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2012 PLATINUM SPONSORS
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2012 Gold Sponsors NEW CONCEPTS
ALL AMERICAN PRECAST
2012 Silver Sponsor
HIGHWAY SUPPLY CALVERT MENICUCCI
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From the Executive Director's Desk
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Hello Members!
Thank you for renewing your membership in NUCA of NM for 2012! As always, the goal is to make your membership worth every penny and I'll work hard to "Promote, Protect, & Preserve' the utility industry. I'll be working on your behalf to bring you relevant and up-to-date information on Safety, Training, Trends, Government Regulations, and laws. I'll continually fight for appropriations for our industry both at the state and federal level. (see article below regarding funding from PABs). I am very proud to represent NUCA of NM as your lobbyist, your representative at NUCA, NM OSHA, NM Regional Common Ground Alliance, NUCA ED Council, Construction Industry Crime Alliance as well as other groups involved and affected by our industry.
Please don't hesitate to call me if you come across an issue, a problem, or an opportunity that would be beneficial for our industry, or that our industry needs to pay attention to. One of the most precious elements of your membership is the information sharing and networking with others who are in the business too! As a group we have a powerful voice!
The NUCA Annual Convention is close this year so why not hop on a plane for about 90 minutes and go check it out? There is a lot going on and I can attest to the fact that you will walk away from the NUCA convention with renewed pride of ownership in your business and our industry, and you'll also have the opportunity to be well informed on industry issues. Networking with others in the industry from around the country is a priceless experience and shouldn't be missed!
There is a plethora of information on all of the sessions, programs, and networking opportunities at the NUCA web page where you can also register online. Sign up today! NM has always had one of the best participation percentages across the nation; let's keep this going.
March 12-16, Fort Worth, TX at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel
Join NUCA in "the city of culture and cowboys," for the only Annual Convention that's tailor-made for contractors, manufacturers and suppliers in the utility construction and excavation industry.
For more information, contact Bonnie Williams at 703-358-9300 orbonnie@nuca.com
Why not get involved in a Committee this year? See below for a brief description of committees and committee dates.
Jane Jernigan
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| February 2012 Dates |
- 02/08 Safety Committee 8am
- 02/09 Planning Committee 8am
- 02/09 Education Committee 3pm
- 02/14 Membership Committee
- 02/14 CICA 10:30am
- 02/15 Ernie Pyle Career Fair (Education Committee)
- 02/16 Membership Meeting 11:30 - 1pm
- 02/25 School to World (Education Committee)
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| Legislative Update | |
NUCA of NM is involved in the Legislative session and is in support of tax reductions, tax credits, transfer of certain taxes to infrastructure, capital outlay and the metal's bill. We are officially in opposition to the UTILITY CONSTRUCTION NOTICE TO ACEQUIAS bill and have requested language changes in several other bills pertaining to business.
If you are concerned about an issue that is business or industry related, please contact Jane Jernigan at the NUCA of NM office: 505 888 0752.
As the construction industry continues to struggle to get back on its feet and back to work, Congress has an opportunity this week to generate $5 billion in annual private investment in water infrastructure markets across America by simply lifting the state volume cap on private activity bonds (PABs) for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. But we need a united effort by all NUCA members to get this done.
The PAB provision could be included in the House version of pending highway legislation that's set to be marked up in the Ways and Means Committee later this week. In the Senate, the Finance Committee is expected to mark up the Senate highway measure, but this week's effort in the House is critical! We need you to call members of the House Ways & Means Committee and tell them to include the PAB measure in the highway bill. Here's a quick overview of the issue.
Top talking points:
- Construction unemployment remains unacceptably high despite the job creation and economic benefits that come with these critical projects.
- According to the Clean Water Council, a $1 billion investment in water infrastructure creates up to 27,000 new, high-paying jobs, triples national economic output by more than $3 billion, and generates $82.4 million in state and local tax revenue.
- Much of the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure was constructed generations ago and is nearing or at the end of its useful life.
- The U.S. Conference of Mayors forecasts water and wastewater investment needs in the U.S. of up to $4.8 trillion over the next 20 years.
- U.S. EPA and GAO estimate the current water infrastructure funding gap to be $500 billion to $1 trillion.
- Confronted with budget deficits and scarce funding resources, federal, state and local governments are hard-pressed to help cover the costs of replacing crumbling and leaking water infrastructure.
- At a time when federal, state and local dollars are scarce, we need more private investment, and that's exactly what this provision will do. Lifting the cap on PABs for water infrastructure will generate $50 billion in private investment over 10 years at very low cost to government (last estimate was $354 million over 10 years).
Congressional operators at (202) 224-3121 will connect you with any Member of Congress. If you've never picked up the phone or sent an email to your lawmakers on a NUCA issue, now is the time. The already rapid pace of this effort is about to pick up significantly. Thanks very much
in advance for your help on this effort. Call NUCA 703-358-9300 for more info. Thank you!
Eben Wyman
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Mandatory White-Lining
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The controversial white lining decision is now in the hands of the NM PRC Commissioners and they should be making a decision for the public within a few weeks or less. NUCA of NM stood by its original request to use white lining when appropriate using Common Ground Alliance Best Practice language; however, the PRC PSB insisted on State wide mandatory white lining for all ten day tickets. As soon as the decision is announced, I'll send out an email about it and will also inform you on how you can stay in compliance with the law. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the process throughout the past several months.
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Involvement is a rewarding experience!
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NUCA of NM offers several opportunities to get you involved in the association and make a difference in our industry. Committees are open to all members and no registration or reservation is required to attend. There are several standing committees:
Safety - this committee is geared towards promoting safety in the workplace and discussing safety topics specific to the construction industry. This is the place to network with other safety representatives that are dedicated to keeping safety a top priority at all levels of the job. This committee meets the second Wednesday of the month at 8am at the Association office.
Membership - this committee focuses on ensuring the value of your membership, recruiting members, and member retention. If you are a proud member of NUCA of NM and believe that a growth in membership strengthens our force, come join this committee! This committee's meeting dates vary, so watch your newsletter or email box for meeting dates and times.
Planning - often called the 'fun planning committee' this committee works on membership meetings, speakers, golf tournament, JIFFY golf, social events, NUCA of NM nights at Isotopes etc. Come and help plan out the events that members enjoy the most!
Education - here we concentrate on the future labor force for the construction industry by educating students and teachers about the opportunities and the many professions related to our industry. This committee attends career fairs, School-toWorld, classroom presentations and works with Jobs for American Graduates. If you're passionate about our industry and want to share that with kids from elementary school through high school then this is the committee for you!
Government Relations - if you're still reading beyond the title of this committee then you must be the right person to join this committee. Whether you love or hate politics, there is no escaping the realm when you're in the business world. This committee concentrates its efforts on educating local, state, and national politicians about the importance of funding and safety in our industry and the effects of burdensome regulation. You can assist in advisement or march on the Round House and Capital hill at the Santa Fe and Washington Summit with this committee!
NMRCGA - the New Mexico Regional Common Ground Alliance. NUCA of NM was instrumental in establishing the NMRCGA and this group is busy and in need of utility contractor input. This group is focused on damage prevention and can make significant shifts in industry best practices and law. The General Membership meetings are held every other month with the first being on January 25, 2012 from 11am -1pm at the NM811 office. This group will be looking at marking guild lines next year which could impact your company's daily processes for line requests. Let me know if you're interested in this group and I'll get you on the mailing list.
CICA - Construction Industry Crime Alliance. NUCA of NM helped bring this group together dedicated to reducing criminal activity in the workplace and on the job-site. From heavy equipment theft, tool theft, precious metal theft, vandalism, and even embezzlement, this group offers an inside look to current industry crime trends, suspicious activity, and identified suspects. This network, with the APD and other law enforcement agencies, is an effective force that aids in the identification and capture of criminals that are wreaking havoc on your bottom line with their criminal activity. This group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 10:30am at the APD Training center on Montgomery. You can also sign up for electronic alerts that give you a heads up on criminal activity and who or what to look out for.
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Contact Jane at nucanm@nucanm.org or 888 0752 for more info.
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NUCA of NM
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