IFMA-AUSTIN NEWSLETTER
June 2005
By Mary Duke

Happy Hour Highlights

On May 19th IFMA members and friends joined together at Baby Acapulco, the Gateway Arboretum. Those who attended spent time chatting while sipping margaritas and munching on yummy Mexican appetizers. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better, in a casual relaxed atmosphere.

Most of the usual faces were there, but there were new ones as well. We even had a visit from a past chapter president. At the end of the evening everyone gave Anita Landwehr a huge Bon Voyage on her vacation to Hawaii - as we all grit our teeth in jealousy while she was grinning from ear to ear.

Stay tuned for more scheduled evening events and happy hours.

Submitted by Shannon Schiermann

June 9, 2005 Meeting Information

Join us on Thursday, June 9 at 11:30 am for a long awaited presentation at the Embassy Suites Hotel. We look forward to learning the ropes of the dreaded permitting process. The cost of the presentation is $20, and lunch is included.

Navigating the Permitting Process Presented by Melissa Whaley Hawthorne Austin Permit Service, Inc. and APS Code Consultants

Vice President Melissa Whaley Hawthorne has been with Austin Permit Service since 1986. She has wide ranging experience in all aspects of development management, including building and site plan permit submittal and expedition, site and parking plan analyses, license agreements and easement vacations, and Certificate of Occupancy Inspection Coordination Assistance.

Melissa has obtained Fast Track Certification by the City of Austin Development Review and Inspection Department. She serves on various task forces and committees charged with streamlining the Land Development Process and has throughout her career been a strong advocate for responsible, customer service-oriented governmental review.

She successfully represented major Board of Adjustment variance cases for set backs, impervious cover, height, and parking. Melissa participated as a member of Council Member Bob Larson's Site Plan Improvement Process Team. She also was a consultant for Architectural Design Guidelines for the Sixth Street National Register District in 1994 and is an active member of the Austin Real Estate Council. Meredith currently serves on the City of Austin Zoning and Platting Commission.

Submitted by Robin Connolly Office of Facilities Planning and Construction University of Texas System 220 West 7th Street, Austin, TX 78701 512-499-4730 Phone 512-494-3443 Fax

May 12, 2005 Meeting Notes
 

Kent Nicholas began the meeting by giving us an overview of The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas  who is the exclusive provider and guardian of the community blood supply for more than 30 medical facilities in a ten-county service area. When you give a pint, you save 3 lives.

Organizing a blood drive is easy and donating takes only 40 minutes. There are two centers, one located at 4300 North Lamar and the other is at 2132 North Mays. Get your company or organization to schedule a blood drive today!

                                                       Risk Management

Brad Bartlett and Dan Andrews provided an overview on risk management. There are several causes of action elements:

If a current known danger exists and warning signs, etc., were not installed or the situation not corrected, you set yourself up for a lawsuit if someone is injured.

On the contrary, a temporary condition is hard to sue for, i.e., if no one had time to react to the danger before someone was injured. Being proactive is essential! Warnings and corrective measures can save you from potential risk. Train personnel to observe and take action when hazards are present. Take photos of any potential crime scene.

Criminal Acts

Generally, a person has no duty to protect another from the criminal acts of a third party. However, duty exists when the risk of criminal conduct is  both unreasonable and foreseeable. You must provide adequate security if you believe it could happen. You have a duty to protect.

If you work in a high-risk area, you probably should have a security patrol. Well lit areas are also advantageous. Once incident mentioned was about a lady that claimed she slipped on chicken blood . . . another included a person that was shot while watching two gangs fight; a person who fell from the fourth floor of a structure, and an informant that walked into a hail of bullets. In order to judge what factors you may have, take a look at your surroundings:

•  Previous crimes 
•  Proximity of crimes 
•  Frequency of the crimes 
•  Similarity of crimes 
•  When the most recent crimes occurred 
•  How public the crimes were

From the Texas Civil Practice Code - Liability for Acts of Independent Contractors

• A property owner is not liable for personal injury, death, or property damage to a contractor, subcontractor, or an employee of a contractor or subcontractor who constructs, repairs, renovates, or modifies an improvement to real property, including personal injury, death, or property damage arising from the failure to provide a safe workplace unless: (1) the property owner exercises or retains some control over the manner in which the work is performed, other than the right to order the work to start or stop or to inspect progress or receive reports; and (2) the property owner had actual knowledge of the danger or condition resulting in the personal injury, death, or property damage and failed to adequately warn.

Final Thoughts

Watch out for indemnity language in your contracts. Think safety by training your people and provide warnings and security when you have an unsafe condition. Always get a certificate of insurance from your contractors.

Submitted by J. R. Howard

WORLD WORKPLACE NEWS

World Workplace 2005 More Than An Event... An Investment!  Make an investment in your professional growth. Celebrate 25 years of FM excellence at IFMA's World Workplace this October! To jumpstart your World Workplace experience, the official brochure for this year's show is on its way to your mailbox. Use this comprehensive brochure to maximize your World Workplace experience!   With a variety of sessions, events and networking opportunities to choose from, your three-day investment will be filled with the education and interaction you need to grow as an FM professional.   Be sure to complete and return your registration form to IFMA headquarters or register online by Aug. 26 to receive the discounted early registration rate. Also included is a registration form to fill out if you would like to take advantage of the courses being offered at IFMA's Fall Symposium immediately preceding World Workplace. Keep an eye out for this helpful resource or visit www.worldworkplace.org today to learn more about the FM event of 2005!

New This Year! Facility Tours of Philly's Best  Career Planning and Development Track  JOBnet Career Zone The Career Zone is an opportunity for anyone interested in the current FM employment climate. Get career advice from career consultants and meet with recruiters from some of the best names in the FM industry!

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