Masonry Magazine January 2007 Page. 14
Guest Columnist
An Open Letter to the
Masonry Industry
Dear Fellow Members of the Masonry Industry,
Imagine a website that inspires and teaches your customers to design their next building with masonry. Not material that looks like masonry; not precast, not tilt-up, not metal, not synthetic stucco or manufactured stone. That's right, we're talking about genuine brick, block and stone-total masonry construction. The website of which I speak is MasonrySystems.org.
Masonrysystems.org is the brainchild of the Masonry Executives Council (MEC), a coalition of professionals from more than two dozen mason contractor associations. Our group believes that it's high time to bring our industry together.
Out Of Time?
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ESTIMATING, LIC
CIRCLE 245 ON READER SERVICE CARD
12 Masonry
January 2007
and to provide a unified source of information and promotion for the total masonry wall system.
We're frustrated that our competitors' "turnkey" building systems approach is eating the masonry industry alive. We're confused by our own industry's promotion efforts, where brick, block, stone and labor are all promoted as separate components. We want to make it easy for architects, engineers, developers, school boards and city officials to choose masonry for their buildings. And most importantly, we want to significantly increase the amount of masonry used in the marketplace.
During the past year, our Council has worked with professional web developers to create the infrastructure and design for a comprehensive Internet site. The finished site will have three major components:
# Inspiration
If a picture's worth a thousand words, just imagine how hundreds of pictures of outstanding masonry architecture will inspire your designers and developers. Visit our online gallery to view the best in masonry design from all across North America. Discover the beauty and versatility of brick, block and stone by browsing our Masonry Showcase. Learn about the people and challenges behind our viewers' favorite work by clicking on our Featured Project of the Month. Think your own work might inspire others? Submit your project to our editors and become part of our growing collection of great work.
# Information
Your customers will get smart here. They'll learn why masonry structures outlast and outperform every other building system. They'll discover which masonry wall system is right for their next building and what it will cost. They'll even discover how to detail their structure for maximum durability and beauty. Find data, articles, presentations and videos about every aspect of masonry design and construction, from fire ratings to moisture control, cost-cutting strategies to cleaning practices.
# Interaction
Ask for a second opinion, or contribute one. This section of the website provides instant access to your colleagues in the masonry community. Post and read messages, ask questions, or submit industry announcements on the electronic bulletin board. Contribute articles for inclusion in our online magazine. This is an active platform for discussion.
MASONRY EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Arizona Masonry Contractors Association
Arizona Masonry Guild
Califormia Conference of Mason Contractor
Associations, Inc.
Central Illinois Mason Contractors Association
Indiana Concrete Masonry Association
Mason Contractors Association of America
MCA of Greater Chicago
MCA of Michigan
MCA of Spokane
MCA of St. Louis
Masonry Advisory Council
Masonry Association of Geongja
Masonry Industry Training Association
Masonry Institute
Masonry Institute of America
Masonry Institute of lowa
Masonry Institute of Michigan
Masonry Institute of Oregon
Masonry Institute of St. Louis
Masonry Institute of Tennessee
Masonry Institute of Washington
Michigan Mason Contractors Association
North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association
Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute
Texas Masonry Council
Utah Masonry Coundl
www.masoncontractors.org