Masonry Magazine December 2015 Page. 12
By Melonie Leslie
Will You Accept the Call to Serve?
I can't remember a time when I I found that many of the people wasn't a part of the masonry industry. with whom we spoke were unaware of Many of the representatives' I have participated and contributed at how a check offprogram could bene�many levels for our local and national fit our industry or why we need to be offices were familiar associations. But, I bad never ventured given the opportunity to implement to Washington, D.C., to try my hand at one. And, when we discussed silica, it with our association lobbying for our issues. was important we made clear the det�
coming to visit and
I take pride in our industry and rimental impact it could have on the feel strongly about supporting it. industry were the rule is enforced. We
the topics we discuss.
By supporting the masonry indus�assuring them that we hold employee try, we can come up with solutions safety as a top priority. They didn't re�on how we can advance and protect alize that many mason contractors are downturn. Furthermore, we are in a our industry. Even with this convic�family businesses, and their employ�competitive market with other wall tion, I was still unsure about what to ees are like family members. Without systems and need a way to fight back. expect of this experience. Being that telling our representatives about these Without the check offprogram, this I was a newbie, Jeff Buczkiewicz of things, they have no idea what our in�will prove difficult. And, if the pro�the MCAA and Stephen Borg of The dustry demographic is or the dynamic posed silica rule is put into effect, Keelen Group made the transition among us. many of our contractors could be easy for me. Many ofthe representatives' offices put out ofbusiness, losing our mar�
The first day, I was paired or were familiar with our association ket share to other wall systems and grouped with more seasoned individ�coming to visit and the topics we dis�leaving our employees -our family uals to visit the representatives' offices. cuss. This was wonderful to see! The -without work. We need to continue This was extremely helpful, because I more presence we have, the more our to promote our industry, so it's still was able to see how other members ap�representatives will remember our in�here for our children's children. proached the meetings. It also allowed dustry when it is time to vote. This will Will you accept the calJ to serve? me the opportunity to chime in ifI felt benefit us in the future. We are gaining You may feel like a little fish in a big I had something to add to the meet�momentum, and it's important that pond, but you too can be a voice for ing, but took the pressure offbeing the we keep it going. But, we can't keep it our industry. IMAS main presenter ofinformation. By the going without more member involve�Melonie L.eslie is office manager following day, I felt confident and was menton the D.C. front andproject manager for G & G ready to be the lead and let my voice We are all busy, and finding the Enterprises, a masonry company
in Phoenix, Ariz., where she has
be heard. extra time to put into our industry is
worked for 11 years. Her duties
While we met mostly with higher always difficult. However, it is clear
include accounilng, estimating,
level staff members, we were able to that, without us working together as a
project management, field
meet with some ofthe representatives. team, we won't be able to continue to
supervision and everything in They all appreciated our taking the build awareness ofour needs nor fur�between. She is an active member
time and effort to come to Washington ther the presence ofour product of the Arizona Masonry Contractors
to voice our issues and concerns facing Our industry needs us. We are Association and Arizona Masonry Guild.
the masonry industry. still recovering from the economic
10 I MASONRY � December 2015 � www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry
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