WestCon Tribune

June 2002

June News

New Members

President's Message

Westcon/ICRI Exchange Nights

Waterproofing Coatings Tested

One Day Seminar-Toxic Mold Litigation

New Members

Westcon would like to welcome new members Ann Rankin and Terry Wilkens from the Law Offices of Ann Rankin. The firm provides high quality legal services to owners of commercial and residential real estate. Clients include syndicators, brokers, property managers, cities, housing authorities, homeowners’ associations, apartment owners, contractors and developers. Terry Wilkens has been a trial attorney in the Bay Area for the past 12 years and prior to attending law school, practiced as a civil engineer, performing design and field engineering work.

Westcon spends a good amount of money each year for advertising in legal publications. The question of these advertisements being worthwhile comes up at our Board meetings regularly. At this time, the Board is strongly considering the termination of such advertising. Before we do , we are asking you, the Westcon membership, to let us know if any of you have experienced results from these ads.

Remember that although this meeting is our last Westcon meeting until after the summer, our members have been invited to the ICRI dinner meeting on Tuesday, July 16th at Francesco‘s Restaurant in Oakland. This meeting should be a great one. It will feature two experts both Westcon and ICRI members as speakers - Harvey Haynes and John Ward. Their topic is "Failure of the Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Cladding Panels at the Treat Executive Center, Walnut Creek, CA." These two gentlemen have a great pool of valuable knowledge and experience to share with all members of the construction industry. I hope you will all make a special effort to attend.

I hope we have a record turn out for this month of June. Since I will not be able to attend, our newly installed vice-president, Rod Tosetti will handle the formalities. Most of you know Rod as the Past President of the Board. He will be stepping in to fill the term of our elected Vice President, Bill Young who has retired and is no longer active in his practice. Our thanks and appreciation go to Bill for the service and hours he gave to the organization as both a Director and Vice President and we wish him happy trails as he does some traveling.

The Westcon Symposium is back on track with the introduction of a new engine - Chris Nelson - who will act as Chair for the committee. Thanks again, to Serge Fedorov who chaired the last committee. We have learned a great deal and shall be able to put to good use that which we have learned from the last Symposium.

The more Westcon members that we can include in the process and execution of the Symposium , the better. This Symposium will be all that we can make it to be with the hopes to emphasize and capitalize on the nature of our organization - forensic diversity. We must appeal to a majority of the interests in the construction industries and professions. We can do just that with your help - the more help the better the symposium. Please help Westcon and yourselves with participation on the committee and in the Symposium. Feel free to call me or Chris Nelson with your contribution of help or interests.

WESTCON / ICRI

EXCHANGE NIGHTS

The International Concrete Repair Institute has invited Westcon members to their July 16th dinner meeting at Francesco’s Restaurant in Oakland.

The presentation will be given by John Ward (M.J. Ward and Associates) and Harvey Haynes (Haynes and Associates) who are each members of both ICRI and Westcon. Their topic is entitled, "Failure of the Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Cladding Panels at the Treat Executive Center, Walnut Creek, CA."

This is an excellent opportunity to establish contacts, and discuss important information that is common to everyone in the construction industry.

WATERPROOFING COATINGS TESTED

An interesting article was published in the June issue of Consumer Reports Magazine on waterproofing coatings (‘Keeping your basement dry’). CR built a test rig and tested nine coatings. UGL Drylok Latex Base Masonry Waterproofer was by far the best performer working well under the pressure of eight feet of water. The worst performer was Thoroseal which only could withstand pressure from two feet of water. The article also states that the products do not prevent water from entering through large cracks and holes and need quick-setting hydraulic cement and perenially damp walls probably need more than one coat. Results from the test can be found on the CR website: ConsumerReports.org or for a paper copy contact Rikki at 415 451-4897.

One day Seminar:

TOXIC MOLD LITIGATION:

The Handling and Defense of the Construction Defect Mold Case

Friday, June 21, 2002 8:30am to 4:00pm

DoubleTree Hotel

2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, CA 95815

(916) 929-8855

Fees: Non-Attorneys-$200, ADC Members-$250,

Non-member Attorneys-$310

This seminar covers: Pitfalls-Defense Strategie- Handling the Combined Personal Injury and Construction Defect Case-What experts you need-Discovery and Evidence-Current Case Results and Court Rulings in Personal Injury Mold Cases-Legislative Update on Mold Legislation

Answer to Last Month’s Challenge

Question: What would you do? You are driving alone on a wild stormy night. you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus: an old lady who is about to die, an old friend who once saved your life, and the perfect soulmate of your dreams. Which one would you choose, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Answer: Give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital and stay behind with the soulmate and wait for the bus.

Congratulations to Walt Gloskowski, Art Zigas, and guest Roman Katamay for coming up with the correct answer and collecting a prize at the dinner meeting.

IDEAS? If you would like to give a presentation to Westcon, or have ideas or topics you would like discussed, please notify Fred Field, Program Director at (415) 485–5882. All suggestions are welcome!

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