November/December 2023 - 7

GIANFRANCO DI CICCO
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
DFI Giving Back to the Industry
In the last issue of Deep Foundations, I
underlined the concepts of improvement
and advancement for DFI.
However, I did not mention one of the
most important and successful improvements
we have implemented
in our organization: The decision in
2011 to start the Committee Project
Fund (CPF).
The following were the determining
factors that led to the decision to start
the CPF program:
1. The realization of the difficulties of
having volunteers continue to
support the committees' projects.
2. The importance of " revitalizing the
DFI technical committees. "
3. The surplus revenue that DFI was
accumulating every year (and was
wisely investing).
4. The recognized need to give back to
the membership and the industry,
in general.
The combination of all the above
factors led to the finalization of the CPF
program. Notice, another advancement,
not a change.
There is no doubt about the impact
of DFI giving back to the industry with
an incredible number of research,
technical and guideline projects already
delivered (and under finalization) by our
technical committees. Additionally, an
important part of the CPF program has
been the investment in projects that we
have shared with the European Federation
of Foundation Contractors, from the
carbon calculator initiative to the development
of various guidelines. However,
to validate the effectiveness of the investment
provided through the CPF, the
challenge we face is how to collect information
from the membership on the
direct impact of the material and documents
produced by the CPF program.
continues to benefit from the existence
of our organization and this program.
This needs to be ongoing, while
recognizing even more the increasing
difficulties for volunteers to commit to
participating in committee projects.
In the previous issue of the magazine,
we mentioned that the DFI
Executive Committee is planning a twoday
strategy meeting to discuss what
needs to be done to improve and
advance DFI services to the industry,
There is no doubt about the impact of DFI giving back
to the industry with an incredible number of research,
technical and guideline projects already delivered
(and under finalization) by our technical committees.
Receiving information regarding
where and how any of the completed
CPF studies have been used will not
only help us to justify the importance
of continuing to give back when
economically possible, but also helps
to further recognize the excellent work
done by all the participants of the
program over the last decade.
At the same time, it will be important
to understand from the membership
(not just from the committees) where
DFI should continue to invest and how
to ensure the foundation industry
including the discussion on continuing
and improving the CPF program.
Focusing on understanding DFI's
current and future challenges, the
important interconnection with the DFI
Educational Trust will be part of the
discussion in order to prepare for our
annual winter planning meeting with
the board and the committee chairs.
We welcome not only your suggestions,
but also your input on where
you have seen any of the CPF projects
applied in your work. DFI is your
organization, we are here to serve you!
Contact Gianfranco Di Cicco at gianfranco.dicicco@bauerfoundations.com
DEEP FOUNDATIONS * NOV/DEC 2023 * 7
November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2023
