Masonry Magazine February 2007 Page. 58
YEAR IN REVIEW
Also, the MCAA's three-year Masonry Training Series is consistently one of the Association's best-selling resources, and sales keep increasing year after year. This past summer, we also introduced the second-year volume of the series in Spanish, thanks the translation provided by our affiliate groups in Arizona and California.
Education Thrives and Expands
FOR THE FIRST TIME, the MCAA has launched a year-around educational lineup of its most successful seminars. Beginning in November 2006, the Foreman Development, Basic Masonry Estimating, Wall Bracing Design and Masonry Quality Institute seminars were conducted throughout the country, continuing into the New Year. Now, the annual convention will not be the only time contractors and employees can continue their education. We have arranged these seminars in various locations, so that contractors in every area of the country have easy access to attend at least one.
At the 2006 Midyear Meeting, MCAA Board discussed a proposed outline of the National Mason Contractor Certification program. It is MCAA's goal to make this program the standard that all mason contractors strive to achieve and the measure that all customers apply. The program will be formally introduced to the Association's members at the 2007 Masonry Showcase.
Now, the annual convention will not be the only time contractors and employees can continue their education.
Legislative Advocacy
WITH SEVERAL CRITICAL ISSUES facing the masonry industry, MCAA's Legislative department was incredibly busy advocating on your behalf in our nation's capital. The Association played an integral part in negotiations on immigration, death tax reform and small business health plans, significantly increasing MCAA's reputation and presence in Washington.
On May 17, MCAA President, Frank Campitelli, and MCAA's Director of Government Affairs, Jessica Johnson Bennett, attended a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House as President Bush signed the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (H.R. 4297).