December 2010
Addenda #35 American Society of Professional Estimators Great Plains Chapter #35
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6
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MEMBER COMPANIES
Ahern Fire Protection
Kiewit Building Group, Inc.
Bldg Cost Consultants, Inc.
L & L Builders Co.
Davis Erection Co., Inc.
MCM Services
Drake-Williams Steel Inc.
New Steel Inc.
Essex Corporation
Omaha Electric Service Inc.
Heartland Scenic Studio, Inc.
Sampson Construction Co., Inc.
Interstates Const. Srvcs. Inc.
Tempest Company
Kidwell Inc. UPCOMING EVENTS
Social Activities and Chapter Meetings January 12, 2011—Radio Personality Tom Becka Tom has had an incredible and varied career as an advertising salesperson, radio personality, and stand up comedian. As a salesman and sales manager he was responsible for creating and implementing successful radio ad campaigns. He is a certified sales trainer and motivator. As a radio personality he has been named as one of the Top 100 radio talk show hosts in the country for 8 years in a row. And as a stand up comic he has opened for the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Sam Kinnison, Lewis Black and more. Tom has put all of these skills and life experiences together for an exciting, unique, and profitable look at sales. Currently living in Omaha, just a few blocks from Warren Buffet’s house, the Tom Becka radio show can be heard on kfab.com Mon-Fri from 4-7 Central time.
UPCOMING MEETING DETAILS Upcoming Lunch Meetings Date: January 12, 2011 February 9, 2011 Time: 11:30 am Location: Grisanti’s Italian Restaurant 10875 W Dodge Road, Omaha Lunch Fee: $25 PLEASE RSVP for at least one day in advance RSVP by email to ahrenholtz@gmail.com online at sites.google.com/site/aspe35 or by SMS or telephone to 402-522-6016
December 2010
American Society of Professional Estimators
ARTICLES
Great Plains Chapter #35 ASPE CERTIFICATION—IS IT TIME FOR YOU TO BECOME A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL
ASPE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TOP TEN REASONS TO BECOME A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL ESTIMATOR FIVE STEPS TO CERTIFICATION
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
F E AT U R E S
REVIEW OF LAST MEETING BOARD MEETING MINUTES & HIGHLIGHTS COMMITTEE REPORTS MEMBER BENEFITS MEMBER COMPANIES ASPE CANONS
CRITICAL CALENDAR ITEMS SPONSORS
The cover art is a picture of our January guest speaker rapelling down the Woodman Tower, downtown Omaha
UPCOMING MEETINGS http://on.fb.me/fmuE0y
THE GREAT PLAINS ADDENDA #35
ASPE CHAPTER 35 OFFICERS President Chris Ahrenholtz ahrenholtz@gmail.com
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BOARD MEETING MINUTES & COMMITTEE REPORTS Meeting Date: December 1, 2010 Time: 11:45 AM Location: Granite City Food and Brewery Attendance: Chris Ahrenholtz, Mark Mentele, Justin Short, Jerr Onik, Isaac Davidson, Steve Rice November Meeting Review:
First Vice President Mark Mentele markms@tempestcompany.com
Great Presenter, very informative. Andy Greenberg asked for info on SBO, Chris provided him this. Chris is writing the meeting review for the Newsletter.
Second Vice President David Hansen drh67gal@cox.net
Prelim Agenda Provided for meeting—Panel Members Rod Gygax, Ron Boyce, Tim Wurtele, Rick Geiler, Jason Prebyl Raffle: Justin has remaining Tickets, pricing $1 per or 7 for $5. Prizes will be gift Certificate and DVD player at the meeting December 8, 2010
Third Vice President Jonathan Hatcher jhatcher@ahernfire.com Secretary Jerry Onik jonik@heartlandscenic.com Treasurer Steve Rice srice@omahaelectric.com Directors Isaac Davidson idavidson@omahaelectric.com Jason Prebyl Jason.prebyl@kiewit.com Justin Short justins@tempestcompany.com
FIND US ON:
December Meeting Preview:
Certification:
No update
Membership:
No Update
Finance:
Dave and Steve are scheduled to meet on Friday 12/3/10
Education: We discussed having a Bid Sim in May, then changed to March Meeting, date was to be the 9th, but may change to allow for student participation and meet Grisanti’s schedule. Bid Sim presented by Mark M. and Don S. Discussion about seeking out additional donated raffle prized for this meeting Scholarship: Discussed Poker Night, only 3 in attendance, everyone was a winner. Discussion on a spring Poker night was started. Justin to e-mail Dave to get Application for scholarship Discussion of looking at others applications so the wheel doesn’t need to be reinvented Awards: Chapter awards were discussed—Estimator of the Year, Architect Award, & Contractor Award discussed Newsletter:
No report
Programs: Jason was unable to get a Ballpark site visit, but is looking into other sites. Isaac is looking into the Sarpy County Ballpark for a tour. Possible Ameritrade tour being looked into. Status of upcoming meetings—Federal Contracting — Don was working on trying to set up was brought up, Justin will check on this. The Educational Meeting was scheduled for May, it was discussed to move it to March and to have a site visit in May in its place. Ethics:
No Update
Website: Discussion on status. Waiting on treasurer change to set-up an account Old Business: Fed ID number and Articles of Incorporation status discussed. Dave was not present to give a status report on the lawyer involvement required for this task.
SEARCH FOR ASPE CHAPTER 35 IN THE GROUPS SECTION
New Business:
None
Meeting Ended:
About 12:40PM
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6
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EMAILS, THE NEW FAX MACHINE… BY DON SHORT
I was looking at residential printers the other day and noticed the ―all-inBLOG.TEMPESTCOM one‖ printers are all PANY.COM missing one feature – faxing capability. The time has come to move the old fax machine to the graveyard along side the word processor and typewriter that were once necessary office equipment. ORIGINAL ARTICLE POSTED AT:
Emails have many pros compared to fax machines. You can send the same message to multiple people instantly, don’t have to worry about busy signals, no more long distance charges and the ability to attach multiple documents to name a few. Unlike the fax machines though, emails do not always let you know if it actually reached the intended recipient. Anyone that uses email regularly knows that once in a while an email simply disappears. That is why it’s so important to follow up on urgent emails. One easy way to assure the email gets delivered is by simply adding the option to the email to request a read receipt which allows the person receiving the email to notify you
with one simple click that they have in fact received the email. This works great, if the recipient decides to respond to your request. In my opinion, the read receipt should only be used on more important emails, otherwise you will clutter your inbox and/or your recipients will get tired of replying and will not bother with it anymore. If you don’t receive a read request back, then you have to call the person to verify they received the email. Never assume that someone has received the email. When I sent my bids out via the fax, I would have never dreamed of not checking the fax log to ensure all the faxes were sent successfully. Emails are no different, except there is no longer a convenient report that shows the failed/sent status. Whether calling or requesting a read receipt, it doesn’t really matter. The most important part is that you somehow follow up. No reason to loose a potential project because you didn’t bother this one simple step.
NEW MEMBER Chris Sills Midlands Mechanical
MEMBER BENEFIT INDUSTRY RECOGNITION & CAREER ENHANCEMENT
National recognition of Certification Program for Certified Professional Estimators – Accredited by CESB.
•
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Estimating Proficiency Exams
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National, Regional, and Affiliated Estimating Academies
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Leadership opportunities & training
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Partnerships with other major industry associations & builders exchanges • Estimator forums website www.commercialestimators.com
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Members Only Online Directory
NEWSLETTER TITLE
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6
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THE GREAT PLAINS ADDENDA #35
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VOLUME 1, ISSUE 6
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ASPE CANONS Canon #1 Professional estimator shall perform services in areas of their discipline and competence.
Canon #2 Professional estimator shall continue to expand their professional capabilities through continuing education programs to better enable them to serve clients, employers and the industry.
Canon #3 Professional estimator shall conduct themselves in a manner which will promote cooperation and good relations among members of our profession and those directly related to our profession.
Canon #4 Professional estimator shall safeguard and keep in confidence all knowledge of the business affairs and technical procedures of an employer or client.
Canon #5 Professional estimator shall conduct themselves with integrity at all times and not knowingly or willingly enter into agreements that violate the laws of the United States of America or of the states in which they practice. They shall establish guidelines for setting forth prices and receiving quotations that are fair and equitable to all parties.
Canon #6 Professional estimator shall
utilize their education, years of experience and acquired skills in the preparation of each estimate or assignment with full commitment to make each estimate or assignment as detailed and accurate as their talents and abilities allow.
Canon #7 Professional estimator shall not engage in the practice of ―bid peddling‖ as defined by this code. This is a breach of moral and ethical standards, and this practice shall not be entered into by a member of this society.
Canon #8 Professional estimator and those in training to be estimator shall not enter into any agreement that may be considered acts of collusion or conspiracy (bid rigging) with the implied or express purpose of defrauding clients. Acts of this type are in direct violation of the Code of Ethics of the American Society of Professional Estimators.
Canon #9 Professional estimator and those in training to be estimator shall not participate in acts, such as the giving or receiving of gifts, that are intended to be or may be construed as being unlawful acts of bribery.
MISSION STATEMENT
Www.sites.google.com/site/aspe35
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ESTIMAT ORS GREAT PLAINS CHAPTER 35
Upcoming Chapter Meetings January 12, 2011 - Tom Becka February 9, 2011 - Legal Issues in Construction March 9, 2011 - Site Visit April 13, 2011 - Federal Issues in Construction May 11, 2011 - Educational Seminar, Elections, and Awards Upcoming Board Meeting: January 5, 2011 - January 26, 2011 - February 23, 2011 -
The American Society of Professional Estimators serves construction Estimators by providing education, fellowship, and opportunity for professional development.
March 23, 2011 - April 27, 2011 - May 18, 2011 SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE Advertising in this newsletter is a great way to get your contact information out to local contractors and help you stay connected with upcoming projects. $50 gets you a business card sized spot for the year. There are also spots for 1/4, 1/2, and full page adds. Contact a board member for further information, pricing, and availability
CRITICAL CALENDAR ITEMS
December 15, 2010 Last Day to submit Proposed Amendments to Bylaws Committee January 1, 2011 Last Day to Submit Certification Applications Februrary 1, 2011 Last day for nomination of candidates for Society Office to Nomination Committee Chairman
MEMBER BENEFIT DISCOUNTED PUBLICATIONS Discounted Craftsman books
50% discount on ENR Smart Market Reports
Free subscription to Design Cost Data Magazine
Walker’s Technical Books— save 20%.
Engineering News Record (ENR) Save 40% on subscription
ENR Green Reports—Prices drastically lowered
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
There are many activities planned for the coming year. If you have program suggestions, newsletter topics, or other ideas to share, we would love to hear from you