Winter's end is marked by NCAA March Madness.  I'm sure we all have our favorites but I'm definitely routing for all teams from the Great Lakes Region states represented this year in the brackets.

CSI Database

Institute is confident that they will begin distributing chapter dues disbursements and Region Allocation Program disbursements by the end of March.   Institute also expects to restore reporting services for leaders by the end of this month so that you may download chapter rosters, among other functions. They do caution that the membership head count will remain slightly skewed through the end of April because of the grace period extensions applied to many memberships during the past four months.

Chapter and region leaders should verify the treasurer they have on file with CSI. You can visit www.csinet.org/chapterlocator to see who CSI has listed as your treasurer. If there's a discrepancy, contact Community Manager Matt Fochs at Chapterrelations@csinet.org.

Please direct questions and comments to Joy Davis at jdavis@csinet.org , or to csi@csinet.org or at 703-706-4795.

Elections

Our election results are in.  The following people are running for the following positions in the Great Lakes Region:

• President Elect: Hank Hondorp (Grand Rapids)
• Vice President: Ken Schmidt (Indianapolis)
• Secretary: Ed Brown (Indianapolis)
• Institute Director:  Thad Goodman (Columbus)

Next year, the Great Lakes Region will be conducting our own elections.  We will be working toward developing procedures.  A committee is forming.  If you have any interest or input, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you missed the announcement, visit www.csinet.org/election to see the results of the 2015 CSI election. New Board members will take office on July 1, 2015, and serve a two-year term. The Board's purpose is to lead CSI in accomplishing the Institute's mission: advancing building information management and education of project teams to improve facility performance.

Bi-Region Conference

The 2015 Bi-Region Conference will be with the North East Region on May 7th-9th, 2015 in Chicago, IL and will host 29 chapters.  What an opportunity to learn and share experiences with other CSI Members.    Please visit the website http://www.csibiregion15.org/ for Preliminary Conference Schedule and Hotel information.  The Conference will be held at the Chicago Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, next to the Merchandise Mart.  I look forward to seeing you.   Please don't forget to submit for Great Lakes Region Awards.  (I definitely want the Great Lakes Region to show the North Central Region the Great chapters and members in our region.)  

Every CSI Chapter attending should provide a "basket" with goodies/items from their city to represent their chapter in a Silent Auction.  Proceeds will help benefit a local charity determined by the Host Chapter.  Please help participate in the Inter Chapter/Inter Region Competition and benefit a good cause.

The 2016 GLR Conference will be in Louisville and I'm impressed that they are already underway in planning.

Chapter Leadership Training

The Great Lakes Region is continuing to work on leadership powerpoint presentations.  Please join us for "Chapter Presidents, President Elects and Vice Presidents" with GLR Director, Thad Goodman presenting on Monday, March 23, 2015 at 4 pm.    If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Jack Morgan (morwalsoplad1@gmail.com) or Dan McCloskey, Region Secretary at dcloskey@gmail.com for login information.

As I promised, I will be highlighting one chapter a month in my addresses.  This month it is the:

CSI Evansville Chapter

• Chapter Meetings:  This year we began a new venue and new time.  We still meet the second Monday of the Month, but now are meeting downtown Evansville at the Old National Bank Tower Blue & Gold Room for a luncheon meeting.  This has increased our attendance by making the time and location more accessible.  All programs include lunch for members and continuing education credits for all attendees.
• Chartered:  1994
• Members:  Our President this year is David Wanninger.  Several members have CDT designation and one with CCPR.
• Traditions:  Although our membership is small, we enjoy a close and friendly relationship with one another.  Several members have CDT designation and one with CCPR.  We sometimes partner with the the local ASHRAE and AIA Chapters for joint programs.  We also try to tour one or two facilities each year in various stages of completion.  This summer we will take a bus trip to a limestone fabricator and quarry in Bedford.
• Annual Event:  We always have a holiday meeting.  Often it will include a tour of a facility then a splendid dinner.  Some past events include a tour of the new Evansville Museum addition featuring their Immersive Theater, Lyles Station - Founded by freed Tennessee slave Joshua Lyles in 1849, the community was Indiana's first black settlement and the only one remaining today. The community's schoolhouse was also the target of a major restoration and renovation effort around the turn of the 21st century, and currently serves as a museum to the history of the community.
• Monthly Publication:  CSI RiverCity SpecTator gives details of the month's program and upcoming events.
• Chapter Best Practice:  Provide high quality programs and encourage members to reap the benefits of CSI Membership.

Enjoy the Warmer Weather,