Changing our perspectives on involvement.

There is an aspect to the challenges presented in the graying of the masonry industry that many people may not notice. Everyone seems to know that the average age of the journeyman mason is hovering around the half-century mark. But what is the average age of the other important industry partners?

It appears that the industry is on the verge of reinventing itself; not in terms of building styles, construction techniques, or materials selection, but in regard to personal industry involvement.

This graying of industry influencers could have a dramatic effect on trade associations. We need our meeting places to spark continued market growth and push technological advancements. We need to renew the spirit of shared research opportunities. And it's often that youthful outlook that drives this spirit, but currently seems to be lacking.

Finding new members is a tough challenge for most association executives. Membership is constrained by industry-wide belt-tightening measures that often restrict travel, corporate sponsorships, and funding individual membership dues. Often, it's only the upper ranks in a company that go to industry association meetings.

And there is also the challenge of deciding in which association to participate. According to the folks at Concept Marketing Group, Scottsdale, Ariz., and its publication Directory of Associations, there are at least 35,000 trade associations and professional societies in the United States. (The boxed copy indicates the states with the most and the fewest associations.) The publication identifies 16 masonry-related associations and 75 concrete-related groups.

Fortunately for the masonry industry, the news isn't all gray. There are several young people contributing to the advancement of our industry. That's why, when several committee members from the Skills USA masonry committee nominated Kimberly Kahl for masonry industry leader of the year, I knew MASONRY CONSTRUCTION had a winner.

Kim is involved in preserving and enhancing a program that has profoundly helped continue the love of masonry in our vocational schools for 39 years. And that's in addition to the work she has done for local and national associations. In this time of declining personal involvement in associations, Kim's accomplishments provide a challenge to other young people.

So when preparing the company's 2004 business plans, I challenge you to pick out at least one person in your organization and allow him/her to participate fully in an industry association. The cost will become an investment in the industry and your company's long-term growth.

States With
Most Associations

California         2587
New York           2453
Washington, D.C.   1802

States With
Fewest Associations

Delaware        99
North Dakota   143
Hawaii         145

Source: Association database from the Concept Marketing
Group Web site: www.marketingsource.com