Report of the MCAA Workforce Development Committee
Words: Paul Aaron/Public/News/20061110082700-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="The Fastest Trowel will again be a highlight event at Masonry Showcase 2007.">
The Fastest Trowel will again be a highlight event at Masonry Showcase 2007.
Joint Workforce Development Committee
Over the past 18 months, the chairmen of the Workforce Development Committee and MCAA staff have been meeting with the staff and members of other industry associations to come together in our efforts toward Workforce Development. BSI, BIA, NCMA, BAC and IMI have all attended at least one meeting along with the MCAA to explore our options.
At the Masonry Showcase in Las Vegas, this group met and identified four areas in which the industry could impact recruiting new masons. These topics were Educating Contractors, Recruiting Ex-Military Personnel, Strategic Marketing, and College Recruiting. The MCAA was tasked with gathering information about the first two; the NCMA gathered a proposal for the two latter.
In September, the group met in Memphis to discuss the findings. The MCAA supported the ideas of a "best practices" seminar or video to educate contractors on how to recruit effectively, promoting the use of the website "Helmets-to-Hardhats" to our members to recruit more ex-military, and to devote funding to market research to determine what messages are most effective in addressing young people and attracting them to our trade. (College recruiting was tabled for further discussion.) Although all the proposals were compelling, there was no unanimous support for any of them by all groups. It was decided that each group would present the programs they support to their Boards, and then when the group reconvenes in 2007, the groups who agree can partner.
This topic will be discussed further in the Mid-Year Meeting.
Masonry Training Series
The three-year Masonry Training Series is consistently one of the association's best-selling resources, and sales keep increasing year after year. Some of our series customers are contractor members, but many are vo-tech schools and local association apprenticeship programs. The series is quickly becoming the industry standard for apprentice training, and it is often difficult for the inventory headquarters to keep up with demand.
This summer we introduced the second year volume of the series in Spanish, thanks to the translation provided by our affiliate groups in Arizona and California. Sales for this book have not met expectations (under five sold to date), but we hope with continued promotion, they will increase. In the new year, we will be introducing the third year volume.
High School Recruitment Campaign
Support for the "Check Out a Career in Masonry" has stalled, despite committee efforts to revitalize donations. Early this summer, the committee sent personal letters to every MCAA member in the areas in which schools still remain to be sponsored, but the result was a mere $600 in sponsorships (3 schools). The MCAA also partnered with the California Conference of Mason Contractors Associations (CCMCA), to solicit funds from our members in California. This effort resulted in $400.
The committee is considering alternative methods to fund the final 500 schools still on the waiting list. We are exploring the reduction of the cost of sponsorship, and then compiling sponsors to fulfill each school. We would also like this program to be considered by the Joint Workforce Development committee for funding, as it addresses most of the goals of the group. In any other future solicitations, we will also include a summary of the highlights and successes of this program to help convince potential donors of the real benefits.
Counselor Communication
Every quarter, over 1,200 high school guidance counselors and educators receive the "Masonry Careers" newsletter. These school officials are the ones who have signed up for the "Check Out a Career in Masonry" and have provided either their email or mailing address. This four-time-a-year communication serves to keep our program in their minds as an option for their students' career paths.
The newsletters often address the opportunities for the schools to participate in career days and establishing vo-tech programs locally. They also remind the educators to replenish their career kits if they have run out of brochures. Most importantly, they further inform the educators about the benefits of masonry careers, and suggest that they and their students visit our website for more information. Response is always great after we send out these newsletters, and we believe it is a great way to continue to grow our relationships with these schools.
Career Days
The career day efforts of the Workforce Development committee continue to see success. So far this year, MCAA has received over 40 requests for career days for this school year, up from 20 at this time last year. When career day requests are received, Melissa Polivka tries to identify contractors or associations in the area that can attend. Sometimes this is not possible, but often she is able to reschedule. We have a good network of willing volunteers, but can always use more. Also, we will provide materials for these career day visitors, such as brochures, posters, or videos. The feedback from school officials is always positive regarding these events, and we are invited back year-after-year to many schools.
Skills USA
The MCAA continues to support the work of the Skills USA and participate on the Masonry Technical committee to sponsor and facilitate the national championships in Kansas City each June. The MCAA works with many other industry affiliates to make this program a success, and each year, our association coordinates and provides the judges for this important event.
Mentor Program
One of the strategies of the Workforce Development Committee, as outlined by the MCAA's Long-Range Strategic plan, is to establish a mentorship program for apprentices. Some of our committee members already have mentorship programs established at their companies, and will be sharing their tactics and efforts so that we can explore possibly introducing this as an industry initiative.
Fastest Trowel
This perennial contest will again be a highlight event at Masonry Showcase 2007. The committee is very devoted to continually improving the coordination and conduct of this and the Skills Challenge contest, and they have already begun planning. Rules have been updated, drawings have been provided, and clear expectations have been published for the contestants, so that this year's contest can be smooth and enjoyable for all involved.
Contestants have been invited to participate, but since it is still quite early, no registrations have yet been received. Once again, Quikrete has agreed to fully sponsor the event at $30,000, and this funding has already been received by the MCAA. Quikrete will also provide the manpower and mortar for the event.
Masonry Skills Challenge
Regional contests are currently being conducted for the contestants to qualify for the International Masonry Skills Challenge at Masonry Showcase in Orlando. One additional region is going to be involved this year (Oklahoma and southern Missouri), so we look forward to an even tougher competition. Melissa Polivka attended the regional contest in Texas in July to help the Texas Masonry Council host the event.
To date, the MCAA has received $15,000 in sponsor donations, half way to our budget of $30,000. We have also received prize donations. We are currently working to coordinate the contest details and arrange another terrific contest for Orlando.