Masonry Magazine March 1974 Page. 7
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MCAA Officers for 1974-75 are (left to right): Region Vice Presidents Oscar Person, R. E. Beaupre, Wm. "Nels" Smith and Anthony Zotollo. Secretary Eugene George, President Charles Velardo, Vice President Robert Ebeling and Treasurer Robert Harrison. Regional Vice Presidents Mack H. Pettit, Roy Elam and Louis Helbert, Jr. Not present at this time were Regional Vice Presidents Robert Tubesing and Justin Breithaupt.
'74 CONVENTION REPORT
Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, February 24-28. Those were the sites and dates of one of the most productive and best-attended affairs in MCAA history. Including registrants, their wives, exhibitors and special guests, the total attendance figure rounded out to about 2,600. The number of exhibitors also reached a new high with nearly 80 nationally known manufacturers and suppliers occupying all of the more than 140 display areas. The huge exhibt hall at the Hilton was literally sold out.
One of the highlights of this 24th Annual Convention was the Material Handling Jamboree on Wednesday morning, February 27. Sixteen firms staged live demonstrations of their material handling equipment everything from power buggies and grout pumps to elevators and highlifts -in a specially reserved area of the Hilton parking lot. Spectators completely filled the bleacher seats to witness the two-and-a-half-hour event under ideal weather conditions-crisp, sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70's.
Manufacturers participating in the demonstration included Thomsen, All Wash of Syracuse, Morgen, Waco Scaffold & Shoring, Champion Hoist, Signode, Mayco Pump, PCM, Pettibone, Melroe, Lull Engineering. International Harvester, Badger Dynamics, Allis Chalmers, Loed and TCI.
The impressive show which began and ended with clock-like precision-was a cooperative effort of numerous MCAA members under the direction of Allan Knuth, Material Handling Committee Chairman. William Dentinger, who again employed his inimitable manner to entertain the audience, acted as moderator.
Others involved in the planning and actual presentation of the Jamboree included: Timers Ray Prossen and Robert Tubesing: Safety Directors-Roy Elam, Hank Stewart, Jim Storer, James Luterbach, Ray Martin and Walter Derk; Marshals Mason Painter, Daniel Porrazzo, Jerry Dufour, Melvin Baum and Marvin Knuth.
Monday, February 25, was the official opening day of the convention with an 8:00 a.m. meeting of the MCAA Executive Board kicking off the day's events. Under the new procedural setup, officers submitted written reports as a means of improving communications with the local chapters. The Treasurer's report and the reports of the Insurance Committee, the Bricklayers & Trowel Trades Pension Trust and the International Masonry Institute were some of the highlights of the meeting.
This executive session was followed by the opening of the '74 MCAA Educational Trade Show in the Convention Center of the Hilton, whose accommodations were excellent for presenting this type of affair involving large numbers of visitors.
At the convention opening session at 12:15 p.m., airmen from nearby Nellis Air Force Base presented the colors, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Fr. Carmody, associate pastor of St. Viator Guardian Angel Shrine.
The address of welcome was delivered by James Carollo, MCAA Regional Vice President and Convention Chairman. Featured speaker was the nationally known odds-maker and syndicated columnist, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder. After brief opening remarks, Snyder fielded questions from the audience dealing mainly with sports. For the pro football fans, Snyder predicted that the Los Angeles (Please turn page)