Masonry Magazine May 2001 Page. 23
NMIA Prepares for Annual Conference
Plans are currently underway for the National Masonry Instructors Association's Annual Conference. This year's conference is being held July 8-12, 2001 at the Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The NMIA Annual Conference presents an excellent opportunity for instructors across the United States to come together with other industry representatives for networking, skill building and mentoring. Last year's conference, which was also held at the Landmark, opened with a speech given by Mr. Calvin Brodie of Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Brodie gave an inspirational as well as educational look at being a recruiter, contractor, manager and family man in the masonry industry. Other industry representatives who gave presentations included Sam Nagel of Richtex Brick, Paul Lavene of the Carolina Concrete Masonry Association, Billy Freeman of Tarmac, Butch Hardy and David McQueen of Adams Concrete Company, Carl Bongiovanni of Bon Tool Company, Kimberly Shifflette of the Mason Contractors Association of America, Richard Reenen of V.R. Industries and Bryan Light of the Southern Brick Institute. After two days of educational programs, the instructors got a chance to show their skills in a speed bricklaying contest.
This year's conference should prove to be even more informative and exciting. For more information on the NMIA or the Annual Conference, contact Milton Young at 334-624-3691 or check out NMIA's website at http://users.planetcable.net/terry/index.htm.
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Masonry instructor Michael Heinze reports that his program at Mid-Del Technology Center has up to 30 students each year. Both high school students and adults can participate in this masonry program, which has been in existence since 1975. They have completed several hands-on projects including the construction of school signs, a small bombing memorial and building brick patios for a fund raiser. Projects have earned this masonry program much community recognition including a front page article in a local newspaper this past February.
Brownstown, Pennsylvania
The Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, Brownstown Campus is a vocational-technical school servicing high school seniors from the 16 school districts in Lancaster County. The student enrollment for the masonry program averages 15 students per year and has been in existence since the school opened in 1970. James Helman, instructor for the program the last 12 years, reports the students are given hands-on experience each year through the construction of a new house. Skills the students attain include pouring and finishing concrete, laying concrete block, composite walls, chimneys and fireplaces, landscaping with masonry units, paving with masonry materials and setting tile, plaster and stucco. After completion of the LCCTC masonry program, students may be given advanced credits into a post-secondary or apprenticeship program.
Indiana, Pennsylvania
According to John Koenigsburg, masonry instructor, the Indiana County Technology Center currently provides technical education to approximately 400 10th through 12th grade students including the 23 in his masonry class. Students attend school in their home school district for a half-day to receive their academic instruction and attend the Technology Center the other half-day. While enrolled in the masonry program, students participate in the building of community projects. They built a new sign at the entrance of the school campus, constructed concession stands and dugouts at local ball fields, put up a foundation for an addition to a local church and built a block building for one of the participating school districts. "Being able to see the results of their hard work give students an incentive to do a good job," states Koenigsburg. "Not just to please the instructor, but to complete a project that they can take pride in and which will be an asset to the community."
Media, Pennsylvania
A student from the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades in Media, Pennsylvania works on the Delaware County Emergency Training Center.
The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades masonry program has been in existence for 110 years and currently has 24 students under the instruction of Daniel L. Hiltebeitel. Students in the program have the opportunity to work on hands-on projects both on and off campus. Currently, the students are restoring the "Infirmary" that was built at the school in 1899. This work includes underpinning the exterior walls, pouring concrete floors and constructing exterior stairs and ramps to match the existing brick building. Off campus, the students and the instructor have constructed a 60' x 100' garage for the Delaware County Emergency Services complex, a two-story little league clubhouse for the Media Little League and reconstructed a brick pedestal for the Chester Rural (Veterans) Cemetery.
Schnecksville, Pennsylvania
According to Walter L. Henne, masonry instructor at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, the school currently has approximately 2,000 students enrolled and 42 of them participate in the masonry program. The school has a House Project Program where the students build a new home on site and sell it to the public upon completion. They are currently working on their 27th house. The House Project Program has won national awards for home building design and projects have earned this masonry program much community recognition including a front page article in a local newspaper this past February.