On Wednesday and Thursday, October 25th & 26th, we will be holding our annual membership drive. The drive is an important part of ABC's membership growth that has seen a 20% increase in the past 5 years.
 
In 2017, Massachusetts remained one of the nation's fastest-growing ABC chapters. And thanks to your help, ABC Massachusetts earned the 2017 best practice award from ABC National for our membership drives, which have netted a total of 150 new members in 8 days over the last 4 years!  
 
But we can't rest on our laurels - we need to build on our recent success. And that means getting members to participate.
 
You don't need to give up a whole day to take part in the drive, just one two-hour shift on either day.  We will break up into teams and each will have a captain.  Rather than cold calling people you may not know, we ask you to reach out to prospects you know and feel could benefit from ABC membership.
 
Like the previous years, we will offer prizes to the individuals and teams who recruit the most new members. This year we will be giving away A Big Green Egg, Yeti Coolers, and a whole lot more!
 
The excellence of our membership team has been recognized by ABC national and membership is on the rise.  And the larger we grow, the more clout we have an organization. Please help us build on this success by taking part in this year's drive. 
 
Contact Membership Director Ken Ledwak today at Ken@abcma.org or (781) 273-0123 to participate.

The Gould Construction Institute is pleased to announce that Erica Savage has been hired as the organization's new Bookkeeper and Database Coordinator.
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Erica has worked in the industry for several years. She was a member of The United States Army from 1991 to 1996. 

Erica has a strong background in accounts payable and receivable. She worked at S&R Corporation, Middlesex Corporation and Harte Hanks.
 
Erica is looking forward to meeting and working with everyone at ABC MA and Gould Construction Institute

Last week, over twenty ABC MA members attended the third installment of ABC MA's Legal Roundtable. Attorney David L. Fine, of the law firm Mirick O'Connell, provided an informative analysis of the AIA Contract Documents and the 2017 changes, including how the industry and courts have dealt with the changes over the past year, addressed important revisions made to commonly negotiated and contested terms, provided practical tips and recommendations for drafting and negotiating common terms and incorporating risk management policies and practices, and fielded a question and answer session following the presentation. We thank David and everyone else who attended this informative event. 

ABC MA's Legal Roundtable was established to provide an opportunity for ABC members to gather and hear from our expert member attorneys on current legal topics and trends impacting the construction industry and ask questions on these and other legal matters. 
 
We will be hosting one further Legal Roundtable this year, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday December 11th. 

If you would like to join ABC MA's Legal Roundtable, have a topic you would wish to hear more about, or are an ABC associate member attorney that would like to present at an upcoming ABC MA Legal Roundtable, please contact Rob McGovern at Rob@abcma.org. 

​It is my honor to serve as Chairman of the Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors this year, and I am pleased to present our 2018–2019 Construction Users’ Guide and Directory. The directory is a resource that links construction buyers with our ABC MA members -- some of the region’s best contractors.
 
ABC members share a commitment to meeting and exceeding their clients’ needs.  This is done through   a focus on quality, teamwork, creativity in overcoming challenges, fair pricing, and above all else, safety. Our members embrace innovation and new technology; we aren’t bound by restrictive collective bargaining agreements that limit originality and efficiency. We advocate for open competition and a fair marketplace in which work is earned on the basis of merit. 
 
ABC members support the merit shop philosophy, which provides an environment that recognizes and advances each worker individually, based on his or her talents, accomplishments and aspirations.  Many of those in upper management at ABC member firms have advanced from within their companies.  ​

The ABC National Safety Excellence Awards recognize companies who exhibit a continued commitment to jobsite safety and whose safety performance and programs are judged to be exemplary by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Committee. Awards are based on data submitted via STEP applications, essay questions and video interviews with company Presidents/CEOs/Principals about their corporate safety culture. Award categories are based on a company's total work-hours per calendar year and placement within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).  
 
The National Safety Excellence Award competition is open to all STEP Diamond and Platinum recipients at no cost. STEP Gold recipients may apply for the NSEA competition for a $450 application fee.
 
Winners of the 2018 ABC National Safety Excellence Awards will be announced during the 29th annual Excellence In Construction® Awards Wednesday, March 27, 2019 in Long Beach, California. 

The application deadline has been extended until Friday, September 28th at 5 p.m. 
 
Apply Now 

Governor Charlie Baker and Secretary of Labor Rosalin Acosta are asking for ABC members' help in meeting the urgent need for electrical and plumbing contractors to restore gas service to the many residents and businesses of the Merrimack Valley affected by last week's gas explosions.
 
Gov. Baker and Secretary Acosta have reached out to ABC because there is an urgent need for contractors to supplement the efforts of Columbia Gas. Thousands of residents and hundreds of businesses remain without gas after the series of explosions last Thursday. The sheer demand is beyond what Columbia Gas can handle with its existing resources.
 
This is an all-hands on deck situation.  The Governor and Labor Secretary are working to marshal as many resources as possible.  We ask ABC plumbing and electrical contractors to see if they can find a way to help.
"We know contractors are extremely busy right now, but our neighbors in the Merrimack Valley are in critical need of the services our plumbing and electrical contractors can provide. We know all those affected, as well as Governor Baker and his entire administration, will be extremely grateful for this critically-needed help," said ABC MA President Greg Beeman. 
 
ABC will connect contractors who can help with the officials in the Baker Administration who are coordinating efforts with Columbia Gas. Please contact Greg Beeman, greg@abcma.org, or Rob McGovern, rob@abcma.org, or call 781-273-0123 if you are able to help. Thank you very much!
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