On September 13, 1983, the Chapter was incorporated in the State of Louisiana, as a non-profit membership corporation.

 A contest was held by the membership for its name of the chapter newsletter.  Les Speques submitted by Roy Kuyrkendall received the most votes.  Thereafter, the monthly newsletter entitled Les Speques was published and sent to the membership and others in the design and construction industry.  Printing costs were covered by business card and quarter page ads, with postage supplemented by the Chapter.  The newsletter grew to an 8-page publication.  In 1995, the newsletter was compiled and distributed by broadcast FAX.  This newsletter became a 2-page publication.  No ads were needed since no printing costs were involved.

 The first Product Show was held in 1983 with 36 exhibits at Ashley Manor, under the chairmanship of Don Emden.  It proved to be very successful and well attended.  In 1985, the show grew to almost 90 exhibits, with the Mayor opening the event at the Bellemont Great Hall.  NAWIC was always helpful at the Chapter’s Product Shows by assisting with registration.  Since the early 1990’s, the Product Show was held at a steady 40 plus exhibits due to time constraints as the duration of the show was 4 hours.  The Chapter’s Annual Product Show has proved to be a continued success, and has become Baton Rouge’s favorite annual event for people in the commercial construction industry.

 In April 1985, CSI Baton Rouge hosted the Gulf States Region CSI Annual Convention.  Delegates and members from sister Chapters - Birmingham, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Little Rock, Memphis, Mississippi, Montgomery, Nashville, New Orleans, and Shreveport attended.  They were treated to a crawfish boil on Thursday night.  In addition to the customary programs, the Saturday night banquet was a departure from the traditional dinner event.  It was a first ever riverboat cruise with lady quartet singers entertaining members and their spouses after a cochon d’lait  dinner, which was greatly enjoyed by all.  This convention was a great success due to the great effort put forth not only by the entire Chapter, but also the spouses and friends.

 Two volumes of CSI’s Manual of Practice (MOP) were presented to LSU’s College of Design reference library at the Chapter’s Awards Banquet in July 1987.

 The first annual scholarship of $500 was presented by then Chapter President Timothy Lacy, CDT, to Dean Kenneth Carpenter of LSU’s College of Design in the Chapter’s Christmas Dinner Event in December 1987.  This scholarship was awarded to a student selected by the College of Design who met the criteria established by the Chapter.  Thereafter, this annual scholarship was contributed dependent upon the success of the Chapter’s Product Show each year.  It was awarded, by turn, to students of each school with design and construction curricula - architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, engineering and construction technology.

 Following the New Orleans Chapter’s example in helping CSI develop and grow in our State, the Chapter, largely under the efforts of then president Elliot Lormand, assisted CSI members in Lafayette in the formation and establishment of the Acadiana Chapter in 1987.

 In August 1990, Baton Rouge CSI co-hosted an experimental and the first Tri-Region CSI Leadership Conference in Atlanta.  This conference included three CSI Regions - Gulf States, South-East and South Central.

 The Chapter’s regular monthly meetings are educational events enjoyed by the membership and guests.  Many of these have been panel discussions involving noteworthy speakers, which were great learning sessions.  Panel discussion programs moderated by Clayton Smith are Chapter favorites.  Jerry Watts, CCS and Kittye Rouse, CCS, CCCA, presented an informative 3-part series on CSI’s Manual of Practice in 1995.

 When the State of Louisiana’s Architectural Licensing Board prescribed a voluntary continuing education program in 1994, the Chapter took the initiative in obtaining accreditation for its already educational monthly meeting programs.  By 1996, ten regular Chapter meetings accumulated 15 continuing education hours or CEH’s.  The State of Louisiana Architectural Licensing Board required a minimum of 12 continuing education hours or CEH’s as a requisite for renewal of licences.

 In honor and recognition of one of Baton Rouge CSI’s favorite sons, the Perry Brown Memorial Library was set up at the office of Brown and Brown in 1995.  The Chapter’s resource materials are placed there.

 Baton Rouge CSI Chapter president Coleman Brown, CCS, presented Certified Construction Contract Administration (CCCA) Education Modules to Louisiana Contractors’ Education Trust Fund (CETF) four schools of construction (LSU, Tech, North Eastern and Grambling) in October, 1996.  These CCCA modules were presented to professors representing the respective schools attending this presentation luncheon with AGC-CETF Committee at Baton Rouge Country Club.  This was BR-CSI’s small role with Louisiana AGC’s most generous $4,000,000 endowment to higher education for the state.

 Members Bob Lunsford, Don Emden and Robin Wright participated in a voluntary effort to assist Westdale Elementary School in a Student Garden Project in Fall of 1996.

 In helping CSI develop and grow in the Gulf States Region, Coleman Brown, CCS, and Rusty Miller from the Baton Rouge Chapter participated with others to form 2 new Chapters - the Mobile and Pensacola Chapters in March 1998.

 Baton Rouge hosted the Gulf States Region CSI Annual Convention in April 1998.  The convention theme was “Change....or else.”  Delegates and members from sister Chapters - Birmingham, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Little Rock, Memphis, Mississippi, Montgomery, Nashville, New Orleans, Pensacola, and Shreveport attended.  This CajunPolooza  event started with a crawfish boil and live band entertainment and dance.

 Also in April 1998, a student member from Southern University, Michael Anthony was announced the winner of the Dale C.Moll Student Institute Award, and he was the first recipient of our Chapter’s Perry L.Brown Memorial Scholarship Award.

 As a continuing effort to enhance and promote awareness of specifications and written construction documents in schools, Chapter members periodically speak voluntarily on related topics at student and professional events.

 In October 2001, the Southern University Student Unit (SUSA) chapter was formed as a result of coordination and organizational efforts of Russell Tessier.  In March 2002, Russell organized an Architectural Scavenger Hunt competition.  Students from Southern University and Louisiana State University participated.  The event was held at Southern University students’ pavilion.  A panel of judges reviewed the photographic presentation.  Cash prizes were awarded to winning entries.  The student’s winning entries were presented at the BR-CSI Products Show in May 2002.

 1997 Institute Membership Cup - Best Membership Growth

1997 Region Special Publication Award - Member Directory

1998 Region Membership Award - Best Percentage Growth

1998 Region Membership Award - Largest Number Growth (Baton Rouge tied with Knoxville Chapter)

1998 Region Special Publication Award - Products Show Poster

1999 Institute Outstanding Chapter Award

 1990 Education Chair   Sit Wong, CCS

1994 Region Incorporation Counsel   Steve Loeb

1996 Certification Chair   Kittye Rouse, CCS, CCCA

1997 Student Liaison Chair    Coleman Brown, CCS

1997 Certification Chair   Kittye Rouse, CCS, CCCA

1998 Certification Chair    Kittye Rouse, CCS, CCCA

1998 Audit Committee    Jerry Watts, CCS

1999 Finance Chair    Jerry Watts, CCS  

2002 thru 2004 Technical Chair    Coleman Brown, CCS

2002 thru 2004 Gulf States Region Director    Kittye Rouse, CCS, CCCA

 1998 Membership Committee    Coleman Brown, CCS

1999 thru 2001 Certification Committee   Kittye Rouse, CCS, CCCA

1999 thru 2001 Specifications Competition Committee   Sit Wong, CCS

Updated: 03/04/2009