The Lone Star Chapter held
its Annual Meeting on January 11 in Bryan, Texas, with
over 35 code professionals in attendance. The 2007 officers
were elected, which include President Danny Sikorski
and Vice President Bruce Braley. Here, Sikorski (left)
is being sworn in by Jack Burleson, Government Relations
Regional Manager for the International Code Council.
The Lone Star Chapter Scholarship was named after Mickey
Cochran, Sr., Zoning Inspector from the City of Waco.
Cochran passed away on January 4 after a short illness.
The chapter discussed several other items of business
before adjourning.
BOAT Pays It Foward-Again
Once again, the membership of the Building Officials Association
of Texas (BOAT) has proven that education and promotion
of the building industry is one of its most important missions.
On February 15, BOAT created yet another scholarship opportunity
for students wanting to obtain a degree in construction and
building design professions.
From left, BOAT Past President Jim Olk,
Dr. John H. Matthys, and Ravi Shah, Chairman of Construction
Research and Advisory Committee, UTA.
Following deregulation of the tuition in the State of Texas,
the cost for attending a public college or university has
risen some 257 percent. Students are racking up high debts
to pay for school and it is estimated that the in-state tuition
for residents is over $20,000 annually, and increasing. Higher
education is becoming more of a question of affordability,
which in turn creates a problem in recruitment for professionals
in many industries. This "sticker shock" may dissuade
many individuals from seeking a college education, as financial
barriers will continue to escalate. Education has become an
important necessity in today's global market place with changing
trends and technology.
BOAT and the Construction Research Center (CRC) at the University
of Texas at Arlington (UTA) are long-time partners in the
pursuit for continuing education in the field of construction
and development. Recognizing the cost of tuition and the need
to provide scholarships, BOAT established an endowment scholarship
in the amount of $30,000. The objective of the BOAT UTA Student
Scholarship will provide support for qualified UTA undergraduate/graduate
students in Architecture, Civil Engineering and Construction,
and the scholarship is designed to recognize, encourage and
assist students to excel in their particular fields of study
so they will have a greater impact upon the profession.
This will be the fifth scholarship that is funded by BOAT.
Currently BOAT provides funding for:
An annual general education scholarship to the son or
daughter of a BOAT member.
A professional education scholarship to a building inspector
or building official that desires to continue their education
in the construction field.
A travel scholarship to a building inspector, plans examiner
or building official to attend Code Council code development
hearings.
A travel scholarship to a building inspector, plans examiner
or building official to attend the BOAT annual meeting.
The concept of Paying-It-Forward and having a positive impact
on this profession is a core value of BOAT. This latest endeavor
to create a perpetual scholarship to advance the built environment
was the brainchild of Ravi Shah, but it was the BOAT Board,
the BOAT membership and our outstanding affiliation with Dr.
Matthys and the Construction Research Center that helped bring
this concept to reality.
Code Council Visits North Texas Chapter
Code Council President Wally Bailey,
Board member Tim Ryan and Government Relations Regional
Manager Jack Burleson attended the North Texas Chapter
Annual Banquet on January 26 at the Texas Star Banquet
Center in Euless. Pictured here is Bailey installing
new chapter officers-from left, President Lawrence Crow,
Vice President Selso Mata and Secretary/Treasurer Mike
Foreman. (Not pictured is Past President Kurt Kasson.)
