Like a lot of other people, I have been looking for ways to help out with the tragedy in Haiti. Friends of mine, Turk and Christy Pipkin, who formed The Nobelity Project nonprofit and have two movies out, the most recent, "One Peace at a Time," are also doing project work in Haiti.

Because of this, the golf tournament that I am organizing on Feb. 23 in Austin, will go to support The Nobelity Project and Architecture for Humanity's work in Haiti.

Christy Pipkin will speak at dinner, following the tournament.

Details: http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=e8fae70a-20f2-4413-9389-10e8cdf41c59


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From Turk Pipkin on Facebook: The latest documentary feature from Turk Pipkin and The Nobelity Project looks at the possibility of providing basic rights to every child. Filmed in 20 countries on 5 continents, One Peace at a Time features Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus, US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Helene Gayle, Architecture for Humanity’s Cameron Sinclair, and American legend and activist for peace Willie Nelson. Watch the film’s trailer and learn more about The Nobelity Project at: www.nobelity.org

Architecture for Humanity works primarily in the reconstruction phase of post disaster situations and will be focused on both transitional and permanent housing and community structures. AfH has partnered with Yele Haiti, AIDG and other local groups by supplying them with pro bono construction and design professionals, setting up community housing resource centers and support in the design and building of earthquake resistant structures.

To make a direct donation to Architecture for Humanity’s Rebuild Haiti Fund, go to:
www.architectureforhumanity.org

AfH is a principal partner with The Nobelity Project in the building of Mahiga Hope High School in Kenya. Engineering and designs for the award-winning RainWater Court at Mahiga Hope High are one of the fundamental building blocks of upcoming community structures in Haiti.

To learn more about Mahiga Hope High School, or to support the 1000 Voices for Hope campaign, go to:
http://nobelity.org/1000-voices-for-hope/

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I personally invite you to do whatever you can to help the thousands of lives that have been destroyed by the earthquake in Haiti.

If you golf and would like to join us on Feb. 23 at Barton Creek Resort in Austin, you may find details and register on-line at: http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=e8fae70a-20f2-4413-9389-10e8cdf41c59

For non-golfers and guests, for $35 you can just join us for a great dinner at The County Line on the Hill, in Austin.

Call me at: (512) 263-5521

Today I had lunch with an engineer friend of mine who does a lot of higher education work. I asked him how his business was going. He said 2007 was his best year, 2008 was slower, and 2009 slower than 2008. What he sees is that the current workload is moving into construction, which means that his engineering work, of course, is reduced.

The University of Texas (UT) is still the largest higher education Owner pushing out construction, and MB Galveston has the lion's share of work. Most of this work is being contracted to Houston-area firms, which makes sense. Still, if you kook at the current UT System Capital Improvement Program (CIP) you will see that many of the project schedules have been pushed WAY down the road, like from 2010 to 2014.

As the current UT projects are completed , what is the prospect for new work in 2011 or 2012? With a renewed interest in community colleges, this may be where future construction dollars are headed...