Amerimix
CrewTracks
EZ Scaffold Corp.
EZG Manufacturing
Hydro Mobile, Inc.
Loot
Non-Stop Scaffolding
PROSOCO, Inc.
SOLA/Keson
SPEC MIX LLC
Stabila
Westlake Royal Stone Solutions
Find-a-Contractor Masonry Buyer's Guide
May 2010

MCAA Key Accomplishments 2009-2010

President’s Message

By

Thank you to members of the Mason Contractors Association of America, the only national association focused exclusively on representing the industry’s mason contractors.

As it comes time to renew your annual dues, we would like to update you on some of the initiatives from last year that your membership dollars had a direct impact on:

Glove Issue Update

The MCAA petitioned OSHA for a repeal of the glove rule. In 2010 the MCAA received a ruling that states gloves are required in areas that have a potential exposure to mortar. A field study by a safety officer should be done in order to rule out tasks that do not require gloves. While this is not the full repeal the MCAA was seeking, the MCAA continues it’s discussion for a rule that will make sense for masons without needing a full field test to indicate whether gloves are necessary or not.

Membership dollars had a direct impact on important masonry issues.
Membership dollars had a direct impact on important masonry issues.

Brick Void Update

The MCAA has been working to stop a change to ASTM C-216. The change would increase the void size permitted in bricks. Contractors have expressed concern over the impact the change will have on entire masonry systems and the costs associated with such a change. Productivity and mortar consumption have been cited as key areas of concern. The MCAA asked member firms to sign up for ASTM and become voting members of the C-15 committee which oversees C-216. Late last year we had about 30 new contractor members become voting members of C-15. We’re hopeful that the current ballot out on this issue will close in our favor.

Independent Contractor Issue

The MCAA has been working as a part of a coalition of industries to fight the trend of contractors making all their employees independent contractors. Such practices give a huge competitive edge to contractors who are cheating the government out of matching payroll taxes, workman’s comp insurance, and medical benefits among other things. The MCAA has made numerous trips to DC to lobby Congress on this and other key political issues.

New E-Safety Program Available

A new e-safety program is available online to members of the MCAA. The new program gives contractors great access to a multitude of safety related programs, training topics, reporting tools and tracking tools. The fee for members for one year access is just $25.00. This is one of several new member benefits offered in 2010-2011.

Launch of MCAA Webinars

Earlier this year the MCAA launched a new webinar program. Four programs were offered in April and May and a new schedule has eight planned for June and July. The topics are varied and offer discounted rates for attendance. Members not only save on rates for attending the webinars, but also save in travel costs and time away from the office by taking these live programs. The MCAA will be offering these same live webinars on-demand on the MCAA website in the year ahead. These are great programs intended to help increase you and your staff’s knowledge of trends in our industry. All programs receive MCAA certification credit.

Legislative Issues

The MCAA just completed our annual conference in DC. In one day, the MCAA and our participants saw over 50 Congressmen and Senators and lobbied them on the following positions: 3% Government Withholding Tax, Estate Tax, Alternative Minimum Tax, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Independent Contractor issues and MILCON Construction. For details on these issues, check out the MCAA website. The MCAA made quite a few different trips throughout 2009-2010 and had many face-to-face sit downs with targeted Senators and Congressmen to make our positions on these issues known. In addition, the MCAA had a meeting at the Pentagon with representatives in April to discuss the Army’s current construction methods.

Mason Contractor Certification

The MCAA has nearly 100 contractors working towards their certification and has 18 currently certified. Several states have inquired in 2009-2010 about the possibility of adopting the certification program and making it required in their states in the future. The MCAA has added a tremendous amount of on-demand, online educational opportunities to our website in order to make certification courses easily accessible and more economical to attain.

Because of your support in the MCAA, we are able to achieve measurable success that will undoubtedly impact your bottom line as well as the bottom lines of thousands of other mason contracting firms. Without your support this past year, several of the items we have listed would not have occurred. Of course our accomplishments and industry influence encompasses so much more than what we have listed here; however, it’s all made possible as a direct result of your commitment to the association. Every member of the MCAA shares in our successes and we have so many more exciting things planned for this upcoming year. We know that through your support, we will continue to have a positive impact on the future of the masonry industry.

Chairman’s Message Archive

The American Dream

August 2019
The American Dream

Doing Our Part

May 2019
Doing Our Part

Preparing for D.C.

April 2019
Preparing for D.C.

Recent Updates

September 2018
Recent Updates

Masonry’s Future

August 2018
Masonry’s Future

Worthwhile Work

June 2018
Worthwhile Work

A New Beginning

February 2018
A New Beginning

Givers Gain

January 2018
Givers Gain

Things to Remember

March 2017
Things to Remember

Looking Forward

February 2017
Looking Forward

A Fresh Start

January 2017
A Fresh Start

Who Moved My Cheese?

September 2016
Who Moved My Cheese?

Giving back

December 2015
Giving back

An exciting year ahead

February 2015
An exciting year ahead

Defining success

December 2014
Defining success

Staying busy for you

August 2014
Staying busy for you

Ready for action

February 2014
Ready for action

Thanks

January 2014
Thanks

Happy holidays

December 2013
Happy holidays

MCAA Midyear update

November 2013
MCAA Midyear update

The MCAA in D.C.

August 2013
The MCAA in D.C.

A Lot Happening

July 2013
A Lot Happening

Eye opening

June 2013
Eye opening

Positive movement

March 2013
Positive movement

Headed to Vegas

February 2013
Headed to Vegas

New beginning

January 2013
New beginning

It’s finally over

December 2012
It’s finally over

My trip to the Rockies

November 2012
My trip to the Rockies

The 2012 election

October 2012
The 2012 election

Stay involved

September 2012
Stay involved

Networking

August 2012
Networking

Summer time

July 2012
Summer time

Exciting time

June 2012
Exciting time

Working for you

May 2012
Working for you

New beginnings

March 2012
New beginnings

Farewell!

February 2012
Farewell!

One more to go!

January 2012
One more to go!

Join us in Vegas

November 2011
Join us in Vegas

As the world turns

August 2011
As the world turns

A Bright Future

May 2011
A Bright Future

Tidbits From MCAA

March 2011
Tidbits From MCAA

Time Flies By

February 2011
Time Flies By

The End of the Year

December 2010
The End of the Year

Busy Times!

November 2010
Busy Times!

South of 40

October 2010
South of 40

What Are We Doing?

August 2010
What Are We Doing?

Moving Forward

March 2010
Moving Forward

A Fond Farewell

February 2010
A Fond Farewell

A New Year

January 2010
A New Year

Start the Year Strong

December 2009
Start the Year Strong

MCAA in D.C.

September 2009
MCAA in D.C.

Brick Voids

August 2009
Brick Voids

Vision 2020

February 2009
Vision 2020

State of the Association

February 2009
State of the Association

The Silver Lining

January 2009
The Silver Lining

Impact on the Hill

June 2008
Impact on the Hill

New Horizons

February 2008
New Horizons

Wrapping up Another Year

December 2007
Wrapping up Another Year

Greetings From Italy!

November 2007
Greetings From Italy!

We Need Your Help!

January 2005
We Need Your Help!

The Strength of Unity

November 2003
The Strength of Unity

Changing of the Guard

February 2002
Changing of the Guard

“The MCAA is working to solidify our industry.”

Donald McCauley
Hunt Country Masonry, Inc.
MCAA member since 2010

Learn More