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New England MSCA Membership Meeting
On the evening of March 24, 2011 members of New England MSCA gathering for a board meeting and membership dinner at Cafe Escadrille in Burlington Massachusetts. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, a traditional cornbeef and cabbage dinner was served and a band entertained all with Irish folk songs.
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From left to right: David O'Brien - Linc Mechanical, John Welch - Limbach Company, Mike Berube - Limbach Company, and Mike Picariello - HVAC Engineering |
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New England MCA is Moving to New Offices
As of Monday, April 4th New England MCA will be at new offices in Quincy. The new address is 1266 Furnace Brook Parkway, Quincy, MA 02169. New phone and fax numbers will be sent out next week. Emails will remain that same! Below are some photos of our new space before and during construction. We hope you will all join us for our Open House on May 12th.
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The Willard Building
1266 Furnace Brook Parkway
Quincy, MA 02169 |
 
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2011 Funding Educational Excellence Grants Announced
MCAA's Career Development Committee has announced the availability of 2011 grants funded by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation's (MCERF) Funding Educational Excellence (FEE) initiative. As in past years, the committee will accept requests for Student Internship Grants from MCAA members who hire students for internship positions. The student must be a full-time college student, preferably majoring in a discipline related to mechanical contracting, mechanical service or plumbing. Priority will be given to contractors that hire students who are members of an MCAA student chapter. Each grant is $1,200 and the committe will award one grant per contractor. For those contractors who are planning to hire a student intern from our Northeastern and Wentworth student chapters this coming Summer of 2011, requests for 2011 Student Internship Grants are due to MCAA by May 16, 2011. For more information you may call our office at
781-740-0414, visit the MCAA website at http://www.mcaa.org/careers/Internship/ or contact Ann Mattheis at amattheis@mcaa.org.
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Written Communication Skills For Any Employee
by Kathryn Crosby
This course is designed for any employee of a company who must communicate in writing, whether it is a letter to a vendor, a service technician work order, a scope letter, a letter of introduction, or any other time we find ourselves at the keyboard. With lecture, exercises, examples, and discussion, this course will address the changing face of written commun--ication, conventions for written communications in all mediums, and tips and tricks for getting your message clearly understood.
Pleases register by emailing emurray@nemca.org by April 8th if you wish to attend.
Sheraton - Needham, 100 Cabot Road
Thursday, April 14th - 12:00-4:00 pm
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2011 MCAA Convention a Success
New England MCA members enjoyed a successful MCAA Convention in Maui. We enjoyed great speakers, educational and social events with over 2000 attendees from across the country. One speaker in particular became a quick friend of New England MCA. Keynote speaker and basketball legend Bill Walton and his wife Lori joined our members for all of our convention events. They were tremendous guests. Bill interacted with our members and reminisced about life in the NBA and NCAA playing for legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. He also elaborated on his 1986 championship season with the Boston Celtics much to our delight. Bill also enlightened us on some of his charitable work. These days he is deeply committed to the Challenged Athletes Foundation (www.challengedathletes.com). The foundation's mission is to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The foundation supports individuals with disabilities resulting from accidents, military service or birth. As a tribute to Bill's kindness to us, New England MCA will make a donation to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Contact the association office for any details.
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| | from left to right: Michael Feldman - Hart Engineering, Michael DelleFave - Hart Engineering / New England MCA President and Edward Marks - Beacon Piping speak with Bill Walton. |
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from left to right: Pauline St. Martin, Dot DelleFave and Tricia Marks pose with Bill Walton. |
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Bill Walton and Conor Lynch - son of Brian Lynch of William F. Lynch Company and Mary Lynch. |
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NU Student Chapter Honorable Mention
The Northeastern University MCA Student Chapter received honorable
mention by placing 5th overall in the Student Chapter Competition.
The students just missed making the final four and competing at the 2011 MCAA Convention. The NU students were presented with a certificate of achievement at the Student Luncheon event during the convention.
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from left to right: Kyle Borseti, Alary Price, Ann Mattheis of MCAA, Christopher Frederick and Bryan Katzenback all of Northeastern University. |
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Industry News
MA Workers Comp Rates Stay Flat
Workers' compensation insurance rates for MA business will not be increasing for some time. AG Martha Coakley said an agreement had been reached with insurers in early March to keep rates at their current levels through September 2012. The AG stated that insurers were seeking a 6.6% increase that would have resulted in a cost of approximately $65 million to employers.
FASB Disclosure Issue Not Done
In early March FASB agreed that they should retain the objective of their proposal to enhance disclosure requirements for employers participating in multiemployer pension plans. With this, FASB board members also pledged to continue outreach with those affected by the proposal to better understand the impact. "The goal is to try and have a cost effective package that will significantly improve disclosures in this area and not be so onerous as to interfere with an effective implementation, but yet to provide some very helpful information to get insight into this exposure that the companies have" said FASB Chairman Leslie Seidman. FASB has received 335 comment letters in regards to the proposal.
Craigslist Sting in MA
MA state officials recently conducted a sting operation on Craigslist netting 20 allegedly unlicensed electricians advertising on the site. The operation was conducted by the MA Div of Professional Licensure using undercover investigators responding to ads, meeting with the allegedly unlicensed electricians and apprehending them. The electricians in question would give customers only limited business and personal information. They also requested cash payments only. The individuals face fines of up to $1000.
Construction Material Costs Rise
Material prices for contractors continued to rise during early 2011. These increases continued while their prices to complete projects stayed flat according to AGC of America. Ken Simonson of AGC said "With margins continuing to shrink, few contractors are likely to benefit even if construction demand picks up this year." Deisel fuel prices have increased by 3.2%. Steel pipe and tube increased by 2.8%. Copper products have increased 3.3% while brass fittings increased 9.9%.
OSHA Issues Compliance Guide for Small Biz
OSHA recently issued the Small Entity Compliance Guide for Cranes and Derricks in Construction. The guide is to help small businesses comply with the newly introduced Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard. Go to www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/small_entity.html to download a copy of the guide. Also, MCAA has issued a new safety bulletin on shackle-to-shackle rigging connections. Go to www.mcaa.org/private/safety/.
Mark Rogers 2011 MCAA President
At the 122nd MCAA Convention Mark Rogers of West Chester Mechanical, Chester PA became MCAA President. President Rogers succeeded Past President Robert Armistead at the closing session of the convention. Approximately 2000 attended this year's convention.
ABC Down in Numbers, Still in Fight?
New President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Michael Bellaman vows to focus on three main issues: elimination of PLAs, repeal of prevailing wage and working with Congress to create more construction jobs. This comes during a time when the recession has taken a deep toll on ABC membership. Only 350 attended a recent national conference. ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu stated that national association has lost 2,000 members since 2008.
Building Contractors Invests More in Software
Even with a down economy, contractors are investing more in software solutions for their daily operations. Traditionally behind the curve of modern technology, today's contractors are always looking for ways to mitigate risk, save time and reduce overhead. They have found that modern technology and software greatly enable them to deliver projects more efficiently. Some reasons are faster project delivery and a means to manage future growth more effectively.
Trigen Changes to Veolia Energy
Veolia Energy North America has officially changed the name of its steam systems in Boston and Cambridge form Trigen to Veolia Energy. The name change took affect at the end of 2010. The French energy company acquired the Cambridge steam systems in 2005 and Boston in 2007. They have invested nearly $30 million to improve nearly 22 miles of steam distribution pipes since the acquisitions took place.
Industry Happenings: NYC and SF In New York City a two year old wage reduction program agreed to by NYC Building Trades and employers has come to an end. The Economic Recovery PLA was agreed to in March 2009, but will not be extended due to upcoming contract negotiations. The program allowed contractors and their respective unions to change work rules and utilize reduced hourly rates on designated projects. According to trade associations most of the cost savings on projects came from work-rule changes aimed at improving productivity. Contractors and trade unions are preparing to renegotiate 30 collective bargaining agreements in 2011.
San Francisco will implement what is billed as the most stringent local hiring ordinance in the US. Contractors and industry representatives remain cautiously optimistic. The law is modeled after a Cleveland ordinance. The requirements will apply to municipal projects over $400,000. The unemployment rate in SF is approximately 9%. The city is planning to award nearly $27 billion in public construction contracts.
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 The Construction Institute SPRING 2011
Course Schedule
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry
Outreach Course
April 25 & 26 - Dorchester
Registration Online at - www.builtbest.org |
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New England MCA / MSCA
2011 Education Schedule
April 14, 2011 - Written Communication Skills for Project Managers
Kathryn Crosby
June 9, 2011 - Evaluating Financial Performance of Service Operations for
Service General Managers - Service Sales General Managers
and Controllers - Steve Smith
September 15, 2011 - LEED Green Associate Preparatory Training David Hubka November 29, 2011 - Managing Your Subcontractors - John Koontz |
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Officers Officers
Michael DelleFave - President John Canavan - President
Steven Kenney - Vice President Michael Grinnell - Vice President
Michael Mahoney - Secretary Michael DiMattia - 2nd Vice President
Peter Comeau - Past President Troy DiNapoli - Past President
Directors Directors Robert Bolton Edward Marks Patrick Clifford David O'Brien Troy DiNapoli Robert Poirier Jr. Peter Comeau Mike Picariello Michael DiMattia David Raposa Chet Holt Karl Veazie Robert Gallagher Michael St. Martin Mac Lynch John Welch David Gernux Anthony Victor Frank Norton Brian Lynch
Executive Committee Mac Lynch Frank Norton Robert Silvia |
Officers
William Henry - President
Edward Marks - Treasurer
Fred Williams - Tech. Representative
Stephen Affanato - Secretary
Directors
Robert Gilligan Charlie Shaw
Mac Lynch Robert Silvia |
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"If we did all the things we are capable of, we
would literally astound ourselves.
-Thomas Edison |
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25 Recreation Park Drive, Suite 202
Hingham, Massachusetts 02043
Phone: 781-740-0414
Fax: 781-740-0419
Email: irene@nemca.org
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