NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
LANSING, MICHIGAN – CHAPTER NO. 177
40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
CHAPTER HISTORY
FEBRUARY 20, 1971 – FEBRUARY 21, 2012
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) originally began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth. Sixteen women working in the construction industry founded the organization in 1953. Knowing that women represented only a small fraction of the construction industry, the founders organized to create a support network. Women in Construction of Fort Worth was so successful that it gained its national charter in 1955 and became the National Association of Women in Construction.
In 1970, the national organization developed regions, and set a goal to add 21 new chapters in the year ahead, using the slogan “21 in 71”. The Director of Region 4 at the time, Helen K. Cauffman of South Bend, IN responded to an inquiry by Rev Hopkins, executive secretary of Builders Exchange of Greater Lansing. Rev had heard of NAWIC, and wanted to start a Lansing, Michigan chapter. He found two progressive thinking men in Alton Granger, Granger Construction and Hal Bell, AGC Michigan. They notified the women they knew in construction and held a meeting on October 21, 1970, to get the ball rolling toward chartering the Lansing, Michigan Chapter of NAWIC.
NAWIC, Lansing Chapter No. 177 was the first chapter to charter in 1971, the first chapter to charter in the state of Michigan, and the first chapter to be chartered by Region 4 under the Regional Chartering Plan. The “Chartering Ceremonies” were held at the Olds Plaza Hotel, in the Michigan Room, on Saturday, February 20, 1971; the dinner cost was only $7.00 and the entree was beef – not chicken! There were 126 people in attendance, including NAWIC members from several states in Region 4. Mayor Gerald Graves, of Lansing, was the guest speaker; a tradition that we currently maintain (Mayor Hollister spoke at our at our Recognition Night meeting in April of 2001, and Mayor Virg Bernero spoke at our 2006 Recognition Night). The Lansing Chapter chartering was featured in the NAWIC Image, The Lansing State Journal, and the Ingham County News. One of the articles was entitled, “Construction Gals Charter Chapter,” and the women were identified in the article as “Mrs. Michael J. Friedrich of Payne Rosso Company, president; Mrs. Leahman J. Jacobs of Granger Construction, vice president…”
We prefer to identify the original Board as:
Officers
President, Kathleen Friedrich, Payne Rosso Company
Vice President, Phyllis S. Jacobs, Granger Construction Co.
Secretary, Carleen E. Hallman, Builders Exchange of Greater Lansing
Treasurer, Barbara J. Ernst, Ernst Electric Company
Board of Directors
Lauralee W. Adams, Foster-Schermerhorn-Barnes
Josephine Ebright, Dard, Inc.
Sandra J. Fisher, Charles Featherly Construction Company
Jean F. Franke, Spartan Asphalt Paving Company
Madalyn Gerstler, Sterling Doorware Company
Sharon Kay Smith, Payne-Rosso Comp
In reviewing many scrapbook articles, one name and smiling face kept recurring during the first two years (1971 and 1972). That is the name of Carleen Hallman. Carleen served as the original chapter secretary, she was chairman of the Extension Committee, Scrapbook & Roster Editor, Historian and Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. She was also the original chairperson of the “Friends of the Zoo” committee. NAWIC participated in a program to get construction companies to donate materials for various construction projects at the Potter Park Zoo. Michigan Contractor & Builder ran an article in the March 18, 1972, issue to feature the NAWIC Lansing Chapter “Bosses Night.” Carleen was the recipient of the first WIC of the Year award in February 1972. Rev Hopkins was the original “Boss of the Year,” he was issued a crown and a gift for enthusiastically supporting the chapter.
On May 14, 1972, Carleen Hallman, at age 20, was on a private plane with three friends when it crashed about 15 minutes after takeoff. One of the twin engines had failed, and the fuel tanks exploded when the plane hit the ground. NAWIC lost a true friend and a hard worker on that day. Her family requested memorials to be made to a scholarship fund in the National Association of Women in Construction. Our chapter has given approximately $40,500.00 to students in construction related curriculum since the establishment of the Carleen Hallman Scholarship Fund.
On September 10, 1975, The Lansing State Journal featured a Charter Member, Marie Wilkinson, in an article about Women in Construction Week. At least the 1975 paper did reveal her full name, along with a wonderful article expressing her strong attributes when it comes to knowing construction. The article featured a lovely picture of Marie wearing a nice suit with a double strand of pearls, but at the same time, she has a look on her face that says, “I know what I’m doing, and don’t even try to mess with me!” Marie explained to the reporter that the purpose of NAWIC is “to bring together women who work in various phases of what had always been considered a ‘man’s field’ . . . to encourage cooperation and a better understanding and to promote fellowship and goodwill among members.” These words hold true today.
Lansing certainly inspired Michigan chapters to form–the Detroit Chapter soon followed (#183), then Grand Rapids (#194). In 1974 the Lansing Chapter sponsored Flint Chapter 202 with the help of Chapter President Jean Banister and Extension Committee Chairman, Sandy Fisher. The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek (#302) was sponsored by Grand Rapids Chapter. On January 21, 1993, the Lansing Chapter sponsored the Chartering of The Michigan State Women Students in Construction. Dr. Norma Anderson, NAWIC Member and MSU Faculty, was a moving force in chartering this chapter. Kelly Kraft was the first president of the student chapter.
May 2, 1983, the Lansing, MI Chapter #177 – National Association of Women in Construction filed articles of incorporation with the Michigan Department of Commerce.
On November 19, 1986, NAWIC participated in the dedication ceremony for a bronze replica of the State seal in front of the Capitol Building. NAWIC was the driving force in getting over 40 construction related firms to contribute approximately $10,000 to the project.
On October 15, 1988, Lansing Chapter hosted the Regional Fall Planning Conference at the (then) Sheraton Inn. Our own Geri Johnson presented a workshop/film on doors & hardware. We again hosted the Region 4 Annual Planning Conference in the fall of 2005, at the Holiday Inn South Convention Center.
In April 1992, Claudette Caloumbe received the first NAWIC of the Year award. Since this initial award, the “NAWIC of the Year Award” has become an annual award, which is presented to one of our Chapter’s outstanding members at our annual Recognition Night meetings.
The Lansing Chapter continues to be active in the CAD/Design/Drafting Competition. The first year that National held the contest (1992-93), the Lansing area winner, Henry Schultz, Jr. won at both the Regional and National level of the competition. Lansing continues to participate in the contest every year. We have seen the work of many talented high school students who have participated in this contest over the years.
The December 1994 issue of the NAWIC Image featured one of our members–Cheryl Hughes, on the cover, and a thorough article about Cheryl’s business that includes her husband and three sons. They have been through some low points, but their strong family ties and faith kept them going to form a very successful road construction business. The U.S. Dept of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration presented Cheryl with WBE of the Year Award in 1994. She got to meet then President, Bill Clinton.
but their strong family ties and faith kept them going to form a very successful road construction business. The U.S. Dept of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration presented Cheryl with WBE of the Year Award in 1994. She got to meet then President, Bill Clinton.
In April 1995, Lansing successfully hosted the Region Four Forum 1995. Our Chapter really pulled together to host a very educational and entertaining conference for our five-state region. Cheryl Hughes gave a very inspirational talk at the Saturday luncheon at the Forum. We are again making preparations to host the 2011 Region 4 Annual Forum in East Lansing, at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at MSU, on May 13 – 15, 2011.
We never hesitate to get involved with projects that require a lot of work. One of our major endeavors was the Habitat for Humanity “First Ladies Build” blitz build house in June of 2000. Many of us worked at getting material and cash donations from contractors, then as laborers at the house, and some on hospitality duty feeding the workers. We also had a special Chapter project, with the help of Martin Block donating materials, we built a paver block patio at the back of the house. According to our crew, and the guys at Martin Block, it is really beautiful!
Several of our members worked on another Habitat for Humanity project in Williamston in November of 2008.
n 1998, we held our first Holiday Luncheon and Auction fundraiser at a Mason, Michigan golf course, and we then moved them to the Brookshire Inn and Golf Club in 1999, where they have been held every year since then. We had the same auctioneer for eleven years, and have had two different auctioneers for the past two years. We recently held our 13th annual auction event on November 14, 2010. Prior to the run of our Holiday Auction fundraisers, we held Las Vegas Night fundraisers, and also held fashion shows in 1991 and 1993 to raise funds for our chapter. In April 2007, we held our first bowl-a-thon fundraiser at the Mason Bowling Center, and the second was held in March of 2009. In March of 2010, we were guest grillers at Bd’s Mongolian Grill in Okemos, which raised funds for our Chapter.
In 2000, we worked for the Greater Lansing Home Builders Association at their annual “Parade of Homes” open-houses, as a fundraiser project. Our various members processed tickets and greeted guests who came to view the new home. We have continued this project for several years since 2000. We have committed to work at a new house in this year’s Parade of Homes.
In 2003, our Chapter hosted our first “Block Kids Competition” at the Delta Elementary School, with 15 student participants, and our second competition was held in 2004 at the same location. In 2008, we moved the event to the LCC West Campus, and joined forces with the Michigan Construction Career Council to draw more students, and we have successfully hosted over 60 students per year for the past three years. Our 2011 competition is taking place on January 29, 2011.
At the 2004 National Convention in NYC, our member Barbara Strachan was presented with a “Shining Star Award” from the National Education Foundation (NEF) for her outstanding commitment to the Block Kids participation at the NOVA Awards celebration, which is hosted by the Construction Innovation Forum. In 2006 at the National convention in Kansas City, Barbara received the 2006 “Tradeswoman Advocate of the Year”. Barbara is our own “Shining Star”!
Since 2006, the Lansing Chapter has actively been participating in the National “Annual Women in Construction Week”, which is designated every year around the first full week of March. We have received several proclamations from the various Mayors of Lansing, which recognized this week for women in construction. We have also received recognition on WILX Chanel 10 with a NAWIC mug, thanks to the efforts of Jane Smith.
Since 2007, our Chapter has participated in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk”, which is held in the fall of each year. Our Chapter’s own Barbara Strachan, a breast cancer survivor, has been inspirational in getting our members to participate in this annual walk event.
In April of 2008, we participated in the first Michigan Construction Career Days held at the Ingham County Fairgrounds in Mason. This event hosted approximately 2000 middle-high school students, and introduced them to construction careers. Some of our members have participated in the subsequent Career Days events held in 2009 and 2010.
In July of 2008, the first MAGIC Summer Camp was hosted by Oakland Community College, and supported by NAWIC. This camp has become an annual event since 2008. Several of our members have participated in this worthwhile event each year—(Mentoring a Girl in Construction—MAGIC).
In August of 2008, the Lansing Chapter was instrumental in the organization of the Saginaw Valley Chapter. Several of our members attended the chartering ceremony. Regretfully, this new chapter has since relinquished their Chapter’s charter, and is no longer active.
Every year, our Chapter hosts our “Annual Recognition Night to which we invite employers, the CAD/Design Drafting competition winners, our Block Kids Competition winners and the Scholarship recipients, along with all the parents of these students. At this special annual meeting, we showcase our Chapter’s activities, and recognize the talents and efforts of our members. We present one outstanding member with her NAWIC of the Year Award, and we also recognize our Chapter’s New Leader and Foremost Leader members, who will go onto compete at the Regional level, and are recognized at the Region 4 Spring Forum.
Many of our members have attended various Region 4 Forums, which are held in the spring of each year, and are hosted by a city within Region 4. The National Conventions, which are held in late summer of each year in various cities throughout the United States and Canada, have been well attended by our various members. Our Chapter has received many committee awards at these events throughout the years. Our members have benefited from the many Chapter monthly meetings over the years, at which there have been a wide range of industry and educational speakers.
Our Chapter and members have been involved in many community service projects throughout the years. In addition to our participation in the Habitat for Humanity projects in April of 2003 and November 2008, our members assembled Easter baskets for the children at the EVE shelter home in Lansing, and also the Angel House in Mason. In 2004, we received a community benefit award at Forum for our locker removal project at the YMCA to the VOA shelter. In 1992, our Chapter presented a check for $2500.00 to the Council Against Domestic Assault. We recently participated in collecting Christmas Angel gifts for the children at St. Vincent’s Children’s home, which were delivered in December 2010. Our Chapter and its members have worked on, and participated in many other community projects over the last 40 years. We are always willing to help the needy and less fortunate in our area.
In 2003, the Lansing Chapter hosted the first Michigan Statewide NAWIC Chapters’ meeting, and we have continued this tradition for about every year since 2003, as Lansing is a good central location for all chapters to travel to.
At the 50th Annual Forum for Region 4 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Lansing Chapter member, Melanie Myers was elected to the position of Region 4 Director for the two year term starting on October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2012. We are all proud of Melanie for her efforts and dedication to our Chapter and NAWIC.
The Lansing Chapter of NAWIC has remained active throughout the entire 40-year period. Our membership numbers have been as high as 40, but have remained closer to the original 29 members that we began the chapter with. Many women new to the construction industry join NAWIC to familiarize themselves with various areas of construction, including the strange lingo and all the acronyms. It is a great atmosphere to develop self-confidence and to learn and practice leadership skills. As members gain the confidence to succeed in non-traditional jobs, they often move on to organizations that are formed for specific trades. As most women are juggling career, family, professional and community obligations, we understand that some of our turnover in membership can be attributed to the success of our members in other areas of their lives. We always have a strong core membership that welcomes “new blood” each year and gives encouragement to those who move on to other things.
Co-researched and written by: Jane M. Smith and Ruth A. Essenberg – (2-20-2011)