commercial plan reading courses

Blueprint Reading Course – A Basic Online Training

• August 18, 2023

Table of Contents

Taking a Blueprint Reading Course is the first step in developing an essential skill for any construction professional.

Construction blueprints are 2-dimensional design drawings created by architects that indicate to builders the size of planned structures.

They also indicate placement of features, details for its construction, and what materials are to be used.

Blueprints provide builders with critical information on foundations, structural components, plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, and in some cases landscaping.

Furthermore, they indicate necessary information to estimate: Cost of materials, labor, and time frame to project completion. 

Blueprint Reading for General Contractors

Generally, a developer hires a designer or architect to create the construction blueprint which is delivered to a General Contractor.

The General Contractor's job is to see the project to completion within a specified budget and time frame.

This blueprint reading course will give you a snapshot of the various types of blueprints used across the different trades.

For example, someone installing pre-fabricated equipment like a filing cabinet or desk may look at blueprints to make sure they aren’t obstructing a light switch or raised flooring system. 

Likewise, a General Contractor may inspect a blueprint to calculate materials and labor needed for a home build.

General Contractor License

It is critical that a general contractor possesses at the very least basic blueprint reading skills. For this reason, the General Contractor license exam will also require blueprint reading skills.

Equally important, for a licensed contractor hoping to win bids and get hired for more lucrative jobs, blueprint reading becomes a necessity. There are many books and programs available to help you learn this critical skill.

The most effective method would be to take an in-school blueprint reading course. Quickly identifying electrical and foundation plans, exterior elevations, wall elevations, and interior plans will make your life easier.

Furthermore, it will create a sense of ease in your potential clients that they are dealing with a professional.

Blue Print Reading Course

Floor plans.

• Floor Plans show relationships between various rooms and spaces on one level of a structure. 
• Drawings are shown from above and identify room sizes and wall lengths. 
• Floor plans often include indications of water heaters, furnaces, sinks and electrical units.
• Often floor plans may consist of notes on specific finishing or electrical items.

Electrical Plans

Electrical plans indicate various aspects of an electrical system including sockets, outlets, wiring, and in some cases heating ventilation, and air conditioning. 

Understanding blueprints and correctly identifying areas to safely access and install or repair wiring are crucial skills for any electrical contractor.

Plot plans indicate an entire construction site and its immediate area including the position of roads, utility runs, surrounding buildings, elements surrounding the job site, and landscape.

They show a bird’s eye view of the proposed construction area giving contractors perspective and critical information prior to or during a build.

Multi-View Drawings

• Multi-View drawings may show one portion of a design in greater detail within one page of a single print. 
• Top View, Front View, Isometric and right-side drawings often make up the four quadrants of print.
• Multi-View drawings give contractors a better understanding of how a single aspect of the design will look once completed by showing the finished and may also indicate how much space it will require. 

Isometric Projection Drawings

Isometric drawings essentially create a perspective for builders to understand better how various parts will fit together once completed. 

They may show multiple sides or a three-dimensional view of a structure and often include various dimensions as part of the blueprint. 

Isometric perspective is an invaluable tool for engineers and is a critical aspect of an architect’s skill set.

Elevations are two-dimensional drawings of structures and indicate what a construction project will look like once finished from a flattened perspective.

Elevation prints typically consist of front, side, and rear elevations. In some blueprints, they may be written as north, south, east, or west.

Concept Drawings

Sometimes referred to as sketches. Concepts drawings are simple freehand ways of illustrating ideas for designs.

They are not intended to be accurate necessarily, but more to communicate design concepts and principles quickly and easily.

CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design and refers to various types of computer and design software that are used to create and alter construction blueprints.

The software creates 2D and 3D designs which ideally reduce production costs and errors. 

There are various specialized CAD software systems available that can produce an array of precision drawings as well as technical illustrations.

Construction Math

Math skills are critical skills for construction professionals.

A typical blueprint reading course will require you to have a foundational knowledge of various math concepts.

There are also books available that will teach you the basics and valuable math skills in the construction world.

Fundamental skills you will need to know include:

• Using tape measures
• Fractions to decimal, and inches to fee
• Percent of increase & decrease
• Adding mark up
• Standard Formulas

You will want to be familiar with all of these fundamental concepts.

Being able to calculate roof framing, estimating paint, identifying essential measurements you must know, and calculating area are critical.

With some diligence and focus, you can quickly learn all of this.

​​​​ Technical Drawing

Technical drawing is a discipline that refers to composing technical drawings which communicate how something may function or how it should be constructed.

Sometimes these types of professionals are referred to as a draftsperson or drafter. 

• Technical drawings provide essential information including perspectives 
• Units of measurement
• Various visual styles
• Notation systems

Aspects of the drawings may vary depending on the area of construction, engineering, or architecture.

Generally, technical drawings all follow a codified international standard known as ISO 128.

Finding a Blueprint Reading Course

There are several abbreviations and symbols that are critical to you fully understanding the design.

Books and software systems can help you learn quickly.  

Most blueprint reading books and software teach you: 

• Plot topography sections
• Match drawing symbols with their meanings
• Making measurements using an architects scale
• Interpret construction requirements specified on architectural drawings
• Explain the difference between True north and Plan North
• Read Contour lines
• Recognize common features of site plans
• Understand stair details and terms
• Recognize metal framing systems
• Recognize plumbing fixture symbols on prints
• Identify standard dimensioning practices
• Identify HVAC and electrical symbols
• Estimate a cost sheet
• Read a piping diagram

The books below are all excellent resources to begin your journey of learning how to read blueprints.

A thorough understanding of blueprint reading is often a critical aspect of obtaining a contractor license .

For a more in-depth look into the licensing process, you can check out our articles that break it all down.

Continuing education is vital and a construction professional never stops learning. 

Invest in yourself

In summary, people pay you based on the skills you bring to the table. A blueprint reading course much like a certification or license is critical to moving up in your industry.

Your goal in every job should be to instill in your clients a sense of confidence in you. That confidence must begin inside of you.

Those that take the time to invest in themselves and their career almost always end up on top.

While this is a very basic blueprint reading course, designed to give you a brief introduction to the world of construction blueprints.

Below you will find a list of some of the most comprehensive options available. Choose the blueprint reading course that best fits your skill level.

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1. Take the online course at your convenience2. At the end of the course, print your certificate of completion

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What You Can Expect to Learn in a Blueprint Reading Course

Blueprint reading is an essential skill for everyone in the construction industry. Whether you are on-site, in the trailer, or back at the office, your ability to read and interpret blueprints can help your company and boost your career. Taking a blueprint reading course is a career-changing decision for any construction professional.  Construction Experts Inc’s 103 Construction Blueprint Reading students have 24-hour access to online blueprint instruction everyday of the week with new content released each week. 

Our courses are developed for active construction professionals both new and experienced in the industry. A unique feature that sets this blueprint reading course apart is the ability to communicate, problem solve, ask questions to a group of construction professionals and get answers. Students post comments daily to the discussion forums providing food for thought and resources.

Our blueprint reading classes showcase the voice of the construction expert throughout the lectures. There is a construction expert available to answer your questions every week. Our classes do not require live participation on a certain day and time. We provide an online community integrating flexibility, practical information, weekly practice, and convenience for busy construction professionals as you learn the lines, symbols, notes, and meaning of the various sections, plans, and schedules available.

In a blueprint reading course, you can expect to learn the following:

In a blueprint reading course, you will learn how to read commercial plans. This includes understanding the symbols and abbreviations used in the plans, as well as learning how to interpret the various views and sections of a plan. You will also learn how to identify the different types of drawings used in commercial plans, such as floor plans, elevations, and sections.

2. Understanding Residential Plans

Residential plans are different from commercial plans in that they are usually less complex. However, understanding residential plans is still important for anyone working in the construction industry. In a blueprint reading course, you will learn how to read and interpret residential plans, which may include single-family homes, duplexes, and multi-family buildings.

3. Plan Reading Techniques

In 103 Construction Blueprint Reading course, you will learn the techniques used to read construction plans. This may include understanding the scale of the drawings, measuring distances and angles, and calculating areas and volumes. You will also learn how to use various tools, such as rulers and calculators, to help you read and interpret the plans.

4. Interpreting Symbols and Abbreviations

Blueprints use a variety of symbols and abbreviations to convey information about the construction project. In a blueprint reading course, you will learn how to interpret these symbols and abbreviations, which may include electrical symbols, plumbing symbols, and structural symbols. You will also learn how to identify common abbreviations used in construction plans.

5. Answering Basic Construction Questions

Blueprint reading courses will also teach you how to answer basic construction questions related to the layout and installation of materials at the job site. This may include questions about the placement of walls, windows, and doors, as well as questions about the installation of electrical and plumbing systems.

A blueprint reading course is essential for anyone working in the construction industry. It will teach you the skills and knowledge needed to read and interpret construction plans, which will help you to better understand the layout and installation of materials at the job site.

Get Started with a Blueprint Reading Course

Construction Experts Inc . is a dedicated team of highly qualified professionals with more than 350 years of combined experience in the industry. Our goal is to equip our students with a variety of resources and collaborative practice in every aspect of construction. 

Visit our blueprint reading class page to learn more or register. 

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Lisa Thibodeaux

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Blue Print Reading

$ 295.00

Tuition includes the cost of hosting and instructor support for 3 months from the date of enrollment. Extensions available at $100 per month only.

Total cost for the online course is only $295.00, not including textbook. I do not include the text book, because it can be purchased online used, for a very minimal fee, or it can be purchased new, from our online book store too.

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NEW: Blue Print Reading Course Updated for the 6th Edition of Printreading for Residential and Light Commercial Construction

About This  Blueprint Reading Course

Candidates,

Thank you for your interest in Turnkey Construction Management Institute’s Online Residential and Light Commercial Blueprint Reading Course .

The online blueprint reading course is designed to be completed Online via our Virtual Campus. It includes video lessons, reading assignments, blueprints, tests and quizzes that can all be completed online and at your own pace. Graduates will understand elevations, details, section views, floor plans, plot plans and other parts of drawings. We will introduce students to the symbols used to show building materials, review specifications of a one family dwelling and its construction details. They will also learn about different types of framing construction as well as being able to understand a CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) generated set of prints of a commercial building.

Total cost for the online blueprint reading course is only $295.00, not including textbook. I do not include the text book, because it can be purchased online used, for a very minimal fee, or it can be purchased new, from our online book store too.

For further information, please email your questions, or request a phone meeting at [email protected].

Robert W. Turney CEO/Executive Director/Instructor Turnkey Construction Management Institute www.turnkeyinstitute.com [email protected]

Additional Supplies Not Included with Course:

Printreading for Residential and Light Commercial Construction, 6th Edition

Staedtler 12-Inches Architect Triangular Scale

Calculated Industries 4065 Construction Master Pro Advanced Construction Math Calculator

Recommended Reading: Craftsman’s Illustrated Dictionary of Construction Terms

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PFC 102 - Blueprint Reading for Commercial Construction

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What you will learn

About this course

Learn to read blueprints. "Blueprint" is the historic name for construction documents. Contractors build the design and follow the drawings included in the set of "blueprints."

Led by your instructor, who is a licensed architect, you will review the construction documents for a real-world, mixed-use commercial project which includes hotel, retail and parking. We will walk through the set of architectural and all engineering construction documents. We will also review the project specifications for the mixed-use project

Many people in the construction industry can benefit professionally by learning how to read a set of blueprints, also known as construction documents (CDs).

VDCI encourages a strong online engagement. Participate in group discussion forums. Connect with your instructor and message your classmates. Join us in the VDCI Student Lounge, where our current students and alumni share information and help one another.

At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to make the connections and references between multiple documents contained in a set of blueprint drawings and will be qualified to enroll in the AutoCAD courses.

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750+ Learners 4.8 /5.0 Instructor Rating Autodesk Certified Instructor

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Yes. You can work at your own pace. Each course is 18 days long. You will have two weeks and three weekends to complete the course. There are set deliverable schedules which are addressed in the course syllabus. You can login to the Learning Hub at your convenience.

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Blueprint Drawings are also known as Construction Documents – When you understand how to read blueprints, you will know how to read the various types of blueprints, shop prints and schematics used in a construction and/or facilities environment. You will learn the different types of standard symbols and abbreviations found on construction drawings. We also spend a fair amount of time describing the information required on drawings in order to be processed through the City or County agencies.

Plans are often for technical purposes such as architecture, engineering, or planning. Their purpose in these disciplines is to accurately and unambiguously capture all the geometric features of a site, building, product or component. Plans can also be for presentation or orientation purposes, and as such are often less detailed versions of the former. The end goal of plans is either to portray an existing place or object, or to convey enough information to allow a builder or manufacturer to realize a design.

The term "plan" may casually be used to refer to a single view, sheet, or drawing in a set of plans. More accurately, plan refers to an orthographic projection looking down on the object, such as in a plan view, floor plan or bird's-eye view. The process of producing plans, and the skill of producing them, is often referred to as technical drawing.

Plans are often prepared in a "set". The set includes all the information required for the purpose of the set, and may exclude views or projections which are unnecessary. A set of plans can be on standard office-sized paper or on large sheets. It can be stapled, folded or rolled as required. A set of plans can also take the form of a digital file in a proprietary format such as DWG or an exchange file format such as DXF or PDF.

Plans are usually "scale drawings", meaning that the plans are drawn at specific ratio relative to the actual size of the place or object. Various scales may be used for different drawings in a set. For example, a floor plan may be drawn at 1:50 (or 1/4"=1'-0") whereas a detailed view may be drawn at 1:25 (or 1/2"=1'-0"). Site plans are often drawn at 1:200 or 1:100.

Because plans represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane, the use of views or projections is crucial to the legibility of plans. Each projection is achieved by assuming a vantage point from which to see the place or object, and a type of projection. These projection types are: Orthographic projection, including: Plan view or floor plan view Elevation, usually a 'head-on' view of an exterior Section, a cutaway view of the interior Axonometric projection, including: Isometric projection Oblique projection, and Perspective projection.

All VDCI courses are taught in English.

You can start your next course at the next available start date! If it's after the 4th day of the course cycle we highly advise you do not to start a new course in the current cycle, since you will have missed the first due date and may not have time to complete the course material.

Yes, all VDCI courses are 100% online, so there's no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings, and assignments anytime, anywhere via the web or your mobile device. You are also welcome to visit us anytime at our Student Lounge on the VDCI campus.

VDCI encourages a strong online engagement between you, your instructor, and your classmates. You will participate in discussion forums, connect with your instructor and message your classmates. You are also invited to join us in the VDCI Student Lounge, where our instructors, staff, current students and alumni share information and help one another.

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Commercial Plan Reading and Construction Methods

Course: CON5102

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Knowledge of the materials and methods used in construction is a necessity for working in the construction industry. Students learn to identify the classifications of projects and different types of buildings to figure out different project delivery methods. Students also learn to read and interpret commercial construction plans and specifications by examining and interpreting complete working drawings including line-type, symbols, scales and various drawings within a set of construction plans. Students explore the variety of materials used in different components and construction methods used in commercial construction projects.

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Blueprint Reading

An online, at-your-own-pace course, powered by Penn Foster.

Course Commitment: $229.00

Blueprint Reading provides students with flexible courseware and instruction that enables them to understand the various types of blueprints, shop prints, and schematics used in an industrial environment. Learning to read blueprints, trainees discover how to comprehend, and interpret the different types of standard symbols and abbreviations found on electrical construction drawings, schematics, and wiring diagrams. They’ll learn to:

• Define different types of scales used on drawings.
• Identify the height, width, and length dimensions of a drawing.
• Interpret the various symbols and notations used on drawings.
• Draw multiview sketches of simple objects that accurately show all the details of the objects.

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Blueprint Reading – 4-Day Instructional Seminar

Introduction to Blueprint Reading (AVAILABLE ONLINE)

A skill every contractor and construction professional needs to get ahead..

In order to be hired as a licensed contractor for major construction projects, it’s important that you are able to read blueprints and use them without misunderstandings. And in order to properly estimate project costs, you have to be able to examine them closely and figure out what sorts of materials, labor and time will be needed to turn the blueprints into a finished product. To help you prepare for the types of situations you’ll face in the real world as a licensed contractor, CSLS offers a series of ongoing blueprint reading courses, designed to turn you from a novice to a professional in no time.

There are a number of reasons why students may not have had previous experience reading and analyzing blueprints as part of a construction project, but this basic skill is necessary not only to become a California state licensed contractor, but also to bid on and complete most jobs. As part of our course, you’ll learn everything you need to know to read residential and light commercial blueprints, as well as receiving high-level instruction from experienced professionals and informative learning materials.

As with every CSLS course, our blueprint program is designed to help you become a licensed contractor, but also to succeed as a professional in today’s competitive construction market.

Here are just a few of the things you’ll learn:

• 32-hour seminar covering the fundamentals of blueprints, including common features on residential and light industrial construction projects
• Understanding drawings and specs , with an emphasis on the meanings behind different lines, symbols and abbreviations that are typically found on blueprints
• Measuring tools and sketching , so you can understand exactly what an architect or engineer is trying to convey to builders on a blueprint
• Pricing and estimates , and specifically how to use blueprints to figure out materials costs, labor time and other project details before you begin
• Special kinds of blueprints , including foundation blueprints, framing blueprints and system blueprints, which can all contain specific notations and meanings.

Tuition: $595

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Introducing Construction Materials & Methods through Plan Reading

Course Details

This course can only be taken as part of the Certificate in Construction Management .

About this Course

Apply plan reading skills and interpret construction plans, specifications and contract documents using residential and light commercial projects. Emphasis is on the organization and use of architectural and engineering drawings and specifications. Common construction materials and methods will be identified and explored, with a focus on soils, earthwork, wood, concrete and steel, and exterior and interior building assemblies and elements.

Program Overview

This course is part of the Certificate in Construction Management .

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Each of our programs uses an advisory board to review content, guide design and recommend updates to ensure the program remains current as the field of study evolves. By tapping the minds of the top thinkers, doers and leaders in the field, we offer a transformational learning experience. 

The Certificate in Construction Management is guided by the Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC), a body created in 1991 to maintain an active and continuing relationship with the industry. CIAC serves as a bridge between the construction industry and the University in order to create interdependent relationships with a shared goal of serving the construction and related industries. Learn more about the CIAC .

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Plan Reading Workshop

Held over two consecutive days, this Workshop will advance the skills of both novice and veteran Construction Professionals in reading and understanding sets of architectural plans.

Topics include:

• The Basics of Plans and Drawings
• Construction Basics for Plan Reading
• Basic Math for Area & Volume
• Understanding Site Plans
• Foundation & Structural Plans
• MEP Drawings Explained
• And much more!!

Now available in both English & Spanish .  If you have any questions regarding this workshop, please contact our helpful Career Counselors at 1-800-732-9140 .

At the end of the class, you will be able to:

• Organize a full plan set
• Identify various parts of the plan set
• Interpret symbols and line types
• Complete take-offs based on scale

Classroom Tuition

Your Plan Reading Workshop Tuition Includes:

Course Materials & Workbook

Full sets of plans and a plan reading workbook are included (an $80.00 value).

1 Year Access

You are free to participate in future classes for up to one year.

Plan Reading Classroom Schedule

2 Days 9:00am - 5:00pm

—ENGLISH SCHEDULE —

—calendario en español—.

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Professional Development & Training

What you will learn, tools & materials.

Fundamentals of Blueprint Reading & Construction Estimating

• Blueprint Reading Basics
• Title Sheet & Floor Plans
• Elevations, Sections & Schedules
• Wall Sections & Details
• Structural Drawings
• Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing
• Title Sheet
• Architectural Site Plans
• Floor Plans
• Building Sections & Elevations
• Interior Elevations & Roof Plan
• Details, Schedules & Electrical
• Cover Sheet & Floor Plans
• Elevations, Sections & Wall Types
• Enlarged Drawings & Occupancy/Egress
• Interior Design & Civil
• Technology & Project Specifications
• What is Estimating?
• Definitions & Abbreviations
• Units of Measure
• The Takeoff
• Pricing Resources
• Cost Categories
• The Estimate
• Project Considerations
• Estimate Cover Sheet, Recap & Instructor Thoughts

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 7 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

This course is designed to be self-paced and does not involve any live classes. Instead, students will have access to various self-learning resources, including video materials, practice projects, e-books, and other materials available within the course modules. Although there is no direct interaction with an instructor, students can seek help from an industry expert by submitting questions via email.

What kind of salary can I expect as a construction estimator?

The average construction estimator salary is $76,229, according to Salary.com.

Does this course prepare you for a certification?

When can I start this course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

After you register, you will receive 3 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

What if I don't have enough time to complete the course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

What kind of support will I receive?

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."

Fundamentals of Blueprint Reading & Construction Estimating

$ 1,884.00

NWCOC TECHNICAL TRAINING PACKAGE

INCLUDES: COMMERCIAL PLAN READING BASIC COMMERCIAL ESTIMATING ADVANCED COMMERCIAL ESTIMATING

SAVE WHEN YOU BUY ALL THREE COURSES TOGETHER! Construction technical training for the best price.

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TECHNICAL TRAINING PACKAGE

Save when you buy all three courses together.

COMMERCIAL PLAN READING

The Commercial Plan Reading course provides students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to interpret commercial construction drawings and specifications in order to make well-informed decisions regarding new construction and renovation projects.

Our curriculum focuses on the standard arrangement and organization of commercial construction drawings, including drawing formats, symbols, notes, legends, and other information that assist in conveying specific construction material characteristics, applications, requirements, and assembly.

The instructor will concentrate on construction categories such as:  Site Work, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems, and Finish Construction.

2024 COURSE SCHEDULES January 9, 2024 – February 1, 2024 Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm

April 9, 2024 – May 2, 2024 Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm

BASIC & ADVANCED COMMERCIAL ESTIMATING

Estimating is a vital part of your business and growth. Poor estimating practices, such as inaccurate quantity take-offs and unit pricing or deficient spreadsheet management could be the difference between making a profit or taking a loss.

With our  Basic  Commercial Estimating and  Advanced Commercial Estimating  courses, we take the guess work out of estimating by building a solid foundation of knowledge. The class uses real world conditions and is taught by a seasoned Senior Estimator.

2024 COURSE SCHEDULE

Basic Commercial Estimating: May 7,  2024 – May 30, 2024 Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Advanced Commercial Estimating: June 4, 2024 – June 27, 2024 Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Related products

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CEE 3790 Introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM) using Revit

Course description.

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024 . Courses of Study 2024-2025 is scheduled to publish mid-June.

The purpose of this course is to provide a general knowledge of the use of Revit to document and model all of the major architectural elements of a commercial project. You will learn the design and detailing aspects of commercial buildings including floor plans, interior and exterior elevations, wall and building sections, schedules, and construction drawing set. Lab assignments will be created utilizing Revit (latest version).

When Offered Fall.

Permission Note Priority given to: CEE structual mechanics M.Eng students.

• Students will have a basic knowledge of considerations involved in the preliminary design of small commercial buildings.
• Students will be able to use the college's architectural BIM system to create a three-dimensional building model.
• Students will be able to use the college's architectural BIM system to create construction drawings for a commercial building, including architectural floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, sections, and elevations. Graduate students will be able to use the college's architectural BIM system to create structural framing plans.
• Students will be able to develop an architectural design and create a set of construction documents for a small commercial building, included in the set are architectural floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, sections, and elevations. Graduate students will be required to create foundation and structural framing plans.
• Students will be able to present the proposed design to the class, with oral explanations.

View Enrollment Information

  Regular Academic Session.   Combined with: CEE 5790

Credits and Grading Basis

2 Credits Stdnt Opt (Letter or S/U grades)

Class Number & Section Details

 9661 CEE 3790   LEC 001

Meeting Pattern

• MW 11:15am - 12:05pm To Be Assigned
• Aug 26 - Dec 9, 2024

Instructors

Coolbaugh, J

To be determined. There are currently no textbooks/materials listed, or no textbooks/materials required, for this section. Additional information may be found on the syllabus provided by your professor.

For the most current information about textbooks, including the timing and options for purchase, see the Cornell Store .

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The schedule of classes is maintained by the Office of the University Registrar . Current and future academic terms are updated daily . Additional detail on Cornell University's diverse academic programs and resources can be found in the Courses of Study . Visit The Cornell Store for textbook information .

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Cornell University ©2024

VLADIMIR NIKOLAEVICH MEGRE

Author of the series The Ringing Cedars of Russia

Little is known about Vladimir Megre's early background, apart from a few experiences he himself describes in the context of his writings. One of these occurred in the 1960s when over the course of a year the teen-aged Megre made periodic visits (as inconspicuously as possible) to a monk named Father Feodorit at the Trinity-Sergiev Monastery in the town of Sergiev Posad (then known as Zagorsk), just east of Moscow. These meetings (described in Chapter 24 of Book 2, The Ringing Cedars of Russia (pp. 119-31) left a lasting impression on the young Vladimir's consciousness, and can perhaps be taken as a prelude to his later spiritual transformation during his meetings, as he describes them, with Anastasia in the Siberian taiga.

We know that by the mid-1980s Megre was married with a daughter and living in Novosibirsk, where, like many other budding Russian capitalists, he took advantage of perestroika and the subsequent collapse of the communist system to launch into an entrepreneurial career. Even before perestroika he had shown his business acumen in finding ways to significantly increase the profits of a photographic collective. He went on to form a number of commercial co-operatives and by the late 1980s had leased a fleet of river steamers which plied the waters of the Ob River north of Novosibirsk. (see Chapter 1 of Book 1, Anastasia).

On one of these trips north in 1994, he encountered two elderly gentlemen who told him of a cedar tree (kedr in Russian, more commonly known as the Siberian pine in English) deep in the taiga forest that was making a 'ringing' or humming sound, which meant it was near the end of its centuries-old life and was ripe for cutting up and giving out pieces to those interested in its remarkable healing properties. He decided to return to the area the following year (1995) on his own to investigate. In place of the two elderly gentlemen he discovered a young woman in her twenties who said they were her grandfather and great-grandfather, and offered to take him to the cedar they had described. She turned out to be a recluse who lived all alone in the taiga, with no other company or facilities (including housing and food supply) than those provided by Nature.

But that was just the beginning. During the three days Megre spent with her in the taiga, she revealed to him not only the secrets of the ringing cedar, but many mysteries of Nature and the Universe - especially their role in the Divine order of things - that had been known to people in so-called ancient times but subsequently lost to mankind. Much of the earlier knowledge had been deliberately consigned to oblivion by so-called 'wise men' who felt their own sophisticated world-view threatened by the simple wisdom of their forebears.

At his new acquaintance's insistence he reluctantly abandoned his business career and set about writing a book about his taiga experiences (but only after he became penniless trying to set up a league of ethical entrepreneurs and only after his marriage failed, although he received help from a number of Moscow university students as well as his grown daughter Polina). The book, entitled Anastasia, was published in 1996 - largely thanks to the generosity of the manager of a print shop Megre had shown it to - and sold by the author himself in Moscow subway stations.

Then an incredible turn of events suddenly took place. A great number of those who purchased the book returned right after they finished reading it (or even before) to buy copies for their friends and neighbors, and the first print-run of 2,000 copies sold out in a very short time. A generous donor financed the next printing, before a recognized publisher caught wind of its success and launched it into mass production. (The Russian editions of the Ringing Cedars Series are now published by Dilya Publishers in Moscow & St-Petersburg.) And one copy of the first printing even ended up in the United States Library of Congress collection.

The success of Book 1 prompted the author to write a second volume, The Ringing Cedars of Russia, which offers, among other things, a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the story of how Anastasia came to be published, as well as a deeper exploration of the concepts revealed in the first book. Subsequent visits to Anastasia in the taiga - including conversations with the son she had conceived together with the author - engendered even more books, which now number eight in the original (the last one running into two volumes). By 1999, only three years after the first book appeared, Vladimir Megre had become modern Russia's most widely read author, with his writings selling in the millions.

At the end of Book 3, The Space of Love, may be found a thumbnail sketch of the "Series at a glance", as well as a brief description of the background to the series and profiles of the author, translator and editor.

It is interesting to note the change in the author's style over the course of the books. According to his own admission, before his taiga adventure this hard-nosed businessman had never written a word of prose or poetry before in his life, but he reluctantly launched into writing a book at the insistence of Anastasia. He admits his initial prose did not sound professional, which only aggravated his difficulty in getting his first book to press. This prose may well be described as 'choppy' and simplistic, but over the first few books - under the influence, he says, of Anastasia - his writing gradually developed into a style more and more polished and professional. By the latter part of Book 3, entitled The Space of Love, and throughout a good part of Book 4, Co-creation, his dialogues with the Siberian recluse take on the quality of poetic prose, including elements of met re and even rhyme. These features have been preserved as much as possible in the English translation.

John Woodsworth, Slavic Research Group, University of Ottawa

For more information on the book and their availability in English and other languages, see Publications section of this web-site.

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Solar eclipse 2024: Follow the path of totality

Solar eclipse, what you need to know to watch monday's total solar eclipse.

The NPR Network

A stunning celestial event is visible across the country Monday, when the moon crosses directly in front of the sun: a total solar eclipse. For those in the path of totality, there will be a few brief moments when the moon completely covers the sun and the world becomes dark.

Traveling for totality? Skip ahead.

This will be the last chance to catch a total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. for about 20 years, so here's what you need to know to safely enjoy!

When is the eclipse?

April 8, 2024 there will be a total solar eclipse that crosses from the Pacific coast of Mexico through the United States.

What is totality and why it matters

According to NASA , totality will start around 11:07 a.m. PDT/1:07 EDT in Mexico and leave Maine at around 1:30 pm PDT/3:30 pm EDT.

Here's what time the eclipse will be visible in your region

Check out this table for when the partial eclipse and totality are visible in each region or check by zip code here.

A partial solar eclipse will be visible across the contiguous United States, so even if you're not directly in the path, you should be able to see something special, weather permitting.

Unable to get to totality? We'll be sharing highlights here from across the NPR Network throughout the day Monday if you can't see it in real time.

Where to see totality?

More than 30 million people live in the path of totality for Monday's eclipse, and many more in nearby areas.

Here's what we know about Monday's weather forecast.

Why totality matters

As NPR's Neil Greenfieldboyce explains , "During a total eclipse, the sky darkens suddenly and dramatically . The temperature drops. Stars come out. Beautiful colors appear around the horizon. And the once-familiar sun becomes a black void in the sky surrounded by the glowing corona — that's the ghostly white ring that is the sun's atmosphere."

Eclipse Science

For april's eclipse, going from 'meh' to 'omg' might mean just driving across town.

A partial eclipse, while still a fun experience, is hardly as dramatic. Those with a view of the partial eclipse will see crescent-shaped shadows like those seen here in 2017.

How to watch safely

If you plan to look directly at the eclipse (partial or totality), you're going to need eclipse glasses handy because looking directly at the sun without proper protection ( traditional sunglasses don't count! ) can be harmful to your eyes.

The perfect celestial soundtrack to the total solar eclipse

As NPR's Joe Hernandez explains, "Proper eye protection must be worn throughout a total solar eclipse — except for the roughly 3 1/2 to 4 minutes when the moon fully obscures the sun, a brief period known as 'totality.' (You will need to take your glasses off during totality to actually see it.)"

If you don't have access to eclipse glasses, you can get crafty with things you have around the house ( like some of us did back in 2017!) More on that here.

Traveling for totality?

The celestial event is driving a ton of domestic travel to the path of totality. If you're headed out of town to view the eclipse, here are some NPR Network resources for areas in the path of totality:

Texas The path of totality crosses through the Lone Star State, with some areas expecting a possible influx of visitors in the hundreds of thousands to catch prime viewing. Our member stations across the state have gathered local resources to help you navigate the region and the eclipse!

• San Antonio: Check out the latest from Texas Public Radio
• Dallas: Explore KERA's coverage for the latest
• Austin: Head to KUT for the best local resources

Arkansas The eclipse will be cutting through the state, putting Little Rock in the path of totality. Check out Little Rock Public Radio for local resources.

The southwestern edge of the state will be well-positioned to witness the total solar eclipse this year. Kentucky Public Radio is covering the eclipse throughout the region, from Kentuckiana eclipse mania to the University of Louisville's free class about the celestial event. Keep an eye on WKMS for the latest local updates.

Missouri The southeastern corner of the state will be in the path of totality, crossing across towns like Whitewater and Ste. Genevieve. Head to St. Louis Public Radio for local coverage and resources. Illinois Carbondale seems to have won the eclipse lottery, being in the path of totality both in 2017 and for this year's eclipse . For resources from across the state, check out Illinois Public Media .

Indiana A huge portion of the state will be within the path of totality, giving cities across Indiana, including Bloomington and Indianapolis, prime viewing of the eclipse.

• Bloomington: Check out Indiana Public Media
• Indianapolis: Head to WFYI for the latest
• Fort Wayne: Just north of the path of totality, WBOI has resources for the Allen County area

Ohio The Buckeye State is getting bisected by this year's path of totality, plunging a number of the state's most populous areas into darkness for a few minutes on Monday.

• Cleveland: Head to Ideastream Public Media for the latest.
• Columbus: With the capital city just south of totality, head to WOSU for regional resources.
• Cincinnati: Totality will just miss the border town. Here are some tips from WVXU on how to navigate the eclipse in the region.

Pennsylvania Only the northwestern-most corner of the state will catch totality, with views from the lakeside in Erie being particularly well-positioned for a stunning viewing experience. WESA has more from across the region.

Plan to watch the eclipse from a wild mountain summit? Be ready for harsh conditions

New York Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Plattsburgh will fall under the path of totality on Monday. If you're planning to travel to the region for the best views, here are some local resources to stay safe and informed:

• Buffalo: Head to WBFO for the latest
• Syracuse: WAER has more on plans in the Salt City
• North Country: NCPR has the latest from across the region, as well as information on local viewing events to check out

Vermont The Green Mountain State will see totality across its most populous region, including Burlington and Montpelier, as well as the Northeast Kingdom on the Canadian border. Vermont Public has everything you need to know to navigate your time in the region to enjoy the eclipse safely. New Hampshire The northernmost region of the Granite State will be in the path of totality, providing prime viewing to those in Coos County. NHPR has info on local events, travel updates as well as special coverage with New Hampshire Public Television. Maine The last state in the path of totality in the U.S., much of Northern Maine will be positioned for prime viewing. The rural region is preparing for an influx of visitors, and safety officials are encouraging visitors and locals alike to be prepared. Maine Public will be covering the eclipse and has everything you need to know to navigate the region safely.

How to document the eclipse safely

With the ease of cell photography , it can be tempting to reach for your phone to document the eclipse and the moments of totality, but make sure to do so safely.

As NPR's Scott Neuman explains , "For starters, you'll need to wear eclipse glasses or similar protective eye gear while aiming your camera or even just observing the eclipse."

Feeling ambitious? Here are a few more tips.

Or if you're not inclined to capture the moment visually, you lean into some other forms of creative expression. Indiana, for example, has named Linda Neal Reising the official poet in the state for this year's eclipse.

As former NPR reporter and eclipse superfan David Baron shared with Life Kit , viewing totality "[is] like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world."

So consider focusing on being present in the moment to enjoy the celestial spectacle.

More resources to enjoy the eclipse

• Sharing the eclipse with tiny humans? Check out these kid-friendly total solar eclipse learning guides from Vermont Public's But Why, and this great explainer from KERA Kids on the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse.
• Want to see how a solar eclipse alters colors? Wear red and green on Monday
• Plan to wander into the wild for the best view? Here are some tips from outdoor experts.
• Tips from Bill Nye on the best ways to enjoy the eclipse.

NPR will be sharing highlights here from across the NPR Network throughout the day Monday if you're unable to get out and see it in real time. NPR's Emily Alfin Johnson compiled these resources.

• 2024 eclipse

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• Wednesday, April 10, 2024
• Today's Paper

Hawaii News

On the move: edmund “ed” chan.

• Updated 12:04 a.m.

Edmund “Ed” Chan

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has named Edmund “Ed” Chan president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii effective April 23, succeeding Greg Christian, who will be retiring May 1 after serving as president since 2020. Read more

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Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has named Edmund “Ed” Chan president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaii effective April 23, succeeding Greg Christian, who will be retiring May 1 after serving as president since 2020. Chan has been a registered dietitian since 2000 who held clinical dietitian positions at Hale Makua Health Services in Kahului and Community Clinic of Maui, and served as consultant dietitian at Maui Youth and Family Services and general manager of support services at Wahiawa General Hospital. In addition to joining Kaiser Permanente East Bay area operations in 2014, his more than 10 years’ experience in leadership positions in Northern California includes UC San Diego Health, Vanderbilt University Health System and the Duke University Health System.

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Inside a G.O.P. Plan to Encourage Early Voting Despite Trump’s Attacks

Donald Trump’s falsehoods about mail voting have created a strategic disadvantage for Republicans, who must rely on Election Day turnout. The group Turning Point Action has a $100 million plan to change voters’ habits.

Tyler Bowyer, right, the chief operating officer of the conservative group Turning Point Action, training new staff members in Phoenix as part of a Chase the Vote program to persuade Republican-leaning voters to cast ballots early and by mail this fall. Credit...

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By Nick Corasaniti

Photographs by Caitlin O’Hara

Nick Corasaniti spent two days at the Turning Point Action headquarters in Phoenix, observing training programs and interviewing officials at the group.

• Published April 4, 2024 Updated April 7, 2024

Inside a sprawling compound in Phoenix, leaders of the influential conservative group Turning Point Action were hatching plans to fix what they see as a mortal threat to the Republican Party: its voters’ avoidance of early voting, especially by mail, since the 2020 election.

The group’s officials, and many national Republicans, worry that Democrats have built a major strategic advantage by marshaling their voters to cast ballots early while G.O.P. voters wait until Election Day. That phenomenon stems largely from former President Donald J. Trump’s persistent falsehoods about mail voting — amplified at times by Turning Point Action officials — and the deep skepticism they have created among conservative voters.

Now an urgent search for a solution is underway, with Turning Point Action at the forefront.

The group, which began as an insurgent organization for young Republicans and has become a powerful player in right-wing politics, is aiming to raise and spend more than $108 million on a Chase the Vote program with hundreds of staff members in Arizona and Wisconsin. They will follow a few simple steps: Identify Republican-leaning voters who have not turned out in the past two elections. Make a personal connection with them over the next seven months. Then, in the group’s words, “chase the ballots.”

Political diplomacy will be required.

“You’re each going to have assignments of hundreds of people,” Tyler Bowyer, the group’s chief operating officer, explained to about 20 trainees last week. “Do you think wearing a MAGA hat attracts 50 percent of those people?”

The Chase the Vote program is one of the largest and most expensive efforts on the right to persuade Republicans to vote early. Their widespread abandonment of the practice, which was popular in both parties before 2020, means that Republican candidates are now far more at the mercy of Election Day problems like bad weather, long lines or voting machine hiccups.

At the same time, Turning Point Action’s program is still bound by strongly held conservative opinions on early voting and casting ballots by mail. The group’s officials are quick to express skepticism of the security of those practices, despite a lack of evidence of widespread fraud, and to call for tightening of election laws.

Mr. Bowyer has said publicly that his group is not trying to turn current Election Day voters into early voters. Its main focus, he says, is showing low-propensity voters — those who have not turned out in recent elections — all of the ways they can cast their ballot.

Charlie Kirk, the founder of the Turning Point empire, said in an interview: “It’s better to participate, even in that way” — early voting — “than not participate at all. That’s our argument.”

Party-wide mistrust, fueled by Trump

But improving Republicans’ early-voting turnout will be a challenge. Mr. Trump and his allies continue to argue that mail voting is rife with fraud.

During a Fox News town-hall event last month, Mr. Trump told the host Laura Ingraham, “If you have mail-in voting, you automatically have fraud.” At a rally in Wisconsin this week, he promised to “secure” elections with “one-day voting.”

The damage for Republicans in the Trump era has been clear.

In the 2020 election, when many Americans voted by mail because of the pandemic, seven million more Democrats than Republicans voted early in the 20 states that track party data, according to the United States Elections Project . In the 2022 midterms, two million more Democrats than Republicans voted early in 24 states, according to the project , an advantage built almost exclusively off mail ballots. Each of those years, Republican candidates in crucial races lost narrowly.

Just 28 percent of Republicans support allowing any voter to cast a ballot by mail if they want to, compared with 84 percent of Democrats, according to a February study by the Pew Research Center .

Mindful of this trend, the Republican National Committee this year began a Bank Your Vote program encouraging early voting. In an interview with NBC News last month , Lara Trump, the new co-chair of the committee and Mr. Trump’s daughter-in-law, said, “We have to start encouraging Republican voters to do things like voting early, trust mail-in voting.”

Still, Mr. Trump has put the party in a difficult position. The new leadership at the R.N.C., handpicked by Mr. Trump and his allies, initially signaled that it would abandon Bank Your Vote before reversing course. Top officials at Turning Point continue to criticize voting by mail, even as they lead their new Chase the Vote effort.

“The threading the needle for us, the game that we have to play, that we have to figure out: How do we get a bunch of people who are deeply concerned about these processes that are being changed and manipulated to participate in those same processes?” Mr. Bowyer said in an interview, referring darkly to the unproven conservative theory that Democrats are deliberately changing election rules to benefit themselves. (Mr. Bowyer was one of Arizona’s fake electors in the 2020 election, a scheme that the state’s attorney general is now investigating, according to The Washington Post .)

‘Soul searching’ over a Republican disadvantage

Election Day in 2022 was when Mr. Kirk realized things needed to change.

Walking into a polling place at a Phoenix church to proudly vote for Kari Lake and other Republicans, Mr. Kirk said, he was greeted by a two-and-a-half-hour line caused mainly by malfunctioning machines. Other polling sites in the area had similar problems .

Ms. Lake ended up losing the race for governor to Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, by about 17,000 votes . Roughly 19,000 more Democrats than Republicans voted by mail.

“That kind of started a lot of soul searching between our team,” Mr. Kirk said in an interview. “I asked the question, I said, ‘What could we have done better?’”

He added, referring to the weekslong period of early balloting, “We could have played better in Voting Month.”

That would seem to be a significant public shift from Mr. Kirk, who wrote an essay for Fox News in July 2020 calling mail voting a Democratic power grab and who repeatedly questioned the security of mail voting in social media posts around the 2020 election.

In the interview, Mr. Kirk stood by those sentiments. “There is understandable skepticism about filling in a precious ballot, which we take very seriously, and putting it into the mail,” he said, adding that conservatives were not fans of the Postal Service.

Still, Mr. Kirk says, Republicans should be aware that they have a “buffet line of voting options.”

In a memo sent to donors last year, Turning Point Action said it hoped to hire more than 500 full-time “ballot chasers” in Arizona and 350 in Wisconsin. If the group raises its entire goal of $108 million — officials said they had raised “tens of millions” but still had a ways to go — it plans to expand into Georgia and possibly Michigan.

A mission to change Republican voting habits

Powering the Turning Point effort is a vast data operation led by Matthew Martinez, the data director for Chase the Vote and a former field director for Ms. Lake’s campaign.

Mr. Martinez has set up shop in one of Turning Point’s cavernous rooms at its Phoenix headquarters, with 4-foot-by-6-foot whiteboards with maps of states, counties and cities speckled with handwritten numbers. He methodically carved up Arizona and Wisconsin by hand into his own precincts, wards and districts, identifying 400 to 600 low-propensity Republican voters in each precinct.

The voters who could flip those states red, Mr. Martinez argues, are not in traditional battleground areas, but rather in safely red districts like that of Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona.

“The mind-set right now for the past four years, or even more, is flip, flip, flip,” Mr. Martinez said in an interview, referring to the party’s focus on highly competitive areas. “What I’m saying is, we need to turn out our base.”

The group also plans to use its Chase the Vote infrastructure for what it calls its election integrity efforts. Mr. Bowyer said on a recent Turning Point podcast, “If you have bodies on the ground that are becoming aware of the voting habits,” then “you’re going to be able to clean the voter rolls easier.”

Chase the Vote is still in its early stages, having trained only 20 of its ballot chasers so far. And while the new hires will encounter mistrustful voters, top Turning Point officials have also faced skeptical donors, who tend to be more comfortable with writing big checks and seeing immediate returns in the form of splashy ads rather than funding the grunt work of a new and untested field operation.

Even as trainees broke for a catered lunch of In-N-Out Burger, Mr. Kirk was down the hall, meeting with four major donors.

“It’s kind of challenging the muscle memory that we can keep on just trying to flood the zone on Election Day, and keep on expecting to win, and we’re losing on the margins,” he said in the interview. “And so, if you are falling short on the margins, and you want to get to victory, and there is this massive 30-to-40-day window where the opposition is dominating and you’re not even playing, it is rational to do something in that 30-to-40-day window to then try to be conclusive and successful.”

Mr. Kirk said he planned to vote early in-person this fall, and would capture it on video.

‘We need to be Ned Flanders’

Connecting with these low-propensity voters is part of what political operatives call “relational organizing,” a trendy political term that means using personal, one-on-one connections rather than mass messaging like ads.

During the training, Mr. Bowyer repeatedly showed an image of Ned Flanders, the relentlessly genial character from “The Simpsons” who greets neighbors with a “hi-diddily-ho.”

“We need to be Ned Flanders,” he said.

Mr. Bowyer has emphasized the importance of coming across as “human” — not always an easy task within a movement fueled by Trumpian grievance.

On a recent Turning Point podcast, he urged listeners not to “be mean and angry and aggressive and tell people they’re stupid.”

He added: “Look, if we walked up to people and were like: ‘Oh, you’re on the early voting list? You’re an idiot.’ Do you think they’re more motivated to vote? Do you think they’re more motivated to become an Election Day voter? And that’s effectively what’s happening right now.”

Nick Corasaniti is a Times reporter covering national politics, with a focus on voting and elections. More about Nick Corasaniti

Our Coverage of the 2024 Presidential Election

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