Masonry Magazine May 2003 Page. 45
MCAA Annual Membership Meeting
The Annual Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Membership Meeting took place in the Marriott Waterside Hotel, Tampa, Fla, on the morning of March 13. In a packed, two-hour session, members were briefed on a number of initiatives and programs planned for the Association.
The MCAA Web Site
The Web Site Expansion Task Force, headed by David Hill, chairman of the Education Committee, reported on the results of a detailed evaluation of the present site and a wide range of recommended improvements that will add information, improve functionality/navigation, and increase potential revenue over the next few years. Such changes will include: additional links for legislative activities, codes and standards, Association news, safety resources, quick contractor look-up referral and member log-in. The Task Force has also proposed offering smaller contractors assistance in developing their own web sites. With such an extensive redesign of the site and the need for daily maintenance, the Task Force recommended hiring a full-time person at the Association's headquarters.
Cost Book
The Cost Book Task Group report was presented by Frank Campitelli. The Group also included John J. Smith Jr., David Gillick and Jeff Buczkiewicz. The Group recommended proceeding with the publication of a Cost Comparison Guide, both in print and online versions, which will evaluate and price twenty different wall types, including block and brick walls, tilt-up, glass, metal curtain and stucco. The basic criteria will be cost per square foot per project. The Guide will be divided into regions to reflect differences in costs, particularly wages. The estimated time to complete the project is thirteen months.
Membership
Dick Dentinger, chairman of the Membership Committee, reported on a number of positive developments in the past year. In the current fiscal year, renewals are running ahead of budget and a push for new members will be launched this spring using the same approach as the successful 2002 Magnificent 47 program. The committee announced that MCAA members can now sign-up for discounts of up to 50 percent on shipments through Yellow Emery and Roadway Express. The committee is also looking to develop a bi-monthly online newsletter that will keep members up-to-date on all MCAA activities.
Education
David Hill, chairman of the Education Committee, covered a number of initiatives and also welcomed Colin Faul, MCAA's new Director of Professional Development since December 2002. The committee has begun a series of one-day Testing Seminars at the Robert L. Nelson Testing Lab in Chicago. The seminars are designed to teach contractors and their employees how to prevent projects from being delayed or falsely diagnosed as having structural problems. So far, four seminars have been held and have received great reviews. Planning is underway to update and offer the Masonry Quality Institute as part of a new seminar series in different parts of the country. Also, new masonry-specific safety software program will be available this summer.
Technical
Jerry Painter, chairman of the Technical Committee, described a number of on-going activities. Rashod Johnson, MCAA's Director of Engineering, has been heavily involved in the development of codes and standards with groups such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC), Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS), The Masonry Society (TMS), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Painter and Johnson are also working on the new ASTM Workmanship Standard that should eliminate most disagreements in quality masonry construction and should be complete and in-force later this year. Johnson is also active in the Flexural Axial Loads and the Construction Requirements Sub-committees on the MSJC, as well as the Finish and Appearance task group for concrete block of the ASTM. The Technical Committee is also developing the MCAA's relationship with OSHA as a member of its Construction Council. This allows the Association to provide input on new OSHA standards before they are released.
Legislation
Paul Odom, chairman of the Legislative Committee, reported on a number of developments since the decision to hire a full-time staff member in Washington, D.C., to represent the interests of mason contractors before Congress and the Executive Branch. Marian Marshall, MCAA's Director of Government Affairs, has contacted every member of Congress to introduce the Association and her role. In addition, she has joined various organizations and coalitions to further the goals of the MCAA. At the federal level, Marshall has been instrumental in opening up contacts and communications within OSHA through its Directorate of Construction and its Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. This has led to MCAA having a voice within a working group for a new exposure standard for silica.