March 23, 2010

Message From The President

CalGeo's Challenge

The CalGeo board of directors has been very aware of the current economic times during our planning of the upcoming conference in San Diego for nearly 2 years. We have heard from several members through the last year about our upcoming events. The two main areas of input have been please reduce costs as much as possible but as you do, please do not go to a low end resort that would ruin the experience. Many look forward to this yearly event and enjoy the professional fellowship too much to have a poor experience. That has been the challenge for CalGeo to meet both these requests.

Our solution has been to try and go to a desirable facility but then supplement the cost with our funds. The cost for the conference registration is the lowest it has been for 4 years. That is because CalGeo is funding 25% of the registration fee so we can keep the cost as low as possible yet still enjoy a quality location. If you attend our conference you will have almost no other costs other than the hotel. However, we realize that the hotel is not a bargain. Once you join us on Thursday, we have included every meal from Thursday evening reception through the Saturday evening banquet except for one. We think that is very generous. We did not want to go to a resort that would be low end and offer no meals just to get the cost lower as this would not provide a positive experience. We have realized from the beginning that no matter how low the cost of the conference to our members our attendance would suffer. That is why we have forgone going to Hawaii this year which has been a CalGeo tradition every fifth year. It is my opinion that even if we made the conference free with all the amenities that we are currently providing that most would not come because they simply would not want to leave there businesses unattended and lose revenue. These are tough times but CalGeo wants to be there for our membership through these times even if they can not attend the conference. We will continue to provide all our information through legislative, technical and business efforts as CalGeo is the only organization in California that represents Geotechnical Engineering companies.

John Hoobs, President

Call for Member News: Share Your Success!

Are you or your firm doing something worth noting? Did you win an award, get a promotion or finish a recognizable project? If you're making news, we want to hear about it. Send us your stories to cgea@comcast.net and we'll post them in this space in upcoming editions. Items should be 140 characters in length or less.

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CalGeo's Annual Conference

Last Day To Reserve Your Room Is March 26

As you probably know, our annual conference in La Jolla this year will be at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla.

Perched upon the dramatic coastline of Southern California with a stunning backdrop of rugged cliffs, the rolling Pacific and soul-stirring sunsets; The Lodge at Torrey Pines® is located in La Jolla, one of the most sophisticated resort towns on the Southern California Coast. The hotel occupies six and one-half acres immediately adjacent to the 18th green of the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course, a Rees Jones beauty that is the site of the Buick Invitational each February and hosted the U.S. Open in 2008. The Lodge offers hotel guests preferred tee times and special golf packages. The golf pro shop, driving range, cart rental and golf school are also adjacent to The Lodge. CalGeo will hold its annual tournament at this world-famous golf course on the first day of our conference, April 29, 2010.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines® has 170 guest rooms all created with relaxation and comfort in mind. The guest rooms offer lovely views of the Torrey Pines Golf Course or The Lodge's garden courtyard.

Guests can take pleasure in more than 9,500 square-feet of spa space at the center of The Lodge's retreat-like ambiance, with 14 treatment rooms. The Spa offers ample facilities where guests can spend an afternoon or a day utilizing the dry saunas, herbal-infused steam rooms, and aromatherapy inhalation rooms. Between treatments, guests can relax and enjoy thoughtfully designed touches such as a fireplace in the women's lounge, and a large-screen television, and leather club chairs in the men's lounge.

The Lodge is a 20-minute drive from downtown San Diego and the San Diego International Airport. The property sits on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is minutes from some of the most pristine beaches for swimming, walking and bird watching in Southern California. The nearby areas of La Jolla and Del Mar provide excellent shopping.

CalGeo negotiated a special rate for our conference attendees of $235 a night (plus taxes). Except for the taxes, everything you normally pay extra for is included in that fee (daily newspaper, high-speed internet, coffee & tea service, free self parking, use of fitness center) This is a great opportunity to stay at a 5-star hotel at a 3-star rate! Our block rate ends on March 26-don't miss your chance to get your room at this fantastic rate!

For a complete brochure with all the conference information, click here: http://www.cgea.org/annualconf.html.

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Safety First

Flu Season Is Nothing To Sneeze At

"Courtesy of the California State Compensation Insurance Fund"

The flu season is here and State Fund advises employers to educate all employees about flu facts, symptoms, and preventative measures and to prepare their business operations should a pandemic outbreak significantly reduce their workforce or disrupt their business operation.

Generally speaking, the "flu" is a respiratory disease caused by an influenza (flu) virus. Transmission of the virus from person-to-person usually occurs when infected people cough or sneeze the virus germs into the air or onto an object. Others may than become infected by breathing in the air-borne virus germs or by touching the virus-contaminated object then touching their mouth or nose through which the virus enters their body.

Symptoms of most flu strains include a fever (often high), cough, body aches, headaches, fatigue and runny or stuffy nose. Vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. If workers suspect they may have been exposed to or contracted the flu, they should see their doctor for advice and treatment.

The CDC recommends the following flu prevention measures: avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth; wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze (alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective); cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and then throw the tissue away; and if you get sick, stay home and limit contact with others.

To prepare for a possible pandemic flu outbreak in the workplace, employers should develop contingency plans for each business location. Identify essential employees and critical raw materials suppliers, sub-contractors, transporters, customers, and other logistics that keep their business functioning. Train employees on the contingency plan and consider cross-training workers as backup for necessary job activities. Employers may also wish to consider ways to decentralize the workforce with satellite worksites and at-home computer and communication links to the worksite to allow flexibility to employees that can work.

Visit State Fund's website at www.scif.com to access the Loss Control Bulletin, "Preparing for a Pandemic Flu". The bulletin recommends that businesses circulate a company hygiene policy; establish policies for exposed or infected employees; and create an infection control response and notification plan. From the website you can also download copies of precautionary safety sheets in English and Spanish (Standard Precautions, Airborne Precautions, Contact Precautions, and Droplet Precautions). To learn more about the flu or pandemic flu prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/.

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