Masonry Magazine April 2003 Page. 8
President's Message
Strength Through Advocacy
William McConnell
President, Mason Contractors Association of America
What a truly remarkable year this past one has been. As a nation, our strength of character has rarely been tested as it was in 2002. We endured the long healing process that began the day after the September 11th attacks. We have been introduced to multicolored threat warnings alerting us to the possibility of imminent danger. We were in awe of what America can become as shown by the determination and spirit of those men and women who rebuilt the destroyed Pentagon less than one year after the brutal attack, an unbelievable accomplishment.
Now, we face the promise that comes with a newly elected Congress while at the same time, as an industry, we cope with the uncertainties of an ailing economy. Rarely before have we experienced a President so unwavering and determined to protect Americans from such brutal attacks from a hidden enemy as we experienced just eighteen months ago. Regardless of politics, we must marvel at such dedication and leadership even in the face of growing discontent from those few Americans who chose to ignore history and seek to turn the other cheek regardless of future costs.
Leadership is more than a word loosely thrown around. In my mind, true leadership is a total conviction in a vision of a future and a focus and determination to endure the hardships that are faced on the long road to that envisioned future. Since becoming president of the Mason Contractors Association of America, a day doesn't go by that I don't marvel at the strength of character that President Bush must possess to be so steadfast in his beliefs and vision. To stand firm when the voices of discontent engulf you is truly remarkable.
As an association, we have stepped forward to provide the leadership that has been so lacking in our industry. Few argued that the need for true leadership existed, yet as we offered a vision for the future, many in our industry challenged our vision. For decades, the masonry industry lamented the loss of markets coming from the splintered nature of our industry. Those that led before us failed to build a cohesive industry capable of growing masonry's market share in the construction industry.
The MCAA stepped forward to fill the leadership void only to be welcomed with dissention and skepticism by those who should be allied with us. Clearly we have been tested, but those tests have hardened us and sharpened our vision for the future. That sharpened focus has enabled our association to achieve many accomplishments this past year while setting even bolder goals for the future.
Representing Your Interests
As mason contractors, we contend with tremendous external pressures impacting our business and our profitability. Winning jobs at a fair price, securing a skilled workforce, adhering to ever changing building codes and standards, getting paid on time or in some cases getting paid at all, challenge the very survival of our businesses. But no impact is as great, as fast, and as unforgiving as that of government intervention. As contractors, we know all too well the burden incurred on our businesses by increasing taxes. Add to that the arbitrary effects of increasing government regulations from agencies such as OSHA and its affect on our bottom-line is equally as devastating. As a Board, we looked into the near future and saw looming on the horizon still greater impacts to our livelihood from possible ergonomics and silica standards and we knew that something needed to be done.
This past year, through the support of our members through a dues increase, the MCAA hired a full-time Director of Government Affairs, based in Washington, D.C., who is representing our interests in our nation's capital. Through the efforts of our lobbyist, the MCAA has already established a presence not only in the halls of Congress, but in federal agencies and departments as well. We have begun dialogue with agencies such as OSHA with regard to issues such as ergonomics and other far-reaching initiatives that can devastate our industry.
We have met with the Department of Education and Treasury to discuss workforce development issues and tax incentives to assist us in expanding our labor force to meet future needs. We have met with key members of Congress to advocate legislation that will assist us as small business owners in vital areas such as tax relief, health-care reform and prompt pay.
Assuring that our voice as an association and as an industry is heard, we have become active in the past election and played a role in electing four U.S. Senators who were instrumental in gaining a pro-small business majority in the Congress. Two specific contests that our association's political action committee, MACPAC, helped were Jim Talent's race in Missouri and Norm Coleman's in Minnesota. For the first time, our political action committee not only gave significant contributions but we became active in "get-out-the-vote" efforts in those races. It's those voter turnout campaigns that have a tremendous impact, especially in close elections.
We can no longer sit idly by and hope that candidates friendly to our positions will win their elections. As an association, we must insure that the 17,000 mason contracting firms and their more than 190,000 employees have the information to make educated decisions about who the best candidates are who will support the masonry industry.
The MCAA will become diligent in seeking the active support of every mason contractor. At previous MCAA meetings, we heard reports that in the last several