The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Condolences to Craig Hydeman and his family. Craig's mother, Doris, died last week. Craig is business manager for Bricklayers Local 15; his father Don, a past Bricklayers business manager, died earlier this year.

The Labor-Management Council wishes you and your family a great Thanksgiving and long weekend. Hopefully labor-management collaboration extends to the family dinner tables!

As you plan your 2016, please note the following dates:

•April 21, the LMC’s 37th Anniversary Celebration and 17th Annual Awards Dinner, Argosy Casino;

•July 10-13, Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, Camden on the Lake;

•July 18, Craig Whitaker Memorial LMC Golf Tournament, Oakwood Country Club.

The LMC's 37th Anniversary Celebration and 17th Annual Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Argosy Casino. Check with the LMC for details on reservations, sponsorships and award nominations.

Condolences to Javier Perez on the death of his mother, Lillian Davalos Perez. Services are today. Javier is an international representative for the Amalgamated Transit Union, past president of ATU Local 1287 and past member of the KCMO Board of Police Commissioners.

LMC member Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce holds its annual dinner tonight. Terry Bassham, KCPL (an LMC member) will assume the chair position succeeding Terry Dunn (formerly with LMC member JE Dunn Construction Co.). Congrats and best wishes to both Terrys!

The National Institute for Construction Excellence (NICE) held its first annual fundraising luncheon today. Former Missouri U.S. Sen. Kit Bond gave an excellent keynote address noting the use of teamwork in the many projects he successfully aided to fruition. He also was recognized with a Friend of Construction award. Other award winners included Cerner, the Construction User award, and Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, the Education award. KCMO City Manager Troy Schulte provided a state of the construction industry report and numerous middle and high school students had the opportunity to network with industry leaders. Congrats to Alise Martiny for MC'ing the event to an on-time finish. Funds raised will support NICE's Crayons to CAD and various high school programs as well as the iBuild Showcase April 14, 2016.

The LMC extends its sympathy and support to Paris, France. When people demonize those with whom they disagree with or are different from in some way, brutality often results. Trying to work together and find common ground can be frustrating, confusing and slow, but it allows us to live in a civilized society.

The LMC expresses its sympathy to University of Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel on the announcement of his cancer treatment and upcoming retirement. Pinkel gave an excellent address several years ago to the Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, demonstrating how his leadership philosophy and practice could be applied to the workplace.

Congratulations to Tim Cowden on succeeding Bob Marcusse as president of LMC member Kansas City Area Development Council. KCADC and the LMC have long worked together on economic development; Marcusse' predecessor, Jim Monroe, was an LMC founder. Also congrats to Martin Mini on becoming KCADC chief marketing officer. Former LMC Board member Rosana Privitera-Biondo, Mark One Electric Co., Inc., is co-chair of the KCADC.

The LMC thanks the KCMO Council for moving forward the planned downtown convention center hotel by choosing not to hold an election on the plan. The Council took action at yesterday's meeting.

Construction Committee Discusses Health Care Strategies

Construction Industry Steering Team Summary of Minutes

 8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

Attending:  Nicole Abrahamson, Sam Alpert, Greg Chastain, Greg Davey, Devon Devine, Heather Dusik, Jerry Helmick, Greg Lever, Alise Martiny, Bob Jacobi.

•Thanks to Rosana Privitera Biondo and Mark One Electric Co., Inc. for hosting.

•Devon Devine, Claremont Partners, presented on strategies for labor-management collaboration in addressing health care costs and quality.  A discussion ensued on the status of the local market and possible future opportunities for learning, including at the 2016 Mid-America Labor/Management Conference.  There will be a second presentation at 10 a.m. at the Kauffman Foundation, with primarily public sector participants though some construction-industry representatives are expected.  A few copies of the presentation are available for those who couldn’t attend.

•The Kansas state budget crisis is taking even more funds from the transportation plan.  The LMC’s Kansas focus in 2016 session likely will be preserving as much funding as possible.  Missouri bill pre-filing begins Dec. 1.

•The KCMO Council is expected to reject the petition for an election on the downtown convention center hotel at its meeting today.

•NICE holds its first annual fundraising luncheon Nov. 17 at the Downtown Marriott/Muehlbach.  More than 300 are expected to attend; there remains openings for tables and sponsors.  The iBuild showcase will be held April 14 at Bartle Hall.  KCMO is providing the space at no cost as part of its support of NICE.

•Upcoming events include:

 *NICE Luncheon, Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m., Sen. Bond Keynote speaker, Downtown Marriott

  *Lean Construction Coffee, 8:30-10 a.m., Nov. 18, JE Dunn HQ

  *HCA luncheon, Nov. 19, 11:30 a.m. at Guadalupe Center; McCown Gordon presents on

    Johnson County Arts Heritage Center project

  *Midwest Construction Safety Conference, March 21

  *iBuild Showcase, April 14, 2016, Bartle Hall

  *Mid-America Labor/Management Conference, July 10-13, 2016, Camden on the Lake

  *LMC Craig Whitaker Memorial Golf Tournament, July 18, 2016, Oakwood CC

  For details on the above events, please contact the sponsoring group or the LMC

•Next Meeting: 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, Mark One Electric Co., Inc.

•M/S/C to adjourn at 9:30 a.m.

The mission of the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City is to enhance collaboration by solidifying trust and communication between labor and management in the community.