Masonry Magazine June 2001 Page. 6
president's
message
MIC UNIFYING THE INDUSTRY
Several years ago during a Council for Masonry Research meeting, a debate began over the role of the CMR Board and its function as an industry association. Up until that point, the CMR, sponsored by the Mason Contractors Association of America, the National Concrete Masonry Association, the Portland Cement Association, the Brick Industry Association, the National Lime Association, the Expanded Shale Clay & Slate Institute and The Masonry Society was formed to conduct "market oriented research." However, during recent years, the CMR Board was asked to look more and more into other critical issues such as collectively responding to attacks from competitive construction methods. Unfortunately, the role of the CMR was restricted to conducting market oriented research.
As debate continued during subsequent CMR meetings, it became abundantly clear that an industry Board of Directors was needed to unify the actions of the industry to more effectively combat encroachment by competitive products into masonry market share. What became even more clear was that the model to unify the industry already existed and that the model was the CMR Board of Directors. So roughly two years ago, the CMR Board transformed to become the Masonry Industry Council which now functions as a Board of Directors for the masonry industry. To support the MIC, four committees were developed all answering directly to the MIC. The Technical Committee of the CMR now became the technical arm of the MIC. In addition to the CMR, a Public Affairs Committee, Workforce Development Committee and a Market Development Committee were developed, each staffed with representatives from every industry association all answering to the MIC.
Recently, the MIC Board and its committees met to review the progress they have made toward unifying the industry's actions and effectively dealing with aggressive competitors. What I am proud to report is that the MIC, in existence for only a short time, has begun to make a real impact for our industry.
The Council for Masonry Research, the more established committee of the MIC continues to perform great work on behalf of the industry. It continues to sponsor market oriented research as well as guide the industry in codes and standards. In fact, they are soon to begin research on dry cutting versus wet cutting of masonry. In addition to the more established CMR, the other three committees are beginning to emerge as well. The MIC Market Development Committee for example has developed an industry website that links masonry customers to individual masonry associations making it easier for customers to find information faster. You can find the MIC website at www.masonryindustry.org. More exciting is the fact that the MIC has produced its first industry advertisement, recently published in the April issue of Architectural Magazine which is seen by 67,000 architects. The ad, featured on the opposite page from this article, is a very positive approach to combating our industry's competitors who so aggressively attack our systems. The MIC ad ran in conjunction with a very positive story about masonry which was produced by our friends at the Portland Cement Association. I applaud the members of MIC's Market Development Committee for developing such a positive approach to selling masonry. In addition, the MIC has sponsored a masonry pavilion at the Construction Specifications Institute trade show where attendees can become immersed in masonry. The pavilion is a positive way to present masonry to our customers as a unified front. In addition to the web-site, the Architectural Magazine ad, and the CSI Show, MIC has established a presence at the ASCE Structures Congress and is also planning to conduct our third Federal Officials Masonry Seminar targeted toward educating government officials responsible for building government construction about the benefits of using masonry. In addition to the MIC Market Development Committee, the other committees are beginning to unify our industry in the areas of workforce development and legislative action as well.
I believe that we should all be encouraged that the industry has come together under the Masonry Industry Council banner to unify our industry like never before. It is forums such as the MIC that can look into the future to identify threats to our industry and then mobilize a unified response which will insure our thriving industry. While others have pointed to negatives in our industry, I point to the success of one of our industry's brightest positives. Keep up the great work!
Richard M. Johnston,
President MCAA