The Forum is off to a productive start in 2013. Editing this newsletter makes me keenly aware of just how much goes on within the Forum, how hard the Forum’s leaders work, and how valuable Forum membership can be if you take advantage of it.

In his “Message From the Chair Elect,” Terrence L. Brookie provides the Forum’s newly adopted strategic plan for 2012 to 2016. The Forum’s mission is to “Build the Best Construction Lawyers.” The first goal to achieve this is:

Become the construction lawyer’s primary resource for professional development and thought leadership.

Once you read this issue of Under Construction, you’ll see that even if you cannot attend Forum meetings, numerous ways remain for you to implement the strategic plan, take advantage of other opportunities the Forum provides, and be a part of the Forum community.

Under Construction introduces several new features in this issue. The first is a “Report from the Division Chairs.” This issue includes reports from Divisions 3, 6, 7, 10, and YLD. In the next issue, the Divisions you didn’t hear from in this issue will provide their reports. While most of you are familiar with what goes on in your Division, you may not be familiar with the activities of the other Divisions. Activities range from collaborating on the Forum’s books to hosting presentations, such as Divisions 3’s recent programs on “The Design Professional’s Duty to Defend,” and Division 6’s upcoming program on “Investing in Wellness: Commitment and Compliance” at the Midwinter Meeting in Naples. Each Division holds a monthly teleconference where you can stay connected and learn about opportunities to volunteer. By reading each Division report, you’ll learn about the benefits of active involvement at the Division level and how to get involved.

The second new feature -- and another way to stay connected -- comes from the report of Kristine A. Kube, who chairs the Distance Learning Subcommittee of the Special Programs and Education Committee (“SPEC”). The report includes a schedule of programs offered from now through May 2013. The Forum’s Distance Learning Subcommittee offers high-tech webinars and podcast replays to Forum members, a great way to get high quality CLE at your desk.

John H. Tarlow and Joseph C. Kovars, the Program Chairs, hope you are attending the 2013 Midwinter Meeting on January 31st at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Florida, called “Making Dollars and Sense of Construction Dollars.”

Also not to miss in this edition of Under Construction: the Announcement of the Forum Nominating Committee for 2012-13 and the Young Lawyers write up of its 2012 Fall Community Services Project during the Forum’s Fall program in Boston.

In addition to Forum news, Under Construction also includes several substantive articles addressing a broad spectrum of construction law related topics. Roberto Hernandez Garcia provides another international perspective with an article on Private Public Partnerships in Mexico. Patricia A. Meagher contributed an update and a how-to article on qualifying for the Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Program. Derek T. Werner provided an update from the courts and another case where statute of limitations or repose has been chipped away at when it comes to actions by a state. We also have a “Construction Law Basics” article by Frank A. Hess and Richard R. Robinson on the top ten prime contract provisions to negotiate with an owner. This is a refresher for some of you or a great primer for those readers relatively new to practicing construction law.