Natural Cements - Historic or A New Solution

Historic Fort Jefferson -

http://www.coastalcontractor.net/article/459.html

Like to get input from others on where Natual Cement might play a part in today's new masonry construction and of course restoration projects. Possibility even exists for patching mortars as well?

Certified vs. Certification vs. Certificate vs. Ability to Perform

I spoke with a major transit system engineer a few years back and got the comment "****** doesn't do anything that ****** hasn't done before". Now that's pretty specific albeit a bit restrictive. How does an owner qualify his Historic Restoration contractors? Is it by portfolio, familiarity, training, certificates or some other baseline that I have not listed? How do we match the right contractor or "bid list" with the appropriate project? Is it new technology or older traditional methods that must/should be employed?
Real discussion, real projects and current!

Face-To-Face -> Online -> Face-To-Face

We seem to go in cycles like the small specialty store gives way to the "big box" store then we go back to the specialty store. These cycles can range from a few months to decades. It is interesting to see people sitting across a table, both texting, and wondering if we have finally "hit the wall" and have eliminated direct communication all together?
Recently I have been involved in a professional online preservation networking group that is now having monthly "Face-To-Face" get togethers based upon geographical availability. While it does not allow the group to get together as a whole it does allow for a smaller group to get together, some of whom have never been "Face-To-Face" and with a changing venue it really works quite well. Also with no agenda it has a much more casual feel which allows for a totally open forum.
I also carry a fountain pen at all times so this particular cycle is quite relavent to my particular wants and needs.

Preservation Engineering

How can we provide sustainable Historic Preservation without properly trained professionals to accomplish it? Of 100 structural/civil engineers there are probably less than 5 that truly both understand and can design for the preservation needs of a structure. This is an ability that currently is "learned" not in school but in the field. While there are numerous architectural schools that deal with the subject there is no engineering school that currently offers this discipline. APTI (The Association Preservation Technology International) has for many years tried to get a program established at the graduate level of an engineering school somewhere in the US. It is my hope that within the next year both a course then a curriculum can be established at Manhattan College to accomplish this. A committee is currently looking to offfer and hopfully provide direction to Manhattan to establish this. I look forward to any thoughts on the matter.