May 18, 2007 12:32 PM CDT

RMMI News and Events

By Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute

Many Colorado municipalities are now requiring LEED certification for any projects built with public funds. In an effort to better educate the construction industry on this topic, Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute's (RMMI) Technical Director Diane Travis will present seminars across Colorado, Wyoming and Montana to discuss LEED requirements for green building certification and the role masonry can play. These seminars are geared toward architects, engineers and mason contractors, and architects can earn self-report credits for attending.

The LEED-masonry seminars will be presented at the following dates and locations: Durango on May 21, Grand Junction on May 22, Aspen on May 23, Steamboat Springs on May 24, and Vail on May 25. The LEED seminar tour will also be presented in Wyoming and Montana in late August and early September. For further details on this seminar, contact dianet@rmmi.org.

With the arrival of spring weather, plans for outdoor social activities are dominating conversation in RMMI's planning committees. The annual golf retreat will be May 31 at Vista Ridge, followed by the July 13 Clay Shoot at Kiowa Creek, annual Summer Retreat at the Lodge at Vail August 9-11, and Run Around the Block 5K race on Sept. 16. Sponsorship opportunities, ranging from $250 to $2,000, are available for all of the events. For more information, contact admin@rmmi.org.

Finally, RMMI hosts monthly membership networking evenings that are both a social opportunity and an educational keynote presentation. In March, RMMI worked with the Colorado Chapter of Associated Building Contractors to present a discussion panel of general contractors (GC). The GCs answered mason contractors' questions ranging from "What is your perception of mason contractors in general?" to "What does it take to get on your preferred list of subcontractors?" The common theme in the GC's answers was reliability and relationships, although they also expressed concerns about being controlled by their customer's bottom line.

In April, the membership networking evening will have two topics: construction plans for Denver's commuter rail system and an update on RMMI's workforce development project.

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About the Author

Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute is a non-profit organization of more than 100 manufacturers, contractors, and suppliers throughout the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute strives to increase the understanding and use of masonry in homes, schools, and commercial building projects throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. For more information, please visit www.rmmi.org.