July? Is July really here already? 

You will not hear this girl complain because she loves the heat, sunshine, and lake! I am very excited to come out of such an amazing June! The Kansas City Chapter held its first ever MAGIC Camp (Mentoring A Girl In Construction day camp). I can honestly say that this has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever been apart of in this organization. Alise Martiny, thank you for doing such a great job at leading this event and making this Kansas City dream come true!

The high school girls at the camp were eager. They were ready to find new talents and take on new challenges. They built tool boxes, poured concrete and even learned to weld! MAGIC camp girls toured a real live jobsite, The East Village Apartment Complex in KC, MO and toured the JE Dunn headquarters where they learned about lead and about behind the scenes job opportunities in construction. The very last day I was almost in tears when one teenager went up to the front of the class. This girl was not shy! She thanked the class for all the fun she had, new friendships made and could not wait to come back next year. She talked about how much it meant to her to try a skill that she did not think she could do! This camp was truly amazing. You can see for yourself from the news media coverage we got: http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/education/the-magic-summer-camp-teaches-girls-about-a-future-in-construction

We have one more hoorah for the 2010-2011 term, at our last business meeting on August 8 at 5:30 pm. There will be a very fun workshop where we will learn how to install pavers. I also have something very special planned, but it is a surprise! So I hope you come out and share the final business meeting of the year with me!

Brooke Eimers
Chapter President

They gave me the floor so this message is going to be all about “ME”. If you could see me now you would see that I am rolling my eyes because as we all know when you are a wife, mother, woman, etc it is rarely about “ME”. But for this minute it is about “ME” and my current focus is that on or around September 5, 2011 I will become a Grandmother for the first time. McKinnley Ryann Zismer will be born and the circle of life continues. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. As I think about my daughter giving birth to my grandchild, I am amazed at how quickly the years have passed and the many changes that have come and gone in my life.

Through those years I have come to understand what is important in life. 

• Honesty
  
• Integrity
  
• Faith
  
• Family
  
• Friends
  

I diligently work at keeping those five items in my life. I believe they help make up the person I am today.

My NAWIC friends and family help make up the backbone of “ME”. My involvement and work in NAWIC has given me friendships I will keep for the rest of my life. Those friends have been there in the good times and the bad. When I needed a helping hand they were there with their help and advice. In return, when they needed my help it was my honor to be their support.

So here is my message to you: Get involved and stay involved. Find your niche in our organization and be a part of the camaraderie. There are so many areas to choose from, everyone can find a spot in NAWIC that will help you grow as a person and will become dear to your heart.

Anette Wilson, CIT
Midwest Interior Systems Inc.

Holy Moley! Where did April go? Before we know it June will be here, school will be out and everyone will be busy enjoying summer time activities! Construction always picks up this time of year too. The ground is no longer frozen and buildings can break ground or go in full force mode, only stopping for the rain. I can definitely vouch for that! I have been working on the parking garage/ green roof at St Luke’s on the Plaza for the last 1.5 years. Weeks went by
last winter when I had 5 or less people working due to the snow ice and cold. The weather broke and all the sudden I have 40+ people working: Pouring sidewalk, waterproofing, installing foam
for the green roof, backfilling dirt, landscaping plants, painting, architectural lighting, etc. We are racing to our turn over date that is scheduled for the end of June! Funny how the construction
business seems to take off this time of year!

NAWIC is no different from the construction business. Our activities will continue through the summer. Committees will be busy preparing for their events. The Golf tournament is
scheduled for June 27th. Brooke Schnurr and the Scholarship Foundation are busy working to plan all the details so they can raise money to give to students next year. Students rely on 
scholarship like these to make it through college. It is important that we invest in future generations, so there are skilled people to take over when we retire! 


MAGIC Camp is busy, busy, and busy!! We need high school GIRLS! Please spread the word! Tell your family, friends, coworkers, tell everybody! All the information is on our website  http://www.kcnawic.org/youth-education.html
or contact Alise Martiny if you want to help or know a 
young lady who would enjoy this program. This is the first ever camp for KC and we need your help with recruiting girls to make it success. A great program that will teach young ladies,
electrical, welding, carpentry and CONFIDENCE in doing something nontraditional!


Last but not least I would like to thank the CIC committee for doing such a wonderful job! Everyone I talked to loved the venue and the speaker! Colleen White was awarded the Crystal Vision Award and also has gone on and won the NATIONAL Award! Way to go
Colleen! Amazing Job Mary McNamara, Pattie Pogue, Leigh
Ann Williams, Karra McGreevy and Candice Kucharzak!


We will not have June membership meeting to promote
participation in MAGIC and the Golf Tournament. We do have
a jobsite tour planned for our July meeting. Watch for details in
the weekly email!

Happy Spring Everyone!
Brooke Eimers
President

Wow, what a wonderful night at the CIC dinner in April. The location was classy, the food was delicious, and the speaker was witty. 

Congratulations to Colleen White for winning the Crystal Vision Award for our chapter and for national. She has a true heart for the women in construction. Thank you for helping us push forward to make the construction industry more acceptable as a career choice for women. 

Alise made a fantastic presentation on the MAGIC (Mentor A Girl In Construction) Camp. If you know of a girl from 16 to 20 years old, this is a great opportunity to take 3 days to have some fun and
learn about the construction industry. MAGIC camp is coming up June 15th through the 17th. If you know someone that is interested in attending, would like to volunteer some
time, or would like to provide support please contact Alise Martiny at amartiny@buildersassociation.com.

Our busy season isn’t quite done yet. We have elections at the May meeting. Please, come and speak up for your upcoming leadership. Bring your business cards and company marketing products to showcase yourself and your company. It’s going to be a great night
to network. Hope to see you there!

Adrian Zeiler
President Elect

Hello NAWIC Ladies! Happy “almost” Spring time! It is getting closer….all the signs are here!

Wow…this has been a busy couple of months for NAWIC and WIC week is still right around the corner. There are a number of opportunities for you to get involved and spend some quality time with your NAWIC sisters!

In case you haven’t heard (because you live under a rock) NAWIC was just in the Sunday edition of the Kansas City Star! Why, you may ask? Because BLOCK KIDS was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who volunteered and supported this year’s Block Kids
event. We had over 80 kids there enjoying the trades fair and
67 participated in the building competition! 


A special thanks to Alise Martiny, The Builders’ Association and The Heavy Constructors for all of their hard work and support! This year we had Bricklayers and Tile Setters, Carpenters, Cement Masons and Painters. The kids had a blast with all of these trades! Between you and me….I think the trades really had a great time too.  

Our grand prize winner was 2nd grader Maria Matulis! She really impressed the judges with her project as well as her enthusiasm!!! Congratulations Maria and enjoy your family pass to The Kansas City Zoo!!! 

We are very fortunate here in Kansas City to have such a wonderful group of NAWIC Girls! Take time out this coming year and do one thing for NAWIC…I promise you won’t regret it! AND….you won’t be able to stop at just one! 

Shannon Seipel
2010 - 2011 Corresponding Secretary
2010 - 2011 Block Kids Chair

Leadership

A good leader is created through a process of test and trials. A good leader was not born that way. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and
experience. A good leader is always looking for improvement. To lead is to influence others by making decisions for a group.

I believe there are 5 keys to becoming a good leader.

1. Preplan: If you envision a process before you ever get there you will be more effective at reacting to unforeseen problems and directing people towards your vision.
   
2. Have a Vision: This is what provides you direction as a leader
   
3. Communicate: You must communicate to others the vision. Then as you are working towards the vision all parties must stay informed. Make sure everyone knows what is needed and expected.
4. Take Charge: The leader is responsible for making the ultimate decision after all avenues have been evaluated. Everyone has their own idea how things should be. A good leader takes charge and uses the best idea for the specific situation
5. Lead by Example: You cannot expect others to follow if you do not set the example first. Leaders are recognized as leaders by their actions. A Leaders action is where the true leadership is put to the test.

NAWIC trains leaders. I truly believe that NAWIC has improved my leadership skills and that has been the biggest asset I have personally brought back to my company as an employee. NAWIC provides a safe place to grow and practice being a leader. I always relate it back to my career. If I cannot be a good leader at NAWIC how am I to be a leader of a whole jobsite? Through NAWIC leadership opportunities, my communication skills have improved, I have become more outspoken and have learned more about myself.


Everyone has the opportunity to be a NAWIC leader. Start by setting an example and participate in the nominating committee’s survey. Volunteer your services and improve your own leadership!


The nominating committee is taking nominations for the first time ever through survey monkey an online service that will allow us to transport and organize information efficiently through the
internet. There will be no need to print forms and send them back.

Take your survey now and be a leader for NAWIC!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PWC8QGJ

Is it spring yet??? Enough with the snow, already!


Luckily, Mother Nature gave us a break and didn’t hinder this year’s Bowling Tournament! Let’s give a huge congratulations to Candice Kucharzak, this year’s Bowling Committee Chair, Natalie Siegman, co-chair, Micki Basile and all of the other ladies that served on the
Bowling Committee! What a great turnout we had for this fun, fabulous, fund-raising event! 

If you missed it this year, there are still other great things to get involved with in the next couple of months. Got 1st through 6th graders or know someone who does? Talk to Shannon Seipel about getting them signed up to participate in Block Kids on February 19 at the Builders Association Training Center. She’ll also need volunteers to judge the projects, run the concessions booths and help with registration, so even if you don’t have little ones, you can still be a part of the event.

WIC (Women In Construction) Week Celebration will be here in March, and Paula Perone is organizing our March Membership
meeting to coincide with it by setting up our dinner at Harvesters. This is a wonderful way to not only meet with your NAWIC sisters
for our monthly meeting, but to serve our community by donating non-perishable food items and helping Harvesters organize their
food warehouse!

Some other committees that will need your help in the coming months are Construction Industry Celebration Dinner Committee
(Chair - Mary McNamara), Girl Scouts Badge Committee (Chair - Jennifer Lyon), MAGIC Camp Committee (Chair Alise Martiny),
Scholarship - Golf Tournament Committee (Chair - Brooke Schnurr & Vickie Nickel.) Don’t really know what some of these events
are about? Just ask!

Get involved, even if you just want to volunteer to help out on the day of the event. It’s the absolute best way to network and form
friendships with fellow NAWIC members and really have fun in our awesome organization!

Isha-Mori Kassen
2010-2011 Membership Chair

Welcome ladies to the 2010-2011 year! I am so excited for the opportunity I have been given to lead you over the next year! I want everyone to know my door is always open and you are more then welcome to contact me with ideas, comments or suggestions (816-365-2320 or brooke.eimers@jedunn.com). If you want to get involved and if you are not sure how, let me know and we will find your place! I am here for all of you!

We had a wonderful Star themed installation. Thanks to my superheroes Batman and Robin AKA Janet Mckinney and Alise Martiny for all your hard work! Each officer was inducted Grammy style and compared to a real movie star. Your might recognize Meredyth Melcher better this year as Angelina Jolie achieving the impossible or Pattie Pogue as Oprah keeping us on in line and giving NAWIC advice.  Thank you to all that came to installation. It was a lot of fun being stars with all of you!

A new year brings new people, new ideas and new goals. Kansas City I present the following challenges to you:

1. Increase membership participation and satisfaction

2. Streamline NAWIC information, communication and processes by utilizing the new website and social media

3. Mentor and motivate young women to pursue a construction career and hold first chapter MAGIC Camp

4. Reach out to new members: mentor and motivate them

5. Continue to hold joint events with local NAWIC Partners

6. Have Fun

I am challenging you all to help achieve these goals over the next year. As a group we can collaborate and enhance the success of women in construction. Society is going to a green and digital world. I would like to see the Kansas City chapter jump on this boat. By doing this we can help our members become more efficient with organization and time management. The new website we have adopted has put us right in line to utilize many resources. It has given us the tool to have a secure membership login. Meeting minutes, committee reports, and reimbursement forms are at your finger tips. You now will have the ability to be better informed with what is going on in the chapter. The new web calendar is easily updated and will have real time dates for all meetings and deadlines. Your password has been sent to you, so members get on, check it out and see what new things Kansas City has to offer.

 I hope to see all of you at our first membership meeting together October 11! Just remember this is just start of our journey together. We are all going to be shining stars over the next year. Shoot for the moon, if you miss you will land among the stars!

Brooke Eimers, President

Shoot for the moon, if you miss you will land among the stars! This is the theme for the year. But what does it really mean to you? To me it is aiming for a goal that deep down; I am not so sure is achievable. It is keeping this goal embedded in your mind and when you are at your breaking point and you don’t think you can take anymore, it is a goal that keeps you going at the end of the day. Many of us it might be career related, family related, spiritually related or even NAWIC related. We all have various goals in everything we do and this is what pushes us to become better employees, mothers or officers? Shooting for the moon is what does it for me. The way I look at it is that we all should set our goals higher then what we think is really capable and if you don’t quite make it then you are landing among the stars. You have still reached goals! You can’t hit a perfect 10 if you are only shooting for an 8. It is when you surpass that goal and land on the moon is when you truly achieved your potential. Set a goal, make a plan and get to work at it.

So now the goal is to get every single NAWIC member involved and the plan is to make you aware of what NAWIC has to offer in October:

 · October 11 membership meeting: Jennifer Benefield KC Ikon bridge project. Bring a boss or coworker, but don’t miss this presentation!

· Get out your costumes and get out of town for the Annual Planning Conference at Lake of the Ozarks October 30-31. Our new Region 6 director Connie Leipard has a costume welcome party planned for Friday night and action packed day full of business and seminars on Saturday for a very affordable price. You still have until October 15 to get registration in.

· Get out your hammers and tool belts cause Habitat for Humanity Women Build round 2 is just around the corner as well on October 23.

Brooke Eimers, President