Are you taking full advantage of your membership in the CFA? Hopefully you are. But just in case, I thought I would highlight a few of the relatively new member benefits, as well as remind you of some the old standbys.

First, let’s talk about the CFA cold weather effort. Now that winter is upon us, we are getting lots of calls regarding problems with inspectors. The CFA cold weather research project is complete and is being used and referenced from Alaska to Georgia. It is referenced in the recently published ACI-332 Standard, Residential Construction and chapter 7 of that document, in turn, is referenced in the soon-to-be-published 2006 version of the International Residential Code. Our next goal is to get the entire standard referenced by the IRC.

The 2006 version of the CFA Standard is now available. The Standard, which follows the format of the IRC and the ACI 332 documents, goes beyond both in terms of describing all aspects of residential foundation construction. The CFA Standard, The CFA Cold Weather Research Report, and the ACI 332-04 Standard are a great trio of references that you can use to help educate and inform your building inspectors and builders.

Next is the On-Line Engineering software. The use of this online software package is free to members and now includes the design of retaining wall, in addition to residential foundation walls. It allows you to play the “what if ” game with various wall configurations by changing wall thickness, height, concrete strength, reinforced vs. unreinforced, lateral pressure and other variables. If you need an engineering stamp on your design, it can be obtained within 24 hours from the software engineers for a modest cost.

Are you uncomfortable getting on-line or are you intimidated by the web? If so you are the latter, we now have regularly scheduled web conference classes using the web and our conference call setting to lead a small number of participants through the process. At least a couple dozen people have taken the on-line course and it has greatly increased usage. Call Jim in our office to inquire about future on-line training seminars.

Regional meetings and educational offerings are the latest change in our delivery of products. By expanding the scope of these regional meetings we now present a scaled-down version of our summer meeting educational offerings in a one-day conference closer to our membership base.

We have had meetings in Minneapolis and Pittsburgh and the spring meeting is scheduled for Indianapolis. We are looking to Connecticut for the fall of 2006.

In addition to these meetings, CFA members and staff are going on the road to make presentations to builders, inspectors, and others with courses such as the NAHB sponsored Cast-in-Place Foundations and CFA developed seminars on foundations, cold weather, the ACI 332 code and other topics.

Take the opportunity to bring education to your area – call us today about having a seminar.

Then there are the old standby offerings such as the ever expanding magazine, the summer meeting and convention, the winter networking meeting at the WOC, the CFA web site with member database (www.cfawalls.org), new and updated publications, and phone referrals and problem solving.