Rescue Task Force…..A Charity that Helps Wounded Troops

By Jim Ryan, AGCSD Executive Vice President

 

This article is a solicitation for AGC San Diego members to help our troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Please take a few minutes to read this article.  It is important!!!!

 

Imagine….you are a 20 year old serving your country in Iraq or Afghanistan and you are severely injured.  You are initially treated in Iraq or Afghanistan, and within three days you are med-evaced out and eventually end up at Balboa Hospital in San Diego, Walter Reed in Washington, or one of several other hospitals around the United States. Each hospital specializes in certain injuries….Balboa’s specialty is amputee patients….Walter Reed’s is brain and spinal cord trauma.

 

In the process of arriving stateside, the soldiers are separated from their personal belongings. They arrive with a hospital gown and sometimes in the field uniform they were wearing when they were injured.  These troops are alone, scared, and without any of their personal belongings.  They are often in a great deal of pain. It often takes weeks for their personal belongings to catch up with them…even something as simple as phoning home is a task in these large military hospitals. 

 

A few weeks ago, I received a call from one of our members, Jim Coffman, Coffman Specialties.  Jim said he was going to forward some information to me about an organization called THE RESCUE TASK FORCE.  To be honest, I receive multiple requests from members and others for AGC to help in this or that charity.  We seldom are able to help, simply because that really is not our mission, and we feel our members are all able to choose organizations/causes they want to donate without our help.

 

But…this one is different.  Maybe it is because our area has such a military presence.  Maybe it is because Balboa Hospital is here.  Maybe it is because we feel we can really help. 

 

THE RESCUE TASK FORCE provides these wounded troops with a backpack as soon as they arrive stateside.  It contains all of the essentials to make their first few weeks of treatment more comfortable.  It contains about 45 items that are so important to getting things “back to normal.”  The contents of this backpack includes things like:

• a cell phone

• phone card

• shaving equipment and tooth brush and tooth paste

• t-shirts and basketball shorts

• a sweat suit

• soap

• socks

• a wrist watch

•  a gameboy

•  cd player and cd music

•  Batteries

•  stationary, stamps, pens, and pencils

•  Magazines

•  playing cards

•  a calendar

 

You get the idea…the basic necessities to make someone more comfortable in the hospital.  Click here for a complete listing of the items.  Each backpack is personalized to the wounded soldier depending on their wounds etc.  THE RESCUE TASK FORCE calls this backpack “Heart Medicine,” and we agree.

 

Now the “ask”!  The AGC San Diego Board approved allowing us to solicit the membership to donate backpacks through the RESCUE TASK FORCE.  Each backpack requires a $600 donation.  95% of the donation goes directly to purchasing the items in the backpack and distributing it…..only 5% is for administration, etc.

 

If our membership responds, it is the Board’s intent to have AGC President John H. Daley, Jr. Daley Corporation,  AGC Senior Vice President Kevin Elliott, Roel Construction, and me take this concept to the 13 AGC Western Chapters’ meeting on  February 5-7th in Scottsdale, Arizona, and challenge each Chapter to match our member’s generosity. And if the Western Chapters respond, it is the Board’s intent to take this to all AGC Chapters during the National Convention in Las Vegas in March, and challenge the rest of the country to match the generosity of each Western Chapter.

 

At the present time, THE RESCUE TASK FORCE needs about 65 backpacks per month to meet the need at Balboa and Walter Reed.  65 x 12 = 780 backpacks…if all 100 AGC Chapters respond……maybe…just maybe, the AGC Chapters across America can meet this need for one year!

 

Your AGC Staff met this morning and passed  “the hat”…..and donated the first three back packs. 

 

Click here for a donation form.  Deadline to donate is Monday, February 4^th.  Please note that THE RESCUE TASK FORCE is a 501 (c ) (3) non profit organization which makes your donation tax deductible.  Your checks must be made out to the THE RESCUE TASK FORCE, but we ask that you send them to the AGC per the attached form to allow us to group our donations in order to challenge the other AGC Chapters.  Each backpack donated through this challenge will have an AGC Logo on it.

 

We have researched THE RESCUE TASK FORCE. We are confident this is an excellent charity that deserves the support of the construction industry. Please check out their web site at www.rescuetaskforce.org.  Their Board members include:

 

Gary D. Becks – President/ Founder

John E. Linehan – President Sea Bright Enterprises

Robert L. Schroeder – Battalion Commander Fire Dept.

Lawrence E. Cutting – Director Xebec International Consultants

Lynn LaSuer – Businesswoman

W. Foster Rich, Ph.D – Former VP of US Army Science Board

Jimmy Valentine – Producer, Roger Hedgecock Show

Mary Carlson – CFO Advanced Detection Services Inc.

Executive Officer – Andrea Stone

 

Finally……remember over 25,000 US troops have been wounded in this war.  Some wounded troops are probably arriving at Balboa today.  Pass the hat in your office and in the field.  Let’s show them that the construction industry supports them and appreciates their sacrifice!!!!

 

http://rescuetaskforce.org/pages/military support.html

 

 

Coastal Commission to Consider Proposed Toll Road – Call to Action

 

The California Coastal Commission is the next stop in the approval process for the proposed toll road between San Diego and Orange Counties, and we need your help!

 

On February 6, the Coastal Commission will be meeting in Oceanside to consider this proposal, and we need to generate letters of support for the toll road, which will extend SR 241 at Oso Parkway in southern Orange County to I-5 at Basilone Road on the extreme northern end of Camp Pendleton.  The toll road will relieve congestion, reduce local emergency response time, and dramatically increase safety to the public in the event of a natural disaster or incident at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. 

 

Call to Action:  The Commissioners of the Coastal Commission (including our own San Diego City Council Member Ben Hueso) need to hear from the construction industry that this complex project needs to be built.  We have provided a link to a website that provides additional information about the project and gives instructions on how to send a letter or e-mail to the Commissioners.  Simply click on www.relievetraffic.org

 

The Coastal Commission meeting will begin at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, February 6 at the Oceanside City Hall Click for directions

 

If you are interested in attending, please contact Brad Barnum at bbarnum@agcsd.org.

 

Note: The permit process is expected to take until at least 2010.  Construction could begin as early as 2011 and will take three years to complete.

 

 

AGC’s Technology Survey…

…How Advanced is the San Diego Construction Industry?

As 2008 begins, AGC’s Technology Trends in Construction Committee has developed a construction technology based survey.  The survey's purpose is to gain an understanding of the level of technology utilized within the Construction industry.  Your participation in this survey will not result in solicitations to you or your firm unless specifically requested. 

We ask that each AGC member company participate in this survey.  The committee will be providing the survey results to any company that has participated. 

Please click on the following link to be taken directly to the survey:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=iAhITPg3D9Df4MAVAildiw_3d_3d

Should you have any questions throughout the survey please contact Jessica Kovack, Director of Communications & Information Services, at 858-874-8560 ext. 11, or at jessica@agcsd.org.

 

Prevailing Wage Apprenticeship Contribution Rates

 

AGC San Diego members are reminded that the following rates apply for apprenticeship crafts:

 

Carpenter - $0.40

Cement Mason - $0.50

Drywall Lather - $0.40

Drywall Finisher - $0.23
Laborer - $0.63

Painter - $0.34

Heavy Equipment Operator - $0.65

Tile Finisher - $0.21
Tile Setting - $0.21

 

For more information, contact Pete Saucedo, Apprenticeship Executive Director at (858) 558-0739.

 

 

REMINDER….Installation Dinner ,Tuesday January 29^th, Hyatt - La Jolla

 

 CLICK HERE for registration form.

 

 

REMINDER…..AGC’s Spring Conference 2008….Riu Palace Resort….Cabo San Lucas, Mexico…April 17-20, 2008

 

Over 100 AGC members have registered for the April 17-20, 2008 AGC Spring Conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico at the Riu Palace Resort. The Spring Conference is an AGC San Diego tradition that gives members the opportunity to spend a few days meeting with the industry without day-to-day distractions. 

 

AGC’s room block is almost reserved…..register now….click here for brochure. 

Questions?  Contact Rae Krushensky at 858.731-8157 or raek@agcsd.org.

 

Please note: 
***** Please register on-line for classes ******
Go to our website at www.agcsd.org and click onto Calendar for either
Construction Education Classes or Safety Training.

January

Jan 22- Excel

Jan 25- On Screen Takeoff

Jan 30- CPR/First Aid

 

February

Feb. 5 -The Effective Project Engineer

Feb. 7- Reviewing Contract Documents

Feb. 8 - Spanish OSHA

Feb. 13 -SWPPP

Feb. 13 - OSHA Record Keeping

Feb. 15 -Scaffolding & Hazard CPT

Feb. 20 -Trenching & Excavating

Feb. 21- Power Meetings

Feb. 21- Eliminating Design and Claims

Feb. 21- Construction Financial Management Workshop "Construction Financial Statements"

Feb. 22 - Introduction to Prolog - Document Control & Field Administration

Feb. 28, 29 -Construction Projects with Microsoft Project

Feb. 25, 26, 27- AutoDesk RIVIT - Architecture Fundamentals

Feb. 26 - Microsoft Excel Level II - Managing Workbooks
Feb. 27 – CPR/First Aid

 

 

All meetings at AGC unless indicated otherwise
 

January

Jan. 25 - Technology Trends in Construction at 7:00 a.m.

Jan. 25 - Caltrans meeting @ SANDAG at 7:30 am

 

February

Feb. 4 – Port District Committee Meeting at Port – 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 5 – Water Authority Committee Meeting – 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 6 – Safety Committee Meeting – 7:00 a.m.

Feb 6 – City of San Diego Committee Meeting – 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 13 – Government Relations Committee Meeting – 10:00 a.m.

Feb 13 – PAC Committee Meeting – 11:30 a.m.

Feb 20 – County of SD Committee  Meeting – 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 21 – Meetings & Events Committee Meeting – 12:00 p.m.

Feb. 25 – Airport Authority Committee Meeting @ Airport – 11:00 a.m.

Feb. 26 – HR Practices Committee Meeting – 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 27 – Public Building Committee Meeting – 7:00 a.m.
Feb. 28 – Builders’ Exchange Committee Meeting – 12:00 p.m.

Feb. 29 – Tech Trends Committee Meeting – 7:00 a.m

 

If you are interested in signing up for a committee, CLICK HERE

 

 

 

UPCOMING AGC EVENTS
 

2008 AGC Events
January 29- Installation Dinner- La Jolla Hyatt
February 7-10- Winter Conference- The Canyons Resort- Utah - click here for registration flyer
Spring Conference in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – April 17-20, 2008 –click here for brochure