MCAA Midyear Meeting Safety Measures

Words: Jeff Buczkiewicz

The MCAA is excited to announce that the 2020 Midyear Meeting is a go. We are expecting a refreshing time for members to network safely and in accordance with CDC guidelines from September 13-17. For more information and to register, please visit midyear.masoncontractors.org.

As a result of several questions we've received, here is a list of safety protocols that the French Lick Resort is following: 

  1. Masks are required in public areas where social distancing can't be maintained. The MCAA will be providing custom masks to all attendees. 
  2. No buffets. All meals will be plated, unless a boxed option is available and appropriate. 
  3. No room drops.
  4. In-room dining is currently not an option, although this may change prior to our arrival. 
  5. Name badges will be handed out in a different, safer manner. 
  6. Attendee temperatures will be taken at check in and as needed throughout the day (similar to how it is done on jobsites). 
  7. Meetings will have no more than six people at each table, if those six have been traveling together or are family. Otherwise, four will be the maximum for each table to maintain six-foot social distancing. 
  8. Speed Dating will occur in a large venue conducive to social distancing. We will keep groups small and move people along relatively quickly. The touching part of Speed Dating will not be permitted. The venue will not accommodate more than 20 stations. We have eight companies confirmed with six strongly considering the event. 
  9. All meeting spaces will have hand sanitizing stations in back and other stations will be positioned throughout the resort. 
  10. Every guest will receive personal hand sanitizer at check in. 
  11. Shuttles are not permitted for large groups, and all events will take place on site. Public shuttles will be running, but limited on how many are allowed to ride at a time. Social distancing is required on the shuttles. 
  12. Every room and all contents within are sanitized after every event. Notepads and pens will be at the back of the meeting rooms for those who need them. They will not be reused. 
  13. People are not permitted to change seats once they have selected one during meetings. 
  14. All of our meeting space has been sized up to allow more room for proper social distancing. 
  15. We will not have lines during any of our functions. If lines begin to form, they will be quickly disbanded and people will be moved to make sure proper distance is maintained. 
  16. Attendees will be encouraged to not shake hands. At the MCAA office, we have taken on the traditional East Asian custom of bowing to one another when we meet. 
  17. Golfing, of course, is an ideal and fun way to social distance. We have two outings planned. 
  18. People will be reminded of COVID-19 signs and symptoms. If anyone experiences any of these signs of symptoms, they will be told not to attend any events. 
  19. All guest rooms are thoroughly sanitized between stays, and they currently do not clean rooms daily unless requested. 
The Behind-the-Wall Secrets Every Mason Already Knows (But Some Ignore)
March 2026

You’ve been around long enough to know this already: stone doesn’t fail on the face; it fails behind the wall. You can lay the prettiest veneer in the county, but if the prep is junk, that wall’s gonna start telling on you after a couple of winters. Manu

From the Mound to the Mortar: Jon Rauch’s Tall Order in the Masonry Industry
March 2026

In the record books of Major League Baseball, Jon Rauch is a literal giant. At 6 feet, 11 inches, he remains the tallest player to ever step onto a Big League mound. But today, the Olympic Gold Medalist and 11-season MLB veteran isn’t looking for a strike

Case Study: The Scoop
March 2026

Leading UK architecture firm, Corstorphine & Wright, has announced the completion of ‘The Scoop’, a unique concave office building in Southwark, London. The innovative design reuses an existing building and integrates a conical cut-out façade in white gla

Executing Color-Driven Designs Without Compromising Craftsmanship
March 2026

On today’s jobsites, masonry contractors are being asked to do more than install manufactured stone veneer (MSV). They’re being asked to interpret design trends and execute them with precision. Homeowners arrive with curated Pinterest boards. Designers r