Report of the MCAA Membership Committee

• Immediately upon adjournment of the Mid-Year Board meeting, MCAA Senior Officers will be given a list of non-paid members in their regions to call and encourage remittance.
• A letter from Mackie Bounds, Treasurer, will accompany the next (fourth) round of invoice statements to encourage remittance.

New Member Recruitment
As of September 28, $14,830 in new member dues had been collected for this fiscal year, including 12 new contractor members. This monetary amount is slightly short of budget goal. To increase membership, the following initiatives are being/ will be conducted:

• Immediately upon adjournment of the Mid-Year Board meeting, MCAA Senior Officers will be given a prospect list of pre-qualified, potential new members in their regions to call and solicit to join.
• The November issue of Masonry magazine will feature membership with a newly designed advertisement, an application, the President's Message addressing recruitment, and a "tipped-on" cover edition sent to every non-member recipient encouraging them to join. Telemarketing companies are currently being queried as to the cost of doing follow-up phone calls to these non-members
• Masonry magazine has submitted a list of non-members who are subscribers, they will receive information and contact about the MCAA.
• Of Masonry Construction Magazine's Top 80 contractors, those who are not members will be solicited (45)
• Dunn & Bradstreet's Top 100 mason contractors are continually being solicited through phone and mailings
• General leads receive continual follow up phone calls and mailings

Membership Directory
The newest edition of the MCAA Membership Directory since 2002 has been published and distributed to all MCAA members as of the first week of October. This invaluable tool for networking within the Association has been very well received by our members. It features two new inclusions: the new MCAA Resource Guide and the Premier Suppliers Program. These new additions make it even more essential for our members to use on a daily basis in conducting their business.

Advertisers certainly realized the value in this Directory, because a total of $12,500 in ad space was purchased by Cosella-Dorken, Hydro-Mobile, Indiana Limestone Fabricators, Lafarge North America, MAS Labor, MK Diamond Products, Mortar Net, Non-Stop Scaffolding, and Quikrete. Ad space was made available only to MCAA Associate members. The total revenue from ads sold covers the entire cost of design, printing, production, and shipping of the 1,000 directories, and exceeds our ad revenue budget by $8,500.

Premier Suppliers Program
The Premier Suppliers Program is a new initiative launched to reward the suppliers in the industry who support MCAA's efforts, and will provide an extra incentive for them to become members, advertise, sponsor and exhibit. Suppliers earn "stars" based on their participation in our programs, and in return, MCAA advertises and promotes these companies in an increasing structure (see attached summary document). Each supplier in this program has received a clear outline of the program. Upon notification of their "star status" in late July, many companies became members, sponsors, and advertisers to immediately increase their level.

This program has been launched through the distribution of the MCAA Directory, in which an introduction to the program was included along with the "star status" of the National Associate members. Next will be an advertisement in the November issue of Masonry Magazine in which our members are encouraged to consider the Premier Suppliers first when making purchasing decisions.

Chicago Member Visits
In an effort to connect with members, learn more about their businesses, and understand their views and concerns about the industry, Mike Adelizzi and Melissa Polivka have been conducting weekly visits with MCAA members in the Chicagoland area. Melissa arranges the appointments with area members who have renewed their dues to date, and she and Mike have been able to visit at least two members each week since mid-August. They discuss the long-range strategic plan, the association's current initiatives, and any other topics important to the members. These visits have been well received, and both Mike and Melissa agree that they are learning a lot about the day-to-day operations of these contractors that they can apply to the association's work.

Premier Suppliers Program Summary
To recognize and reward the industry suppliers that consistently support and promote the efforts of the MCAA, the Association has developed a program to call attention to those companies, and advertise their "preferred status" to contractors nationwide. The initiative is called the "Premier Suppliers Program" and it grants "Stars" to suppliers based on their participation within the industry and the MCAA. In return, their "Star Status" equates to complimentary advertising increasing in value, as well as expanded exposure to our members.

Suppliers will receive one "Star" for each of the following:

• MCAA National Associate membership
• Exhibiting at Masonry Showcase
• Sponsorship (Masonry Showcase events, other MCAA events, Online Auction donation)
• Advertising (in Masonry magazine, Membership Directory, MCAA website, Masonry Showcase Attendee Prospectus, Masonry Showcase Onsite Guide, or Buyers Guide)

One Star Suppliers receive:

• Contact information and website listed in periodic "Recognition" email/fax newsletters to all MCAA members.
• "Star" status denoted in MCAA Membership Directory (if member), Masonry Showcase Onsite Guide (if exhibitor), and highlighted listing in MCAA Buyers Guide (if member or Buyers Guide subscriber).

Two Star Suppliers receive:

• Contact information included in annual "Premier Suppliers Directory" mailed to all MCAA contractor members recognizing our preferred suppliers and encouraging their patronage of these businesses.
• Contact information and website listed in periodic "Recognition" email/fax newsletters to all MCAA members.
• "Star" status denoted in MCAA Membership Directory (if member), Masonry Showcase Onsite Guide (if exhibitor), and highlighted listing in MCAA Buyers Guide (if member or Buyers Guide subscriber).

Three Star Suppliers receive:

• Contact information listed in full-color advertisement in Masonry magazine at least once per year.
• Contact information included in annual "Premier Suppliers Directory" mailed to all MCAA contractor members recognizing our preferred suppliers and encouraging their patronage of these businesses.
• Contact information and website listed in periodic "Recognition" email/fax newsletters to all MCAA members.
• "Star" status denoted in MCAA Membership Directory (if member), Masonry Showcase Onsite Guide (if exhibitor), and highlighted listing in MCAA Buyers Guide (if member or Buyers Guide subscriber).

Four Star Suppliers receive:

• Complimentary banner ad on MCAA website for one year.
• Contact information listed in full-color advertisement in Masonry magazine at least once per year.
• Contact information included in annual "Premier Suppliers Directory" mailed to all MCAA contractor members recognizing our preferred suppliers and encouraging their patronage of these businesses.
• Contact information and website listed in periodic "Recognition" email/fax newsletters to all MCAA members.
• "Star" status denoted in MCAA Membership Directory (if member), Masonry Showcase Onsite Guide (if exhibitor), and highlighted listing in MCAA Buyers Guide (if member or Buyers Guide subscriber).

At the MCAA Annual Meeting, the Supplier of the Year will be announced and presented with an award. This supplier will be the one whose contributions totaled the most financial value for the past fiscal year. The financial contribution values of all Premier Suppliers will then be published in a newsletter release.