| FICAP eNews
April 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 3 |
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| Officers / Directors |
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President
Mark Smith
Bell Concrete Products
352-463-6103
Vice President Brad Coolidge Inland Materials, Inc. 407-339-5311
Secretary
Gary Clements
Cement Products &
Supply Company
863-686-5141
Treasurer
Preston Sparkman
Quality Precast Co. Inc.
813-685-5615 ext 2228
Board of Directors
Jeff Bishop
Maschmeyer Concrete
561-848-9112
Steven Bishop
Maschmeyer Concrete
561-848-9112
Fred Jahna, Jr.
Jahna Concrete Products
863-453-5155
Sherry Griswold
Griswold Ready Mix
904-751-3796
Tony Segree
Hicks Concrete Services
863-425-4155
Executive Director Michele Stropoli 407-333-4694 email | |
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 Greetings! |
Isn't it amazing how time flies? There are only two more meetings until FICAP's Annual Convention at the Longboat Key Club & Resort July 16th to 19th. Please note the convention is one day shorter than usual to make it easier for you and your family to attend. The business part of the convention will be held Friday starting with our slate of guest speakers that morning. Make your reservations as soon as possible. I know Michele would certainly appreciate that. Randy Hough is scheduled to be back with us on May 19th for our quarterly educational event to present information on Profit and Loss Management. Attend and take advantage of this afternoon seminar, which is free to all FICAP members. Remember membership doesn't cost, it pays. Also, planto be at our Roving Meeting at Maschmeyer Concrete in June. Participation at Committee Meetings and the General Membership Meetings has been tremendous in 2009. Thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work. I encourage you to continue to take advantage of all of the networking opportunities and our various educational programs that FICAP offers. Considering the state of the economy, our Annual Clay Shoot was a great success. It really shows the strength of our association. I believe everyone who attended had a fantastic time. This event has definitely become a staple of our organization. Thanks to all the volunteers, shooters, and sponsors for making our day at Quail Creek another FICAP success. The industry continues to see massive cut-backs and lay-offs. FICAP has lost some great members who have been strong supporters of our association. Every single time FICAP looses a long-term Associate Member who has been active, I think about the impact that might have on our association. We have also witnessed Producers sell their companies during the good times, Associates who have been promoted out of our area, and current members recently lost due to the downturn in our economy. Even though all those folks have been and will be missed, one thing remains true. FICAP has remained strong and someone else stepped up to take up the slack. We continue to look for those type members, and I am confident more are already among us. See you later this month.  Mark Smith President, FICAP
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| Spotlight of the Month |
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Congratulations to Ready Building Products, the newest member of FICAP. For additional information, please visit the FICAP website... Spotlight of the Month. |
| Annual Convention |
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15th Annual FICAP Convention
July 16 - 19, 2009
The annual convention is only 2 1/2 months away and the excitement is building. Our favorite resort, the Longboat Key Club, is ready for your reservations and have extended our special rate 3 days before and after our meeting dates. Bring the family and plan to stay the week.
New this year is online registration for all events. (Hotel reservations still need to be made directly with the resort.) In two weeks (or less) the FICAP website will be updated and ready to handle your complete registration package, including credit card payments. An announcement will be emailed when this feature is available.
While you wait, go ahead and contact the resort for your room reservations. Their registration form is also posted on the FICAP website.
Longboat Key Club Resort - (800) 237-8821
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
BYOS...Bring Your Own Smile
(we're fresh out) | |
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| FICAP News |
 Strategic Plan Update by Pat McLaughlin
Future Leaders Goal Group #5 - Develop future industry leaders The FICAP Board decided in January to take this important industry initiative out of of Goal Group #4 and make it its own goal group. As previously mentioned, three industry executive leaders have stepped forward to guide, mentor and support this group. Thank you, Freddie, Al and Rocco, for dedicating your service to these important future leaders. There was a new addition this month, Preston Sparkman of Quality Precast. Thanks Preston. Your experience and efforts with this group will have a lasting impact on the lives of these future leaders and our industry. Read More
Goal Group 3 - Promotion
by Ron Pafford, Co-Chairman
Not long ago our Executive Director, Michele Stropoli, threw a live grenade in my lap by doing a little role-play exercise and asking me two simple questions. First she asked what difference does it make if I join FICAP or not? Then she asked why should I join an association when money is so tight? I could hear her click the start button on the stopwatch. Now, most of you who know me know that I'm typically not one for a loss of words, but in this situation I felt gagged and bound for a moment. Let me explain. Read More
 Goal Group 2 - Education
by Chuck Parliment, Co-ChairmanLineal Thinking -
One of the most eye opening business principles I have learned is a concept called lineal thinking. The concept begins with the understanding that many things, including economies, move in a cyclical fashion. You have ups and you have downs and you have the periods in between. During the A cycle which is the beginning of the assent in the curve, everyone is cautiously positive. Things look good but... Read More Back to Top
2009 RC Martin Memorial Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the Richard C. Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund. This program is open to any dependent child of any Florida resident employee working full time for a producer or associate member company of FICAP. Consideration will be given to students in concrete related studies, engineering, architectural, building construction or business programs in Florida or other selected schools.
All applications must be received by May 8, 2009.
A flyer is available to all FICAP members to promote the Scholarship program to your employees. Breakrooms and common areas are the perfect location to hang a copy of the flyer and to encourage participation. Take advantage of one of the perks of your FICAP membership...a free benefit to your employees.
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| FICAP PAC - The Legislative Corner Wade Mullins, Chairman |
 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - April 27, 2009Here are some of the issues for the industry and anticipated outcomes during this last week of Session:
- NOTICE OF LIS PENDENS (FORECLOSURE ACTIONS - Like Foreclosing on a construction lien)
- REGULATION OF PROFESSIONS (CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING/DBPR)
- COMPETITIVE BID OF PUBLIC PROJECTS/CONTRACTING BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES
- CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS
- SERVICE OF PROCESS
- BONDS FOR FDOT PROJECTS
- UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TRUST FUND
- COURT FEE INCREASES
- WORKERS' COMPENSATION ATTORNEY'S FEES
- IMPACT FEES
- BUILDING CODES (An act relating to everything)
Read More |
| Around The Industry |
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Into the Storm: Framing Florida's Insurance Crisis
Today, the Florida Chamber of Commerce released a new white paper on Florida's "property insurance" crisis titled Into the Storm in partnership with the Florida Council of 100.
Second-loan plan could help Florida market
By Tom Bayles, Herald Tribune The Obama administration's move to help troubled homeowners modify second mortgages or piggyback loans could -- despite some substantial limitations -- have a broad reach in Florida, where foreclosure levels are some of the highest nationwide, experts said. Read More
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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is
no path and leave a trail." ~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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RMC and ACI Foundations Form Strategic Partnership
The RMC Research & Education Foundation and the ACI Foundation are proud to announce the formation of a new strategic partnership. The Boards of the two organizations voted to approve entering into the strategic partnership at their respective March 18, 2009 meetings. Read More
The Economic Free Fall Is Losing Momentum
by NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe
The contraction in real gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2008 now stands at an annualized rate of 6.3%, according to the "final" estimate released by the Commerce Department on March 26. This represents a major downshift from the third quarter of 0.5% and was the sharpest decline since the depths of the 1982 recession.
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"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never
tried anything new." ~~ Albert Einstein
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What does the phrase...Too many irons in the fire...mean?
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| FICAP's Rainbow Michele Stropoli, Executive Director |
 I read an article on color and my mind was off and running. We're surrounded by colors, beautiful colors and we react, sometimes strongly, to color. Colors have different meanings in different cultures, and it's easy to confuse natural reactions with color symbolism. Associating green with refreshing, peaceful feelings is natural, but associating it with luck and money is symbolic. Typical responses to... black - somber, dark, austere, strength, power white - purity, excellence, cleanliness, light, neutral blue - calming, peaceful, tranquil, loyalty, justice Color is used in therapy utilizing both colored lights and color pigments. Blue relaxes a grip; red increases/stimulates it; green is believed to help heart problems and cancer; and Bubble gum pink suppresses the appetite. Pink is also tranquilizing - sports teams have painted the locker rooms used by the opposing teams bright pink so their opponents will lose energy. Pretty funny to think about. I'm a huge fan of yellow - most rooms in my home are varying shades of yellow. Yellow enhances concentration (hence legal pads) and speeds metabolism. It also represents sunshine, happiness and warmth. That's what I choose to surround myself with...light, bright, and positive. What does your office reflect? What do your customers see when they enter your place of business? Are you a ray of hope or a dire prediction? For those of you with little else to do, why not pull out the paint and brushes and color your world. When referring to color as light...sunlight is white light that is composed of all the colors of the spectrum. A rainbow is proof, as the sum of all the  colors of light add up to white. (Keep in mind this changes when you are discussing color pigment).
FICAP members bring to the table all colors...all shades. We're all in this together and it takes all the colors to form the rainbow. Which color are you?
Until next month...
Sincerely,
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