SDC Planning Meeting & Session #24 is Right Around the Corner!
Don't forget!  Registration is open for the upcoming SDC planning session and meeting, Oct. 8-10, 2008, at one of the premier golf resorts in the U.S., the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, located in Palm Harbor, Florida. 

Session #24 will begin at noon on Oct. 9 and will adjourn at noon on Oct. 10. Topics will include Building Information Modeling (BIM), sustainability, and an owner's-perspective on predictive modeling for durability. In addition, a near-final report on the major research effort of SCC Formwork Pressure will be featured. From noon on Oct. 8 until noon on Oct. 9, SDC members will participate in a strategic planning session to discuss and evaluate the direction, priorities, and governance of SDC.

**You must register for the meeting by Sept. 26.  After this date, you will need to register on site at the meeting.  To register for the meeting, visit http://www.concretesdc.org/meetings/session24/meeting_registration.htm, or call Beth Rochette at 248-848-3814.

Also, remember to reserve your hotel room at the meeting location, Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club.  For reservations, call 1-800-456-2000 and refer to the Strategic Development Council.

SDC Sustainability Initiative Update
SDC continues to focus on sustainability as one of the most important industry-critical issues today.  In May 2008, SDC targeted a presentation on sustainable design and building to CAMRA (Concrete- and Masonry-Related Associations).  Results of this meeting will be presented and discussed at SDC Session #24 this fall, and SDC members will be asked to refocus their sustainability efforts in coordination with the outcomes of the CAMRA meeting.

ACI Fall Convention to Feature Sustainable Development Workshop
In conjunction with the ACI Fall 2008 Convention in St. Louis, Mo., the ACI Board Advisory Committee on Sustainable Development is sponsoring a sustainable development workshop on concrete, green building and ISO standards on Sat., Nov. 1 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.

This workshop will focus on environmental management for concrete and concrete structures, with specific focus on the new Standard under development by ISO/TC71/SC8.  Discussion topics will include an evaluation system on the materials flow of concrete, environmental design of concrete structures, green concrete technologies for life-cycle design of concrete structures, and more.  All registered ACI convention attendees are invited at attend at no cost.  To RSVP for the workshop, please contact Denesha Price at denesha.price@concrete.org.  More information about the ACI Fall 2008 Convention can be found by visiting www.ACIconvention.org. 

BASF Pledges Financial Support to the ACI Foundation and SDC
BASF Construction Chemicals – Admixture Systems, a long-time supporter of ACI and the ACI Foundation, has pledged to continue its financial support of the Foundation through a $150,000 donation starting in 2009.  The business will donate $15,000 a year for the next 10 years, of which two-thirds will be allocated to SDC, and one-third will be allocated to the Innovative Concrete Education (ICE) program. 

Both programs are extremely important to BASF, as they help to facilitate the ongoing sustainability of the concrete industry.  SDC brings together the concrete industry, government, and academia to focus on collaborative problem-solving in technology development, while ICE supports innovative concrete-related educational programs and the connection of students to concrete-related jobs.

“As one of the first and longest sustaining members of ACI, BASF is committed to continued support of the Institute and its Foundation through financial contributions, industry involvement and volunteer work,” said Gabriel Cottrell, business director, Admixture Systems. “ACI does an excellent job of fostering these worthwhile programs that will propel our industry forward for the future.”

In addition to its current pledge and in support of the ACI Student Fellowship program, BASF has authorized the transfer of $75,000 previously donated to the ACI Cornerstone for Leadership Endowment Program towards the establishment of a BASF Construction Chemicals Fellowship.  The money will provide $15,000 a year for five years for research in the area of specialty chemicals for new construction and repair/rehabilitation, at either the graduate or undergraduate level.  Cottrell added that “In addition to exposing students to specialty chemicals, this fellowship could compliment in-house research and help to facilitate the transfer and time-to-market acceptance of innovative technologies for the construction industry.” 

More information about BASF Construction Chemicals - Admixture Systems can be found at www.basf.com. 

SDC Member Profile

Boral Material Technologies
Boral Material Technologies, Inc. (BMTI), a member of SDC and sustaining member of ACI, is a leading marketer of fly ash and all coal combustion products.  With more than four decades of experience marketing fly ash to the concrete industry, Boral is a pioneer in the development of new construction material technologies.  BMTI also provides coal-fired power generating plants with complete on-site ash handling and management, environmental services, and engineering services.
For more information on Boral Material Technologies, please visit its Web site at www.boralmti.com.