NEF President's Message

I hope that you have either attended your Fall Conference or will be attending in the next few weeks. NEF prepared an informational PowerPoint that hopefully was shared with you at the conference. If you missed it, it is available on the NEF website under the Contact Us tab and can also be viewed on NEF’s YouTube channel. If you would like a PowerPoint copy to use as a NAWIC meeting topic, please contact Patti and she will get it sent to you. I hope that you raised lots of funds for NEF at your conferences and took the challenge to climb the ladder of success with your Ladder Club contributions.

We held our first full board conference call and it went well. The board is working on many things. There are two important items that I want to share with you. NEF will no longer have an 800 number. With the use of cell phones, we felt that we could eliminate this cost from our budget. Also, we have added a calendar to the NEF website under the Events tab. Patti has added all conference calls to this calendar, along with important dates for Design Drafting and Block Kids. We will continue to update this calendar with important information, so remember to check it often.

The Education Committee is holding conference calls for the Contract Administrator program. As more information becomes available I will let you know. Just know that they are working on it.

I have confirmed with NAWIC that NEF will again have a day for program review and testing at Annual Conference. This year we have elected to offer the Construction Industry Technician (CIT) on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. Mark your calendars, purchase your e-book and get ready to earn your credentials.

Finally, I want to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. Please take a moment to give thanks for all of the blessing you have. Something that you take for granted could mean the world to someone else. Also, remember all of those that are not with loved ones due to death, separation, divorce, or service to our country.

Sincerely,

Wendy Jarred, CBT, CCA, CDS, CIT, EIT, LEED AP BD+C
NEF President 2019 – 2020

NEF Spotlight Corner

Why I love NEF……..

To be or not to be involved with NEF
Submitted by Tanya Boone

Instead of writing some prose about why I am involved with NEF as a Trustee, I thought it might be more impactful to make statements about the reverse. In other words, I am expecting that a little reverse psychology might work on you, the reader.

Do not join the Ladder Club, do not sign up for an online certification course, and choose not to be generally involved with NEF at all because of the following

  • If you do not carry joy in your heart for the construction industry, then you would not want to be involved with NEF.
  • If you do not love growth opportunities for yourself and sharing those with others, do not visit the NEF-edu.org website.
  • If you do not support the construction industry or feel empowered by networking with other construction leaders from sea to shining sea – do not attend the next NAWIC conference and mingle with NEF.
  • If you think collaborating with other women and men to share industry knowledge is worthless – do not become involved with NEF leadership as a Chair or Board Member.
  • If you do not care to lend a hand to community school children to inform them of future careers in a construction trade or profession through Block Kids programs – then disregard the NEF raffles sales.
  • If you have no interest in mentoring high school or college students to push their design abilities through Design Drafting competitions and believe you have made a positive impact on a young person – then do not step into that NEF Design Drafting limelight.
  • If you do not care to sponsor NEF’s newest program designed for high school student called Create Design Build – then ignore any requests for sponsorship through your local NAWIC chapter.
  • If you do not take measures to create awareness of construction trends – do not measure the certification success stories made possible by NEF online testing.
  • If you do not share dreams and visions about building a better world – then poignantly turn your eyes and ears away from the strategic plan of NEF.
  • If you do not want to be a change maker in the construction labor dilemmas across the nation and make ways to be prepared and flexible as an employee – do not take an accredited NEF course online.

Tanya Boone, NCARB, CNA, EDAC
2019-2020 NEF Board of Trustees

NEF News

  • NEF now offers all Construction Industry Education program exams online!  If you purchased a NEF course and still have eligibility for testing, please contact NEF’s office to schedule your online exam.  If you need to purchase a retest or if your eligibility has expired, you can purchase an exam on NEF’s website at https://nef-edu.org/product/nef-exam/
  • Have you checked out the NEF Digital Bookstore?!?  What are you waiting for?!?  NEF courses are now available in hardcover and e-book formats.  Start your educational journey today! https://nefedu.directfrompublisher.com/
  • NEF is recognized as a quality education provider by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).
  • NEF is solely funded by donations and sponsorships so your contributions will continue to assist in the efforts to provide quality construction education.
  • Ask your NEF Liaison and Fundraiser at your upcoming Fall Conference for details on all things NEF!!!
  • Did you join NEF’s Ladder Club of Success yet? Get started today. Contact NEF’s office for details.
  • The Holiday Season is fast approaching.  When you shop Amazon you can help support NEF at the same time.  Follow this link next time you shop Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/75-1397989