student at the University of Southern Maine is the recipient of the Maine Chapter Scholarship which this year is worth $1,700.

  

Maine Chapter Outstanding Chapter Commendation
 

 

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Member Profile - David A. Mains, CSI, CCCA, AIA

I grew up in Eliot, Maine near the New Hampshire boarder until my family moved to Raymond on Sebago Lake in the mid 80’s. My grandfather, father and I built the house my parents lived in until this year, and were my family now resides. I attended high school in Windham Maine and received a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Wentworth Institute in Boston.

InIn 1992 I married my wife Jennifer and we moved to Boston so I could finish school. We lived in and around the Greater Boston area for nearly 15 years. In 2006 we moved back to Maine, living in Windham for three years until returning to the lake in Raymond. We have four children, 3 boys and 1 girl. When not at the office or traveling for work, I am a volunteer firefighter with the Town of Raymond. I enjoy playing golf and working in my garden. In the fall when time allows, I am in the woods with my english coonhound hunting raccoons or bear.

While in the Boston area I worked for both small and large architectural firms. This allowed me to experience a variety of projects, from large hospitals to small community branch bank offices. Between 1999 and 2004 I owned a residential design and renovation firm.

For the past five plus years I have been a project manger with SMRT in Portland. I currently co-manage one of our architectural production teams. My team focuses its efforts on work in our criminal justice, federal government and science and technology market sectors. I am currently managing the construction contract for a $30 million county jail in western New Hampshire. I am also the project architect for a number of clean room and dry room assembly and production facilities in the northeast and midwest areas.

I joined CSI in 2000 while a project coordinator at The Ritchie Organization (now TRO/Jung Brannen) in Massachusetts. My professional interests quickly were becoming centered on the development of construction documents and contract administration. The experience and skills I gained preparing for the CDT and CCCA certification exams have become invaluable tools in my everyday work. I look forward to my term as a board member for the Maine Chapter, and I hope to be able to contribute to our depth and growth.

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