NRMCA recently presented P2P to architects at the United States Air Force (USAF) which is considering how to move from prescriptive to performance-based specifications. South Central Sneior National Resource Director Vance Pool reports not only is the Air Force looking progressively at P2P but that it is also designing buildings to meet LEED standards, although not certifying their buildings through the USGBC.

Pool reports that there were many insightful questions, showing USAF is truly considering moving toward performance-based documents. Like any major change it will take time to execute and cannot occur immediately. Most likely a hybrid approach using both prescriptive as well as performance-based construction documents will occur.

For more information contact Vance Pool at vpool@nrmca.org.

There are only two weeks before the 2008 Concrete Technology Forum scheduled for May 20-22 in Denver. This year's forum will focus on sustainable development with sessions on state-of-the-art developments, new construction techniques and product formulations that optimize environmental performance of concrete construction. They include:

• Pervious Concrete Systems

• Concrete's Impact on Urban Heat Islands

• The Carbon Footprint of Concrete

• Sustainable Development Initiatives

• Optimizing Recycled Content

A product expo featuring 24 companies that offer products and services for sustainable development will be open during the conference. Attendees will earn valuable professional development hours (PDHs) and will receive a copy of the conference proceedings.

Visit www.concretetechnologyforum.org to register for the conference or contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at 847-918-7101 or by e-mail, LLemay@nrmca.org.

Last week NRMCA held the "Concrete's Role in Sustainable Development" course in Manchester, NH. The course was taught by NRMCA's Lionel Lemay, Erin Ashley and Doug O'Neill with support by the Northern New England Concrete Promotion Association. Thirty five participants attended and left with a detailed understanding of the environmental attributes of concrete and how it can contribute to sustainable development. LEED and calculations related to the green building rating systems were addressed as well as how to promote sustainable business in their markets.

The next course is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, in Silver Spring, MD. View http://www.nrmca.org/products/conferences.asp for registration information and future course announcements.

For more information, contact NRMCA's Erin Ashley at 1-888-846-7622, ext. 1306 or by e-mail, eashley@nrmca.org.

The Department of Commerce last Thursday released figures showing that construction spending fell by 1.1% from February to March, 0.4% more than economists had predicted. A 4.6% decrease in residential construction was cited as the largest decline since 1993, when comparable records were first kept. Non-residential construction rose by 1.3% from February, a 12% gain from March 2007.

For more information, contact Robert Sullivan at rsullivan@nrmca.org.

Last Tuesday, the Urban Land Institute released a report titled, "Infrastructure 2008: A Competitive Advantage" which highlights the need to increase and overhaul transportation infrastructure funding in the United States. The report calculates that there is an annual $170 billion shortfall in infrastructure spending, due in part to the fact that since 1980 the vehicle miles traveled on the nation's roads has increased by 95% but road capacity has only increased by 3%. The shortfall is also attributed to an overall lack of funding in infrastructure. According to the report, the United States annually only spends 2.4% of its gross domestic product on infrastructure, which also cuts into America's international competitiveness when compared with China's 9%.

The report suggests putting more emphasis on public/private partnerships, tolling and increasing the Federal tax on gasoline and diesel fuel in order to fix our nation's aging transportation systems.

For more information, contact NRMCA's Robert Sullivan at rsullivan@nrmca.org.

Amidst calls for lower gasoline and diesel fuel prices, proposals have been offered by the presidential campaigns of Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) that would impose a "Gas Tax Holiday." The proposals, which would temporarily suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel, are marked as a method to provide economic relief to cash-strapped Americans and American businesses and as a short-term stimulant to the U.S. economy. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated, however, that suspending the federal gas tax for a period of about three months would only save American families on average about $30.

"Ten dollars a month won't provide true economic relief to American families and would do virtually nothing to stimulate the economy," said NRMCA President Robert Garbini. "The only thing a gas tax holiday would do is put an already near bankrupt Highway Trust Fund (HTF) in further jeopardy, set a bad precedent and potentially cause troubles for transportation infrastructure in the future."

Garbini's views are bolstered by the Urban Land Institute report (see above E-NEWS item).

"Our nation has significantly underinvested in our surface transportation network and the federal motor fuels tax remains the most efficient mileage-based user fee currently available," he added. "A proportionate increase in the federal motor fuels tax that is dedicated to the HTF must be a part of next year's reauthorization of the Federal highway and transit programs."

For more information, contact NRMCA's Robert Sullivan at rsullivan@nrmca.org.

Concrete Construction Liability, May 14-15 – co-sponsored by and held at Arizona State University, Concrete Industry Management program, Phoenix. Cover critical liability-related information as it relates to concrete quality and legal performance disputes. Taught by practicing lawyer and engineers. Audience: Managers, vice presidents, executives/principals in quality control, sales and operations. More information

Financial Management Workshop, May 19-20 – RMC Research & Education Foundation Center, Silver Spring, MD. Introduction to vital financial and accounting reports and tools needed for business analysis. All RMC-specific, applied examples. Audience: Operations, sales and quality control managers and executives without financial training, anyone on a promotion track. More information

2008 Concrete Technology Forum: Focus on Sustainable Development, May 20-22 – Denver. Since concrete is the forefront material of choice in the green movement, timely conference and related vendor expo on state of the art developments, new construction techniques and product formulations that optimize concrete's environmental performance. Audience: Concrete producers and promoters, researchers, engineers, architects, contractors, public works officials and material suppliers. More information

Leadership: A Manager's Game Plan, June 3-4 – RMC Research & Education Foundation Center, Silver Spring, MD. Delivery of skill-based tools including gaining insight into individual management styles and how tap into them to work effectively with staff, peers and superiors. Audience: mid-level operations, administrators, quality control, sales managers and senior level sales reps, anyone on a promotional track. More information

Ready Mixed Concrete Safety Course and Certification, June 17-19 – RMC Research & Education Foundation Center, Silver Spring, MD. Detailed and hands on concrete-specific federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance instruction with goals of taking back immediately applicable tools to improve safety culture as well as mitigate liability. Audience: Front-line, supervisory and area operations, safety and transportation staff, human resources professionals and company principals. More information

Employment Law, July 23-24 – St. Paul Hotel, St. Paul, MN. Basics for non-human resources staff, targeting employee/manager actions that typically put ready mixed concrete producers at risk as well as practical best practices to mitigate those liabilities, including proper employee corrective techniques, framework to set performance and accountability expectations, guidance to align company and employee goals and manage common and conflicting interest issues. Audience: operations, sales, technical mangers, non- human resources administrators, executives and company principles. More information

The following are news links compiled over the past week that may be of interest for those in the ready mixed concrete industry:

· A May 2 article on the Web site of USA Today details how some trucking companies are trying to save on fuel costs: click here.

· An April 30 posting in SmartBrief, the electronic newsletter of The Associated General Contractors of America details the steep rise in steel prices: click here.

· An April 29 posting on businesswire.com announces NRMCA producer member Aggregate Industries' being named Environmental Business of the Year: click here.

· The National Science Foundation awarded a $400,000 grant to an assistant professor at a Michigan college for her work on how concrete reacts when exposed to extreme-temperature fires. Details were posted May 1 on aggregateresearch.com: click here.

· A May 2 posting on the Web site of the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce details a study by Cleveland State University researchers of 24 pervious concrete pavements in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Colorado. They found that most of the properly constructed pavements performed well in freeze-thaw environments: click here.

· A May 3 posting from the Scottsdale (AZ) East Valley Tribune is titled "Builders lock onto new materials to help boost 'green' quotient": click here.

· In a May 5 posting, a columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution discusses why suspending the gas tax is a misguided idea: click here.

The 2009 NRMCA Board of Directors nomination process is underway. The Nominating Committee must select director candidates from regions, member companies and one state association executive director to be elected to the Board for the 2009–2012 term commencing at the end of the annual convention in Orlando, FL, in March 2009. Please submit your nominations by Monday, June 30.

For more information and to obtain a nomination form, contact NRMCA's Deana Angelastro at dangelastro@nrmca.org.

NRMCA's May Internet Spotlight, good through Friday, May 30, is Cast-in-Place Concrete Structures. This publication discusses the advantages of cast-in-place concrete parking structures. Regular price $15, Internet Special $10, plus shipping. 

Note: Please use Discount Code ISMAY08 to receive the online discount

Order here or contact NRMCA's Jacques Jenkins at jjenkins@nrmca.org or 1-888-846-7622, ext. 1165.

May 14, Little Rock, AR

Pervious Concrete - A Stormwater Solution

Course description and registration information

E-mail: Lionel Lemay 847-918-7218

May 14-15, Tempe, AZ

Concrete Construction Liability

Course description and registration information

E-mail: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

May 19-20, Silver Spring, MD

Financial Management for Non-financial Managers

Course description and registration information

E-mail: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

May 20-22, Denver

3rd Annual Concrete Technology Forum: Focus on Sustainable Development

Registration information

E-mail: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

August 12-15, Nashville, TN

Plant Manager Certification

Course description and registration information

E-mail: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

September 9-11, Pasadena, CA

CALCIMA CCSP Module I - "Concrete 101" - Technical/Product Knowledge

E-mail: Larry Maes, lmaes@calcima.org or 626-441-3107

September 9-10, Silver Spring, MD

Sales Manager Workshop Certification

Course description and registration information

E-mail: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

September 15-18, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module I - "Concrete 101" - Technical/Product Knowledge  

Course description and registration information

E-mail: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

November 3-5, Pasadena, CA

CALCIMA CCSP Module II - Understanding the Concrete Contractor's Business - Customer Business Knowledge

E-mail: Larry Maes, lmaes@calcima.org or 626-441-3107

November 5-7, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module II - "Understanding the Concrete Contractor's Business" - Customer Business Knowledge

Course description and registration information