Masonry Magazine January 2006 Page. 52
News
America Masonry Showcase in Las Vegas, March 2006.
Twelve judges representing union, non-union and instructors scored the incredibly close competition. The top finishers were: first year apprentice, Terrance Vaughn of Detroit; second year apprentice, Thomas Hugo of St. Clair Shores, Mich.; and third year apprentice, Troy Holmes of Williams Field, Ohio.
Several union guests - including Jerry O'Malley, executive vice president from Washington, D.C.; Ray Chapman, Local #1 president; Nelson McMath, Local #9 president; the instructors from Locals #1 and #9, the International Masonry Institute; and Local #5 Ohio-attended the event. The Maplewood Career Center of Ohio also participated.
Materials, tools and funds were contributed by Best Block, Colonial Brick, ESSROC, Fendt Builders' Supply, Gibraltar National, Holcim, Lafarge North America, Local #1, Local #9, Local #9 MCE Cooperation Education Trust Fund, MASONPRO, National Block, Sabiston Building Supply, Schuster Equipment, St. Mary's Cement and Theut Products.
This wonderful function highlighted the skills of these young people and the future of our industry. We should all be proud of their accomplishments.
For more information about future activities, please visit www.mmca-mi.com.
Orlando
The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) will conduct its fifth Residential Design Symposium for homebuilders at the Orlando Airport Marriott on Jan. 10-one day before the opening of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builder Show (IBS).
The IBS is a leading event for homebuilders around the world. NCMA is conducting a special one-day residential design symposium that will offer homebuilders a greater understanding of the wide variety of concrete masonry units available and how concrete masonry can be used not only to beautify homes, but to also make them stronger and safer-"Built for Life."
The preliminary agenda includes educational presentations by homebuilders who utilize concrete masonry products in their residential home building businesses and tours of The New American Home and the IBS Show Home.
For more information, visit www.ncma.org.
Virginia
Reported by the Harrisonburg Daily News Record, "Frazier Quarry Promotes Masonry." Nov. 11, 2005:
The limited availability of stonemasons in Harrisonburg has prompted Frazier Quarry Inc. to scour the community for students willing to contribute to, what Quarry Vice President Bibb Frazier calls, "the dying art" of stone masonry.
To boost the short supply of stonemasons in the area, Frazier Quarry is sponsoring a six-week stonemason class for high school students at the Massanutten Technical Center.
Over the next five years, Frazier Quarry will assist in providing $2,000 each year toward the salary for an experienced stonemason to teach the course. They will also provide $1,500 each year for tools and materials.
Frazier said that the minimal supply of stonemasons in the area, compared to the current demand, has raised the cost of hiring these skilled professionals within the region. He said he hopes the classes will result in more stonemasons, which in turn News continued on page 52
MCAA Works to Pass the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act
The House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 420, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act (LARA), by a vote of 228-184.
LARA provides a national solution to end unjustifiable forum shopping where attorneys try to locate the best jurisdiction or venue to bring their case based on the reputation of the judge in the particular legal area, the likely type of available jurors and subtle differences in governing law and procedure.
Unfortunately, it costs little more than a small filing fee to generate a lawsuit, but costs much more for a small business to defend against it. Often, small businesses have few options to recoup these costs. The reality is that raising prices is often not an option, and sometimes cutting operating expenses (such as letting employees go) is a painful but necessary step in an effort to rebuild the company.
LARA will help to rein in frivolous lawsuits by:
* Restoring mandatory sanctions on attorneys, law firms or parties who file frivolous lawsuits.
* Abolishing the "safe harbor" provision that allows parties and their attorneys to avoid sanctions by withdrawing a suit within 21 days after a motion for sanctions has been filed.
* Permit monetary sanctions, including reimbursement of reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs in connection with frivolous lawsuits.
* Extending the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 to state cases when a state judge finds that the case substantially affects interstate commerce by threatening jobs and economic losses to other states.
It is time to put an end to baseless claims. The Mason Contractors Association of America will continue to work on getting this bill passed in the Senate to help protect masonry businesses.
For more information, visit www.masoncontractors.org.