Articles, Newsletters & Misc.
A Special Message from Your 2020-21 CALBO President
Dear CALBO Friends and Colleagues,
To most of us this year the holidays probably have a low key feel about them, but the sense of togetherness, joy, and hope are the hallmarks of this time of year remain.
It is that last feeling, hope, which CALBO holds to most right now. 2021 is just around the corner and though we will all be dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 for some time to come, there appears to be light at the end of this tunnel. 2021 will bring a vaccine and relief that though we have tragically lost so many in this country already, those numbers will slow and this disease will pass. We have strong hope that spring will bring opportunities for us to resume the great traditional in-person offerings CALBO is known for, a conference and training in May or June, and normal Education Weeks in the fall.
Until normalcy returns, CALBO continues to strive to offer its members the best training, advocacy, and camaraderie the current environment allows. I have been very pleased with the quality of the webinars we have produced so far, and see the value of continuing to offer webinars as a supplement to our trainings in the future. Again, I cannot thank CTI, the instructors, or CALBO staff enough for the hard work they have put into creating these valuable training offerings. But even more so, I want to thank you, the membership for also seeing the value in virtual training by attending the webinars in great numbers. You are the reason we exist and produce the training and perform the advocacy that we do.
While on the topic of training and support, I want to take a moment to tell you how excited and anxious I am for this month’s Virtual Education Week. This year’s Education Week is like nothing CALBO has done before. This pandemic will not stop us. In an effort to continue to provide the quality California specific training our members rely on, while also demonstrating California’s ability to innovate, adapt and overcome, we have prepared an Education Week like you have not seen before. This will not be simply a series of day long webinars; Education Week virtual attendees will get live video and real-time interaction with instructors, duplicating the interaction one would get in the classroom. But, this is more than a pandemic work around to keep good training going. This virtual Education Week is a launching pad for a new era of CALBO working in the digital realm. That said, we cannot do it without you. If you have ever thought “I wish I could get an Education Week style training without having to fly or drive” or your agency is like so many that have training funds, but travel and lodging monies are scarce, this is the Education Week you want to give a try. For the first time ever (maybe the only time) CALBO’s Education Week training is available to anyone with an internet connection. Anyone in the building safety industry on earth can now easily attend a CALBO Education Week.
So, check out the website, pick a class (or 4) and spread the word that CALBO and CTI training continues unabated. With your support I am eager to look back on this year as the time California’s building safety agencies came together and showed the world that nothing slows us down and that 2020 was the year we took challenges and made them opportunities to revolutionize how we do things.
In closing, I continue to wish you, your agencies, and your families’ health and wellness. May the holidays we celebrate this month be filled with merriment and I along with your CALBO Board of Directors and staff look forward to continuing to serve you in what I am sure will be a happy new year!
Stay well,
Shane G. Diller, M.P.A
Assistant Director, Development Services
City of Elk Grove
A CTI Chairman Update
Written by: Chairman Bob Latz
Dear CALBO Colleagues,
Pandemic. I don’t know about
you, but that was a word that was new to my vocabulary until this
past March. Since that time, like you I have been
working to change practices and procedures in this aggressively
changing environment. CALBO has been no exception to this,
and I wanted to share with you some insights over the past nine
months as the CTI Chair.
Just like our members, CALBO and CTI has adapted to the ever-changing protocols. We have tried hard to keep our educational offerings afloat and staggered throughout our populous state, but unfortunately, we had to cancel our in-person ABM and two of three of our Education Weeks. However, with adversity comes opportunity and I’m very proud of how we have seized great moments to shine as an organization and profession.
CALBO had “dabbled” in online training, but our goal was to roll out a robust, holistic virtual model that would offer an enhanced and personalized experience for the student. With the pandemic, we rolled these offerings out sooner than expected and they have been an unparalleled success. CALBO webinars last from 90-120 minutes each but are instructed by subject matter experts in real-time. This enables all students to participate, pose questions and participate in a simulated in-person setting. We have been very pleased by the response from both our students and online instructors. Please continue to check the CALBO website for the latest offerings. At this time, registration is open for 12 future webinars over the coming weeks.
Get Familiar with GoToWebinar – CALBO’s Online Training Platform!
Whether you are attending a CALBO webinar or Virtual Education Week courses, get familiar with GoToWebinar online training platform to ensure you are prepared for your next online training experience.
IMPORTANT: All webinars and virtual courses are broadcasted live on the GoToWebinar online platform. Follow these directions below to receive emails with your GoToWebinar personalized emails and to access the GoToWebinar platform. These steps are required for online attendance and CEU verification.
2020 CALBO Education Week: New Course Highlights
Did you know that there are almost a dozen newly developed courses offered this year at 2020 CALBO Education Week: Newport Beach?
The CALBO Training Institute (CTI) Commissioners have worked tirelessly to develop courses that are not only technically insightful and proficient, but provide real-life experiences that building-safety department staff encounter on a day-to-day basis. CTI’s goal is to furnish building department staff with tools to keep up-to-date on code changes and amendments, new technology, and advanced thinking on issues related to our industry.
With both in-person and virtual training options available, don’t miss one of these newly developed courses – register today!
New courses include:
- 2019 California Plumbing Code: Inspection Fundamentals (AM Half Day Course) - Monday, December 14, 2020
- 2019 California Mechanical Code: Inspection Fundamentals (PM Half Day Course) - Monday, December 14, 2020
- Accessory Dwelling Units and Accessory Structures for One and Two Family Dwellings - Monday, December 14, 2020
- How to Recognize and Avoid Common Errors and Oversights of Fire Protection System Inspections - Monday, December 14, 2020
- Understanding Wildfire Mitigation, Response and Recovery - Tuesday, December 15, 2020
- Code Compliance for Existing Residential Buildings - Tuesday, December 15, 2020
- 2019 California Electrical Code: Residential and Commercial Inspection Procedures - Wednesday, December 16, 2020
- Residential Plan Review - Wednesday, December 16, 2020
- Swimming Pools and Spas - Wednesday, December 16, 2020
- Tenant Improvements for Building Department Staff - Thursday, December 17, 2020
- Advanced Overview for Permit Technicians - Thursday, December 17, 2020
We look forward in seeing you either in-person or virtual at the 2020 CALBO Education Week: Newport Beach.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email the CALBO Office or call 916-457-1103.
A Special Message from Your 2020-21 CALBO President
Dear CALBO Friends and Colleagues,
Autumn is upon us. This time of year brings changes. Leaves turn bright colors; temperatures drop; conferences and trainings get cancelled, moved, and improved.
I hope that everyone’s families and staffs are healthy and safe. Whether it’s the continued threat of Covid-19, the impressive heatwaves we saw over the summer, or wildfires so many of us are dealing with, 2020 continues to have its challenges to meet and overcome. And overcome them we will. CALBO has long championed resilience, and not just in the seismic sense. CALBO as an organization, and you as its members, have spent the last 6 months developing new strategies to serve our industry and ensure that building safety does not take a backseat as other challenges arise. As CALBO President I, too, have adopted an attitude of resilience and innovation. I continue to reinforce that though we cannot serve you in the ways we are used to, with in-person trainings and conferences, CALBO needs to be a leader in finding new ways to ensure its members remain the best educated in our industry, with the best advocacy efforts in government.
Our upcoming hybrid Education Week is one of those innovative ways that CALBO is leading the way. We understand that for many in-person training is not practical or advisable right now, while some are looking forward to and able to go to such training. Well, I am pleased to report that we have something for everyone. From our on-going webinars, covering focused training topics, to in-person full-day training in Newport Beach in December, to the ability to attend that same full-day training via professional telecast, CALBO has improved how we train to cover all contingencies. Information about all these possibilities is on Professional Development page on the CALBO Website.
Being innovative means being flexible, and that is something we are very good at doing. As we look ahead to what 2021 brings, you have mine and the CALBO Board’s commitment to continue to find ways to serve and lead. As always, we cannot express how much we appreciate your feedback and support as we continue to move forward, and we look forward to exciting times ahead.
Stay well,
Shane G. Diller, M.P.A
Assistant Director, Development Services
City of Elk Grove