June 7^th, 2005 marks the date for the 10^th Annual Concrete Open.  This year’s golf outing will be held at The Legends Club in Prior Lake.  Cost per player is $135 which is the same as last year.  For added convenience, ARM will NOW accept credit card payment for golf sponsorships and registrations (Visa and Master Card only).

Hole sponsors are needed.  Hole-in-one sponsorships are once again $600 and regular sponsorships are $300.

CLICK HERE FOR FOURSOME REGISTRATION FORM 

CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP FORM

ARM has announced plans to hold regional meetings across Minnesota in May and July.  Join ARM Executive Director Fred Corrigan and ARM Promotions Director - Local Streets and Parking Lots Larry Koenig for a dinner meeting and roundtable discussion of issues pertaining to ARM members.  This is your opportunity to be heard!

On May 19, there will be a meeting at the Holiday Inn in Austin beginning at 4:00 pm.  The special guest speakers will be Nelrae Succio who is the MnDOT District 6 District Engineer and Steven Kirsch who is the MnDOT District 6 Assistant District Engineer - State Aid.

On May 26, the meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn in New Ulm beginning at 4:00 pm.  The special guest speakers will be Jim Swanson who is the MnDOT District 7 District Engineer and Doug Haeder who is the MnDOT District 7 Assistant District Engineer - State-Aid/Planning.

The regional meeting that will be held July 12 at The Inn on Lake Superior in Duluth will be paired with an ARM Board of Directors Meeting that will be followed by a dinner cruise aboard the Vista Star.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MAY MEETINGS REGISTRATION FORM

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE JULY MEETING REGISTRATION FORM

In the past few months, ARM committees have been busy putting together publications for use by the membership.  Please contact the ARM office at 952-707-1250 or by e-mail at mmills@armofmn.com if you would like printed copies.  Feel free to print out as many copies of the attached pdf’s for your use.

Pipestone Street Project

New Business Owners Choose Concrete

ARM Exterior Concrete Standards

Popouts

January/February 2005 ICF Newsletter

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association recently unveiled a new parking lot website that has a lot of valuable information on it.  Visit the site at: http://www.concreteparking.org

Updated information regarding MnDOTs load restrictions can be found at the MnDOT website.

CLICK HERE FOR MnDOT LOAD RESTRICTIONS

Anyone interested in utilizing the presentation developed by ARM’s Parking Lots and Local Streets Committee should contact the ARM office at 952-707-1250 or by e-mail at jcohen@armofmn.com.

ARM’s Promotions Director – Local Streets and Parking Lots, Larry Koenig, will be in the office beginning May 1^st.  Please call the ARM office at 952-707-1250 to schedule an appointment if you would like Larry to give the presentation for you.

Some facts about where MN stands with CMV crashes and rates from 2003 and 2002-2003 as compared to the rest of the country:  (The data used in the comes from "MCMIS", FMCSA's data management system and "FARS" NHTSA fatal accident management system.)

• In 2003 MN ranked 20th in the nation in CMV (trucks and buses) crash rates.
• In 2003 73% of large truck involved fatalities in MN occur on non-interstate roadways.(52% national average)
• In 2003 70% of large truck involved fatalities in MN involved companies who are from Minnesota (domiciled). (55% national average)

 As the data indicates there is still plenty of room for Minnesota to improve. If you have questions about this information, contact Dan Drexler, Division Administrator at USDOT/FMCSA at 651-291-6150 or by e-mail at daniel.drexler@fmcsa.dot.gov.

2004 data should be available soon.

CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL REPORT

Minnesota’s ready mix concrete producers are looking forward to growing demand for their product in 2005 and are preparing to meet demand from an improving economy for this core construction material.

The U.S. economic outlook presents a mixed picture as the growth in consumer spending slows, investment spending by corporations appears poised for robust growth during 2005/6 and government spending increases as state tax revenues recover with the economy.  The strong economy and continued economic growth overseas will continue to create tight supplies of cement, the key ingredient in concrete, throughout the 2005 construction season in Minnesota.

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The country has now entered tornado season.  Whether we have seen footage of homes ripped apart on the evening news or sifted through the wreckage of our own demolished neighborhood, most of us have been witness to the devastating effects of wind damage caused by monster storms. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) offer real protection from these storms; an indestructible barrier that can be built between the monster and everything we love.  A home or safe room built with insulating concrete forms is sensible enough for the most modest of budgets and simple enough for any handy homeowner to construct.

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