Meeting notes…The November 15th membership meeting, much like local & state elections, had low turn-out; there was one past president in attendance (Hartley). Secretary Hartley reported on recent Board actions. President DeCicco reported on the upcoming (12/17) Christmas Party. The evening’s business was the nominations and elections of the coming year’s officers and directors that yielded the following results:
President…Ralph DeCicco Directors….Adam Bruce
Vice-Pres…Chris Wiedenhoeft Todd Brown
Secretary…Donna Gilmore Vincent Marino
Treasurer…Tonya Steele Loretta Hartley
First time visitor, Luis Ramos of Mulehide Products spoke briefly of his experience in the roofing industry and as a member of the South Florida Rfg. Assn. Adam Bruce won $85.00 in the 50/50; promptly donated it, and once again Jerry Rowe didn’t win anything.
News, Blues, & other things…A great quote by Groucho Marx, “I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.” Law of the Bath: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone will ring. Does the little mermaid wear algebra? Don’t argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. THE 10 COMMANDMENTS…The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse or legislative building is you cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal', 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery', and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians as it creates a hostile work environment.
OIR Issues Order on Workers’ Comp Rate Filing…On August 18, 2011, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) proposed an overall workers’ compensation rate level increase of 8.9 in Florida , effective January 1, 2012. On October 24, 2011, the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) issued an order stating that NCCI’s request for an overall workers’ compensation rate level increase of 8.9% would be approved, BUT there would be no increase in the roofing code (5551) for the coming year.
Each year, FRSA goes to Tallahassee to testify at the rate hearing and this year was no exception. FRSA President Bob Mahoney, B&Z Custom Sheet Metal, Orlando, and FRSA Director Ralph Davis, Streamline Roofing & Construction, Inc., Tallahassee, represented FRSA at the workers’ comp hearings and asked for stability in the rates. Once again, FRSA was the only trade association that attended the hearing asking for consideration in what appears to be another difficult financial year for members.
Hollywood Squares Greatest Answers… Question: It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other? Answer: (Paul Lynde) Tape measures.
Why athletes shouldn’t be role models…”He’s a guy who gets up at six o’clock in the morning regardless of what time it is.”…Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota.
Things that will disappear in our lifetime… #7 Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. They’re playing games and doing lots of other things that take up time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have denigrated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It’s time for cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.
My redneck girlfriend Sandi says…They sent my Tax Return back, AGAIN! In response to the question: "List all dependents?" I replied: 12 million illegal immigrants, 3 million crack heads, 42 million unemployable people on food stamps, 2 million people in over 243 prisons, half of Mexico, and 535 fools in the U.S. House and Senate. Apparently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.
Yes, I am a senior citizen… Three old guys are out walking. First one says, ‘Windy, isn’t it?’ Second one says, ‘No, it’s Thursday!’ Third one says, ‘So am I. Let’s go get a beer.’
My recent physical…During my physical the other day, my doctor asked me about my daily activity level, and so I described a typical day this way: "Well, yesterday morning, I waded along the edge of a lake, escaped from wild dogs in the heavy brush, marched up and down several rocky hills, stood in a patch of poison ivy, crawled out of quicksand, and jumped away from an aggressive rattlesnake." Inspired by my story, the doctor said, "You must be some outdoors man!" To which I replied, "No, I'm just a bad golfer."
Sales seminar…On Tuesday, January 24th IKO and ABC will be sponsoring the seminar "Sales Dynamics for Contractors". It is a full day seminar and will be held at the Marriott Sawgrass. There is no charge for contractors to attend, and the more the merrier. Breakfast (7:30-8:00: seminar 8:00 until 3:00) and lunch will be provided. There will also be drawings for various prizes. A conference room with a view - no 4 walled classroom here! For reservations & information, contact Donna Dove at 904/430-7200.
And then the fight started…After being married for 40 years, I took a careful look at my wife one day and said, "Forty years ago we had a cheap house, a junk car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white TV, but I got to sleep every night with a hot 23-year-old girl. Now ... I have a $500,000.00 home, a $35,000.00 car, a nice big bed and a large screen TV, but I'm sleeping with a 63-year-old woman. It seems to me that you're not holding up your side of things."
My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a hot 23-year-old girl and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap house, driving a junk car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10-inch black and white TV. And then the fight….
Just around the corner… January 24th will see the IKO & ABC Supply seminar “Sales Dynamics for Contractors”. The seminar presented at no cost to contractors includes breakfast & lunch. For more info contact Donna Dove @ 904/430-7200. On February 8th & 9th from 2:00 until 3:00 two free hours of continuing education in Jacksonville by the State of Florida8. For information & registration forms, go to bocseminars@myfloridacfo.com or call 813/221-6518. On Friday, February 10th ABC Supply will be closed for inventory. Put these dates on your calendar, be prepared!
Roofer issued $102,000 in fines…OSHA has cited Martha M. Alvarez, a residential roofing contractor based in Houston, with six safety violations for failing to provide fall protection at three Wisconsin jobsites. OSHA's inspections were conducted at two sites in Cambridge and one in Janesville under a local emphasis program for fall protection. Proposed fines total $102,300. Three willful violations are for failing to provide fall protection on commercial and/or residential roofs at the three inspected sites. Each violation carries a proposed penalty of $30,800.
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