Welcome to USGBC Central Plains Chapter. Pretty obvious that a lot of changes occurred in 2009, in and outside the world of our USGBC; Launch of LEED v3, new credentials for LEED AP’s, Executive Director and Staff, and a new name. Changes can come hard, or can come easy, but they always come. We really appreciate your patience as we navigate through these changes and the ones to come, and we welcome your help.

LEED v3 was particularly difficult for us to navigate with the flow of information, as it was, prior to the launch. But the launch was successful and the Credential Maintenance Program is in effect, and information is now readily available at the USGBC.org and GBCI.org websites.

Some other changes included our new staff. Janet Baker was our Executive Director for 2009 with the focus of improving the inefficiencies and management of an all-volunteer organization. We only hired Janet part time but she put in full time hours to help us reorganize. We learned immeasurably from her experience, but due to a lack of funds we were unable to extend her contract. We plan to continue to grow with what we learned and continue to work with Janet as she pursues Grant Opportunities for the Sustainable industry.

Greta Williams served as our Executive Administrator. We hired her full time and she has worked overtime to help with our day to day operations of this growing organization. She was most likely your first point of contact if you went to an event, called or emailed the Chapter. We are able to extend her contract for the first part of 2010 as our Chapter Coordinator.

Many thanks to both of these ladies for there tireless effort in 2009

Our name change from the Kansas City Chapter to Central Plains Chapter was necessary for a couple of reasons. We had supported Greensburg a number of times in the last couple of years as well as our Architectural and AE Design schools K-State and KU (written in no particular order), and their Emerging Green Builders organizations, so our commitment to Kansas was evident. But then several eager professionals in the Wichita Design Community expressed an interest in starting a USGBC Chapter. National asked if our Kansas City Chapter could reorganize as a State Chapter with two Branches. After we met with Wichita it was an easy decision and we agreed to support the development of the Wichita and Kansas City Branch. In Wichita, LEED v3 Webinar Training has already occurred and Conference with City officials occurred in January, with a National Speaker from the USGBC assisting in their Cities efforts toward sustainability.

Many thanks to our Annual Sponsors for your continued support of your local Chapter; this is different than National Sponsorship. Local Sponsors see the value of supporting the USGBC locally and these names are listed on our website, in Newsletters and E-Blasts. Find the Sponsors Link at the top of our Website for how you can be a Sponsor.

And a special thanks to you our individual members, we have grown with 200 new faces in 2009. We have implemented a new membership system to make this easier for renewing members to stay current. Our membership will also be posted to our website soon and updated regularly. We will also give you an opportunity for you to contribute as an individual and be recognized.

With all the challenges this past year, I still feel very optimistic and renewed in the vision of the USGBC. My enthusiasm is not based upon news or economic forecast, but due to who I work with. I am renewed because of our leaders in the Central Plains Chapter, here and in Wichita. Design and Construction professionals, who may be clients of past present or future, and in some cases even competitors but because of what we all do together in the USGBC we are comrades.

We invite you to join us, on behalf of Stephanie Graham, Burns and McDonnell our new Chair and all of us on the Board, Welcome to 2010 USGBC Central Plains Chapter.

Jay R. Guerra PE VP

Gibbens Drake Scott, Inc.

Past Chair

USGBC Central Plains Chapter