Masonry Magazine September 2004 Page. 50
Department Subject
News continued from page 47 cement siding is now being mentioned as a vinyl alternative, although it is more tricky to install and requires especially careful handling.
Michigan
The Michigan Mason Contractors' Association's (MMCA) next scheduled event is its general membership meeting and Board of Director election Sept. 10-12, 2004, at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, Mich. A Friday night reception, Saturday golf outing or canoeing, and banquet are planned.
For more information on MMCA, please visit www.mmca-mi.com.
Missouri
Reported by the Rolla Daily News, "UMR receives ACTE Award for work with RTI," Aug. 3, 2004:
The University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) has received the 2004 Award of Merit from the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) for the campus' collaboration with Rolla Technical Institute (RTI) on several research and educational projects.
UMR received the award Tuesday, July 27, during the opening session of the Missouri ACTE's annual conference in Springfield, Mo. RTI nominated UMR for the award.
UMR was cited for involving RTI students and faculty members in several research and educational projects during the past five years.
One project involves RTI masonry students in UMR research to strengthen building materials, RTI students worked with researchers in UMR's Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies to test the strength of new, lightweight construction materials in concrete blocks. The RTI students built a wall using fiber-reinforced composite materials developed at UMR, then observed as UMR students tested the technology.
"The partnership between UMR and RTI is truly unique because it brings together a major research university and a technical institute to work toward the common cause of providing a relevant and meaningful educational experience to students from both institutions," says UMR Chancellor Gary Thomas. "This partnership has been beneficial to both parties over the past five years, and we look forward to years and years of continued collaboration."
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North Carolina
In July, as part of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's (N.C. DPI) Annual Conference for Trade and Industrial Education, the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) hosted the state's high school masonry instructors for an afternoon of hamburgers, hot dogs and homemade ice cream. Some 35 instructors joined NCMCA, the Brick Association of the Carolinas and the Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association at McGee Brothers Company facility at Pleasant Garden, N.C., just south of Greensboro.
The highlight of the afternoon was a presentation by five NCMCA mason contractors updating the instructors on the state of the industry and what the future holds for young people who choose masonry as a career. Contractors addressing the meeting were Red McAdams of McAdams Masonry in Elon, Calvin Brodie of Brodie Contractors in Raleigh, Ashlee Moore of Koontz Masonry in Lexington, and Kent Huntly and Sam McGee of McGee Brothers Company. Presenters were selected to represent the different types of masonry contractors (ie. "commercial" versus "residential," and "large" versus "small").
In the discussion that followed the contractors' presentation, it was suggested that contractors and industry spend more time visiting high school masonry classes. Instructors asked NCMCA to develop a video featuring mason contractors explaining what qualities they seek in prospective employees and how they think young people can be more successful in job interviews with prospective employers. NCMCA is presently investigating that possibility.
The N.C. DPI Trade and Industrial Education Conference brings vocational instructors together each year for a week of continuing education and interaction with industry representatives.
In upcoming news, the NCMCA will hold its 12th Annual State Golf Tournament on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, in Graham, N.C. More than 100 NCMCA members and guests are expected to participate in the "modified best ball" tournament, as the Kelly Carver Masonry Team defends its two-year claim on the NCMCA Golf Championship. This year's tournament will be played at the site of the 2001 and 2002 tournaments, "The Challenge at Hide-A-Way Farms," a course designed to test the best of masonry's golfers and confound the hackers.
Golf Chairman Bill Reed of Arrow Equipment Company is seeking tourna-