b'hairman \'sArticle \'97 ExceededExpectations All \'98 Forecastedbe Great to What apaced, productive,@"The highlight of then ofAssociation thatout fastconve ancares abinteresting andenjoyable year,tion was the free beer providedus and understands o day-tour 1997 has been!at thebooth."day problems. Apache Ihope one and al I@) " edu h Once again, I would liketo certainlycanThecational programsad also add "profitable"the aboven and important in mationthank the fin MRCA Board toewfor est ever description.MosteveryoneIand wereroofing conof Directors for thepleasure verytrac of talked with at the convention hadtor friendly."The new formatse ing with youpast year. I rv this afinancial year. We certainlywith"theoptiprogram also would like to thank Robert P. solidanal that998.realyons,puis, hopecontinues in 1 ming was aplus."L Dr. ReneDu and MRCA also prospered in 1 .JamesM.Whittierfortheir 997It is ato report the fol From trade show exhibitors:insight, thought-provoking compleasure "Memberlowingimportantaccomplish o"Thisbest trade showmentary andediting abilities, was the ments:in many years."includingbutnotlim dto and non-memberiteoMembership growth@"Thereaof contractorsnum c tionsspelling increasedwereloterousorrec of contractor attendees13 percent.to see, socialize with, and selland grammar. at the convention@Member companies in atten to." danceattheconvention@)\'\'TheMRCAshowwaswellBest wishes for ac ! suc ess u I increased 94increased 88 percent. This isworth our time and effort."1998. important to us, as it indicatesThe abo is gratifyingour veto percent.This wasamore active and inter MRCA Board of Directors and to much the largest roofingwor edhaested membership.the staff, whok veryrd all @) Memberandnon-memberyear long to justifyur being an yocontractor atten contrac attendees at the con active member ofAssociatorthis dance at a conven vention increased 94 percent.tion.\'\'Contractors, once This wasthe largest roofingAs MRCA P sident John re Drew tion sincel981 "contractor attendance at a c h stated,"Thefirststepinthey have had a on as vention since1981 (which is asimprovingtheconventionandchance to get the full old as our records for th is cate trade show is to re ize the fact cogngory dates back to).that the conven n is astory on SHARP have tio memoSH Program - Theici bership service!T second ARPant he pated first-yearcom step is to implement educationaloverwhelmingly member panies\'involvementhasfarprogramming that makes mem wanted it for their exceededallexpectations.bers want to attend. This means Contractors, once theyhavemaximizing the convention androofer\'s safety and to hada chance togetthefulltrade show through increased net improve their bottom storyonSHARPhaveo working opportunver ities." whelminglyit for theirMRCA isacon line." wantedtrulyroofing roofer\'sand to improvetractors organization, dedicated safety theirline.notto the industry inl, bottomonlygenerab alsoto theidutdedicatedindivConvention Feedbackual memberin particucontractor From member companies:lar. And, when you out there by \'re O "Theeducationalprogramsyourself,n inwind, it\'s swi gingthe were very interesting and hadnice to know th we\'re a atmember aof meat in lotthem."'