Masonry Magazine June 2007 Page. 54
News
Local, State & Regional News
# Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute (RMMI) is wrapping up its spring season of workforce development. In the past four months, RMMI staff members have presented bricklaying demonstrations at more than 20 elementary, middle and high schools in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas. Several thousand students have taken part in hands-on opportunities to learn about bricklaying, as well as presentations on education, work ethics and entrepreneurship.
RMMI Technical Director Diane Travis has started her annual Colorado Mountain Tour, providing seminar luncheons for architects, engineers and masons on Colorado's Western Slope. This year's topic is "Sustainable Design and Masonry," and Travis will discuss meeting LEED green building certification requirements using masonry. During May, she presented the seminar in Durango, Grand Junction, Aspen, Steamboat and Vail, Colo. Later this summer, she will take her seminar tour to Wyoming and Montana architects.
Spring also brought about the annual RMMI Golf Classic. Held on May 31 at Vista Ridge Golf Course, approximately 144 golfers competed for bragging rights, while also helping to raise funds for RMMI's apprentice training program.
Future events include: the Clay Shoot at Kiowa Creek on July 13; the annual Summer Retreat at the Lodge at Vail, Aug, 9-11; and the "Run Around the Block" 5K race on Sept. 16. Sponsorship opportunities, ranging from $250 to $2,000, are available for all of the events.
For more information, contact admin@rmmi.org, or visit www.rmmi.org.
# Florida
The Masonry Association of Florida Inc. will hold its seventh annual Fastest Trowel Contest at the St. Lucie Fairgrounds in Fort Pierce, Fla., on June 23. Registration and set-up will commence at 7:30 am., with the men's competition held at 10. Other activities include a women's fastest trowel competition and family activities.
For more information, call Dave Pfeffer at (561) 239-1400; Joe Lesstino at (561) 741-8209; or Mike Ryan at (561) 307-0708.
# Texas
Reported by The Free Press, "Kyle Looks to Help Bolster Defense Against Lawsuit," April 25, 2007:
City attorneys for Kyle, Texas, are fighting a legal battle against the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Austin branch of the Home Builder's Association (HBA) in an effort to save the city's 2003 building ordinance.
The NAACP and HBA state the city's subdivision ordinance-requiring brick, stone, hardiplank or other approved masonry products, a minimum garage size of 480 square feet, and average house sizes of 1,200 square feet - would "have a negative impact on minorities' ability to purchase the same home as a non-minority," therefore making the ordinance unlawful under the nation's Fair Housing Act. According to a NAACP-HBA study, the Kyle building ordinance would "increase the average cost of a home by $20,000."
Kyle city attorneys state that the ordinance is a typical approach to manage city growth, control cookie-cutter homes, and add value to a building by utilizing masonry construction. The attorneys also pointed out that a negative outcome for the city's case would set a precedence for the state of Texas, in which several cities have similar building ordinances.
The court date for the lawsuit is set for February 2008.
MCAA Third Annual Online Auction a Huge Success!
# Timothy W. O'Toole
Manager of Information Technology
Mason Contractors Association of America
The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) held its third annual Online Auction, May 1 to May 3 at www.masoncontractors.org.
Contractors were able to bid on several new, name brand items for half the cost of retail, including scaffolding, saws, wall bracing, mortar boards, trowels and much more. Bidding was fast and furious, but there could only be one winner for each of the great items! Many lots came down to the final seconds, making it an exciting auction for all involved!
The MCAA would like to thank the following companies for their generous donations. The MCAA appreciates your support of the industry!
Non-Stop Scaffolding
EZ Grout Corporation, Inc.
Fraco
FERO Corporation
Park Industries, Inc.
SPEC MIX
The QUIKRETE Companies
GATORBACK, LLC
Advanced Cast Stone, Inc.
SCAFJACK
Stonesmith Patented Systems, Inc.
Bon Tool Co.
Marshalltown Company
Dur-O-Wal
Cosella Döerken
Diamond Systems, Inc.
Macalite Equipment, Inc.
McCausey Lumber Company
Heckman Building Products, Inc.
Crick Tools
Benner-Nawman, Inc.
The MCAA would also like thank everyone who participated this year's auction, making it such a success. All proceeds will support MCAA programs. Congratulations to all the winners!
For more information, visit www.masoncontractors.org.