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The MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry is just two months away.
November 2017

Always, Always, Always Something To Be Thankful For

Chairman’s Message

By

Here we are in November already with Thanksgiving right around the corner and year end fast approaching. We should all be busy planning and budgeting for next year as it will be here before we know it.

It’s hard to believe that our MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry is just two months away. That is certainly one of the busiest times for us at MCAA. The officers and staff started preparing for this convention as soon as the last one was over. There is a lot of preparation for not only all of our business meetings and educational classes but also the activities we hold in the Bronze lot. Speaking of the Lot, the Gold Lot which we used to hold our competitions in, will not exist as the Las Vegas convention center is expanding and will extend all the way from the north hall to Las Vegas Blvd.! This new addition will add 600,000 sq. ft. of show floor and meeting rooms to the existing 3.2 million sq. ft. of the convention center. How that affects us is our outdoor activities consisting of the MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block, the Apprentice Skills contest and the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 will be held in the Bronze lot. The Bronze lot is just south of the South Hall. We will be sure to have plenty of signs directing people to these events.

Be sure to read the ride along included in this month’s magazine on the topic of Natural Stone. One of the articles is about the stone carvers at the Washington National Cathedral. We were lucky enough to have done 2 tours led by the head stone mason on staff there. After the first tour I called it a once-in-a-lifetime tour but we actually were able to have a second one a few years later. For those that were along for one of the tours I am sure you will agree that it is truly an amazing structure and the people that repair and maintain it are the finest craftsmen around. There is also an article titled Everybody Must Get Stoned. You would think that stone hasn’t changed much over the years but you will find in the article that is has changed a lot and is still changing today.

I can’t pass up an opportunity to talk about our Masonry Foundation, at least I can’t bear the pain that our Foundation Chairman Mark Kemp would put me in if I didn’t! The Masonry Foundation is the future of our industry. The dollars raised there will never be spent, only the interest earned will be used to advance the masonry industry. The Foundation now has over $3.5MM in pledges and $1MM already invested and earning interest (over 11% earned so far in 2017). In just a couple of years the Foundation will begin accepting grant requests for projects that will be funded through the Foundation for the advancement of our industry. If you have already pledged to the Foundation, thank you very much for investing in OUR industry and making a difference. If you haven’t been asked to pledge yet, shame on us. We are reaching out to as many contractors and suppliers as we can but there are only a few of us doing the asking. The pledges are typically paid over a 5-year time span but can be adjusted to suit your circumstance. If you would like to invest in the future of OUR industry, please contact the MCAA office and we will gladly send you information and if you would like to talk to one of us, we will be glad to give you a call.

Now, about the title of my article. When we are busy in our work and personal lives handling all types of situations that arise, it is easy to get a little negative at times. It was very easy to get negative a few years ago when we were living through the Great Recession. We had no work, plenty of overhead and were laying people off that had worked with us for many years. It was hard to see the effect that had on the families that relied on us for their livelihood. Times are very different now but we still have our challenges, particularly in our lack of workforce. But during both the bad and good times we need to not focus on the negative but look at the positives. I would like to share something with you that I am reminded of every day when sitting down at home to eat a meal. My wife Colleen has a sign hanging in our kitchen that says “There Is Always, Always, Always Something To Be Thankful For” and it is so true.

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

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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
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Positive movement

March 2013
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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
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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
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The End of the Year

December 2010
The End of the Year

Busy Times!

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Busy Times!

South of 40

October 2010
South of 40

What Are We Doing?

August 2010
What Are We Doing?

Moving Forward

March 2010
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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 one of the most beneficial memberships that we have.”

Addison Kalish
Kalish Masonry, LLC
MCAA member since 2021

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