The next meeting of the ARM Board of Directors will be held July 12, 2005 at The Inn on Lake Superior in Duluth.  The Board meeting will be followed by a Regional Membership meeting and a Lake Superior harbor dinner cruise aboard the Vista Star.

The ARM Board of Directors will consider the draft 2006 budget and will tackle such issues as a membership promotion fund assessment, membership dues categories and reporting, TERRA and GoMinnesota! funding, the future of the two ARM websites, location of the 2006 Concrete Open and more.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MEETING AGENDA

All ARM members are encouraged to attend this important meeting.  Spouses and/or other guests are welcome to join us on the harbor dinner cruise.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

On April 27-28 and again on May 4-5, seven ARM members helped with the instruction of two Aggregate Production Classes.  Doug Scrivens (Windom Ready Mix), Dan Bokinskie (Martin Marietta Aggregates), Jim Ford (Bauerly Companies), Al Riedl (AVR, Inc./AME Group), Dallas Miner (Cemstone Products Co.), Mark Lukkarila (Cemstone Products Co.) and Nate Kehoe (Aggregate Industries) all gave of their time to make the classes successful.  ARM thanks them (and their employers) for their assistance!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MEMO

Durability is the ability of concrete to resist weathering action, chemical attack, and abrasion while maintaining its desired engineering properties. Different concretes require different degrees of durability depending on the exposure environment and the properties desired. Concrete ingredients, their proportioning, interactions between them, placing and curing practices, and the service environment determine the ultimate durability and life of the concrete.

Concrete durability is one of the most important considerations in the design of new structures and when assessing the condition of existing structures. PCA’s Durability Web site provides the following resources to assist designers, specifiers, contractors, and educators: (1) Basic information on all durability topics, (2) Test methods, (3) Collection of publications including PCA research reports, (4) PowerPoint presentations and images, (5) Links to other websites and resources on durable concrete.
CLICK HERE FOR THE DURABILITY WEBSITE

With the passage of H.R. 2362, the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 2005 on June 27 by the U.S. House of Representatives, the nation's ability to identify geological resources for future use by coming generations of Americans moved a step closer to realization.

"Geologic mapping on a federal and state level is critical to the future of the aggregates industry.  The databases of environmental and scientific information developed through cooperative geologic mapping programs help to ensure that future infrastructure needs of a growing society will be met," said NSSGA President and CEO Joy Wilson.  NSSGA has been working for passage of the legislation.
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For those ARM members not attending the ARM Board of Directors Meeting in Duluth, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) is hosting a rain garden and porous pavement tour on Tuesday, July 12, 2005.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A BROUCHURE AND REGISTRATION FORM

MCWD is heading to Burnsville along with Ron Struss, University of MN Extension Educator, as well as Fred Rozumalski from Barr Engineering and Leslie Yetka from the City of Burnsville. Attendees will not only get a first-hand look at rain gardens and porous pavement, but learn about these technologies directly from the experts.

Lunch is included in the $25 registration fee. Space on the tour bus is limited, so register today!

For more information at Contact Julie Westerlund, MCWD Communications and Education Coordinator at 952.471.0590 x 209

Save the date of Friday, November 18, 2005 to attend the next North Central Regional Work Plan Meeting from 8am – 12 noon in Minneapolis, MN.  All ARM members are encouraged to attend this meeting.

Coordinating ready mixed concrete association initiatives at the state and national levels produces synergies that increase effectiveness and reduce costs. Regional Work Plan Meetings exist to achieve these goals, by providing an opportunity to gather the leadership of all of the ready mixed associations in your region, along with NRMCA leadership and Regional Promotion Group leaders.

More details will be sent to you once hotel arrangements are finalized, but in the meantime, please mark your calendars and plan to attend this important industry event.  If you have any questions about this meeting, please do not hesitate to contact Nicole Maher at 240-485-1158 or by e-mail at nmaher@nrmca.org