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
June 2011

The Strong Spirit of our Industry

President’s Message

By

I am writing this article while on a flight to Indianapolis. One thing that comes with this job is travel. And with travel comes meeting great folks and learning from others.

My wife and I had a great time in Minnesota, and I enjoyed one of the best steaks I have ever eaten. The other amazing thing was seeing snow in late-April! The following week, I went to the beautiful city of Seattle and enjoyed the meetings we had there. Work is tough, but our spirit is not broken, and we are determined as contractors that we are prepared and ready to reclaim our market share.

This was the spirit shown last month, when many of us flew into Washington, D.C., for our Legislative Conference. It was great to have seven South of 40 members there! I believe that was a strong statement to the elected officials: Our future is bright, and we are not going away. We will not stop until our mission is accomplished. I am sure there will be many more missions that we will have to achieve as we promote and protect our industry.

Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas is presented with the MCAA Freedom and Prosperity award.
Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas is presented with the MCAA Freedom and Prosperity award.

As I visited the congressmen and senators, the message was plain and simple: Do not continue to waste tax dollars building structures that will last only 15 to 20 years, followed by maintenance costs that will go through the roof. We can build a 60-year structure for less money, more energy-efficiently and in a greener manner. When you add the long-lasting beauty to it, the decision to use masonry becomes a no-brainer. That is, everywhere except at the city that sits upon a hill.

Then there is the 3 percent tax on all federal projects. The government calls it a 3-percent withholding, but nowhere in the bill does it specify when we would get it back. This old cowboy believes in calling it what it is: just another tax. While we were in D.C., we were told that the enforcement of the bill has been moved back to 2012. Sound good? Not really, since we are beginning to bid work that will begin in 2012. With that said, we are working hard to get this bill permanently repealed. Otherwise, I would encourage you to add 3 percent to your bids that have Federal money involved.

We were looking to address other issues, such as misclassification of employees and pension liability for union contractors. Some of us had personal requests, such as trying to do something to help drop fuel prices. Things such as lifting regulations on refineries and opening up drilling will not only lower fuel prices, but also will add jobs. I could say more, but I will stop before I tell you what I really think. Thanks again for everyone, for coming and participating.

I am looking forward to my visit with our friends from the stone industry in Bloomington, Ind. This is special to me, since I lived there for 10 years! This is the place that I received my first test in the masonry industry. Until next time, this old cowboy says, “Shoot for the moon and, even if you miss, you will land among the stars.”

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

“Being a member of MCAA says that you care about the future of the industry.”

Gary Arkin
Premier Stoneworks, LLC
MCAA member since 2015

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