| In The Mix March 2010- Vol 2, Issue 3 |
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| Officers / Directors |
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President
Gary Clements
Cement Products &
Supply Company
863-686-5141
Vice Presdient
Preston Sparkman
Quality Precast Co. Inc.
813-685-5615 ext 2228
Secretary
Brad Coolidge
A-1 Block Corporation
407-422-3768
Treasurer
Steve Bishop Maschmeyer Concrete
Jeff Bishop
Maschmeyer Concrete
561-848-9112
Adam Freeman
A-1 Block
407-422-3768
Sherry Griswold
Griswold Ready Mix
904-751-3796
Tony Segree
Hicks Concrete Services
863-425-4155
Mark Smith, Past President
Bell Concrete, Inc.
352-463-6103
Executive Director Michele Stropoli 407-333-4694 email |
| Welcome New Member |
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Metro Weighing Solutions, LLC
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| Associate of the Month |
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Carolina Stalite Company
Thank you for your continued support of FICAP.
For additional details... | |
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 Greetings! |
In case all you parents are not aware, the school year is rapidly coming to a close. What has this got to do with FICAP? Glad you asked. If you, or any of your employees have a child who is graduating from high school this year, and plans to continue their education, they may be eligible for the Richard C. Martin Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship is available to any dependent child of a Florida resident employee who is working full time for a producer or associate member company of FICAP.
The scholarship award is for up to $2,500.00 per year to a student attending an accredited community college, college, or university. In addition the scholarship may be increased to $3,500.00 per year to those pursuing a career in the construction industry.
As you can see this is another tremendous benefit to FICAP members. And the time is now to have your student apply for this very prestigious and significant scholarship.
All the information you need regarding requirements and application forms can be found on the FICAP website at www.ficap.org . Please take time today to notify all your employees as to this scholarship opportunity.
Speaking of the approaching end to the school year, summer is just around the corner. And that means FICAP convention time. After this cold and dreary winter (for Central Florida at least) I think all of us will be ready for some beach time. I can't think of a better place than at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater for the FICAP convention, July 16 & 17. Please mark you calendars now and plan to attend. It will be a great time as always.
I look forward to seeing all of you at this month's meeting as the Future Leaders quarterly education program is "What's New in Concrete". We have a great line-up of nationally recognized speakers who will provide us with cutting edge information on our industry.
 Gary Clements President, FICAP |
| What's New In Concrete - A Future Leaders Educational Event |
Please join Florida's Finest, the Future Leaders of the Concrete Industry, on March 30, 2010.
An excellent program has been scheduled for the afternoon and evening of the 30th. You will not want to miss this day of insight and education into the future of concrete. If you are a future leader and/or a member of FICAP, please join us.
1:00 to 2:00 - Producer Board Meeting
2:00 to 3:00 - Dr. Heather Brown, Middle Tennessee State
3:10 to 3:50 - Bob Garbini, National Ready Mix Concrete
4:00 to 4:45 - Bob Thomas, National Concrete Masonry
5:00 to 5:30 - Future Leaders Meeting
5:30 to 6:30 - Social Hour/Cocktail Hour
6:30 to 8:00 - Dinner and presentation by Bob Garbini
(NRMCA) - Data Industry Survey Results
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| Annual Clay Shoot - March 27, 2010 |
New Location...New Prices. The committee went in search of a new location, in hopes of saving you money, and they were successful. We will meet early on Saturday, March 27th, at the Sarasota Trap and Skeet Club. For further details please visit the FICAP website.
 Deadline for shooter | |
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The Redwood Empire
Michele Stropoli, Executive Director |
Finding strength in storms by linking arms with others is what the massive Redwood trees in California do to withstand incredible pressure.
Redwoods are massive trees, many are over 300 feet high, yet only have root systems that go 4-5 feet deep. Why don't they fall over in a gentle breeze? Simple. The mighty Redwoods never grow alone. They link their roots together and withstand ten times the stress and pressure because they are not alone in the storm. They need each other to stand strong and so do we. The recession has given us a chance to stand strong together, just like the Redwoods do. This is our time to get focused, build healthy coping skills into our daily life and be surrounded by strong people who have the heart and resources to stand firm by living out what they believe.
The Redwoods have also presented opportunities to think outside the box. They were too large for normal lumbering practices, which resulted in the Redwood Empire Route, or the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. If you enjoy reading about railroads, follow this link for details regarding the obstacles the original railroading pioneers faced when connecting between lines. Another fascinating aspect of the logging business is the practice of Aqua Logging. A relatively new practice of retrieving centuries old logs from the bottom of lakes and rivers, which have been preserved by the low oxygen content in the deep water.
I love to learn and I've been blessed with kids who do as well. Our favorite TV channel is the History Channel. It's fascinating to watch history unfold and to learn How Things Are Made. It's also fascinating to see proof that people think outside the box and try new ideas. Ideas that sometimes change the world.
FICAP has pulled together a fantastic program for March.
What's New in Concrete - A Future Leader's Educational Event.
This might be the event that helps you think outside the box. Our speakers will provide the latest in Trends and Innovations through material advances, market segment strengths and weaknesses, equipment advances and unique new applications.
We look forward to seeing you on the 30th!
Thank you!
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| FICAP PAC - The Legislative Corner Wade Mullins, Chairman |
Even though the 2010 Florida Legislative Session got off to a quick start when the legislators passed a measure to delay an unemployment compensation tax increase that could have crippled an economy trying to rise out of recession, some industry lobbyists seem to think there hasn't been much interest in passing much of anything during the second week of session. Due to budget constraints so much time will be spent in April working on the Budget. Thus, bills that aren't heard and passed out of some of their committee references by the end of March will have little chance of passage. Read More |
| 2010 Scholarship Information |
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2010 Scholarship Information
The R.C. Martin Memorial Scholarship program is open to any dependent child of any Florida resident employee working full time for a producer or associate member company of FICAP. Complete information including a scholarship application and deadline submittal date is available at www.ficap.org/scholarships.pdf
Deadline: May 7, 2010 |
| Around The Industry |
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Useful Links to Monitor Economic and Housing Trends
The following are links to useful information from government agencies and NAHB that will enable you to monitor the housing market. Read More
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Concrete is Safe, Sustainable and LOCAL by Tim Kuebler
In Florida, there are 7 cement plants, over 100 aggregate plants, over 300 concrete plants and numerous support industries such as trucking companies, railroad's etc. At our peak, our industry provided $2.25 billion dollars in payroll, which has been diminished to by 50% since the economic decline. Read More
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Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.
Robert Benchley
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Fuel Consumption and Emissions Study Demonstrates Environmental Advantages in Paving with Concrete by RMC Foundation
Silver Spring, MD - March 11, 2010: The RMC Research & Education Foundation is proud to announce the release of the final report Effect of Pavement Type on Fuel Consumption and Emissions in City Driving. The study, performed at the University of Texas at Arlington by Dr. Siamak A. Ardekani and Palinee Sumitsawan, compared fuel consumption and total CO2 emissions for a motor vehicle driving on asphalt pavement and concrete pavement in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Read More
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A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore. Yogi Berra
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Why Won't the S.B.A. Lend Directly to Small Businesses?
Back in late January, a Florida entrepreneur, Steve Gordon, got the opportunity to take his concerns about the recession straight to the top. If banks won't make loans to small business, he asked President Obama at a town hall meeting in Tampa, why not have the Small Business Administration make loans directly? Read More
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Airport Built, It's Time to See if the Traffic Comes
The first new international airport in the United States in more than decade is set to open in May near Panama City, Fla., a community of 37,000 people on the state's panhandle. That is no small feat given the environmental, regulatory and financial hurdles involved in building runways and terminals, as well as community opposition to planes flying overhead. Read More
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Support for Green Building, LEED Slip Slightly But Remain Strong Despite Downturn
Support for green construction and LEED certification dipped slightly in 2009 but remains strong across the past three years despite the recession, according to the latest green building survey by Allen Matkins, Constructive Technologies Group and the Green Building Insider. Read More
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New technology allows concrete to come clean
A recently completed major renovation of the Sun Life Financial Centre in Waterloo is one of a small, but growing number of projects where special cement has been incorporated so that buildings can harness the sun to self clean and de-pollute themselves. Read More
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