President's Message

Greetings Guys!

Here we are in November and our annual Member Appreciation Event at Angus Barn is coming up! This is our grand celebration that is cherished every year at this time at such a fun and special place. 

This is the time for all of us to thank and encourage each other for the collective hard work and effort put into GTC of IFMA. Many of you put in tremendous energy and give unselfishly to promote our Chapter. I am sincerely grateful and humbled by the servant attitudes I see from so many! Thank you!

Let’s all invite a prospective Professional Member to check out IFMA at our December meeting and make it one of the largest attended meetings ever.

Randy Rabon, President 2015-2016  

November

12 - Member Appreciation

Final Call for the Membership Appreciation Event
Please join us for the 7th Annual GTC of IFMA Membership Appreciation Event and 2015 Ugly Sweater Party! Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest sweater!

Date:       Thursday November 12, 2015
Time:       6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Place:      Angus Barn Pavilion, 9401 Glenwood Avenue Raleigh, NC
Cost:   Free to members / $135 for guests

RSVP by November 5th at 5:00PM

December Luncheon

Our December 9^th meeting will be an overview of the Union Station project in downtown Raleigh presented by Steve Schuster, founding principal of Clearscapes, a multi-disciplinary art and architecture firm.

The Raleigh Union Station is one of the most important public projects actively being developed in the capital city of North Carolina.  Funded by a unique partnership of the federal, state, and local governments, this $80 million project will not only convert a mid-century industrial building into a multi-modal transportation center, but will create a series of indoor and outdoor major civic gathering spaces.  It is also having a catalytic effect on the redevelopment of the Warehouse District – spurring over $200 million worth of private sector development since it was first announced.

Join us December 9^th at 11:30AM at Brier Creek Country Club for an in depth look at this exciting addition to our community!  

2015 Advocacy Day Highlights

The Greater Triangle Chapter’s participation in Advocacy Day in Washington DC on September 9^th and 10^th, 2015 marked the 5^th consecutive year of participation.  Our Chapter’s support of this national effort by IFMA provides real-time access to our elected officials highlighting our chapter, industry and an effort to share best in class performance for use by the federal government.  This year provided a record 48 attendees from chapters and a Public Policy Forum attended by two representatives from the North Carolina delegation.  David Rouzer R-Benson, and Richard Hudson R-Concord, were both first time presenters to the forum.

Below is a synopsis of those initiatives to give you an idea of what is going on at the national level and the new focus is introducing our representatives to the operational costs of managing facilities which are more impactful and as important as how the buildings are built:

• Value of Education and Training for Facilities Managers - The Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010.  This legislation requires U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to categorize core competencies that federal personnel must maintain in all federal buildings. We are asking the legislature to consider expanding FBTA requirements to cover leased space and not just government owned buildings and also to provide incentives or mandates to insure compliance.  With over 500,000 buildings and structures in the Federal portfolio, IFMA is uniquely positioned to assist the GSA in the categorization of core competencies and the development of both training and certification through their Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facility Management Professional (FMP), and Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) designations.
• Disposition of Excess Federal Properties - Support for the realignment of the federal building portfolio will reduce energy use, decrease costs, and require the utilization of industry tested FM practices which include the use of Life Cycle Cost Analysis, the development of better data around the existing building portfolio, the short term use of the Federal Real Property Council, and the establishment of an Independent Civilian Property Disposal Board as well as incentives for agencies to dispose of excess property including retainage of savings to cover disposal costs, deferred O&M costs and to meet the requirements of the FBPTA.
• Energy Policy - Development of a new Energy Policy that impacts Commercial Buildings.  Commercial buildings are the largest users of energy. Congress needs a comprehensive energy bill that allows incentives and flexibility in purchasing and maintaining high performance building systems.  A focus on Building Operations and Maintenance is the best way to reduce energy use as well as the use of benchmarking of programs for commercial buildings.

This national event was successful, and we continue to move forward slowly at establishing a state advocacy program in conjunction with the USGBC.  Mike O’Brien is happy to answer any questions and can be reached at Michael.obrien@quintiles.com.  This all does not happen without Chapter support and the Greater Triangle Chapter is a leader in this event!

Mike O'Brien, CFM, David Rouzer R – Benson, Tony Keane, IFMA President and CEO

Community Outreach Program: “The Angel Tree”

Boys and Girls Club provides safe environment, ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, life enhancing programs and character developing opportunities that put young people on the path to great futures. StartingTODAY, choose a child’s name from the Angel Tree and help their Holiday wish come true!

1.   Fill out the bottom portion of the below form and get it to Kim Conard, Amanda Frendberg or Ed Boyle to receive a name(s) now or we can email you a child(s) information later.  

2.  Go SHOPPING and place the unwrapped item(s) in a shopping bag with the child’s name card placed inside the bag.  Suggested gift amounts are around $30 to $40.  Donations are tax deductible.

3.  Bring the bag to the following locations:
Membership Appreciation Dinner on November 12th
Monthly IFMA meeting on December 9th
Email Kim, Amanda or Ed to arrange pickup

IFMA Angel Tree Flyer