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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
SUSTAINABILITY
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
EDUCATION &TRAINING
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
NEWS LINKS
Transportation advocates are losing hope for passage of a highway bill before the election following Congress's decision this week to pass another short-term funding extension. Instead of approving the multi-year transportation bill that passed the Senate, lawmakers adopted a temporary extension of legislation that already funds road and transit projects. The short-term measure, signed Friday by President Obama, extends federal transportation funding until June 30. Source: AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter for April 2 which contained this April 1 article from The Hill. Read more. Thirty states increased their construction workforce between February 2011 and February 2012, according to an AGC report. "The number of states with year-over-year construction job gains keeps rising, which is very encouraging," said Ken Simonson, the group's chief economist. "But the industry is still struggling in too many states to declare that construction is in full recovery." Source: ACG SmartBrief e-newsletter for April 2. Read more. Five years after the Minneapolis I-35W span suddenly collapsed in August 2007, killing 13 people and injuring 145 others, the U.S. still has 18,000 similarly designed spans, known as fracture-critical bridges, that need continual attention and money for inspections at a time when funding for maintenance is drying up. A March 22 article by Bloomberg Businessweek examined the issues. Read more. Researchers at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom have developed an innovative new concrete printing process that is said to be capable of producing large scale building components with a degree of customisation that has not yet been seen. The process relies on a highly controlled extrusion of cement based mortar, which is precisely positioned according to computer data. The researchers believe the process has the potential to create architecture that is more unique in form and claim it could create a new era of architecture that is adapted to the environment and fully integrated with engineering function. Source: March 22 article in Eureka, The Site for Engineering Design. Read more. PROMOTIONS
NRMCA’s Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O’Neill reports that promoters in the Northeast are making headway promoting concrete parking lots. "It’s no secret that the Northeast lags behind other areas of the country in taking advantage of the tremendous benefits associated with concrete parking lots. So it’s really exciting to be able to report that many promoters here are actively and successfully getting the word out," he said. As an example of "rallying the troops," the team at the Massachusetts Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association (MaCAPA) have been out in force with members and associates actively asking the question, "What about the parking lot?" O'Neill continued. Since just about everything in the Northeast is specified and designed in asphalt, it has been a given that the parking lots will go asphalt, so the team at MaCAPA simply started asking the question, "What about the parking lot?" and "Can we get a shot at the parking lot?" These questions have generated five new projects that will be taking advantage of NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program (DAP) which offers an ACI 330 design along with a joint layout plan to the local specifiers. And as you might suspect, concrete is coming in competitive on first cost with asphalt, a fact that leaves many designers and general contractors (GC) flabbergasted since the assumption has always been that concrete was unaffordable. To learn more about DAP, click here. In another example of beating the bushes, Lafarge Cement rep Charlie Howard has been relentless in chasing down several Walmart opportunities in Connecticut. One major roadblock he’s encountered is that even when a legitimate concrete bid is offered, many GC’s in the Northeast are so afraid of concrete that they will opt for asphalt regardless of initial costs. So not only do we have to convince the design team to offer a competitive design and the owner to consider concrete, but we also have to convince the GC’s that concrete can be placed, finished and cured reliably and efficiently, O'Neill said. The promotion teams, which include NRMCA, state ready mix associations, producers, associates and contractors throughout the Northeast are gearing up to hit these GC’s hard over the next few months, hoping to build awareness and change attitudes, O'Neill said. Taking advantage of the resources available is a big part of that effort and NRMCA’s DAP is just one tool being used. NRMCA’s educational Webinars are another way promotion teams are arming themselves with valuable information. To learn more about the Webinars currently offered at NRMCA, click here or contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org. NRMCA South Central Senior National Resource Director Vance Pool recently attended the first meeting of the newly-created Arizona Concrete Promotion Council (ACPC). Its mission is "to promote and increase the use of concrete products in the state of Arizona through technical promotion, education and political advocacy." This new organization is being formed with concrete subcontractor members of the former Arizona Concrete Contractors Association, which is folding into ACPC. Composed of concrete producers, cement companies, concrete subcontractors and all the related suppliers, this new organization will tout the many benefits concrete brings relative to sustainability and, of course, "bang for the buck." ACPC will focus solely on promotion and is being led by Brad Belt of Drake Cement who discussed the structure, mission and other details of the new organization with about 60 attendees. "It is great to see grassroots promotion gaining traction in Arizona," Pool noted. "In order to upgrade a market to concrete paving it takes time and concerted effort at the local level. ACPC is putting in place the organization to get it done." For more information, contact Vance Pool at vpool@nrmca.org. NRMCA's national resource directors have one Webinar scheduled in the next few weeks, so be sure to click on the link below for more information or contact NRMCA's Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
Former NRMCA Board of Directors chairman and leading figure in the state of Nevada’s construction industry for more than a half century Bruno Benna died of cancer April 1 at his Reno home at the age of 83. Mr. Benna was Board chairman in 1983 and also served as PAC Committee chairman, as a member of the Executive and Construction Industry Alliances committees and a supporter of the RMC Research & Education Foundation. Mr. Benna was described as "a philanthropist, civic and business leader who literally helped build the foundation of modern-day Reno" in an obituary that was posted yesterday in the Reno Gazette-Journal. He was a co-founder of the C.B. Concrete Company in 1958; the company’s yellow trucks with the black bumble bee logo were a familiar sight in Reno for generations. Click here to read the newspaper’s obituary, which includes comments from the mayor of Reno and the governor of Nevada. Benna is survived by Edna, his wife of 62 years; sons Stephen, Alexander and Chris; daughter Cathleen Trachok, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Information on funeral arrangements were not available in time for E-NEWS. NRMCA will posted information on its Web site when they are available. This year, the RMC Research & Education Foundation is pleased to offer sponsorships as part of its 2nd Annual Walk for Sustainability. Sponsorship of the event provides companies with an excellent opportunity to support the event even if you are unable to participate in the Walk. Two sponsorship levels remain, including one sponsorship of the Pre-Walk coffee ($500 each) The Walk for Sustainability will be held on Wednesday, May 9, in conjunction with NRMCA’s International Concrete Sustainability Conference, in Seattle. The registration fee to participate in the walk is $25 per person and walkers are asked to help gain support for their efforts. Those wishing to participate may register here, which also includes a link for Walkers to set up their own personal fundraising page. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Foundation Senior Director Jennifer LeFevre at jlefevre@rmc-foundation.org or at 240-485-1151. Additional information on the Foundation’s work may be found at www.rmc-foundation.org. OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
Registration is open for the annual Webinar, Dispatch Management: Real Time Supply Chain Management Solutions in Tight Times, set for May 15-16, from 1 - 2 p.m. Eastern time. These two live online seminars will discuss creative and sound dispatch business processes and management systems that add dollars to your bottom line at a time when every penny counts. The content concentrates on strategic delivery concepts as they relate to pricing, changing your customers’ market environment and possible dispatch performance incentives. These tools, tips, and tactics are practical coaching tools you can share with your dispatch staff so they help reduce delivery costs while maximizing efficiency and customer service. Senior level dispatch managers, operations managers, area managers and sales managers will benefit from this course. Because of the content, it is not recommended for dispatch staff. Click here for registration options or contact NRMCA's Jessica Walgenbach at 888-846-7622, ext. 1152 or by e-mail, jwalgenbach@nrmca.org. 
SUSTAINABILITY
Friday, April 13, is the early bird deadline for NRMCA’s International Concrete Sustainability Conference to be held May 7-10 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel. Those who register on or before April 13 received significant discounts on conference registration fees and hotel reservations. The 7th annual conference will provide attendees with the latest developments related to design, specifying, manufacturing, testing, construction, maintenance, and research of concrete as it relates to sustainability. LEED 2012, Architecture 2030, the International Green Construction Code, Envision, Greenroads, Life Cycle Assessment and Environment Product Declarations are just a few of the topics that will be presented by over 60 world renowned experts. Researchers, academics, students, engineers, architects, contractors, concrete producers, public works officials, material suppliers and concrete industry professionals are invited attend the conference. Visit www.concretesustainabilityconference.org to register and make hotel reservations. For more information, contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at llemay@nrmca.org. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
To read government affairs-related stories that relate to the ready mixed concrete industry for the week of March 26 - 30, please click here. If you would like to receive this weekly updated link in a separate e-mail, or if you have questions or comments about the roundup, contact NRMCA’s Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. NRMCA encourages you to join our industry allies on Capitol Hill on May 30-31 for the Transportation Construction Coalition’s (TCC) 2012 Legislative Fly-in and make the case to "Make Transportation Job #1". Despite the clear interest from bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate, long-term transportation reauthorization legislation remains elusive in the 112th Congress (see related item under News Links). The highway and transit program authorization expired on September 30, 2009, and these programs have been operating on short-term extensions ever since. Congress needs to understand the impact this inaction has on state transportation programs and the transportation construction industry. With the construction industry’s unemployment rate over 17 percent, the highest of any industry and nearly double the all-industry rate, inaction is not an option. Come to Washington, DC, and tell your elected officials there is no one piece of legislation now before Congress that could do more to immediately create jobs and boost U.S. competitiveness than the transportation bill. Constituent visits are a key component to any successful legislative advocacy strategy. A legislative briefing is scheduled to prepare you for your visits with your legislators. Educational briefing packets have been prepared for you to deliver to your congressional delegation. Now is the time to demand action. Reduced federal investment undermines state and local transportation programs and hurts the construction industry: contractors, material suppliers, designers, equipment manufacturers and labor. More than that it threatens the nation’s global competitiveness, economic growth and the freedom of mobility that Americans treasure. This year’s meeting will be held at the Marriott Metro Center, 775 12th Street, NW, Washington, DC. To make your reservation call reservations at 1-800-228-9290. The room rate is $274 per night and the registration cut-off date is Monday, April 30. Click here to register. For more information, contact NRMCA’s Kerri Leininger at kleininger@nrmca.org. EDUCATION &TRAINING
On Tuesday, May 22, NRMCA will conduct Re-Entrepreneuring, 7 Strategies for Rebuilding Your Ready Mix Business in the New Economy, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. The glimpses of hope for an economic recovery offer ready mix producers an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild and reshape their businesses to succeed in the emerging 21st century economy. As the market improves, it won’t be/can’t be business as usual - not only has the competitive landscape changed, but so have customers and their expectations. As producers begin the process of rehiring and rebuilding operations, there is an opportunity to "re-entrepreneur," that is to "start from scratch," by fundamentally reshaping their companies for the new marketplace. Learn how to: 1. Take a fresh view of your market and not rely on the past as you plan your business. Click here for more information, including registration options or contact Jessica Walgenbach at 888-846-7622, ext. 1152 or jwalgenbach@nrmca.org. PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's April Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, May 1, is the In-Place Concrete Strength Evaluation A Recommended Practice manual. This manual contains guidelines for use when strength tests fail to meet specifications. The guidelines include investigation procedures, testing methods and precautions, and assignment of responsibility. It addresses the degree of strength deficiency that warrants further evaluation; a sequence of steps to follow in the investigation and actions that should result from the investigation along with suggestion of allocation of costs. Order online today and receive 20% off. Regular member price is $12, Internet Special $9.60, plus shipping. Please use Discount Code ISAPRIL12 to receive the online discount. CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site. |
April 4, 2012
 
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and an unlimited number of general sponsorships ($250 each). One-half of the sponsorship fee is tax deductible as a contribution to the Foundation. The sponsorship form may be accessed by
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