Masonry Magazine April 1998 Page. 30
MCAA Conference & Masonry Expo
The MCAA Conference and Masonry Expo continues to be the pinnacle of activity for both the MCAA and the masonry industry. Masonry Expo, a partnering of the NCMA and the MCAA has seen steady growth through mutual goals and objectives. Our conference and Expo offers contractors exceptional educational programs, product comparisons, and thousands of dollars of cost savings. It pays to attend each year. These are just a few of the compelling reasons for all mason contractors to make attending our conference and Expo a yearly priority.
Member Communication
Keeping members informed of everything the Association is doing on their behalf is an important function. With so many new programs and services being added and existing programs being expanded, keeping members informed is a never ending task. Two publications that have improved this past year is "Masonry" Magazine and our newsletter "Update." Both of these publications have become invaluable in promoting the MCAA and its programs. These publications have also become invaluable as an educational tool for mason contractors.
To further communicate with members and the industry, the MCAA has recently developed a web site, www.MasonContractors.com. Although the primary purpose of developing a web site was to communicate to high school guidance counselors and anyone interested in career information, the web site has become a source of sharing association information with members.
Association Growth
Making everything that the MCAA does possible, is due to the steady growth in membership. Our Association has had net membership growth for more than six years and this current year we anticipate another year of net membership growth. We have also established new chapter ties in Southern Illinois and the Nation's Capital and we have targeted thirteen new chapter locations. In addition to new chapters, we have forged closer ties with our backbone, our existing chapters. Because it is through strong chapters that we will be able to accomplish greater goals.
Helping to build a stronger chapter network, we have just completed a "Chapter Operations Manual" which assists new chapters form and existing chapters improve their service to members.
Future
A national association's main purpose is to set the agendas, the goals established through a long range of objectives established by committee work. National associations cannot accomplish anything without the strong support of its members and chapter network. Effective associations rely on its network to implement the vision. With a strong network of members and chapters, and a steady growth of involvement of our members the MCAA is enabled to set the highest goals and standards for the industry.
I am proud to be a part of the MCAA. I am honored to have served as your President these past two years. I would like to thank my fellow Senior Officers, Donald Larsen, Mike Johnston and Bill McConnell for sharing their time and support, I would also like to thank our Regional Vice Presidents Frank Campitelli, Alan Griffin, Robert Schuerman, Fred Kinateder, John Smith, Sr. Robert Fenimore, Ken Thompson, Rennie Tejeda and Robert Barkshire and Committee Chairmen Richard Matthews, Richard Felice, Paul Clements, Doug Nichols, Roy Swindal, Buddie Barnes, Mark Larsen, Ed Boettcher, III, Mariano "Skip" DiGiovanni, and John Smith, Jr. who have unselflessly dedicated themselves to making the MCAA such a driving force in the industry. And lastly, I would like to thank the entire MCAA Board, members and the dedicated MCAA staff for helping the MCAA accomplish all that we have.
Most of all I want to thank you, the members, for allowing me to represent you. I enjoyed my experience during a very exciting period of time. "It was the best of times: It was the worst of times." We had an expanding market with fewer qualified craftsmen. Thank you for allowing me to serve this wonderful profession we have chosen and to lead the MCAA which is the glue that binds the masonry industry together.
Finally, I'd like to share with you a phrase I heard many years ago. It goes... Success comes in cans-failure in cant's. The success of this organization will be determined by how many of the "cans" can be filled by our members. It takes "cans" from all of us to advance our association, our industry, ourselves. So as the baton is passed, I wish the new officers success in their tenure and pledge my assistance to them in achieving the goals and objectives of our Association.
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