Masonry Magazine April 1981 Page. 9
NASA aerospace engineer Walter Scott of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston gave a fascinating preview of the space shuttle Columbia's maiden flight into earth orbit as well as a glimpse into future U.S. space projects.
Among the featured speakers at the Opening Session of the Conference was John T. Joyce, president of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen, and chairman, Masonry Research Foundation, Washington, D.C.
Following the Opening Session of the Conference, three MCAA past presidents took time out to pose for a group photo. (From left) Eugene George (1978-79), Kitchener, Ont., Canada, Charles F. Velardo (1974-75), Newton Highlands, Mass.: current president Louis J. Helbert, Jr., Fort Collins, Colo., and Robert F. Ebeling (1976-77), Romeo, Mich.
CONFERENCE REPORT
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and other standard applications. These systems are marketed under the tradename "SAM," for Simple Automated Masonry.
"Because of massive advertising campaigns, some computer manufacturers seem to be convincing many companies that they need a computer and that it will be easy to install," Veneris said. "But it is still difficult to install a computer and there are still some failures. Recently I spent a day visiting organizations which are in financial difficulty, and having a computer contributed to their problems.
"Nevertheless, in many cases, computers are a necessity. With them, a company can more easily control cost, monitor jobs, and comply with government regulations."
Following the noon lunch break on Saturday, MCAA members and their wives, Trade Show exhibitors and MCAA guests returned to the Grand Salon of the MGM at 2:00 p.m. for the annual President's Reception. Led by MCAA President Louis J. Helbert, Jr., MCAA officers and their wives formed a formal reception line to personally greet each guest attending the reception.
The hour-long social gathering immediately preceded the official opening of the '81 MCAA Educational Trade Show, at which President Helbert cut the symbolic ribbon.
Ray Lackey, executive director of the International Masonry Institute, Washington, D.C., gave highlights of IMI's marketing plans for 1981 and introduced the new logo and slogan which have been adopted as promotional tools for the masonry industry. Passive solar energy will be among IMI's chief promotion thrusts in '81.
signaling the start of the Show in the Grand Ballroom of the MGM. The eager visitors then toured the product and equipment displays presented by the nation's leading manufacturers and suppliers, and had further opportunity to conduct personal discussions with the various firms' representatives regarding specific problems.
As a follow-up to the displays in the exhibit area, nine manufacturers participated in the much-acclaimed Masonry Industry Showcase on Sunday, March 1, at 11:00 a.m. Staged outdoors in cool but pleasant weather, the companies put their equipment through the paces in a reserved section of the parking area adjacent to the MGM Grand. The audience, including many wives, filled the Showcase area to SRO capacity to view the latest in rough terrain material handling equipment.
The manufacturers represented in the demonstrations were: The General, Inc., Wichita, Kans.; Hyster Co., Portland, Ore.; Haws Manufacturing Co., Tulsa, Okla.; Koehring Compaction & General Equipment Group, Dayton, Ohio; Loed Corp., Wausau, Wis.; Lull Engineering Co., Inc., St. Paul, Minn.; Morgen Manufacturing Co., Yankton, S.D.; Pettibone Corp., Rosemont, Ill., and Wiggins Lift Co., Oxnard, Calif.
The Showcase was presented by the MCAA Material Handling and Safety Committees. Serving as moderators were MCAA regional vice president Jerry Dufour and MCAA secretary W. C. Dentinger, Jr.
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