CONSTRUCTION WRITERS ASSOCIATION PLANS 2003 ANNUAL MEETING
April, 2003
Several last-minute highlights have been added to Construction Writers Association's annual meeting plans. The annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday-Friday, May 1-2, 2003, in Washington, DC.
- Tom Sawyer of Engineering News-Record will have returned from Iraq by May 1 and is expected to give CWA members a construction-related update. He is tentatively scheduled to speak during our annual meeting luncheon, Friday, May 2, at the National Press Club.
- We have now confirmed our tour to the construction site of the National Museum of the American Indian, which is being built on the national mall near the Capitol and the rest of the Smithsonian. The tour is scheduled for 1 pm on Thursday, May1. Attendees are on their own for lunch and transportation to the site. Participants must wear sturdy shoes with hard sole bottoms (no sneakers or sandals allowed). Hard hats will be provided. This tour will be strictly limited to the first 20 people making reservations.
Thursday, May 1
The Thursday morning education session, "Fundamentals of Construction Journalism," will be conducted at the Hotel Washington. Anticipated topics include: On the Record: Tips on Reporting and Interviewing, presented by Nadine Post, senior writer for Engineering News-Record; Breaking Through the Editorial Firewall, presented by Matthew Power, senior editor of Builder magazine; and Graphic Design: What to Do If You Don't Have Photos, presented by Eddie Malstrom, art director of Builder magazine. Post and Power have both won CWA journalism awards in previous years. There is a separate registration fee for this program, and proceeds after expenses will be contributed to CWA's scholarship fund.
A tour of the construction site of the National Museum of the American Indian is scheduled for 1 pm Thursday afternoon, and CWA's Board of Directors will meet later Thursday afternoon. On Thursday evening, CWA will enjoy its traditional awards dinner, also at the Hotel Washington. The association's journalism awards will be presented at this time as will CWA's highest honor, the Silver Hard Hat Award.
Friday, May 2
On Friday morning we'll look at "The Construction Industry Today and Tomorrow" during our annual meeting program, which will be presented at the National Press Club. The wide range of topics includes:
- Bob Hixon, Director of the Center for Construction and Project Management, General Services Administration, will discuss GSA's construction excellence program.
- John Tarpey, President and CEO of Centex Construction Company, will speak on leadership in the construction industry.
- A panel on sustainable construction will include Nigel Howard, Vice President of the US Green Building Council; Jim Binkley, a member of the American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment; and Kim Pexton, Director of Sustainability for the James G. Davis Construction Co., who will offer the agency, design and builders perspectives respectively
- Improving safety in a diverse workplace will be the subject of Brad Sant, Vice President of Safety and Education for the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, who reports that Hispanic workers have higher accident and injury rates than others on the worksite.
- Robert Murray, VP of Economic Affairs for F. W. Dodge, McGraw-Hill, will offer an update on his widely respected economic forecast.
- Transportation legislation will be a hot topic in Congress this spring, and Peter Loughlin, the lobbyist for the Associated General Contractors, is the highly recommended speaker who will give us the inside scoop.
- Tom Sawyer of ENR will detail his trip report on construction in a war zone based on his recent trip to Iraq.
Reservations and Registration
CWA has a room block at the Hotel Washington, which is located at 515 15th St NW, 15th and Pennsylvania Ave. Make reservations by April 1, 2003, to receive the CWA rate of $165 per night. Call the hotel at 800-424-9540.
Registration is due April 22, 2003, and fees are as follows: Fundamentals of Construction Journalism, the Thursday morning education session: $100 for members and $125 for nonmembers. The 2003 Annual Meeting, including the Thursday evening awards dinner, the Friday morning program, and the Friday luncheon: $95 for members and $120 for nonmembers. Education and annual meeting combined: $190 for members and $235 for nonmembers. Note: CWA membership is $75, and those who wish to join and attend should pay: $175 for membership and education; $170 for membership and annual meeting; $265 for membership, education, and annual meeting. For registrations made after April 22, add late fee of $25.
Click here for Registration form .
CWA is a nonprofit, non-partisan, international organization for professional journalists, writers, editors and publicists serving the information needs of the construction industry. Additional information on the association's annual meeting will be posted on the website, www.constructionwriters.org .
For information:
Deborah J. Hodges
Executive Director
P.O. Box 14784
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Telephone 773 687-8726
Fax 773 687-8627
info@constructionwriters.org