Planning Your Trip to MCAA 2012? We Can Help!
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Those nagging little details that can make or break any trip are a snap to manage with our help. Go to www.mcaa.org/mcaa2012 and look for the Plan Your Visit link for helpful hints about making dinner reservations, ordering tickets for visits to Walt Disney World® theme parks, arranging for transportation and much more. We've also made it easy for you to sign up for our annual recreational and sporting events.
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Is Your Company a Safety Star? |  |  |
If you believe your company is among those that have achieved excellence in its safety training and performance, then be sure to participate in the MCAA/CNA Annual Safety Awards program. This distinguished program honors contractor members that have made all the right moves to establish safety as a priority from the top down. To participate, you must complete and submit your company's 2011 safety statistics on an online form. If your program meets the eligibility requirements for an award, you will receive a safety awards application electronically. Completed applications are due to MCAA no later than February 17, 2012, so time is running short. Go to www.mcaa.org/safetyawards for more information and the online form for submission of your 2011 safety statistics. This program is free as a benefit of MCAA membership. Please contact Pete Chaney with questions (pchaney@mcaa.org).
Get a Full Spectrum of Education for Your Mechanical Industry Professionals
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MCAA is widely known as the Education Association…and for good reason! Throughout the year, MCAA provides a variety of educational offerings that are designed to advance your knowledge about new industry trends, technologies and practices. Whether you need to develop or hone your leadership abilities, learn new business growth strategies, explore new building technology applications, acquire credentials to compete in the emerging sustainable building market, gain new service skills or arrange for project management education and training for your staff, we have an educational program that will meet your needs. And, our signature conferences offer an array of seminars and workshops covering timely, relevant topics in an inviting, relaxed environment that promotes social interaction and networking. Download your convenient guide to help you plan your company’s year of knowledge and skills development.
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MCAA Announces 2012 Student Internship Grants
Once again, MCAA's Career Development Committee is making available Student Internship Grants with funding provided by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF). MCAA members who hire student interns may qualify for one $1,200 grant to help them offset the intern's salary. The student(s) gain experience working in our industry and their employer benefits from the student's fresh perspective, knowledge about new technologies and much more. It's a win-win for everyone. If you've already lined up one or more interns for this summer or you're beginning your search, consider applying for a grant. Applications are due May 15. To find out more, go to http://www.mcaa.org/careers/grants/ to download the information. Please contact Ann Mattheis (amattheis@mcaa.org) with any questions.
FASB Update
MCAA has developed answers to Frequently Asked Questions, an interactive FASB Disclosure Table Excel worksheet and a Guidance Memo to help its member contractors and their accountants comply with FASB's new standard 715-80, Disclosure About an Employer's Participation in a Multiemployer Plan.
For publicly traded companies the standard's disclosure requirements take effect for annual periods ending after December 15, 2011, and for privately owned companies the standard's take effect for periods after December 15, 2012.
- Click here to download the FAQ and Guidance Memo PDF document.
- Click here to download the FASB Disclosure Table Excel worksheet.
MCAA-PAC
 | Working to Advance Your Industry's Best Interests in the Legislative Process The Mechanical Contractors Association of America’s political action committee has established a strong track record since its inception in 1999. Your Government Affairs Committee’s plan is to continue to build on that tradition. MCAA’s member leadership and Board of Directors have supported their PAC and recognize that effective public policy representation and political activity go hand in hand. Learn how to get involved. |
MCAA Marks Another Major Policy Gain...
Repeal of 3% Withholding Tax
In recognition of MCAA's key role in the five-year effort to overturn the federal government's ill-conceived 3% withholding tax on government contracts, MCAA Past President Lonnie Coleman participated in the White House bill signing ceremony on November 21. Congress repealed the tax on November 16. If the tax had taken effect, it would have required all federal, state and many local governments to withhold 3 percent from every payment to prime contractors (and perhaps their subcontractors) as a way to ensure "tax compliance." From the beginning, MCAA argued that there are ways for the government to ensure tax compliance without penalizing the very businesses who are already tax compliant. MCAA, with the help of several contractor and local association members, worked tirelessly to first delay the tax's implementation and then to convince legislative leaders in both Congressional chambers that the tax was punitive, unfair and would cost far more to administer than it would earn in revenues. Special thanks to Lonnie Coleman of Coleman Spohn Corporation (Cleveland, OH), Jim Gaffney of Goshen Mechanical Co. (Malvern, PA) and Adam Snavely of The Poole and Kent Corporation (Baltimore, MD) for testifying at Congressional and Internal Revenue Service hearings on the issue and to the MCA of Iowa for meeting with Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and convincing him to reexamine the issue. Thanks also to the many MCAA members who took the time to write their House and Senate representatives about how the tax would negatively impact their businesses.
Featured Sites
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MCERF Thanks Its Contributors
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Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCERF) published its latest list of contributors with thanks to all participants. Without the generous support of our donors we would not be able to support such worthwhile endeavors as: MCAA's Funding Educational Excellence (FEE) program which provides support for students and student chapter activities such as student convention registrations, internships, chapter grants, the Educator of the Year Award, and faculty training conferences. Another landmark education resource MCERF has developed and maintains is OPUS (Online Piping Usage and Specification) website. This tool is a go-to resource for students, faculty, and contractors alike. Take a look and see for yourself. If you don't see your name among this prestigious list, contact Dennis Langley at dlangley@mcaa.org. A tax-deductible contribution, in any amount, goes a long way to support the Foundation's many industry education efforts. |