Masonry Magazine March 1974 Page. 13
74 Convention Report
(Continued from page 10)
The Bricklayers & Trowel Trades Pension Trust is "far exceeding our fondest expectations." There now are over 9,200 bricklayers enrolled from approximately 66 locals in 26 states.
The All-Weather Program has been a "tremendous success." The new guides and specifications have recently been reprinted, and the results of the first phase of field testing conducted by Albert I. Isberner, project engineer for Portland Cement association, Skokie. III., should be published within a short time.
MCAA is now participating in the Council of Construction Employers, becoming the 14th national trade association to join this group. Soloff described the decision to join the CCE as a "most valuable cooperative effort in keeping our members totally abreast of the developments in the construction industry."
What does 1974 hold in store for the Masonry Industry? "Looking ahead we see that inflation and oil represent the major problems facing us today," President Soloff said. "We believe that a stepped-up inflationary trend line has been established with near term fluctuations around the 51½ per cent level which translates into our forecast for 1974. This view is particularly significant since, if we are accurate, recovery may well push prices to even higher levels, what with slower growth, rising unemployment and moderating capacity utilization.
"We feel reasonably certain," Soloff continued, "about the higher level of inflation and believe that consumers will in time adapt to it. The impact will continue to be felt throughout all areas of our life style. A proper level of inflation is both a major long-range and immediate concern and remains with no apparent acceptable solution. The uncertainty about the continuance of wage and price controls in April could well heighten inflationary pressures.
The general session on Tuesday morning, February 26, featured as speakers William S. Jones, president, Brick Institute of America, McLean, Va.; Donald Lampus, board chairman, National Concrete Masonry Association. Arlington, Va.; Thomas F. Murphy, president, BM & PIU, Washington, D.C.; Leo Nazdin, director of jurisdiction, Laborers International Union, Washington, D.C., and Ray Lackay, vice president, Henry J. Kaufman & Associates, Inc., the Washington-based public relations and advertising agency handling the IMI account.
Lackey's main purpose was to introduce the premier showing of IMI's new loadbearing masonry film, "First Principles." Narrated by Vincent Scully, author, leading architectural critic and art history professor at Yale University, the impressive, full-color movie depicts loadbearing masonry structures in many parts of the world. IMI will use the film, which runs approximately 17 minutes, as a promotional tool to tell architects, students and others interested in architecture the heretofore untold story of the aesthetic possibilities of modern loadbearing masonry design.
(To buy or borrow film prints, contact Neal English, Executive Director, International Masonry Institute, Suite 1001, 823 Fifteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, phone (202) 783-3908.)
William S. Jones of the Brick Institute of America traced the latest developments in the brick manufacturing industry and called for continuing cooperation between the mason contractor and the brick manufacturer.
"This process of change, which we all have lived with for many years, picked up speed and momentum just about ten years ago," he said. "The motivating factor was the advent of contemporary loadbearing masonry design and construction.
"Loadbearing opened new horizons for us. It gave architects and engineers an appealing and new design tool. It offered building owners and investors significant economies, it gave brick a substantial competitive edge in many markets, and thus it expanded and changed our markets.
"At the same time, loadbearing changed our industry," Jones noted. "It put more emphasis on the manufacture of what had been non-standard brick with particular application in loadbearing walls. It provided advantages to mason contractors who could capitalize on its speed of construction and equipment economies through more efficient ma- (Continued on page 32)
Gus Giuffre, Las Vegas Radio & TV personality, moderated a highly interesting Ladies Program entitled "Insight on Show Girls" for the ladies on Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday the ladies were treated to delightful fashion show presented by Pat Goodwin, Fredde International.