A Half Century of Service...A Half Century of Leadership
2000 Report of the President
I am sure that many of you remember the year 1950. A year that the Republicans nominated Dwight Eisenhower for President, the “H” bomb was Detonated, George Reeves debuted as Superman, the George Burns and Grace Allen Show, the Jack Benny Show and What’s My Line debuted on television, North Korean troops invaded South Korea and the United Nations sent forces to repel the invasion under Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
American cartoonist Charles Schultz creates the comic strip “Peanuts” and the New York Yankees beat the Phillies in the World Series. The average price of an automobile in 1950 was $1,900, women’s shoes cost $8.99, and the average price of a 3-bedroom home cost $8,990. But most importantly, the mason contractors association of America was formed. In 1950 mason contractors lacked the unity to face tough issues, but thanks to the leadership of pioneers such as John Taheny from Chicago; Marshall Harrison from Kansas City; John Hawkes from Dayton, OH and Walter Kirk from St. Louis that unity was realized with the formation of the only association to represent mason contractors nationally. Today, the Mason Contractors Association of America remains the only national association to represent the interests of all mason contractors.
This year, the MCAA is celebrating its fiftieth year of leading mason contractors, and that milestone is unequaled in our industry. No other organization has compiled such a record of leadership for all mason contractors like the MCAA has achieved. No other organization has faced the tough decisions the MCAA has faced. While other organizations seek to only pacify, the MCAA refuses to abandon the best interests of all mason contractors simply to make friends. This past year, as we have done all along, the MCAA has continued its legacy of facing the tough decisions and providing leadership for all mason contractors.
This past year, the MCAA again established high goals for our association to accomplish. Goals that few felt could be achieved. But I am proud to report to you that your association has once again exceeded all expectations and has delivered a very profitable and successful year. Our goals contained six basic areas which I would like to address.
MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
First is membership growth. The backbone of any association is its members. This past year, just as we have for the past ten years in a row, we have experienced net growth in our membership. This growth in membership has been the primary reason that our influence as an association has grown as well. Through the expanded circulation of your association’s magazine, MASONRY, and through the expanded circulation of our Resource Catalog, mailed to every mason contractor in the country, our membership growth will continue to set new heights as more mason contractors affiliate their companies with the MCAA and its influence. I am happy to report that today we have more members active on committees than ever before. We have new chapters of mason contractors affiliating with us. In fact, we are lucky to include the newly formed MCA of Southern Nevada who has already made a mark for themselves by sponsoring the Blockbuster fastest trowel competition at this show and giving crucial support for the building of an all masonry Habitat for Humanity Home while we are here in Las Vegas. If each one of us takes an active role in recruiting new members, I can look forward to the day when almost every mason contractor in the country affiliates with the MCAA.
PUBLICATION SALES
Last year the MCAA experienced unbelievable growth in publication sales, tripling our budgeted figures. Little did we expect to top last year’s growth in sales. However, I can now report that in just six months, the MCAA has already reached last year’s record sales of nearly $120,000. This growth in sales is a tribute to our staff and the Education Committee’s goal of providing quality education for the nation’s mason contractors. One of the key elements of achieving this rapid growth in book sales has been the expansion of our Resource Catalog, which this year includes a new section on residential masonry and an expanded section on personal growth. The MCAA Marketing Committee is to be commended for expanding the services offered through our Resource Catalog.
MASONRY MAGAZINE
Your association’s magazine, MASONRY, enjoyed one of its best years in its thirty year history. This past year, the circulation of our magazine tripled along with its influence. Buoyed by a drastically expanded advertising base, the magazine has a readership of nearly 9,000 mason contractors. We now can boast a reach that can rival our magazine’s competitor. According to a recent association survey, MASONRY magazine is a prime source of information for our readers. With the success that the magazine has enjoyed and with the improvement in MASONRY’s features, we look forward to adding an additional 6,000 mason contracting firms to our readership, bringing our readership to over 15,000. This growth in circulation is extremely important to continue the growth in MCAA’s membership, publication sales and the expansion of our trade show. More importantly, this expanded circulation in MASONRY allows the MCAA to communicate key industry issues and MCAA’s position on those issues to every mason contractor in the nation. Equally important, this expanded circulation allows us to galvanize mason contractors to respond to the issues of the day. We look forward to even greater growth and influence in MASONRY Magazine.
TRAINING & RECRUITING
One of the prime directives for the association is to challenge the entire masonry industry to expand our workforce. Working together, our industry has the capability to solve our workforce shortages. Working individually, we will continue to face substantial shortages for years to come. Regardless of how much we must work together, no one has a greater responsibility to lead in this area than the Mason contractors association of America. Developing our workforce, regardless of whether our workforce is union or open shop, is the job of the mason contractor and the MCAA. I must add that most mason contractors historically receive low grades in this area. As contractors we spend most of our time overseeing projects, collecting money, making payroll and trying to get the next job. Yet one of our greatest needs as contractors is a well-skilled workforce. However, we virtually spend no time or effort recruiting our future workforce.
The MCAA hopefully took a large step forward this year toward solving future workforce needs. The Masonry Skills Challenge, which will take place Thursday in the exhibit hall, an event you should all attend, has already become a national spotlight for our industry’s training. The best apprentices our industry has to offer, as determined by regional competitions, will compete against each other to find the best of the best. The Masonry Skills Challenge already has ignited excitement in training in each of our nine regions as well as in Canada. I applaud the efforts of our Training Committee whose foresight in establishing the Masonry Skills Challenge will pay dividends for years to come.
INDUSTRY PROMOTION
The MCAA has become increasingly more active in the area of promoting masonry. Our industry suppliers traditionally spend millions of dollars each year promoting their specific masonry product, but only the mason contractor and the Mason contractors association of America can promote the entire industry. As masons we do not care if our customers use concrete block, brick, or stone. As masons we only care that our customers use masonry in some fashion and that they receive a quality project. It is for that reason that your Board of Directors has approved increasingly larger budgets toward programs that promote masonry. Just this past year, the MCAA participated along with several other masonry groups in exhibiting at the Construction Specifications Institute’s show in Los Angeles. I am pleased to report that your association’s booth was well attended by the architects and engineers who attended this show. In fact, our booth was so successful that we won an award from the CSI. The MCAA was one of only a select few out of more than 400 exhibitors which were singled out for having one of the more exciting booths. A photo of our booth was even listed on CSI’s website, obviously good publicity for masonry. Another new program that the MCAA participated with was the Federal Officials Masonry Seminar sponsored by the Masonry Industry Council. The Federal Officials Seminar was a day-long program where federal officials, responsible for constructing federal buildings, were briefed on the many benefits and strengths of using masonry. Over fifty officials attended this very successful event, which was held in Washington D.C. in 1999.
There are two events taking place while we are here in Las Vegas that will undoubtedly create a great deal of promotion for masonry. The first is the Architects’ Masonry Symposium, a three day program designed to immerse our industry’s designers in the benefits of building with masonry. Last year in Orlando, we introduced this program which enjoyed a modest success. here in Las Vegas, we have increased our attendance to over thirty architects from around the country who will be participating in this three day program. The second major event that the MCAA is conducting here in Las Vegas is the construction of an all masonry Habitat for Humanity home. Obviously a worthwhile cause helping to provide a quality home for a deserving disadvantaged family. The Habitat Home is already creating a great deal of promotion for the masonry industry as well. In addition to the promotional benefits, the architects that are participating in the Symposium will be spending tomorrow morning helping to build the Habitat home. What greater benefit to our industry than to have the architectural community helping to build a worthwhile project with our product. I believe this program will have deep promotional benefits for years to come.
MASONRY magazine has also been developing a strong promotional benefit to our industry through increased subscriptions with our industry’s customers. More and more, architects are receiving your association’s magazine and learning through its features the benefits of constructing with masonry.
Although the MCAA has become more involved than ever before in the promotional field, we must continue to invest our association’s resources to expand the use of masonry. After all, the MCAA is best suited to promote the use of masonry. We are the ones who have continual contact with our industry’s customer, we do not have any parochial interest in one product over another. We simply want our customer to build with masonry. The MCAA, and each of us as contractors, must step forward and lead in the promotional field.
THE SHOW
Arguably, the greatest challenge the Mason Contractors Association of America has ever faced was the launching of our own exhibition, THE MASONRY SHOW. No other decision has drawn such ridicule and skepticism from the industry. No other decision has drawn such doubt about MCAA’s ability to actually pull off our own trade show without the help of our suppliers. While many felt the MCAA’s move to leave Expo and form our own show would cause the demise of the masonry industry’s fragile unity, we felt the need for us to move forward with our own show was critical to not only continuing key association programs but also to ensuring the future vitality of the MCAA. It is no secret that revenues from our trade show are one of MCAA’s top sources of funding. It is little secret that the old Expo had grown tired and lackluster. It is little secret that our rivals at Aberdeen’s World of Concrete which produces Masonry Construction magazine covet the revenues from our show to line the pockets of the investment group that bought Aberdeen. And it is little secret that Aberdeen has announced a full scale attempt to steal our show’s revenues by launching the World of Masonry, which will compete head on with our show. Something had to be done.
I am extremely pleased to announce to you today that your new show, THE MASONRY SHOW, has far exceeded our expectations. In fact, it has far surpassed the record success we had last year, in the final Masonry Expo. The SHOW that you are here to enjoy, beginning today, is by far the largest and most active program ever. New industry events such as the Masonry Skills Challenge, the Foreman Development Course, Blockbuster and the Masonry Habitat for Humanity home have been added to successful industry events such as the Excellence in Masonry Awards Program, the Architects’ Masonry Symposium and the Keynote Speaker Luncheon. Never before has such an exciting program been offered. While our competitors are attempting to take valuable resources out of the masonry industry, it’s comforting to know the MCAA has strengthened our resolve to prevent this from happening by conducting an exciting MASONRY SHOW. When you walk the show floor, please thank the exhibitors for being in your show, the mason contractors show. Ask them to continue that support and to resist efforts to lure them to other shows, such as the World of Masonry, which can only take valuable resources out of our industry.
MASONRY INDUSTRY COUNCIL
For decades, the masonry industry has been splintered with numerous organizations vying for the attention of our customers. Union versus non-union, block versus brick, each bombarding our customers with conflicting messages. I can now report that through the leadership of the MCAA, the masonry industry has finally come together under the banner of the Masonry Industry Council which was formed in 1999. Acting much like an industry board of directors, the council will seek to unify industry promotion, research, training, legislative action and, more importantly, to challenge the industry to combat competitive systems before they take our markets. Although the Masonry Industry Council is in its infancy, I am pleased by the unity and determination of each of the industry associations that have formed the council. I would like to thank our friends at the Brick Industry Association, the Portland Cement Association, the National Concrete Masonry Association and the Expanded Shale, Clay, Slate Institute for joining us to unite the masonry industry under the banner of the Masonry Industry Council. I am equally pleased that an MCAA member and past president Richard Felice has been selected as Chairman of the Masonry industry council.
THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS
Leading is never easy. Leadership requires facing tough issues and never shying away from fighting the good and right fight. Leadership requires having principles and keeping to those principles when others would have you abandon them for the sake of a hollow peace or shallow unity. The MCAA has stood for principles for decades. At times, we placed our principles on the back shelf for what we believed was for the “good of the cause”. But the only basic thing that came from the MCAA not following our guiding principles of fighting for the rights of all mason contractors, was an industry that remained splintered and aimless. Without a strong mason contractor organization acting as the conscience and leader of the masonry industry, other competing construction methods captured our once dominant masonry markets. Thankfully today, lead by a principled group of a strong officer core and motivated by our guiding principles, the Mason Contractors Association of America has stepped forward again to regain masonry’s dominance in the construction industry. Our fight will not be easy. Many in our industry do not believe that it is the contractors place to lead. Many doubt the ability of the MCAA, its elected Board, and staff to offer the vision to lead. Still many do not believe the MCAA has the will to sustain a fight to once again make masonry the dominant construction material in America today. While many doubted our ability to put together a winning trade show, like the one you will experience here in Las Vegas, I believe they are as misguided about your association’s ability to bring success to the masonry industry.
While other organizations attempt to start new mason contractor groups which purport to represent splintered mason contractors, the MCAA seeks to unify the industry by leading all mason contractors. While corporations whose sole motives are to turn profits for their investors attempt to take masonry dollars out of the industry by starting a competing trade show, the MCAA seeks to expand our show which creates tremendous revenues that are reinvested back into the industry to make it a stronger industry for you to earn a living. While many in our industry sit by and wait to see if we as mason contractors fail the test of leadership, I believe we will succeed, because we have conviction in our belief.
It’s time that as mason contractors we band together and put aside our petty differences of union versus non-union. It’s time we challenge our friends to stand with us and to fight for the masonry industry. Because if we don’t fight, who will? After all, it is our industry. I am proud of our fifty year history of accomplishment. I know that if we all rise to the occasion, we will all be proud of the next fifty years.
Chairman’s Message Archive

November 2019
Thankful for The Little Things

October 2019
Here’s to Another Successful Midyear 2019

September 2019
Texas Masonry Council: The Legacy

August 2019
The American Dream

July 2019
2019 Legislative Conference Recap

June 2019
Safety Doesn’t Happen on Accident

May 2019
Doing Our Part

April 2019
Preparing for D.C.

March 2019
More Than a Little Luck

February 2019
Show Your Love For The Industry

December 2018
The Opportunities are Endless

November 2018
2018 MCAA Midyear Meeting Recap

October 2018
Every Person’s Potential

September 2018
Recent Updates

August 2018
Masonry’s Future

July 2018
An Offer You Can’t Refuse

June 2018
Worthwhile Work

May 2018
Masonry All Around

April 2018
We’re Washington Bound

March 2018
The Changing Tide And Road Ahead

February 2018
A New Beginning

January 2018
Givers Gain

December 2017
The Reason for the Season

November 2017
Always, Always, Always Something To Be Thankful For

October 2017
Another Exciting Midyear Meeting

September 2017
Learning From North Carolina

August 2017
Let’s Help Close The Skills Gap

June 2017
Calculating Your Return on Investment

May 2017
Sweet Tea and Grits

April 2017
Silica, Auctions and Policy

March 2017
Things to Remember

February 2017
Looking Forward

January 2017
A Fresh Start

December 2016
Making Our Industry Stronger

November 2016
MCAA Midyear Meeting Does Not Disappoint

October 2016
Have You Made Your Pledge to the Foundation?

September 2016
Who Moved My Cheese?

August 2016
Get Ready for MCAA’s Midyear Meeting

July 2016
Making a Difference

June 2016
Southern Hospitality

May 2016
The 2016 MCAA Legislative Conference

April 2016
MCAA: Looking out for your interests

March 2016
Let’s share our passion!

February 2016
Thanks for letting me give back

January 2016
A week of masonry you can’t miss

December 2015
Giving back

November 2015
A successful Midyear Meeting in the Florida Keys

October 2015
Seeing the future before our eyes

September 2015
Join us for the Midyear Meeting

August 2015
The MCAA Midyear Meeting is approaching

July 2015
Spread the Word: Masonry Doesn’t Burn

June 2015
Busy on ‘The Hill’ for you

May 2015
Progress in the making

April 2015
A voice in Washington

March 2015
Another successful Convention in Vegas

February 2015
An exciting year ahead

January 2015
MCAA Convention is approaching

December 2014
Defining success

November 2014
Coming together for our industry

September 2014
Hitting the road and making a difference

August 2014
Staying busy for you

July 2014
MCAA Midyear Meeting approaching

June 2014
MCAA staying busy and making progress

May 2014
Be a voice in your industry

April 2014
The MCAA is on the move

March 2014
It’s all about helping each other

February 2014
Ready for action

January 2014
Thanks

December 2013
Happy holidays

November 2013
MCAA Midyear update

October 2013
Ushering in a busy fall season

September 2013
Workforce a familiar friend

August 2013
The MCAA in D.C.

July 2013
A Lot Happening

June 2013
Eye opening

May 2013
Why not be a member?

April 2013
First South of 40 Conference

March 2013
Positive movement

February 2013
Headed to Vegas

January 2013
New beginning

December 2012
It’s finally over

November 2012
My trip to the Rockies

October 2012
The 2012 election

September 2012
Stay involved

August 2012
Networking

July 2012
Summer time

June 2012
Exciting time

May 2012
Working for you

April 2012
Join us in D.C. next month

March 2012
New beginnings

February 2012
Farewell!

January 2012
One more to go!

December 2011
The life of a mason contractor

November 2011
Join us in Vegas

October 2011
The Future is Around the Corner

September 2011
This ole cowboy is excited!

August 2011
As the world turns

July 2011
Update From the President

June 2011
The Strong Spirit of our Industry

May 2011
A Bright Future

April 2011
Springtime Updates from MCAA

March 2011
Tidbits From MCAA

February 2011
Time Flies By

January 2011
The MCAA Convention: A Priceless Experience

December 2010
The End of the Year

November 2010
Busy Times!

October 2010
South of 40

September 2010
Get Involved on All Levels

August 2010
What Are We Doing?

July 2010
Have a Great Summer

June 2010
Adding Dollars to the Bottom Line

May 2010
MCAA Key Accomplishments 2009-2010

May 2010
The Government is Working, 24-7

April 2010
MCAA is Working for the Mason Contractor

March 2010
Moving Forward

February 2010
A Fond Farewell

January 2010
A New Year

December 2009
Start the Year Strong

November 2009
The Greening of our Industry

October 2009
A Successful Midyear Meeting

September 2009
MCAA in D.C.

August 2009
Brick Voids

July 2009
Vision 2020 Moving Forward

June 2009
Success On The Hill

May 2009
Show Your Support Through Membership

March 2009
On a Positive Note...

February 2009
Vision 2020

February 2009
State of the Association

January 2009
The Silver Lining

December 2008
How Is Your Business Doing?

November 2008
Fastest Trowel on the Block

October 2008
Thoughts on the 2008 Election

September 2008
Industry Cooperation for Positive Change

August 2008
Networking: Not Just a Buzz Word

June 2008
Impact on the Hill

April 2008
Join Us Next Month in D.C.

March 2008
Were you at the World of Masonry in January?

February 2008
New Horizons

January 2008
State of the Association

January 2008
Thanks for an Enjoyable Term as President

December 2007
Wrapping up Another Year

November 2007
Greetings From Italy!

October 2007
MCAA, World of Masonry Join Forces

September 2007
MCAA Looking to Expand Masonry Markets

August 2007
Certification: Good Efforts and Bad Rumors

July 2007
Positive Changes on the Horizon

June 2007
MCAA Appoints New Executive Director

April 2007
Isn’t It Time You Joined With Us?

February 2007
Advancing Masonry in a Global Economy

February 2007
Certification Can Strengthen Our Markets

January 2007
A New Battle Rages in Washington

December 2006
National Initiatives Will Build a Stronger Industry

October 2006
Totally Engaged in Washington

September 2006
MCAA's Skills Competitions Create Enthusiasm for Training

August 2006
Heeding Huckabee's Call for Action

July 2006
MCAA Membership Can Pay Real Dividends

April 2006
I Can't Wait To Get Started!

March 2006
Coming Together to Advance the Industry

February 2006
Coming Together to Expand Our Opportunities

January 2006
Strategic Planning Creates Successful Future

December 2005
The work of the Construction Industry Silica Task Force

November 2005
It's Time You Joined the MCAA

September 2005
Volunteerism Advances America and Our Industry

April 2005
Advancing the Masonry Industry

March 2005
Strong Reasons to Go to Masonry Showcase

February 2005
Contractors Taking the Promotion Initiative

January 2005
We Need Your Help!

December 2004
Elections 2004: An Interesting Political Year

November 2004
The Internet is Opening New Doors for Contractors

October 2004
Mason Contractors + Specifiers = Construct America

September 2004
Your Influence Can Impact the Election

June 2004
Stepping Up to Sell Masonry Systems

April 2004
New Challenges Await Us!

April 2004
The State of the Association

February 2004
The MCAA: Getting Plugged into Washington

January 2004
Contractors Organize to Tackle Promotion

November 2003
The Strength of Unity

September 2003
Military Construction: Traditional Masonry or Modern Design

June 2003
Partnership with CSI Benefits Industry

April 2003
Strength Through Advocacy

February 2003
A New Year, a New Congress and a New Outlook

January 2003
Masonry Showcase ... Take Your Business Further

December 2002
Let's Not Lose Sight of Training

November 2002
MCAA Is Working Hard On Your Behalf

August 2002
Phoenix ... Rising From the Ashes

July 2002
Industry Beginning To Think Together

May 2002
Industry Training at a Crossroads

April 2002
Coming Together As Contractors

March 2002
A Steadying Force in Uncertain Times

February 2002
Changing of the Guard

January 2002
Associate Members Play a Key Role in Industry

January 2000
Fifty Years of Serving the Masonry Industry

March 1998
Our Work Awaits Us… Let Us Begin!

March 1993
Meeting the Challenges Ahead

February 1961
A Message from Stephen D. Raimo