As we put 2017 behind us, we look back and reflect on everything that happened in Texas. We experienced floods, tornadoes, wind storms, hail storms, and Hurricane Harvey. As an organization, we banded together and helped the citizens of Texas with an awesome Disaster Response Team. Under the leadership of Jim Olk, Jeffery Widmer, and Teresa Adrian, our response team, along with numerous volunteers, completed close to 20,000 rapid inspections to help the citizens of Texas either rebuild or lead them to a better way to start rebuilding their lives.
BOAT has a lot in store for you this year. We have entered into an agreement with the Irving Convention Center to hold the North Texas BPI (formerly Arlington BPI). We will have plenty of parking and almost all classes are on the same convention center floor. In past years, we had to contend with Mother Nature during lunch since meals were served outside. That will not be a problem this year, because all meals will be served inside! And, there will be plenty do at night with the Music Factory next door and many nearby restaurants.
Our 2018 Annual Conference will be in the great City of Amarillo on August 7-10. We will have a lot of educational tracks for building officials, and are looking at partnering with the State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas to provide training for fire departments in the Texas Panhandle. To name a few highlights: the popular Texas Shoot Out will open the Conference; we will watch the outdoor musical Texas at Palo Duro Canyon; our awards banquet will be held at the Panhandle Plains Museum; and our golf outing will close the Conference. Initial details are already posted on the BOAT website, and registration is open. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or Lauren Grossman, our TML coordinator, at anytime.
Mike Olson, CFM, Director of Community Development, City of McGregor
BOAT President