Community Projects
The Construction Partnership
and its members have been part of the community for several
years.
We believe that by supporting
the community in different ways we can help make a difference
in the quality of life for our neighbors. Here are some
examples of our community involvement.
Good Samaritan Dental Clinic
In Oct 2001, a partnership of Olmsted County Public Health,
Zumbro Valley Dental Society, the Salvation Army, Rochester
Community and Technical College, Olmsted County Social Services
and Mayo Clinic began the process of developing and planning
to implement a low-income dental clinic. This community dental
clinic, for Olmsted County, would provide basic dental services
to those unable to access essential dental services due to
financial constraints. In Nov 2001, Construction Partnership,
Inc. was approached by Mayo Clinic asking for our support
to help renovate the building.
Mayo Clinic purchased the
old Safelite Auto Glass property and donated the building
to the Salvation Army for the new
dental clinic. The board members of Construction
Partnership were proud to accept the challenge as general contractor for the
renovation of the building. This was by far the largest community service project
Construction Partnership Inc. has been asked to assist in for our community.
Renovation of the building began in March of 2002 and was
a true community effort. The Salvation Army sponsored the
project and assisted in the fund raising, Olmsted
County officials supported the project through grant applications, local union
contractors graciously donated materials and the use of equipment, and local
union construction workers volunteered over 1,520 work hours.
The project was
completed in May of 2002, ahead of schedule and way under budget. A phenomenal
90 percent under budget! The total bill for the complete renovation
of the building ended up to be only $9,760.05! Thank you to all you helped
or contributed in any way to the Good Samartian Dental Clinic,
because of you, ‘the
dream came true’.
The Salvation Army manages the operations of the clinic
and began seeing patients the first week of June 2002.
Thanks to all of you, our community is a better place for
all to live.
Rochester's Century High School sign
 I was asked in the spring of this year if I knew of anyone
who might volunteer their time to construct 2 masonry piers
for a Century High School stone sign that was donated by
the graduating class of 2000. I asked Don De Keyrel, of Construction
Partnership, if he knew of anyone. He gave me Mark Caron's
name and phone number. Mark was very willing to donate his
time to lay the 2 block piers that would support the sign.
Alvin E. Benike, Inc. donated the block for the piers and
the sign was set in place by Rich Bakken and his crew.
Seasons Hospice Play Set
 Thanks to the generosity of Drs. Jonathan and Mary Evans
and Construction Partnership, Seasons Hospice families now
have a beautiful spot for children to spend some play time.
When Dr. Jonathan Evans, Medical Director of Seasons Hospice,
accepted a position in Virginia, he and his wife decided
they wanted to donate their children's Rainbow play set to
the Hospice House. This presented
a dilemma for the staff of Seasons, who were anxious to have
this play set available for the children and grandchildren
of their hospice families. The play set, measuring 20 feet
by 10 feet, needed expert help to get to its new home. That
is where the expertise  of Construction Partnership was needed.
Pam Schaid, Administrator of Season Hospice, called Don De
Keyrel at CPI asking for his help or advice to relocate the
play set. Don indicated that this was just the kind of project
that CPI had the interest and willingness to offer as a service
to community organizations.
After coordination efforts through CPI, the date to move
the play set was set. The crew assembled at Dr. Evans' home
to begin the task. The play set was partially disassembled,
carried to the flat bed in large pieces and began the journey
to Seasons Hospice. Within an hour, the play set was  reassembled
in its new location, set in the shade with a view of the
pond. A picnic table, also donated by the Evans family, completed
the play area. The positive attitude and willingness of the
volunteers to make this endeavor a success overcame the heat
and humidity of the day.
Seasons Hospice provides home hospice care and residential
hospice services to persons living with terminal illness.
Seasons serves six counties in southeastern Minnesota. The
focus of hospice is comfort of quality of life at the end
of life when a traditional medical approach is no longer
appropriate or desired. Hospice affirms and cherishes life,
helping each person live each day to the fullest extent possible.
The staff at Seasons Hospice expresses their gratitude to
CPI for helping to bring joy into the lives of their patients
at the Hospice House by helping to create a pleasant spot
for families to spend time together.
-Pam Schaid
Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Wall
 In 1965 the Vietnam War had been going on for quite some
time. Support for our sons and daughters in that far away
land was eroding rapidly. Demonstrators at home and abroad
were continuing at an alarming rate. Many factors including
our Vietnam war strategy, put our troops in a position where
we could not win.
When our heroes who answered their countries call arrived
back in the United States, they were treated shamelessly
by many of the very people they were serving. It was a sad
time in the history of our country.
In 1965 the Rochester
Jaycees spearheaded the adoption of
the 173d Airborne Brigade. This project was designed
to show our support for our sons and daughters who were serving
their country so far away from home. This quickly became
a city wide project. Jaycees, nurses, girl scouts, boy
scouts and the entire city became involved. Items that
could be used for health and cleanliness were collected,
filling two train boxcars for shipment to Vietnam and the
173d. Rochester was the second city in the nation
to show support for our Vietnam Veterans by adopting a
Vietnam fighting unit.
It was not until the 173d returned to Rochester
for their annual reunion in 1995 that Rochester found out
how important the adoption was some 30 years earlier. Rochester
gave the returning 173d heroes the welcome that
they so richly deserved. The 173d participated
in the Rochesterfest parade
and all along the parade route the entire city stood and
honored those returning heroes.
The Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial that you see today,
is the result of the seed planted in 1965 that started to
grow in 1995. The original idea to have a memorial plaque
honoring the 173d grew to include every significant
conflict from our Civil War to the Golf War. Reminding us
all that the freedom we enjoy is not free.
Stewartville High School Handicap Accessible Restroom
 During the summer of 2000, Stewartville High School received
a new handicap accessible restroom courtesy of Construction
Partnership, union construction contractors, and local unions.
When the Stewartville Special Education courses moved into
a new room at the high school, new handicap accessible restroom
facilities were needed.
As in the past, Construction Partnership believes in giving
back to the community that we serve. Therefore CPI volunteered
to handle the construction and installation of the restroom
facilities.
With the donations of materials and labor from Rochester
contractors and unions, the project was completed with no
cost to the school district. This allowed the Stewartville
Special Education program to purchase a much-needed stacked
washer and dryer and a refrigerator with a water and ice
dispenser in the door in order to better serve the needs
of the students.
The Heat Goes On Program
 The Heat Goes On program was developed because there was
a need for the elderly, low income and families with special
needs to have clean and safe operating furnaces. Since 1990,
the Construction Partnership professional union servicemen
have volunteered to check and clean hundreds of furnaces
in the homes of these neighbors.
The Cub Scout Adventure Camp
The Construction Partnership has always been concerned about
the youth in our communities and realizes that kids need
to grow up in a positive environment. For that reason we
have financially supported the construction of the Cub Scout
Adventure Camp enabling all youth in this area to enjoy and
socialize in positive scouting activities.
Habitat For Humanity
 If there is a Habitat Home being built or refurbished the
Construction Partnership and the local union trades pitch
in and lend a hand. We feel that by supporting those in need
you'll help those who want to help themselves -- which helps
grow a healthy community.
Preserving the Historical Stoppel Farmhouse
 Looking back at our past has always been a way of learning.
The Olmsted Historical Society holds much of the areas historical
information including actual exhibits such as the George
Stoppel Farmhouse. The Construction Partnership has agreed
to help preserve this building by replacing a failing roof
which will enable visitors to experience what the lifestyle
was a hundred years ago.
Women's Open
The Construction Partnership, along with KTTC, established
the American Cancer Society's Women's Open Golf Tournament
in a effort to raise funds for breast cancer education and
research. We believe that our sponsorship has helped many
women learn more about breast cancer and become more aware
of the warnings signs and steps they can take to protect
themselves. The American Cancer Society's Women's Open Golf
Tournament continue as an annual event in Rochester.
Honkers
 The Rochester Honkers have helped the Northwoods League
become one of the premier summer collegiate baseball leagues
in the nation. Volunteers from local union construction trades
and union contractors helped the Honkers home get a facelift
with the addition of partially enclosed luxury box seats,
an additional utility press box, as well as a new concession
stand.
Skate Park at Graham Arena
 Construction Partnership realizes that the teenage population
in our community needs to have places in which to pursue
their interests. For that reason, when local teenagers approached
the Rochester Park and Recreation Department with the idea
of building a skate park, and then raised the money to do
so, local union contractors did the work at cost. The Skate
Park at Graham Arena is a great place for skateboarders and
in-line skaters to practice their skills and make friends
who have similar interests.
Ronald McDonald House
 In 1993, the union construction industry was approached
by Linda Bono, the Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald
House. The mission was a new house for Rochester. With a
$50,000 donation from the Rochester Labor Temple, donated
materials from A. E. Benike Construction, volunteer labor
from union craftsperson, and a community fund drive, the
new Rochester Ronald McDonald House was occupied in 1995.
Due to the growing need, expansion is under consideration.
As partners, we'll be there.
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