MCAA - 2005 Masonry Convention

Side Story:
Committee Reports

Here are just a few of the things that MCAA's committee members have accomplished for the Association and the industry since the Midyear Meeting last fall. The full-length Committee Reports can be found on MCAA's web site at www.masoncontractors.org.

Education

• Revised the Masonry Foreman Development Course.
  
  
• Introduced a new Advanced Masonry Estimating Seminar.
  
  
• Will update the MCAA Resource Catalog, with scaled-back four-page paper version and a full online version.
  
  
• Experienced an increase in book sales via the web site.
  
  
• Combined educational offerings with CSI and TFM to increase opportunities for all attendees.

Legislative

• The Silica Task Force, led by MCAA, is scheduled to complete a set of alternatives to OSHA's draft silica proposal in May.
  
  
• Working with the California chapter to develop comments on CAL-OSHA's considered proposal to lower the PEL to one-tenth of the existing OSHA PEL.
  
  
• The Association Health Plan (AHP) coalition, which includes MCAA, has made a strong push to have AHP legislation passed this year.
  
  
• Marian Marshall, MCAA's Director of Government Affairs, has worked diligently on apprenticeship training legislation.
  
  
• The MCAA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., will be held June 26-28. One highlight includes a special briefing at the White House just for MCAA's attendees.
  
  
• Involved in recent asbestos legislation, concerned that it may set precedence for other standards, such as silica.
  
  
• Drafting a letter to OSHA requesting an interpretation of the overhand bricklaying exemption as it pertains to grouting.

Marketing

• The International Excellence in Masonry competition increased submissions by 43% between 2004 and 2005.
  
  
• Over the past 24 months, MCAA's web site has expanded its content by 5,000%, with a 10,000% increase in hits.
  
  
• The MasonrySystems.org campaign is also gaining momentum, with 250,000 hits to the site since its launched in October 2004.
  
  
• "Masonry: It Makes a Village" was a highlighted event at the 2005 Masonry Showcase.
  
  
• Helped the Masonry Industry Council through participation in the Federal Officials Seminar, exhibiting at World of Masonry, and a Design/Build seminar and booth at the Green Building Expo.
  
  
• Co-sponsoring the annual Professor's Workshop through The Masonry Society.

Membership

• 124 new members have joined MCAA during the past fiscal year.
  
  
• Revised materials, got more members involved, and increased communications to maintain membership, yielding a 92% renewal rate to date.
  
  
• Redesigned a new invoice, which looks more like ones furnished through accounting software that may prompt more attention.
  
  
• Will be publishing a 2005-2006 Member Directory.

Safety & Technical

• Introduced a full-scale wall bracing seminar at this year's Masonry Showcase.
  
  
• Discussing making an interactive wall bracing CD.
  
  
• Since signing the national alliance with OSHA last year, the relationship with OSHA staff has proved to be invaluable for MCAA and its members.
  
  
• Working closely with OSHA to develop training materials for MCAA members pertaining to the four key areas of the alliance.
  
  
• Developed a computerized safety program that, if followed properly, will aid contractors in implementing employee health and safety programs.
  
  
• Meeting with OSHA, NIOSH, CDC and other organizations on a variety of health and safety issues.

Workforce Development

• The "Check Out a Career in Masonry" promotion continues to succeed, with over 1,300 requests from high school counselors for information.
  
  
• 100 of these counselors have requested career day presentations for their schools — five times more than the previous year.
  
  
• Will begin establishing pre-apprenticeship programs at many of these schools.
  
  
• The SkillsUSA Masonry Technical committee invited MCAA to rejoin as a full, voting member.
  
  
• Using feedback from past events, the committee improved the Masonry Skills Challenge across the board.
  
  
• Planned the Fastest Trowel on the Block event this year, adding new features to the event and marketing it heavily.
  
  
• The Arizona MCA and California Association will provide MCAA with the Spanish translation text of the Masonry Training Series Volumes 2 and 3 for publication and marketing.
  
  
• Formed a masonry instructors subcommittee to provide a voice to this area of the industry concerning trends and instruction.