| In The Mix November 2010- Vol 2, Issue 10 |
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| Officers / Directors | |
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
Freddie Jahna
Jahna Concrete
863-453-5155
Mark Smith, Past President
Bell Concrete, Inc.
352-463-6103
Executive Director Michele Stropoli 407-333-4694 email |
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 Greetings! |
 The "Unbeatable Amendment," the label given to Amendment 4 by the political experts, was not only beaten, it was crushed. Why was the unbeatable amendment so soundly defeated? They took on a struggling business community that was unified in defeating amendments, legislation and political candidates who were not pro-business. More pointedly they took on the depressed building industry. It is very apparent that they severely underestimated the vibrancy, unity, and resolve of business associations in our great state and of our industry in particular. The grassroots effort that swept our state, and the stand that the business community took to defeat this ill-conceived amendment, was unprecedented. And none stood stronger than FICAP. The battle was long - for many of us months, for others, years. I thank you all for your commitment to the association, the industry, the state, your businesses, and your families as the defeat of Amendment 4 has, without question, preserved many of our jobs and companies.
Amendment 4 was only one part of a very hectic political season, where all of our problems (or perceived problems) were blasted into our living rooms on a daily basis and became the topic of daily discussions. But as I look around the world via the news media and see Mexico and its overwhelming problems with drug lords and violence, the starving people of Haiti who are continually oppressed by a corrupt government, countries like Iraq and Afghanistan where daily life is filled with endless violence and destruction, our problems seem much more manageable and, in some cases, trivial. We should truly be thankful that we have the freedom in this great country to speak, worship, conduct business and associate with whomever we choose.
Thanksgiving is fast approaching. While it is difficult to be thankful for the condition of our industry, I am thankful that over the past year none of our FICAP producers have gone out of business and all are still producing. While it is difficult to be thankful as we watch our companies shrink, we can be thankful for the families we continue to support through our continued operations.
"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Galations 6:9
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to be enjoyed with family and friends. I encourage you to take a few extra moments this year to reflect upon, and give thanks for, the many blessings we have. I wish each of you a happy and memorable Thanksgiving. And I look forward to seeing all of you on the 16th in Orlando for our monthly meeting.
 Gary Clements President, FICAP
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| FICAP Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, November 16th | |
On Tuesday, November 16th, attendees will discuss openly the current and future threats to Independent Concrete Producers and FICAP members overall. Please plan to join us for cocktails at 5:30, with a plated dinner to begin at 6:30 pm.
Board Members...we'll see you at 4:30 pm.
To Register
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FICAP PAC News Chairman, Wade Mullins | |
It would be an understatement to say the political climate in America looks a little different today than it did two years ago. Fortunately, the change this time around looks a whole lot better to most of us. Wouldn't you agree that with the way the balance of power shifted in the US House of Representative, and Amendment 4 failed so badly here in Florida, gives us reason for hope?
Just this week I read in the St. Pete Times that the Cap and Trade Bill the President has been pushing has been shelved for the time being. That bill had the potential to be as devastating from a national standpoint to the business community, as Amendment 4 would have had on Florida.
Speaking of Amendment 4, I was very impressed at how the voters responded when they were presented with the facts and Voted No in such abundant numbers. Believe me when I say the grassroots effort by so many to educate the public changed the outcome of that balloted initiative. If Amendment 4 would have been on the 2008 ballot, it would have passed with ease. But, thankfully it wasn't.
Phone calls from around the country have been pouring in to the Florida Chamber wanting to know how the Vote No campaign was so successful. Never in Florida's history has there been so many industries pool their resources together for one gigantic common cause.
FICAP was on board early to defeat Amendment 4 and we were there at the end, too. It was a great team win for the state of Florida.
It is going to be most interesting to observe how the various state agencies conduct business heading into the very near future. Something tells me they will be very motivated to make Florida a great place to conduct business, again.
What better time than now to ask you to become a member of the FICAP's Political Action Committee?
Wade Mullins
FICAP PAC Chair 2010
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Roving Meeting - Superior Redi-Mix | |
For those of you able to join us, you shared some great food and conversation. It was quite a trip, but well worth it. Danny and his crew took great care of us and showed everyone another part of this great State.
Thank you Danny for your hospitatlity!
Photos
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Curiouser and Curiouser...
Michele Stropoli, Executive Director |
I want to know why. I'm actually worse than a 3 year old with my questions. When did that start? Who started it? Yadda, yadda, yadda.
My kids bombarded me with why. Why do we hang stockings on the chimney (fireplace) at Christmas? What makes the tires turn on the car? Why do bats fly at night? Do Mosquitoes sleep? I actually encouraged my kids to ask why by carrying a notebook with us everywhere we went and writing down their questions until we could research them. I learned a lot in the process.
I've started carrying a small notebook again.
A recent conversation regarding the deregulation of energy set me on another search for answers. When was energy harnessed and mass produced for the general public? What steps in history have brought us to this point?
An email yesterday inspired me to find out about new alternative energy sources, or rather Build Green Materials. What will they mean to our industry? How should we prepare? Do they stand up to the Florida Building Code? Impact Resistant testing? Will a structure built with these materials still be standing 100 years from now?
Inquiring minds want to know...
I will continue to research the world around me and try to discover why we live life the way that we do. I've taken so much for granted and have come to rely upon the modern conveniences, with no real knowledge of how they came to be.
I did stumble upon a biography of Thomas Edison earlier today and was fascinated all over again by his genius. He was a boy who couldn't sit still and did not "fit" the mold of structured education. His parents pulled him from school (age 7) and allowed him to explore the world around him, at his own pace. He read everything he could get his hands on and became a successful businessman at the age of 12. He provided his own funding for his experiments and inventions. The reason I bring up Edison is the next bit of fascinating info; in Mid-19th Century New England, there existed a group of "tekkies" that could rival the Silicon Valley of the late 90's. The young tekkies communicated via Morse code. That's funny to think about. Read More about Edison.
Edison wasn't satisfied with a simple answer. He wanted to know why. His questions inspired some amazing inventions and changes to the way things were done.
My curiosity is inspired by our meetings, conversations and email exchanges. It's my hope that you are inspired as well and will continue to actively participate in the FICAP ventures.
You inspire me and it's with heartfelt gratitude that I say Thank you!
"Curiouser and curiouser!" From the movie, Alice in Wonderland, as Alice was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English.
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| NRMCA CONCRETEPAC News | |
Tuesday night was a good night for the NRMCA's legislative agenda and for CONCRETEPAC. We won 89% of the House races and 96% of the Senate races we supported - all to further NRMCA's pro-business, pro-concrete agenda. Read More
2010 Election Outcome
2010 GOP Pickups
2010 CONCRETEPAC Election Stats
2010 Election Summary
2012 Election Landscape Preview
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| Florida's Concrete Coalition - FC & PA Invitation | |
The Florida Concrete & Products Association have reached out to FICAP members and offered an invitation to attend their regional promotional meetings. In Matt's own words, "We openly welcome any of your members who would like to attend and see what goes on within the FC&PA and our Regions."
Region 2 (Jax) 11/19 @ 9:30am
Region 3 (Tampa) 11/16 @ 9am
Region 4 (Orlando) 11/18 @ 9am
Region 5N (Sarasota) 11/11 @ 10am
Region 5S (Naples) 11/11 @ 10am
Region 6 (Jupiter) 11/16 @ 8am
Region 7 (Miami) 11/17 @ 8:30am
Region 8 (Ocala) 11/15 @ 9am
For additional information, please contact:
Matt Sitter
Director of Marketing
P: 407.895.9333
C: 321.662.3940
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| Around The Industry |
Industry Credit Groups
Credit groups are an effective management tool. They permit credit professionals of different companies servicing the same customer, regardless of industry or trade, to compare information on collection history and provide a forum for the exchange of data as to the most recent payment practices. Read More
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Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible,
and suddenly you are doing the impossible!
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Homeowners will still get hammered on insurance rates. Why?
Florida hasn't faced a major hurricane in five years.
Reinsurance, the added layer of coverage that property insurers buy to protect themselves from catastrophes, is both more widely available and cheaper, with brokers reporting price drops of 10 percent to 25 percent for Florida business as of June 1. Read More
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Signs of economic life touted by three area county economic development chiefs
Signs of economic life are emerging, finally, in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. But each one faces special challenges in clawing out of the recession. Read More
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MasterCard, Visa Settle as Amex Fights U.S. Lawsuit
Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc. reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department that will let merchants reward consumers for paying with lower-cost credit or debit cards, while American Express Co. vowed to fight a government antitrust lawsuit. Read More
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Will Legoland theme park be a good fit for tourism?
After Cypress Gardens, the legendary Florida attraction, finally closed forever last year after multiple owners and a long, slow decline, the Best Western Admiral's Inn & Conference Center next door did what it could to make a living from family reunions, military get-togethers and other events.
Now, for perhaps the first time since Cypress Gardens was a bustling attraction years ago, the Admiral's Inn and the rest of the local business community are betting this out-of-the-way Polk County city can become a true tourist destination once again. Read More
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Mica: Private sector must kick in money for high-speed rail
The Republican leader expected to chair the powerful House transportation committee in January said Thursday he remains supportive of the Tampa to Orlando segment of Florida's proposed high-speed rail project. Read More
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After weak 2009, early influx of northern visitors
It's not just the traffic on the roads and in the supermarkets that seems heavier.
...Put it all together, and there's no denying it: Snowbirds are back.
"I think for the most part, people are feeling better," said Tim Deputy, Sun N Fun's general manager. "They're more comfortable, financially and otherwise, and as a result, coming down here earlier from up north." Read More
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A Sigh of Relief from Third-Quarter Real GDP
Most market watchers and analysts have their eyes firmly fixed on next week's outcome for the FOMC meeting and midterm elections. Markets have already priced in a second round of quantitative easing to the tune of a $500 billion purchase of long-term Treasuries over the next six months. Read More
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Recovery in Building Is Forecast for 2011
The nation's construction industry, virtually on life support during the economic downturn, will begin a slow recovery next year, according to a forecast set to be released Friday. Read More
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Moody's Economy.com forecast: Florida job growth to top other states in coming year
Wake up and good morning. Good news on the jobs front for a very employment-challenged (11.9 percent jobless rate) Florida. Economics consulting firm Moody's Economy.com recently issued a forecast for job growth both by state and metro area. And Florida is looking a lot stronger ahead than most parts of the country. Read More
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To wrap things up. | |
Technology Mistakes
"Who in their right mind would ever need more than 640k of ram?" -- Bill Gates, 1981
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." -- Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." -- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
"I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." -- The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957
"But what ... is it good for?" -- Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." -- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." -- Western Union internal memo, 1876.
"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" -- David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.
"The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." -- A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)
"Everything that can be invented has been invented." -- Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.
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| Remember... | |
...there is always, always, always
someone and something in which
to be thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving! |
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