Masonry Magazine November 2004 Page. 46
News
News continued from page 43 and services all under one roof exhibiting and demonstrating their newest products for your inspection.
In addition, the event provides its nationally renowned array of workshops and seminars addressing significant industry issues such as project delivery and project management, marketing and public relations, financial management and firm management, codes, contracts, facility management and the full range of design and construction issues of importance to contractors and other building industry professionals.
For more information, visit www.buildboston.com.
California
Reported by KSBY (San Luis Obispo), "Jenna's Bill' signed," Sept. 22, 2004:
Friends of the two women killed in last year's San Simeon earthquake are speaking out, after a new seismic safety bill is signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Wednesday marked the nine-month anniversary of the San Simeon earthquake as well as a new state law known as the "Jennifer Lynn Myrick Memorial Law," which requires unreinforced masonry buildings to post a placard saying the building may be unsafe if an earthquake hits.
"Jenna's Bill" was influenced by Leroy and Vicky Myrick, who say their daughter's death was unnecessary. Last December, Jennifer Myrick and Marilyn Frost-Zafuto were killed when the Acorn building collapsed as they ran from Ann's Dress Shop during the San Simeon earthquake. With the passing of "Jenna's Bill," by January 2005, owners of unreinforced masonry buildings will be required to post a placard at the entrance of their business that says:
"This is an unreinforced masonry building. Unreinforced masonry buildings may be unsafe in the event of a major earthquake."
Florida
Reported by The News-Press, "Building codes upheld, Sept. 1, 2004:
The Florida Building Commission on Tuesday adopted a revised statewide building code that maintains more-stringent standards for wind resistance on inland structures. State Treasurer Tom Gallagher championed the action in a last-minute flurry of warnings that the new building codes could endanger life and property...
Reinhold is vice president of engineering for the Institute for Business & Home Safety, one of two advocacy groups that for months had been working with the commission to keep the wind-resistance rules in place. Reinhold said without the amendment, a quarter to a third of the state would have been subject to building codes designed to withstand up to 100-mph winds instead of 110 mph.
The difference in those standards has been evident to Reinhold as he has News continued on page 46
Attitude is Everything
# MASONRY NEWS CONTRACTOR TIP
People act toward us exactly how we act toward them. If you smile and be pleasant, the other person will generally smile and be pleasant in return. Let's say I often come to work in a bad mood. If I do, the people around me will treat me in a way that reflects my attitude. So in return for being in a bad mood, they will make my day even worse by refusing to help, or they may even avoid being around me at all. On the other hand, if I come to work in a good mood, they will go out of their way to help me.
The difference between enjoying and not enjoying what we do is a choice we all get to make. It's like the dad with two sons, one negative and the other who is positive. They happen to be playing in rooms next to one another. The dad walks in the first room, and the negative son has all the toys he can imagine: trains, trucks, you name it. However, the kid is all stressed out and miserable. The dad asks, "What is wrong, son?" The child replies, "With all these toys, something will probably break, and I'm afraid I'm going to lose some of them."
The dad walks in the next room, and his positive son is playing in a pile of sh*t. He is laughing and tickled to death. The dad asks, "Son, why are you so happy?" The child replies, "Dad, with all this sh*t, there's bound to be a horse around here somewhere."
This is a simple tale that Dennis Knowlton of Knowlton Construction shared with me after attending one of my seminars and touring our job sites. However, I believe there is something special about this tale. It is much more like real life than anyone of us can imagine. If we do have a choice in how we view a situation and we know these views affect our feelings and behavior, let's chose to view things in a positive way. This will make our lives better and benefit everyone who is around us.