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meeting in Orlando, FL. The meeting was co-sponsored by the ASCE Central Florida Branch and had an impressive 105 people from across Florida attending the meeting – congratulations! More information on the Florida chapter can be obtained from chapter President Van Hogan (Ed Waters and Sons Contracting Inc.) at 904-823-88<strong>17</strong>. I also want to welcome the newest chapter to the PDCA family – The PDCA of the Northeast. On Sept. 22, 2009, Linde-Griffith Construction Company hosted an organizational meeting to determine if there was any interest in forming a Northeast chapter. The answer was an overwhelming “Yes!” by the more than 40 PDCA members and guests who attended the meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, the group elected officers. The new leadership of the chapter consists of President Kevin Shannon (Linde-Griffith), Vice President Chris Shannon (Linde-Griffith), Secretary Pat Lanni (Skyline Steel) and Treasurer Randy Kelly (Atlantic Wood Industries). The chapter’s geographical area includes New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The chapter is currently working on incorporating with the State, establishing their Bylaws, dues structure and soliciting volunteers for the Board of Directors. Anyone interested in participating on the Board or volunteering in another capacity should contact Chris Shannon, Linde-Griffith at 973-481-1106. PDCA is currently talking to members in the Upper Midwest, who are also interested in starting a new chapter. “All politics is local” is a quote often attributed to the late Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill, Jr., but Tip didn’t coin the phrase; it was passed down to him. Tip revealed the true attribution of the quote in his 1987 autobiography, Man of the House. Tip’s father, Thomas O’Neill, Sr., shared this wisdom on the occasion of the only election loss in his son’s lifetime--a run for the Cambridge City Council. “This was the only race I ever lost in my life, but in the process, I learned two extremely valuable lessons. During the campaign, my father had left me to my own devices, but when it was over, he pointed out that I had taken my own neighborhood for granted. He was right. I had received a tremendous vote in the other sections of the city, but I hadn’t worked hard enough in my own backyard. ‘Let me tell you something I learned years ago,’ he said. ‘All politics is local.’” This is an overwhelming reason to establishing a local chapter. I had the pleasure to speak to those attending the organizational meeting in New Jersey when the pile drivers in that area were discussing their chapter. I told them that on bid day we are all competitors, but every other day of the week we have the opportunity to work together to build stronger relationships, represent our industry, and affect change at the local level. There is no better way to secure your future than to have a united voice that speaks loud and clear to those who have the ability to impact your business. Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort. Sound familiar? It should because we have been talking about the PDCA’s 14 th Annual International Conference and Expo at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for about seven months. On May 6, 7, and 8, 2010, the PDCA will be at one of the most spectacular resorts in the Northwestern U.S. – the Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort. Executive Director’s Message • PDCA is currently identifying our speakers for the program, but much of the other activities have been completed. They include the PDCA’s Award Luncheon; 3 rd Annual PDCA Golf Tournament (Coeur d’Alene – ranked #1 in “Beauty and Esthetics” and #2 “Best Resort Golf Course in the Nation” (GolfDigest); an Opening Reception with our exhibitors, including music by Robert Vaughn; the Companion’s Program, including off-site shopping, Culinary Cooking with the Chef’s at Beverly’s, and our traditional Spa Treatments to pamper the ladies before the annual dinner; a dinner cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene and our Annual Dinner / Dance with a Northwest theme – Early Frontier! Mark your calendars now for this upcoming PDCA event – You won’t want to miss this one. Finally, I want to personally thank all of the PDCA members who continue to support and participate in the PDCA. I want to thank the PDCA Board of Directors, whose leadership and wisdom kept us moving forward in a tough economy. I want to thank all the Committee Chairs and Committee Members who are the real backbone of this organization – your work is significantly important to the PDCA. And I want to thank all of you for giving me the tremendous honor of serving as your executive director. We accomplished a lot together and together in 2010 we can continue to do great things for our businesses, industry and association. Happy Holidays and may 2010 bring you hope, peace and prosperity. t • Q4 • 2009 11
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