The 2025 MCAA Midyear Meeting

I’m Sheryl Dentinger, wife of the current MCAA Chairman, Dick Dentinger. I started being a part of the MCAA conventions over 40 years ago, since Dick and I started dating. Bill Dentinger, my father-in-law, a legendary man, was chairman at the time we were planning our wedding. In fact, it was critical that he and Shirley checked their MCCA convention dates before we could finalize our wedding date as Bill was needed at the conventions too.

If you weren’t aware, the locations of the mid-years are always very scenic and historic. Mackinac Island will be another site with a wonderful atmosphere for our mid-year convention.  What a place to celebrate the MCAA’s 75 years.What an excellent history this island must share in Michigan’s upper peninsula.  We will be enjoying The Grand Hotel, which is appropriately named, for many events.  I look forward to learning MCAA’s history, seeing and riding in horse drawn carriages, and soaking in the mystifying scenery of Mackinac Island.  Without motors, it seems so peaceful, but I’m sure the MCAA membership will make some noise that week.

MCAA members have always been excellent at adventuring while at the conventions.  Having attended many of the conventions over the last four decades, I’ve had amazing experiences. I have golfed amongst majestic pines in Seattle, losing my ball on nearly every hole, went boating on the Puget Sound, sang at a piano bar with convention friends until  3 a.m. in New Orleans, fell slowly off my Jet Ski in the waters of Key West - while parked on a sandbar, biked through the mountains in Steamboat, Colorado and nearly flipped my electric bike over a railing into a creek, went ziplining and four wheeling through the mountains of Arizona, and in Boston heard ghost stories and visited the iconic Cheers bar.  Not only that, how about imagining a team adventure race with an “older GPS unit” through Park City?  We created a paper tower, ran, puzzled, ran some more, puzzled some more, “bowled” a volleyball down a hill for strikes and then ran to a bar for a shot.  Amazingly, we won that Amazing Race. We are still awaiting our trophy!

My growth from these convention experiences is immense.  The education I’ve had with MCAA is plentiful and enlightening.  I’ve gathered much political insight from our PAC over the years.  Political information I may not have found elsewhere.  I’ve attended “speed dating” and learned from the best in the industry.  I’ve listened to many clever and enlightened speeches.  I’ve had support, feedback and advice from others in different regions about their similar work.  This is why MCAA is priceless to me.

Throughout my life of attending, I have developed lasting friendships with people from Michigan, Illinois, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arizona, Washington, California, Kentucky, Montana, Massachusetts, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, to name…more than a few.  I’m from Minnesota and my friendships reach out to states far and wide.  I am flabbergasted to have learned so much from these people and have enjoyed their companionship throughout the years.

These are my personal reflections on how important MCAA has been for me.  I expect you all have similar memories of the impact MCAA had on your career and life.  Whether you are newer to the organization or retired from it, you are all woven into its history.  Come to Mackinac Island and celebrate the incredible history.  Who knows, maybe there is a piano bar where we can sing along to songs from 75 years ago!

In my personal experience with this organization, there is room for anyone who has a desire to be involved. My name is Ruth Hill and I was invited to write this brief piece for Midyear. I hope to have included all the details that I would have liked to have known before attending my first one.  I am grateful to the many wonderful men and women of the MCAA who welcomed me and gave me a place to sit amongst them from the start. 

“One for the ages.” this is how I would describe the upcoming Midyear to anyone who has never attended or are undecided about attending MCAA's 75th Anniversary at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island September 7-11 2025.

In short, “one for the ages” means something so remarkable or memorable it will be remembered for a very long time describing an event, performance or moment that is exceptionally noteworthy and will be talked of for ages to come. Fittingly, in 1950 at this very location the signing of the MCAAs charter took place. I can only imagine that was a pretty memorable affair at the time and now 75 years later, we will revisit this historic site. It is anyone's guess what shenanigans Chairman Dentinger has up his sleeve to commemorate this momentous event. 

Each year, the MCAA staff and the current MCAA Chairman collaborate to determine the best location of this annual event. The location changes yearly, and as I understand is loosely based on the current Chairman's home state area or a specific place of interest. This time-consuming process actually begins one or two years in advance with in person visits to potential destinations to ensure the location of each Midyear has adequate amenities, is in ideal proximity to an airport and is large enough to facilitate our expansive group. Once that has been determined, depending on pricing and availability a decision is made and MCAA announces the date and location of the upcoming Midyear. 

The MCAA website is updated to include all the information needed to make your travel plans typically listing closest airports, available car rentals or shuttle options (this year boat and ferry boat) driving directions to the event etc. There is also a link to register your party, select desired lodging accommodations and get signed up for any of the optional extra events (such as golfing or tours) that will be offered at that Midyear. 

Each day follows a carefully-curated schedule that allows for maximum productivity in a minimum amount of time while still giving attendees plenty of time to explore and enjoy the destination with family and friends. Each Midyear typically includes an Opening Reception & Dinner, Committee Chair Meetings, Contractor Round Table, Golf, a local tour or other adventure, and lastly closing dinner ceremony. 

MCAA sends out an email closer to Midyear with this specific information along with any other important need to know details such as if there is a dress code, if there will be any formal or black-tie events and general weather predictions that are expected for the duration of time there.  This information is useful to know when packing, especially when staying on an island. This schedule can also be found on the MCAA website and the friendly MCAA staff are just a phone call away if you have any questions. 

The first year I attended, I had no idea what to expect. I had never been where we were going, and I had never met anyone from the MCAA. All I had to go off of was stories from my husband of the trip he had taken with them to D.C. I was cautiously optimistic about a multi-day convention with a group of masons (as I understood it to be) but agreed to go; if nothing else it would be a vacation from life. I envisioned days of R&R at the resort. My plan went awry upon arrival, and I soon learned that what we had just stepped into was a seemingly endless stream of members, owners, employees, rivals and sales reps along with their families celebrating their time together as if it were an unofficial family reunion. Maybe the timing was right, or maybe I was just lucky, either way there was no time for R&R. My days were filled with introductions, meetings that I was welcome to sit in and observe (optional of course) or pre-scheduled events such as golf or adventure activities that everyone was welcome to participate in. The evenings were filled with dinners, drinks, and mischief that can only be described if remembered. By the time it was over I needed a vacation from my vacation and had a whole new understanding of “come a stranger, leave a friend.” From that Midyear forward, we threw all in on this group of friends that have become as family and have never looked back.

My husband, Mason Hill, VP of Hill Masonry Inc. Billings, Montana has been involved in multiple committees with the MCAA since 2016 and currently co-chairs the Generation Next Committee along with Liz Graves. It is important for us to attend this annual event as it promotes the continued support of the masonry industry and gives us the opportunity to network with other masonry companies and suppliers, which is vital to the success of the masonry industry. It is obvious that this group has put in the effort over the years to make this event what it is today and it does not disappoint. 

We hope you join us this Midyear in tribute to the 75th anniversary of the MCAA.  Cheers to the next 75!