CSI AND AIA SHOULD BE ON THE SAME PAGE

What follows was first written and published in the Paramater which is the newsletter of the Central Virginia Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute in October of 2004.  While the relationship between the local chapters of both organizations has improved in the last six years, my views on what the relationship should be remain the same.

 

CSI AND AIA SHOULD BE ON THE SAME PAGE

I am saddened to disclose that it has come to my attention more than once recently that certain members of the state and local AIA chapters view CSI as competing with the American Institute of Architects.  Nothing can be further from the truth, as evidenced by the areas of common interest to both organizations.  In the interest of dispelling this misconception  I will discuss a few of these, but limit myself to five due to the finite space of this column.

• Both organizations exist, at least partially, to increase the level of professionalism of their members.
• CSI is a major provider of AIA Learning Units (LU’s).  Most CSI chapters are registered providers, as are the various regions and the Institute as a whole.  Attendance at chapter meetings as well as the region conference provide nearly enough Learning Units to satisfy the AIA’s continuing education requirements.  The same can be said of The CSI Show.
• CSI and AIA share a significant number of members, including a number of double fellows; that is, members who are fellows of both organizations.
• Many local CSI and AIA chapters jointly sponsor trade shows, seminars, and similar professional events.
• CSI was started by a Fellow of the AIA.

 While the American Institute of Architects exists to further the interests of the architectural profession, The Construction Specifications Institute furthers the interests of all professionals within the construction industry.  The local chapter meetings, as a result of the professional diversity of our membership provide an interdisciplinary forum that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere.  The other professional organizations within the industry can’t provide this to the same degree due to the narrower scope of their membership.

 Because of these things, CSI and AIA exist today as complementary, not competing organizations.  As such, we should participate in one another’s professional development activities, and maintain an ongoing dialogue on subjects of mutual interest.  We can certainly learn a lot from one another.

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A Job Well Done

What follows is an article I penned several years ago for the Parameter, which is the newsletter of the Central Virginia Chapter of  The Construction Specifications Institute.  Other than dates and places which had to be updated, it is as pertinent today as it was in March 2004.

 A JOB WELL DONE

 I recently had the privilege of signing the certificate of substantial completion for a new custom residence.  The contractor had executed a near flawless product and the owners were ecstatic with the result.  Instead of choosing a contractor by competitive bidding, the contractor was selected on the basis of his reputation for honesty and ability to deliver a high quality product for a reasonable price.

 This particular contractor has been making clients of this author happy for the last ten years or so.  He and I had accidentally discovered one another indirectly as a result of networking with other local construction professionals. 

 Our first common project had been competitively bid, and the contractor selected strictly on the basis of price.  The pleasant surprise was the discovery during the construction process that there are in fact people out there who still take a great deal of pride in their work.  He has negotiated contracts with several of my clients since then, and has never failed to exhibit the highest level of professionalism.

 This is a story of where networking over the years has paid off.  Being able to confidently negotiate construction contracts is not unique to this particular contractor, as the story applies to several of the contractors my firm works with regularly.  I’ve said repeatedly that CSI provides multiple opportunities for networking and career advancement.  It is here that we get to know one another and get some idea of what our colleagues are capable.  In addition, the monthly membership meetings provide educational opportunities simply for the price of our dues and the cost of one dinner each month.  Otherwise put, the local CSI chapter affords us multiple opportunities to improve the way we conduct our businesses, both formally and informally.

 By getting together on a regular basis, we, the membership, are able to learn from one another.  The chapter continually puts together quality educational programs, which are often entertaining, and always useful.

 CSI, however, is more than just the chapters.  The Middle Atlantic Region meets twice each year.  In the spring, the Leadership Orientation Seminar is an opportunity to brush up on how best to run the chapters.  Additionally, it provides information for the development of new leaders.  Typically, there are representatives of the Institute, both elected and staff, to fill us in on what is going on at the national level.

 Each October (or September in colder locales), one of the seventeen chapters in the Middle Atlantic Region hosts the annual region conference.  The region conferences provide us with the opportunity for networking and professional education.  The conferences are always a lot of fun, and I always come away having learned something of value.

 Beyond the region level, CSI has its signature Institute wide event each year that can provide sufficient continuing education to maintain professional certifications.  The upcoming Construct and the CSI Convention will be in Chicago next fall.  The convention features one of the largest commercial construction product shows in the country.  Additionally, there are more than seventy educational sessions available on site.

 So coming full circle in my ramblings, in multiple ways, CSI can enable each of us to take pride in a job well done.

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