| In The Mix January 2011- Vol 3, Issue 1 |
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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! |
 Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a memorable holiday season. As we settle into this journey called 2011 it appears that our business climate is not much better than it was this time last year. While some areas of our economy are seeing improvement, our industry in Florida is still a ways away from true recovery. We have a new administration in the governor's mansion, with industry and business leaders on the transition team, giving us hope that we may see a very pro-business agenda in our state. Regardless of what our government may or may not do to help this economy, the fact is we have been dealt this hand of cards and we must play it. I read an interesting quote recently: "The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails." John Maxwell We have all been around too long to think that complaining will help. Many of us are optimistic and know that eventually things will change, but that is nothing more than keeping a good attitude and not actually doing anything meaningful. It is our job as owners and managers to "adjust the sails" in order to keep our companies on course, or in some cases change the course, in order to be successful. I don't think there is a company represented by FICAP that has not gone through many painful cuts over the past few years, and for most of us there are no reasonable cuts left to be made. No leaf has been left unturned. Our companies that are staffed, by and large, with the best employees we had. Harvey S. Firestone once said, "You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself." We have the teams in place to be successful, so once again it comes down to us, as owners and managers, to make the difference. We must give and do our best. 2011 can be a very successful year for all of us. Herman Cain said, "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing you will be successful." It is the perfect time of year, and an opportune moment in history to renew our commitment to our companies, our family, and our spiritual life. I truly hope your 2011 is successful in many ways. A great way to start the year is by marking you calendars for future FICAP events: January 25th for our monthly meeting, March 19th our annual Clay Shoot, and July 14-16 for our Annual Convention at Hammock Beach Resort. Hope to see you at all our exciting functions this year.
Gary Clements
President, FICAP
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10th Annual FICAP Clay Shoot | 
Find out more... |
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| January's Monthly Meeting - EPA's NESHAP | |
We've scheduled another great educational opportunity for FICAP members. On January 25th , during the dinner presentation, we will hear from Satish Sheth, the VP of Manufacturing for Cemex USA, regarding the EPA's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). He will present the new emission standards effecting cement kilns across the country and some of the cost, estimated by the PCA , associated with meeting the new standards.
Find out more
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Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans
by Patrick Lear | |
There are many regulations governing industrial facilities today. For those that are engaged in producing, storing, processing, refining, transporting, distributing, using or consuming oil and oil products The Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 part 112 - Oil Pollution Prevention describes the requirements to prevent discharge of oil from non-transportation related facilities into navigable waters of the United States. The criteria for compliance with these regulations are as follows:
Read More
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Ready For Action! Michele Stropoli, Executive Director |
 The opportunities for concrete have never been greater! The economic gloom of the last several years forced our industry to buckle down and get to work. We had to think outside the box and work together. The easy life was over. Various groups began communicating and looking for ways to work together for the betterment of the industry, which in turn helps all of us. Within Florida, the Florida Concrete Coalition was formed. This group meets quarterly to share current initiatives and work together where possible. In March, we will meet in Tallahassee to canvas the political scene.
Last month we shared a link with you for the initial findings of the MIT regarding concrete and their life-cycle assessment study. You may have glossed over the document and missed something vital...the MIT findings are about to level the playing field. In the past, when a governing body compared the costs of materials, concrete got a bum rap. It was difficult to compete when the initial costs of other materials were lower; however, that's about to change. The MIT study will compare total costs, including maintenance, of each material. The life-cycle assessment (LCA) of buildings analyzes the environmental impact of commercial and residential building materials and utilizes a 75-year analysis period.
The challenge - promote the MIT findings. Saturate the state of Florida with facts. Concrete is the better material to use and we have documented proof available, from a very reliable source. You are encouraged to utilize, make your own, publicize to your employees and the local media. There are links below for your use.
The NCMA is diligently pursuing the National Masonry Check-off program, and within the State of Florida a State Check-off program is also in the works. We will definitely monitor this effort.
The future of Concrete has never looked brighter! The widespread use of concrete, the promotion of concrete, benefits everyone. The acceptance of concrete as a sustainable, cost effective building material keeps everyone's doors open and trucks moving. The industry is on an uphill journey, and similar to exercise, a lot of those muscles haven't been used in a while, so it may be painful in the beginning. Are you ready for the burn? I say...Bring it on!
MIT Powerpoint Overview
MIT Media Launch
MIT Internal Media
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NRMCA Associate Members Create New Award
Aimed at Recognizing Producers' Community Service Contributions
Contact: Kathleen Carr-Smith
301-587-1400, ext. 1145 or kcarrsmith@nrmca.org
Silver Spring, MD - January 13, 2011 - The Manufacturers, Products & Services Division of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) has established the Concrete Cares Award which will recognize outstanding contributions in community service by an NRMCA producer member company. Read More
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SunRail Means Jobs!
The Florida Department of Transportation invites you to attend the SunRail Industry Forum
When: Friday, February 25, 2011 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Sheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel, 400 West Livingston Street, Orlando, Florida 32801
Learn more about SunRail contracting opportunities in the morning, and network with contractors and potential bidders in the afternoon! Read More . |
| Annual Predictions by Jim Bleech | |
In the past couple of years, I have really sweated this annual prediction time. There was so much uncertainty, confusion, and conflicting opinions that it was scary to make any type of prediction. While it is still a scary world out there, this year I certainly feel much more comfortable in putting to paper our expectations for 2011. Read More
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ACI 2011 Spring Convention - Tampa, Florida |
You're invited!
On behalf of the ACI Florida Suncoast Chapter, we would like to invite you to attend the ACI Spring 2011 Convention April 3-7, 2011, in Tampa, Florida. We have been looking forward to hosting this convention and are thrilled to have the opportunity to share this experience with you.
We are proud to call Florida home and excited to show you how concrete is the "Strength of Florida." Highlights of the convention will include an Opening Session recognizing over 100 awardees, presentations about Florida Concrete, the world's tallest building, computer applications to advance your career, the Student FRP Composites Competition, and the 10th International Symposium on FRP Reinforcement for Concrete Structures. More |
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Around the Industry | |
People Don't Listen
by Don Magruder
The lumber and building material industry experienced a lot of changes and challenges in 2010. Although America's bad economy has been the most negative influence, dealers and manufacturers must take responsibility for a good hunk of their own misery. One of my big warnings to our industry this past year was "either dealers and manufacturers are going to increase margins or go out of business." My rational was simple: there's been too much in pricing declines, costs have continued to increase, and most companies' balance sheets have eaten up too much cash in the last four years. Read More
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Monday Economic Report - A Publication of the National Association of Manufacturers
As reported in NCMA e-news Brief, Dec. 23, 2010
Following a strong report the prior week, last week's economic indicators again were largely positive. Of the 11 major reports that came out last week, seven accelerated, three grew more slowly and one remained unchanged. Read More
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"The greatest good you can do for another is not just
to share your riches but to reveal to him his own."
~ Benjamin Disraeli
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NRMCA's Concrete Capitol Connection - Read More
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Housing Starts Seen Rising to Three-Year High With Belated U.S. Jobs Boost
Charles Lieberman, chief investment officer at Advisors Capital Management LLC, and Charles Ortel, managing director at Newport Value Partners, talk about the outlook for the U.S. economy in 2011. Lieberman and Ortel also discuss U.S. economic policies, the outlook for the dollar, India and China's economies, and investment strategy. They talk with Pimm Fox on Bloomberg Television's "Midday Surveillance." (Source: Bloomberg)
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke may be about to get help in his attempt to boost the economy, from an industry at rock-bottom: housing. Read More
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NHTSA to Propose Speed Limiters for Heavy Trucks
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday that it will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2012 to mandate speed-limiting devices on heavy-duty trucks. The rulemaking process is no guarantee that a rule will result, but the American Trucking Associations, Road Safe America and some of the country's largest trucking fleets support limiting truck speeds to about 68 miles per hour. Schneider National and J.B. Hunt Transport both already limit the top speed of their trucks. Schneider says that before it installed limiters in 1996, trucks without limiters accounted for 40% of the company's serious collisions while driving only 17% of its total miles. (More at TruckingInfo.com . . . )
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Weaning ourselves from a China import
- Rare earths vital key to U.S. manufacturing
An integral part of that cellphone you can't live without is neodymium, a rare earth mineral used in magnets for computers, audio speakers and those ubiquitous phones. Holmium, another mineral, has the greatest magnetic strength of any element and is used in medical and dental lasers. Read More
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"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"
~ Abraham Lincoln
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Green Business - Florida's Department of Environmental Protection
When you start to green your business operations, you are helping to reduce carbon emissions, preserve forests and biodiversity, and keep our air and water clean. And you also can help protect your bottom line because environmentally responsible businesses are efficient businesses. The simple tips listed below can help any business start going green. Read More
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State details foreclosure chaos
Sweeping evidence of the case the state attorney general's office has built in its pursuit of foreclosure justice for Florida homeowners is outlined in a 98-page presentation complete with copies of allegedly forged signatures, false notarizations, bogus witnesses and improper mortgage assignments. Read More
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Economists Optimistic on Growth
Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal are increasingly optimistic about the pace of the recovery, predicting the U.S. will grow at better than a 3.2% annual rate in each quarter this year.
"The U.S. economy appears to have successfully navigated the adjustment from a recovery driven primarily from economic stimulus and inventory rebuilding to one driven by private domestic demand and rising exports," said economists at Wells Fargo & Co. "Three percent growth looks pretty good, particularly with housing stuck in low gear." Read More
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| To Wrap Things Up | |
Comments made in the Year 1955!
'I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $10.00.
Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $1,000.00 will only buy a used one.
'Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter.
'If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.
'When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage.
'I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying
DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.
'I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.
'It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet..
'Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government.
'The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.
'There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $4.00 a night to stay in a hotel.
'No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $15.00 a day in the hospital, it's too rich for my blood.'
'If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a haircut, forget it.'
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