| As a chapter Brenda and I divided the events in order to capture as much information as possible. I have Membership theme and attended the Profession Construction & Education Workshops, while Brenda took on NEF and WIC Week. I will be sending the information out to the committees chairs within the next few weeks. The Crystal Vision Awards banquet was held Saturday night was the passing of the President’s gavel was the end to a successful National Conference. The National Convention is an experience to remember. You gain so much knowledge and meet so many members. Sharing of ideas and the friendship that are established are worth the effort and time to attend. I hope to see many more at National Convention next year in Kentucky.
Written by Brenda T. Perry, CIT
I have always been a great advocate for education, and I was very interested in NEF’s newest Certification – Construction Bookkeeping, I purchased the course and headed straight for my first workshop - Learning about the bookkeeping course. I know you are probable saying, “You can purchase a bookkeeping course anywhere.” But you can’t find a basic bookkeeping course that emphasizes study relative to the construction field any better than this one.
On this same note, I also attended all the NEF workshops and hope to bring some new fundraising ideas to the chapter in the months to come. I also have 2009-2010 NEF “Annual Fund Raiser” tickets to sell. I was sitting with Frances Johnson, when a lady from another region stood up and challenged our fundraising skills. I won’t tell you what she said, but it was something about kicking us where we sit. So the race is on – and as big hearted as our chapter is, I thing we can do so much more than we have been doing for NEF.
After two days of business and NAWIC related workshops the convention closed with the Crystal Vision Awards Gala. We all dressed up – some on us with the same dress as other attendees – and had a great time. The recipients of the awards were remarkable individuals with great construction industry insights and strong leadership abilities – a very deserving group.
I had a great time and would encourage all who can possibly do so to start planning to attend the 55th Annual Convention in Louisville, KY September 1-4, 2010. Written by Kristine Martin
As the business meeting continued that morning I again had a wonderful opportunity to witness the principle that we all have a voice and a right to be heard. There happened to be an issue that some felt they needed to bring to the general discussion and many more who felt the need to ask questions and express their opinions. As each person came to the microphone it was a lesson in professionalism and I was proud once again to be sitting among so many articulate, intelligent women. It embodied the true meaning of being a member of NAWIC.
I attended the Construction Project Management seminar that was full of useful information. The material covered Project Risk Awareness, Contracts, Estimating and Scheduling Processes, Managing Change Notices and Project Impacts – Claims. The information was a great review of what has been learned over the years at some point or another. Even greater information was acquired through the open discussion and the sharing of experiences among the women in the class. The male presenter was a good sport and hung in there for the six hour seminar.
 Also during Construction Industry Appreciation Night, the officers and directors of the Greater Tidewater Chapter of NAWIC for the 2009-2010 fiscal year will be installed. Those newly-elected officers and directors are as follows: Debbie Knight, CIT, President, Hourigan Construction; Sherese Whitfield, Vice President, Armada Hoffler; Jenny Therrien-Davis, CIT, Recording Secretary, Hourigan Construction; Emily Ansell, Corresponding Secretary, Waste Industries; Lee Ann Old, Treasurer, Sussex Development Corporation; Directors Gloria Harris, Wanda Piland, Christine Swanson, P.E., Hankins & Anderson; Terri Woodington, CIT, R.E.W. Corporation, and Brenda Perry, CIT, W.F. Magann Corporation; and Arlene Klinedinst, CIT, Immediate Past President, Vandeventer Black LLP.
Construction Industry Appreciation Night is open to the public and all members of the construction industry are encouraged to attend. The Chapter also will recognize the companies that have sponsored and supported NAWIC’s goals and mission throughout the year by making special presentations. For more information about Construction Industry Appreciation Night, contact Debbie Knight via email at dlknight@houriganconstruction.com or by telephone at 499‑3434. 
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