In 2005, we formed the Education Committee with the express purpose of bringing additional educational opportunities to all the members. After attending World Workplace in Philadelphia in 2005, we felt that the educational sessions offered to members attending were significant and valuable to our members' professional development. But what if you were not able to attend; how would you be able to gain some of that same information gathered at these sessions? We felt that through Round Tables and providing the same CFM Exam Review that we could bring these experiences to local members.

Then in an attempt to integrate our programs with our educational objectives, we combined the Education Committee into the Programs Committee. We now co-chair the Programs/Education Committee to better serve all the educational needs of our membership. We can plan our calendar of events together and share ideas, contacts and potential venues at one meeting.

Brown bag lunches had been used in the past as a means to discuss general FM issues but a more "CFM 9 Core Competencies" focus would be better we felt. We looked at the issues and the direction that our day-to-day FM experience provides all of us at work. We thought that a technical discussion amongst CFM's and other interested members and guests would better be called a Round Table. Why not focus on these core competencies for our future Round Table topics?

We decided to test what time of day and where to hold these Round Tables. We found by looking at attendance numbers that the after-work programs suited our members best and that locations with available parking within the city were also preferred.

• Our "sustainability" theme in 2006 brought us together to discuss such topics as:
• "Sustainable Landscape Design"
• "Recycling in 2006"
• "Lighting Design at the new PG&E Energy Center Lighting Lab"
• "HVAC Design Cost Savings"
• "LEED Certification-Real Savings"

We often ask ourselves what we can do to better the educational opportunities that we provide our members in our Programs and Round Tables throughout the year. These topics only begin to scratch the surface of potential topics. We're also very interested in supporting our Associate members and their educational needs. There are many educational topics that we could address in our Programs or our Roundtable formats, but we'd like to hear what you would like to discuss, compare or, in general learn more about. What's important to you and your professional life?

Please e-mail me at jrdilges@gene.com and let us know what's on your minds.

Thank you all,
John R. Dilges, AIA, CFM