B I T A A . O R G
B u i l d i n g I n s p e c t i o n T e c h n o l o g y
A l u m n i A s s o c i a t i o n
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B I T A A . O R G B u i l d i n g I n s p e c t i o n T e c h n o l o g y A l u m n i A s s o c i a t i o n |
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Updated 7-15-09 |
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In 2001 fellow Building Inspection Tech students, Karl Ford, Terre Gift and Larry LaDuke began discussing the need for an avenue to network with the other students in the BIT classes. Because the Portland Community College BIT program is designed for working students who take night classes, many BIT students did not have the opportunity to network. A few other students were taking double class loads and didn't have time to spend visiting either. In 2002, Terre Gift organized several meetings, out of which a committee was formed to draft up bylaws. Angel Swarthout, Leslie Shaw, Terre Gift and Don Hehman were among the most active in helping to put together the Bylaws. (Click here to see Bylaws. PDF) In the spring quarter of 2002-2003, a group of more than 20 BIT students adopted Bylaws and formed a charter to became the Building Inspection Technology Alumni Association - or BITAA for short. Eleven Executive Board members where selected: five officers, five board members, and the eleventh voting member being Steve Winstead as Faculty Advisor. Since that time we have had four more elections and our membership has more than tripled. In 2005 our membership had grown to nearly 70! WHAT WE HAVE DONE THROUGH BITAA One of the highlights to come out of BITAA is the Annual Fall Picnic. Our first Fall Picnic was held on the Clackamas River with the help of Chris McDonnell, Matt Brewster, Leslie Shaw and Terre Gift. It was held again at the same location in 2004. In 2005 & 2006 the annual picnics were held at Cook's Park. Other activities that have happened include more than three Code Contests and quarterly membership meetings that have included various guest speakers. The best outcome of our Alumni Association was the formation of the BITAA web site. This has allowed members to access links and information among our Association. Warren Hirsch volunteered to be our first webmaster and created our web site in 2003. Webmasters also included Terre Gift and Lorna Johnson. Lorna since created the BITAA Forum which allows our members to post questions, answers, and share. Since our formation, we have seen our BIT Alumni get placements in over 4 states, with both the private and public sector as Plans Examiners, Building Inspectors, Mechanical Inspectors, Permit Technicians, Special Inspectors, Lead Inspectors, Planners, and Building Officials. Each quarter we have students doing their Co-op Work Experience in the greater Portland/Vancouver area. Our presence is being felt in other ways as well. We have a BITAA representative serving on PCC's BIT Advisory Committee, WABO and OBOA's Educational Committees and at least two other ICC Chapter organizational committees. BITAA is officially recognized by PCC as their only student chartered Alumni Association and has given us status as a non-profit association under the PCC Foundation. All our funds are are handled through the PCC Foundation.
Minutes from BITAA Board meetings:
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