CONSTRUCTION WRITERS ASSOCIATION PLANS 2005 CWA ANNUAL MEETING
April, 2005
(Buffalo Grove, IL) Construction Writers Association will kick off its three-day Washington, DC, meeting with a tour of the Department of Justice renovation project, followed by an education session, awards dinner, and annual meeting covering wide-ranging construction topics. The meeting is scheduled for May 11-13, 2005.
The kick-off event is a tour of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Federal Building led by the contractor, Gilbane Building Company. The six-year occupied renovation and modernization project was affected by 9/11 and the anthrax scare, resulting in added security features. Included were a new television studio and centralized data room plus extensive restoration of the main library, Great Hall, and historic executive suites. The building contains the largest federal art collection, and Gilbane developed special art protection systems for it. The project recently won a 2004 GSA Design Award for preservation/conservation. Those planning to go on the tour will need to make reservations two weeks in advance and provide information for security clearance. Attendees will meet at the Hotel Washington before the tour.
A welcoming get-together will be held at the Hotel Washington from 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday evening.
Thursday morning will feature a session of CWA's "Fundamentals of Construction Journalism" education series. It will include presentations on CSI's new 2004 MasterFormatTM by Karl Borgstrom, executive director of Construction Specifications Institute; Direct Marketing by Ed Hannan, principal at ZweigWhite; and Enhancing Creativity by Patricia Lipe, an artist, writer, published novelist, and professor of writing.
Early Thursday afternoon, CWA's Board of Directors will meet, and there will be a concurrent meeting of the Construction Certification Coalition (C3). Observers are welcome at both afternoon meetings. In the evening, CWA will celebrate the accomplishments of journalist and photojournalist members at its Awards Dinner.
On Friday morning, CWA's Annual Meeting will be held at the National Press Club. Included among the speakers will be Brad Sant, vice president of safety and education of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), on Hispanics in the Workplace; Evan Futterman, national director of aviation services for HNTB Companies on Airport Development; Roger Frechette III, managing principal of RG Vanderweil Engineers, on Protecting Buildings from Chemical, Biological and Other Attacks; and Storm Cunningham, CEO of Revitalization Strategies, discussing his book, The Restoration Economy.
Friday's concluding speaker, Nick Yaksich, is vice president of global public policy for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. He will discuss National, International and Local Issues Facing the Construction Industry.
Two hotels
CWA has a block of rooms at the Hotel Washington, 515 Pennsylvania Ave. (That's 15th & F.) CWA's rate is $170 single or double, and the Group Booking ID is #21002. Attendees should call 800-424-9540 before the cutoff date, April 11.
Also this year, CWA has a block of rooms at a newer facility, the Hilton Garden Inn, 815 14th St NW. (That's 14th & H in Franklin Square.) Attendees should call 877-STAY-HGI (782-9444) and ask for CWA's room rate -- $179 single, $189 double, or $199 triple. The cutoff date is April 11.
Meeting Locations
On Wednesday, CWA will have a hospitality room at the Hotel Washington, 515 Pennsylvania Ave., where attendees will meet for the tour and enjoy a welcoming get-together. Thursday's education session, the CWA Board of Directors meeting, and the Construction Certification Coalition meeting will also be at the Hotel Washington. The Thursday Awards Dinner will be at City Club, 555 13th St NW. (That's 13th & F.) Friday's Annual Meeting will be at the National Press Club, which is at 529 14th St NW. (That's 14th & F.) Both clubs are two blocks south of the Hilton Garden Inn - and one or two blocks east, respectively, of the Hotel Washington.
Sponsors
Early bird sponsors include: American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), American Subcontractors Association (ASA), Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Caterpillar Inc., Centex Construction, McCarthy Companies, Randall Publishing, and Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). Additional sponsors will be announced.
Registration Information
Fees are as follows: Fundamentals of Construction Journalism, the Thursday morning education session, including continental breakfast and handout materials: $100 for members and $125 for nonmembers. The 2005 Annual Meeting, including the Thursday evening awards dinner, the Friday morning continental breakfast, program and Friday luncheon: $100 for members and $125 for nonmembers. Education and annual meeting combined: $190 for members and $240 for nonmembers.
CWA membership is $100, and those who wish to join and attend should pay: $200 for membership and education; $200 for membership and annual meeting; or $290 for membership, education, and annual meeting. CWA is now able to accept credit cards in addition to checks.
Click here for our 2005 Annual Meeting flyer and registration form (PDF)
CWA is a nonprofit, non-partisan, international organization for professional journalists, marketers, photographers, and publicists serving the information needs of the construction industry. Updated information on the association's annual meeting will be posted on the CWA website, www.constructionwriters.org . Or contact Sheila Wertz, Executive Director of Construction Writers Association at PO Box 5586, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-5586 or 847-398-7756. E-mail: office@constructionwriters.org