b'Presidents MessageProviding Quality MRCA Membership BenefitsGreg Sprague, MRCA PresidentI t is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the MRCA in 2018.When 2017 President, Mark Langer, handed me the gavel last October at the membership meeting in Saint Louis, I stated that my goals were to boost attendance and improve the quality of the 2018 MRCA Conference next October 24th through the 26th in Omaha, Nebraska.I also stated my desire to increase MRCA Contractor Membership by 5% from the previous year, all the while, still providing quality MRCA membership benefits and maintaining fiduciary/financial responsibility of this association.Some days, I think I am in over my head for having said all of that at the membership meeting.However, when I stop, reflect upon the generosity and donation of time and money by the MRCA Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, Committee Members, and all MRCA Volunteers who are helping me realize those goals, I find it to be one of the most humbling experiences of my life.These men and women are all volunteers.They receive no financial compensation.They do it for the benefit of the Roofing Contractor and they think its the right thing to do.They want to raise the level of professionalism of all Roofing Contractors in the Roofing Industry!All I can say is, Thank You. I also want to recognize the value and importance of the MRCAs Advisory Counsel and MRCA Associate Members.The Advisory Council is comprised of non-contractor associate member companies who make recommendations, provide input, and support MRCAs efforts in producing the annual MRCA Conference and Expo.The Advisory Council meets three times a year during the MRCA Winter, Spring & Summer Board meetings to help with this effort.This past fall, I asked the Advisory Council to attend a special meeting in Chicago to do a post review of the 2017 MRCA Conference & Expo.Thank You Advisory Council Chair, Greg Bloom, and all Advisory Council members who attended that meeting! When you read this Presidents message, the MRCA will have completed its Winter Board & Committee Meetings in Tucson, Arizona.I want to recognize the efforts and preparation by MRCA Staff and Legal Counsel to help make those Board & Committee Meetings successful.The Winter Board & Committee Meetings in my opinion are the most important Board & Committee Meeting of the year.The MRCA Membership Committee has embarked on a 2018 membership drive that will provide the first twenty companies to join the MRCA, a Silver membership for $400.00.The standard price for that Silver membership is $795.00.If interested, please contact Morgan Arwood, the MRCA Membership Director at (800) 497-6722 before those twenty memberships are gone! Discover the Benefits of MRCA Membership.Just a few of those member benefits include:Electronic distribution of monthly Toolbox Talks & Monthly Meeting Topics in English & Spanish that help meet OSHAs safety & training requirements.Complimentary legal advice on OSHA issues, contracts & applicator agreements.Ready to use business templates and forms for Contracts & Warranties.One of kind technical updates and on-demand technical advice from the renowned MRCA T & R Committee.Member-only educational scholarships for employees and their families from the MRCA Foundation. At the membership meeting in Saint Louis, I stated that I would hold myself, MRCA staff, Executive Committee and the Board of Directors accountable to achieve the 2018 goals.I leave you with this final thought the MRCA was, is, and will remain, the Roofing Contractors Advocate!Sincerely,Greg Sprague2018 MRCA PresidentSprague Roofinggmsprague@spragueroofing.com4 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'