• AGC Student Chapter-Milford Campus Provided a Unique Contribution to Special Olympics
• Do Not Miss This Training Opportunity
• Build Nebraska Awards
• "Keeping Your Edge Sharp" is the Theme of 2010-11 Program 
• Nebraska Transportation Funding Conference
• FYI: Kansas Has Enacted New Retainage Law
• From AGCA-Study Quantifies Commercial Office Sonstruction's Economic Impact

If you attended or saw pictures from the Special Olympic events held last week in Lincoln you might have noticed the brightly painted raised awards platforms used during the awards ceremonies throughout the week.

What started out as an AGC Student Chapter construction project eventually skyrocketed into an extremely large endeavor.  The project was to construct awards stands for use during the National Special Olympics competitions that were held in Lincoln.  Due to the fact that the construction required much more work and effort than originally presented to the AGC student chapter, it was necessary to combine forces and solicit the efforts of not only the AGC student chapter, but the other Southeast Community College Building Construction and Architectural departments on the Milford Campus.  In addition, members of the Milford Kiwanis, Seward Helping Hands Kiwanis, the SCC Lincoln Truck Driving Program and Milford SCC Plant personnel were required to complete the project.

Ron Petsch, Building Construction Program Chair and student chapter advisor, was contacted by the Special Olympics committee about building some of the award platforms early in January that would be used for the ceremonies. The plan of a few platforms turned into construction of over 415 lineal feet of platform, with 10 ramps, 6 set of stairs, all painted in two colors, and delivered to the Special Olympics competition venues.

The eight sets of platforms that were built were made up of eight individual 5'x5' decks on 4x4 legs, each platform tiered 4 inches up from the adjacent platform making the construction much more difficult. The project grew in size very rapidly and storage became an issue. The Professional Truck Driver Training Program at Lincoln Campus brought in two semi-trailers so that the finished projects could be stored and then delivered to Lincoln. The Milford Kiwanis and Seward Helping Hands Kiwanis members contributed their painting skills a large number of the platforms.

Loran Stara, Building Construction instructor, and Ron Petsch were the driving forces behind the completion of this project. Other staff and over 60 students put in a lot of extra hours of work to complete this project on time. It was a rewarding experience for students knowing that they were part of the construction of the awards platforms that provided a very special opportunity for the Special Olympics athletes to be recognized on.

The Human Connection: Bring Your Presentations to Life!

AFTERNOON WORKSHOP, SEPTEMBER 8TH, LINCOLN

Do you want your presentations to stand out in the crowd? Then bring them to life!  If you want freedom to be yourself and communicate your message with vitality and self confidence, this fun, hands–on workshop is for you.

In most presentation and communication training, technical issues tend to make up the bulk of the training: how to organize materials, deal with graphics, control hand gestures and voice inflections. We don't ignore technique - it's important. But it's a human connection with your audience that will inspire them to want to work with you.

At Graceworks, the focus is first on you because you are the presentation. You are the one who has to make the connection - when it's all over, something should have happened between you and the audience. Our emphasis is on the process and skills that will bring true warmth and life to your presentation.

Workshop presented by Carol Doscher and Geoff Webb from Graceworks Inc., New York City, NY. 

Carol Doscher - Bio
                

Geoff Webb - Bio

The inaugural awards program to showcase outstanding performance and quality construction throughout the state will be announced on Monday, August 2nd.  Watch your email for the announcement and link to all the information. 

This is the time of year that all the planning and organizing takes place for the educational programs and meetings that happen from September to April, 2011. The season will kick off with the September 8th workshop in Lincoln.  Other activities include:

• Regional Member Meetings starting on September 30th
• Fall Conference-November 10-11th in Lincoln
• Construction Leadership Challenge-A six-part leadership development series
• BIM Seminars-Continuing with the AGCA developed curriculum
• LEED and other “green” training
• Training topics specifically geared to field personnel
• AGCA’s nationally recognized Safety Management Training Program in February

The Nebraska Transportation Funding Conference Will be held on August 26th in Omaha at Embassy Suites Downtown.  Those interested in the funding and construction of expressways, highways, roads and other infrastructure are invited to join state Senators Deb Fischer and Brad Ashford at this seminar starting at 8:30am. The one day event will bring together Nebraska’s political, business and community leaders to discuss the state's surface transportation funding needs and explore new solutions for meeting the state’s transportation funding challenges.  The $30 registration includes lunch, breaks and materials.  For more on the conference, call (402) 476-2572 or go to http://www.netransportationfunding.org/