GBA Revs Up Support for New Victory Junction Gang Camp in Wyandotte County

Kids come in first at the Victory Junction Gang Camp (VJGC) and we're cheering for them all the way. The camp for children with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses is scheduled to open on a 71-acre campus in Kansas City, Kansas, sometime in 2011. This is the second Victory Junction Gang Camp founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie, to honor their son Adam Petty, who lost his life in a racing accident in May 2000. The original camp opened in North Carolina in 2004. 

The camp will operate solely on donations from corporations, organizations, and individuals, allowing campers to attend at no cost to their families. GBA, which has pledged to support VJGC with donations over a five-year period, made our first contribution as a corporate sponsor in December.

The mission of the VJGC is to enrich the lives of these children by providing life-changing camp experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering in a safe and medically sound environment. Most of these kids would be unable to spend a week away from home, much less a week in a fun camp environment, without close medical attention. Many are also economically disadvantaged. In association with local hospitals and health care providers, these children not only experience the camp, but also receive much needed medical treatment and medications free of charge. 

To learn more about the camp and opportunities to help, go to http://www.victoryjunction.org/. 

Dan Abitz Talks Commissioning in Online Interview

Commissioning is the focus of an interview with Dan Abitz that appeared in a syndicated column written by Ron Wilson of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University. The article appeared online on December 30 and 31 in Farm & Ranch Guide, Midwest Producer, The Prairie Star: Montana Ag Newspaper, and the OttawaHerald.com.  At the time of this writing, you can find it at   http://www.midwestproducer.com/articles/2010/01/04/news/regional_news/regional19.txt 
Roman Bachamp of GBA Builders first introduced Ron to GBA on a trip to K-State to look at a project. Interested in GBA’s expertise in commissioning critical facilities and research laboratories, Ron followed up with Dan.

A second interview featuring GBA Builders and some of its unique projects should be published online in early January.

GBA Shares in the Spirit of the Holidays with 'Coats for Kids'

Holly Boomsma, Bridge Structural, (right) shared the holiday spirit with staffers, from left, Linda Bollinger, GBA Builders, and Heidi Thummel, Marketing, by readying coats donated by GBA staff for distribution to children in the metro area. GBA's effort, which was spearheaded by Holly, is sponsored by NewsRadio 980 KMBZ and Pride Cleaners to help ensure that children in need have warm coats this winter!  Last year nearly 10,000 coats were dry cleaned and distributed. Thanks to all who contributed!  Together we can make a difference!!

Kim Pearse Appointed to Board of Shawnee Chamber

Congratulations to Kim, a professional engineer and Director of Marketing for GBA, on his appointment to the Board of Directors of the Shawnee, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce. The two-year term will begin January 2010. As Director of Marketing, Kim heads up our efforts to position the firm in key markets, overseeing strategic marketing, business development, and branding efforts. For 18 years prior to that he headed up GBA’s Structural Engineering Group. Kim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Kansas State University. He was named an associate of the firm in 1995 and in 2009 was promoted to senior associate and elected to the GBA Board of Directors.

Who Me? A Home for Me? Animal Haven is Helping; GBA Is Too!

Dogs rule! At GBA, we like dogs! We like cats too! And we're very pleased to be working with the folks at Animal Haven, who help find homes for little guys just like this. And they do, with great success!

Each year, 2,500 dogs and cats are adopted from Animal Haven! And each year, 1,000 dogs and cats are reunited with their families thanks to Animal Haven's Lost Pet Center! But the no-kill shelter has outgrown its Kansas City Metro Area facility in Merriam, Kansas, and is looking to move to a larger space where they can devote even more love and attention to these special animals.

GBA's Kim Pearse and Tawn Nugent are working on the front lines, serving on the capital campaign committee, developing a Speakers' Bureau presentation to take to the community, and devoting their time and expertise to the organization. In fact, Tawn just finished volunteer training and joins other volunteers who ensure that all dogs get outside for a walk and some play every day!

Animal Haven, which serves 12 municipalities in the Metro Area, shares a vision with other local animal welfare organizations whose goal is to transform the Greater KC Metro Area into a No-Kill Community by the year 2012. All of us can help!

BTW, this fine pup was adopted by GBA's Bobbi and Brad Burton and their son, Jacob. Jacob, who is nine, is pictured here with Freddie, one!

Greenbuild 2009 Sets the Bar, Part III - Suzanne Berkey

The exhibit hall was larger than ever this year and I could have spent two solid days visiting all the booths. Two of my favorites dealt with small building details that may often get overlooked in the grand scheme of things. One consisted of light-reflective, prismatic interior window shades that allow diffused light to pass through without the harmful UV rays and heat transmittance. The other incorporated LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology into composite decking to provide lighted walkways and an indication of level changes, such as stairway nosing. Both of these are examples of the exhibited green technologies that go beyond mainstream awareness.

Beyond the educational sessions, exhibit hall, and keynote speaker, the best part of Greenbuild is the congregation of people in an environment that promotes innovation and forward thinking. Average people really do have the power to make positive changes for present and future generations. Possibilities are out there that we cannot even fathom at this time and the excitement about what lies ahead is uplifting and challenging at the same time.

GBA's Recipe for Holiday Giving

A Saturday in mid-November found GBA staffers and friends cooking up a sweet treat for Harvesters for the holidays! GBA’s “gingerbread house recipe” called for a total of 900 cans of food and household items, which were generously donated by staff. All ingredients were combined in BIM, mixed well, and allowed to “rise” until done. Well done!  The holiday creation will be on display in the lobby at GBA headquarters in Lenexa for several weeks before it is dismantled and donated, along with all the trimmings, to Harvesters, the Community Food Network.  Click here to watch GBA staffers cook up our holiday recipe http://www.gbateam.com/gallery.holiday.asp

Thanks to all who all who participated!