47
d
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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013
The weekend of 14-15 September saw
the UK’s NFDC gather for its annual
convention in the scenic splendour
surrounding the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland.
In keeping with the location and the nationality of the current
president, the event had a distinctive Scottish tinge
Clan gathering
R
enowned as a major centre for golf,
with three championship standard
courses in close proximity, the five star
Gleneagles Hotel sits in the heart of the rolling
countryside of Perthshire north of the Scottish
city of Stirling. Fittingly on the event’s return
to British shores after several forays abroad,
the venue is one well known to the Federation,
in that two previous Conventions have been
held in its majestic surroundings.
Stirling provided the venue for the opening
dinner of the event when the delegates
descended on the renovated Great Hall in
the heart of Stirling Castle to enjoy a fine
meal in the medieval atmosphere of the Hall
after watching a display of martial arts– and
a lesson in donning the Great Kilt - in the
courtyard before the hall.
Prior to the evening, numerous members
of the Federation took on the challenge of
the King’s Course at Gleneagles, scene of a
number of Scottish Open Golf
Championships, and the course
proved no respecter of position,
as the NFDC president found
out on the 14th hole, when a
bunker proved more than a little
challenging to get out of.
Saturday saw the usual half
year business meeting, after
Vegas
line-up
unveiled
The National Demolition Association has
announced the programme of formal
events for its 41st Annual Convention
that is being held once again at the
Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, USA, on
22-25 February 2013.
The keynote speaker for 2014 is Dr
Steven Chu, former US energy secretary,
who will present on the world’s energy
future and the ways in which government
and industry have worked together to
make the USA more energy independent.
According to the NDA, the 2014
convention will feature a combination
of state-of-the-art technologies, quality
speakers and lively entertainment.
D&Ri
understands that the NFDC’s high reach
simulator will be making the trip across
the Atlantic for the event and it will be
joined at the show by Cat’s excavator
simulator. For the first time, the
Association will be offering a Leadership
Development Program that has been
designed for contractors, project
managers, estimators, superintendents
and foreman. This limited enrolment
programme will help attendees develop
the leadership skills they need to help
grow their organisation. This forms
a part of the NDA’s new Education
Initiative.
On the 28 February, three separate
technical sessions will be held, with
the first covering the state of the US
construction industry and its economic
position following the downturn of recent
years. The second will provide a set of
in-depth recommendations concerning
the recruitment and retention of key
members of a company’s management
team. The final session will cover the
new NDA member services available
that are designed to assit members
to access information and train their
employees.
As always, social events are an
important part of the NDA convention
programme and each year a ‘theme’
governs these. In 2014, the theme will
be the ‘NDA in paradise’ and in this case
paradise is the Caribbean. It conjures up
the image of leading figures in the US
demolition industry in loud shirts, straw
hats and fip-flops on the theme night
party on the Monday night.
ASSOCIATIONS
which delegates had an informal meal in
the hotel. The major social gathering of the
event was the black tie Gala Dinner on the
Saturday night, with attendees being piped
into the dining room by the son of the NFDC
president, David Sinclair, following a cocktail
reception. Continuing the Scottish theme,
David Sinclair (senior) made the address to the
haggis in the presence of his grandson (who
did not have whiskey in his glass when the
toast was made).
The evening was rounded off by
entertainment from the Red Hot Chili Pipers,
who were joined on stage by young David,
following his escape from school at Fettes
College for the weekend – no mean feat in
itself.
The event was brought to a close on the
Sunday night with an informal dinner at the
hotel, where once again the excellent food and
service was a delight.
■
The Gleneagles Hotel
was a stunning setting for
the NFDC’s Annual Convention
Entertainment at the Gala Dinner
was provided by the Red Hot Chilli
Pipers and David Sinclair Jnr, son of
president William Sinclair
