Hello Housatonians,
The December holiday party was well attended by several members and their spouses.
Biagio’s Osteria is always a hit. We were seated near the kitchen so we were able to
see the meals going out to other tables. The aromas were all so good and got your
taste buds going. I was pleased to see the checks given to our treasurer, Roy Olsen,
for the charitable donation to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. We have done
this in the past and we are proud to carry on this tradition. Debbie and I were delighted
to add a poinsettia for each guest.
The January meeting gets back to work. The educational topic Sustainable Production
of Natural Dimension Stone will be presented. I like to go into a presentation with some
knowledge of a topic. I googled this topic and came across some starter information.
The stone is classified for its impact upon the building industry from when it is quarried, through installation and finally recycled. The products that are classified are
categorized in four achievement certifications. We should hear more about this in the
presentation. The product certifications are recognized in the international market
thereby allowing for stone of different types to move from quarry to installation.
Another approach to understanding stone is to review each stone type for its use in
construction. The stone type suitable as an aggregate in concrete is not what is used
for aesthetic quality. Compressive strength and durability have to be considered. The
final product as crushed or slab will determine the type of stone to be used.
The Hartford and Housatonic chapters are diligently working on our Region Conference coming to Hartford, May 30 through June 1, 2019. The venue is the Hilton Hotel Hartford. There is a rumor that we may have a special guest with Hartford ties in attendance. We will have to see what this esteemed person may write about the Region Conference.
Happy New Year,
Bill Selski, CSI, CDT, RA; President, CSI Housatonic Chapter