January 01, 2011 10:00 AM CST

The MCAA Convention: A Priceless Experience

President’s Message

By Mackie Bounds

This is always an exciting time of the year for our companies and families. I hope all your holidays are safe, and that this New Year will bring great things to all of us. We all know this has been a tough year, but we can all say we are survivors. I know each of us has set New Year resolutions that will last for a little while. I have a standby every year: lose weight and eat healthy. That normally lasts until I am in one of my favorite restaurants, and the special is a good chicken fried steak!

I know that this year, one of my resolutions simply is to have a better business year. This is one resolution that I hope will not pass after the first month. I also realize that for me to succeed, our economy must improve! Maybe a little sunshine is beginning to peak through.

More excitement: We are about to have our annual convention in Las Vegas. I hope to see and visit with many of you during the convention. This year, we will be at the Wynn, which is a great facility at a great price. We will start out with the TEAM Awards, recognizing outstanding Craftsmanship and Design. We also will be handing out our very first Vision awards to architects, communities, universities and school districts. This will be a great event and great way to kick off the convention.

Tuesday night is our MAC PAC reception and opening session dinner. Our MAC PAC reception will be different from past years and will be fun, too. Instead of our just giving our money to the fund, we will be able to purchase raffle tickets. We will have opportunities to win some really fantastic items! I promise there will be no long speeches at the opening session. We will enjoy good food and very important fellowship with each other.

Then, Wednesday night is the Big Night! The South of 40 group will put us in a Bavarian atmosphere at the Hofbräuhaus in Las Vegas. All funds from this event will go to the MCAA Foundation. This money can be used for research, programs, etc. that promote masonry as the product of choice.

Thursday night will close us out, and we all will enjoy a performance by Terry Fator: Ventriloquism in Concert. Numerous educational programs will be available to help us come away better business people. I wish I could promise you a better economy and larger profits and, maybe in some way, you will learn things that will enable the opportunity for more profit. You also can enjoy committee meetings and general membership meetings, while learning the values of being a part of the MCAA.

The icing on the cake is the show and the contest that showcase our trade. You can see and learn about all the new equipment that is coming out. You will be able to make good deals on equipment that will prepare you for larger profits. And as we sit, talk and share our ideas concerning our industry and our business, what is the value of that? It is priceless! I will meet you in Vegas. Until next time, this cowboy says, “Shoot for the moon and, even if you miss, you will land among the stars!”

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About the Author

Mackie Bounds is Owner of Brazos Masonry, Inc., in Waco, Texas, and has served as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President of the MCAA. In 1989, Bounds started Brazos Masonry, and his first act of business was to join MCAA. He has always been active in the masonry industry. He became the first subcontractor to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Central Texas AGC and subsequently was elected to the National AGC Board of Directors. In 1995, he was elected as the first President of the Central Texas Mason Contractors Association.