Dear Friends of CSI,

It is with regrets I'd like inform our Chapter of the passing of Gregory Sprinkel on April 25th.  Greg has been a member of our local Chapter for 25 years.  He has been very active in our leadership throughout the years.  He was the first "Fellow" from our Chapter.  Greg will be missed.   I wanted to share with you his obituary.

Gregory W. Sprinkel "Free At Last" Gregory William Sprinkel, 57, passed away April 26, 2011 from ALS (Lou Gehrigs' Disease). For 2 1/2 years his courage, strength, and determination to fight this disease was an inspiration to all.Born March 4, 1954, in Bremmerton, Washington, to Norman L. and Christine Paras Sprinkel. He attended Cottonwood High School and the University of Utah. Greg married the love of his life, Andrea on September 5, 1992. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, and friend. He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur who developed and ran two companies, CSM and Sprinkel & Associates. His work ethic, honesty, and sales ability set him apart in his field. He belonged to the CSI (Construction Specification Institute) organization locally and nationally. He had the honor of being the first Utahn to receive his Fellows from CSI. Gregory is survived by his devoted wife, Andrea, his children, Cameron (Colette) Sprinkel of Boise, Idaho, Jessica Ruud (SLC); two grandsons, Isaac and Jaxon and his beloved mother, Christine. Preceded in death by his father, Norman and brother, Nick. Special thanks to Dr. Bromberg and staff for their care and support. Our family is very grateful to our angels from Summit Home Health, especially Levy. We would also like to thank all our family and friends who stepped in to help. Funeral services will be held at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Drive, SLC, Utah on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 2:00 pm. Viewing one hour prior to services. Donations can be made to the MDA Association of Utah for ALS research. May his memory be eternal.

About the BYU Broadcasting Facility:

Groundbreaking for the new $5 Million BYU Broadcasting building took place on May 7, 2009, presided over by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve. The building, located East of the Marriott Center and North of the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, includes TV and radio production studios, editing space, a new Web department and other facilities. The new facility brings BYU Television, BYU Radio, Classical 89, KBYU Television and BYU Television International under one roof, opening up much-needed space in the Harris Fine Arts Center.

Interesting Facts and Features:

• This Building has several studios, with soundproofing - so they could produce several things at the same time.
• High Volume - Low Velocity air- thereby having a lot of movement, but no noise.
• BYU's old broadcasting facilities were originally built for analog black & white TV. 
• BYU has 4 TV properties and 4 radio properties, all that come out of this building.
• They toured several other broadcasting studios (including NBC) in order to decide what they wanted.

Note:  Please plan to be at this Chapter Meeting. We will be annoucing the Upcoming Year's Officer Nominations and holding a Vote.

UPCOMING CHAPTER MEETINGS

UPCOMING CSI WEBINARS

Train your entire team with one registration fee and earn continuing education credits!
CSI Webinars are 90-minute interactive telephone/Internet education sessions -- you'll be able to see materials, hear an instructor and ask questions in real time. Participants are charged by site, which means you can invite colleagues to attend the session with you and share the cost! 

CSI is a Registered Provider of the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System and the United States Green Building Council Education Provider Network.

The cost per webinar site is $75 for CSI members, or $95 for non-members.

CSI webinar: Concrete With Little or No Shrinkage, Cracking and Curling
May 24, 2 p.m. ET
This presentation will cover a great many topics that affect the shrinkage, cracking and curling of concrete. We will cover how to write a spec to achieve low shrinkage percentages. If we don't want cracks and curling, getting the mix design right is only the beginning. We will also look at what happens after the concrete is placed. Learn more, or register.

CSI webinar: Interpreting the Contract for Construction
May 26, 2 p.m. ET
Join Waller Poage, CSI, CDT, for a discussion of contract provisions and interpreting Contract Documents. Responsibilities and procedures for interpreting Contract Documents will be discussed, as well as procedures for dealing with changes in cost, time and extent. Learn more, or register.

CSI Webinar: Marketing in Today's Economy
June 14, 2pm ET

In today's market, many are looking for a quick fix to their sales woes. History validates that those who continue to invest in their marketing and sales presence in a downturn fair much better when the economy rebounds. A consistent marketing effort coupled with the proven techniques will position you for success. And, while there are no magic answers, there are several tips for improving your sales in slower economic times. These tried and true techniques include a rededication to existing customers, not "wasting" a good recession, customer segmentation, performing housekeeping, developing new market opportunities and simply being nice. All of these concepts will be explored in detail with examples and all attendees will leave with ideas they can implement immediately - many of which are free. Learn more, or register now.

Let Bylaws Be Bygones

Oh, if only! CSI's members approved amendments to the Institute bylaws twice in the last few years, and each time, those amendments required changes to region and chapter bylaws. Are we done now?

The answer will depend on how we want CSI to change. The Institute board may recommend that the bylaws be amended, as happened in 2006 when the board proposed changes intended to improve our governance process. Members also may propose changes; this year's amendment was the result of member requests to have a single type of full membership.

I suspect most members have not read their chapter, region, or Institute bylaws. Until I became a chapter president in 2001, I gave them little attention myself; I figured they were someone else's problem. The general reluctance even to look at bylaws is not surprising. Written in the legalese we all love to hate, their very appearance is intimidating, and it seems they are discussed only at board meetings, and then only when required to try to solve a difficult problem.

Let's take a look at bylaws, and see if we can dispel the mystique that surrounds them. I doubt we'll get to the point that you love them, but at least you should be able to say bylaws without a shudder.

Warning! Before we go on I must tell you - I am not an attorney, nor do I claim to be an expert on these issues. My comments are based on my last several years' experience on chapter, region, and Institute boards. Read at your own risk; past results do not guarantee future performance.

However, I am fortunate to have worked with members who are well versed in these matters, and, because I had to work with bylaws and with Robert's rules myself, I took the time to try to understand them. Although I wouldn't recommend them as light reading, they aren't really all that bad if you understand a few principles, and look at the big picture.

Corporations and organizations recognized by government agencies typically have a few basic documents that describe what they are and what their purpose is - articles of incorporation, bylaws, and policies or standing rules. In that order, each becomes more specific, and easier to change.

The foundation lies in the articles of incorporation. This document, especially for non-profit organizations, can be brief, stating the name of the organization, its general purpose, its home address, the names of those forming the organization, and a few other items of information. Many articles of incorporation refer to the organization's bylaws, which are used to provide more detail. Most states have specific requirements for articles of incorporation, and offer standard forms to simplify the process of incorporation.

According to Robert's Rules of Order, bylaws "should include all the rules that are of such importance that they cannot be changed in any way without previous notice..." In their simplest form, they need do only a few things: define the makeup of the board of directors, describe the duties and powers of the officers, explain the procedures for calling meetings, define a quorum, and explain how to amend the bylaws. Bylaws usually defer further operational requirements to policies, standing rules, or an operating guide.

Policies govern matters that do not change the rights or responsibilities stated in the bylaws. For example, bylaws may require an annual meeting of the membership, and policy will state the specific date. Many things need not, or should not, be covered either in bylaws or in policy; the specific time of the annual meeting could be decided each year, based on availability of facilities.

As another example, bylaws may authorize the board to create committees, then allow policy to identify standing committees, what committee membership requirements are, and what those committees are to do.

Institute Secretary Sheryl Dodd-Hansen suggests thinking of these documents in terms we are more familiar with: the bylaws are the conditions of the contract, and the policy manual is the general requirements. The bylaws define the entities involved, their rights, and responsibilities; policies define the requirements for day-to-day operation of the organization.

In most cases, it is relatively difficult to amend bylaws, but easier to change policies. This helps ensure stability and continuity of the organization, but allows the board to act quickly to make policies fit changing conditions.

My experience tells me that the best bylaws are those that don't go beyond setting the ground rules. Apparently, it's tempting to expand bylaws with well-meaning requirements; often, these things sound good at the time, but later become obstacles that must be changed by amendment. Each provision should be evaluated to determine if it truly is essential in the long term, or if it is something better left to policy where it can be modified as needed. Is it necessary to state a specific date for an event? Some deadlines may be necessary, but before including a date in the bylaws, consider that an amendment will be necessary to change it. Does it make sense to have non-voting members on the board, or to require the presence of someone who is not a member of the board? Board members who are not able to vote may take their responsibilities less seriously, and a board is free to seek input from anyone, even if they are not board members.

Is it unusual to change bylaws? Well-written bylaws may not change for a long time, requiring amendment only in response to significant changes. Even though amendment is not a quick or easy process, bylaws should be changed when they no longer meet the needs of the organization. When change is necessary, begin by explaining the reasons for the revision, and leave the bylaws discussion for later. Members who understand why a change is necessary will find it easier to consider the uninviting text of the bylaws.

Although bylaws may not require change for many years, annual review of bylaws is a good idea, not only to see if there is reason to amend them, but to familiarize or re-familiarize members, especially those in leadership positions and those who aspire to leadership. Bylaws are more than a guideline; they are the rules that govern your organization, and the board is required by law to follow them.

With the recent changes in membership classification, this is a great time for all members to dust off those bylaws and learn what they say.

© 2011, Sheldon Wolfe, RA, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, CSC

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