March 2009 Header
In The Mix 
August 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 5
In This Issue
Spotlight of the Month
Convention Awards
FICAP PAC
FICAP News
Around the Industry
Director's Corner
Our Sponsors
      
Quick Links
 
 
Officers / Directors
President
    Gary Clements
    Cement Products & 
    Supply Company
    863-686-5141
    email
 
Vice Presdient
    Preston Sparkman
    Quality Precast Co. Inc.
    813-685-5615 ext 2228
    email
 
Secretary
    Brad Coolidge 
    A-1 Block Corporation
    407-422-3768
    email  
 
Treasurer
   Steve Bishop
   Maschmeyer Concrete 
   561-848-9112
   email 
 
Board of Directors
  Jeff Bishop
  Maschmeyer Concrete
  561-848-9112
  email 
 
  Adam Freeman
  A-1 Block
  407-422-3768
  email 

  Sherry Griswold
  Griswold Ready Mix  
  904-751-3796
  email 
 
  Tony Segree
  Hicks Concrete Services
  863-425-4155
 
  Mark Smith, Past President
  Bell Concrete, Inc.
  352-463-6103
  email 
 
  Executive Director
  Michele Stropoli
  407-333-4694
  email
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TopGreetings!                                  
 
Well that didn't take long.  I hardly have the conventionRevised 2009 Header beach sand out of my shoes and it is time to write my first article for "In the Mix".  Before we leave the convention, I would like to personally thank all those who were involved in the planning and implementation of the weekend, as well as all of you who took the time and incurred the expense to contribute to the success of our convention.                
 
It has certainly been a busy month negotiating next year's convention already, planning the Christmas party, and making plans for our August meeting.
 
Speaking of the August meeting, please make your plans today to attend this very important meeting.  As you will remember this is the meeting where we repopulate our all-important "goal groups".  If you have been looking for a way to get more involved and increase your support for FICAP, look no further that the August meeting.  During the dinner meeting, Pat McLaughlin will give a detailed summary of each goal group.  There is room for talented folks like you in our groups.  Simply choose the group or groups that interest you and use your strengths to help strengthen FICAP. The commitment is actually small as each Goal Group meets only 3-4 times per year and those meeting times are on the day of our normal monthly meeting.  We have made some changes in our goal group leaders and are excited about the volunteers that are in place to lead our goal groups this year. 
 
Speaking of volunteers, in my opinion you are the strength of FICAP.  To quote Chuck Noll (the former great coach of the Pittsburg Steelers), "The mercenaries will always beat the draftees, but the volunteers will crush them both."  Which is to say, those who are made to do a task will be less effective than those who are paid for their accomplishments. The volunteers, however, have the heart and passion to excel in accomplishing the task.
 
Our strength is not only in our volunteers but also in our numbers.  During these tough economic times many associations related to our industry have seen declines in their memberships of 40-50%.  FICAP has seen a net decline of 3 members over the past year.  We have had an increase of 5 new members over the last couple of months and we have a few more who have stated they may join.  I would like to challenge each member to bring in one new member this year.  If we were doctors, we would belong to the AMA.  If we were lawyers we would belong to the Bar.  If an individual considers himself a professional in our industry he should belong to the association that works to improve his industry.  Theodore Roosevelt is credited with saying, "Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged.  No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere".
 
I look forward to seeing all of you in Orlando on August 25 as we kick off a new year.  I thank you ahead of time for your support.
 

Gary Clements
President, FICAP
Spotlight of the Month
 
Congratulations to Cemex and Adam VanWie for winning the spotlight of the month. For additional information, please visit the FICAP website...Spotlight of the Month.
Convention Awards

The producer and associate of the year awards are presented to the members of the Association who represent the vision and goals of the organization, and who serve the membership through regular meeting attendance and participation.  It's the highest award given by the Association and a true honor.               The 2009 recipients:

Producer of the Year 
     Wade Mullins - Quality Precast
  
 Associate of the Year 
     Ron Pafford - Suwannee American Cement 

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A special award was presented at this year's convention to Gregg Cummings.  Gregg has been a loyal and active supporter of FICAP for many years and it's with great honor that he was presented with an honorary lifetime membership in FICAP.
 
Congratulations to each of you!
FICAP PAC - The Legislative Corner                                    Wade Mullins, Chairman
 
      If you want to keep up with the political landscape in Florida, you'll need to keep a Revised 2009 Headerscorecard nearby.

First let's look at the race for governor. Governor Crist has decided that a seat in Washington, D.C., as one of Florida's two U.S. Senators, would be more comfortable than the Governor's mansion in Tallahassee. That move allows Alex Sink, Florida's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Bill McCollum, currently Florida's Attorney General (AG) to run at being Florida's next Governor.

Next, there's the race for Attorney General. Senators Dave Aronberg (D-Greenacres) and Dan Gelber (D) will square off in the Primary for that office. Aronberg is a former Assistant Attorney General who served under Bob Butterworth. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp will be the GOP candidate.

Did you forget the state's CFO position will be up for grabs? Don't worry. 
Read More
                                                 
            
FICAP News                           
 
Goal Group 2 -  Education                               BobThomas, Chairman  Goal Group 2 - Education             
In the past year the Education committee has put emphasis on presenting programs directed at helping to survive through these difficult times. Topics such as ways to create more revenue and controlling costs have been received well. In September we will host a program on web design and the importance of an internet presence. In October, Wade Mullins will be coordinating a quarterly training session with NACM on credit analysis and best practices.
 
As the year progresses, I encourage all of our members to please continue coming to us with ideas on subjects they would like to see. Virtually all of our programs last year originated as such. The best source for what the membership needs is you.
 
This is also a good time to look internally at what your individual companies are doing. In these times it is is easy to curtail "luxury items" such as education and training to save costs. I would argue that this is the time when these things are more critical than ever. Take a look at functions in your company that can be done safer and more efficiently. A small investment now could pay back much larger returns in the future. Talk to your vendors. Many offer training on their product at little or no cost. Most will be happy to work with you. It is in all of our interests that you use the products or services correctly and efficiently. Also look at your people. There is often a huge recourse of knowledge right there that never gets used. Employees want to feel needed. Tapping them for their expertise can bring loads of dividends. 
 
And as always, If you come up with a good idea that works, share it with the other members. 
 
Around The Industry
 
Pulte Homes, Centex open door to future together By Mary Shanklin Sentinel Staff Writer August 19, 2009
 
Pulte Homes executives say Central Florida buyers will see few changes as the result of the company's takeover Tuesday of Centex Corp., an acquisition that positions Pulte as the largest homebuilder in the country.

Scott Campbell, Pulte's Central Florida division president, said his company will honor all Centex contracts and warranties. Eventually, the two companies will likely consolidate warranties. Such changes will likely take place over the next 12 to 18 months, he added.
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A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change.
Earl Nightingale
 
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EFCA - "No to Compromise"
Kerri Lynne Leininger, Managing Director of Government and Political Affairs - NRMCA 
 
While proponents of EFCA have started to advance what they deem to be "reasonable" alternatives to card-check, it is crucial to remember that "compromise" is simply a legislative trick to get to 60 votes in the Senate.  After cloture has been invoked on a "compromise" bill, EFCA supporters can insert the controversial 'card-check' and/or binding arbitration provisions as amendments on the Senate floor, or simply wiat unitl the conference committee wiht the House to tailor the bill back to its original form. Because of this well-known procedural tactic, NRMCA maintains a 'No to Compromise' position.
 
Team Spirit - The FICAP Way!                           Michele Stropoli, Executive Director 
                          
Michele
 Each event, each meeting of the FICAP members, shows me once
 again what a great group of people I work with, and the enthusiasm and
 encouragement you share with one another is contagious. For instance, 
 at this year's convention, when one of you joined the soup line, the entire room jumped in as  well...  

Soup Line

You don't seem to mind when questionable characters are among you. In fact, you seem to enjoy their company...
 
Troy brown bagging it  Ron as a stranger  Revised 2009 Header

Our leaders show positive attitudes and have an amazing ability to adapt to tough situations...
 
Gary and Preston     Adam in his home     Mark and Pat
 
Facilities     Freddie drinks Naked      Jeff's Place
 
But it's your spirits that shine! Times are terribly tough and worry and stress are everywhere, but the Florida Independent's continue to help each other by sharing ideas and solutions that work. FICAP is strong and will continue to push forward, because the spirit of success surrounds us.
 
                             
Sincerely, 
Micheles Signature