As the National Aggregates Association's newly elected chairman of the board, it was gratifying at our recent annual convention to witness members' respect for the association's 80-plus-year history and their sensitivity to the difficult decisions of the past year. It is indeed my good fortune to follow in the footsteps of such an outstanding individual as the immediate past Chairman Tom Winter, Winter Brothers Material Co., St. Louis, Mo. Tom's integrity in pursuit of the industry's and the association's best interest is second to none. Faced with numerous challenges and difficult decisions, his leadership has laid the foundation for the future and we owe him our gratitude.

Looking forward, we have the good fortune of sincere, dedicated respect for our past and the uninhibited ambition of a new generation of thinking. Our ambition will grow our association and ultimately achieve our paramount goals-prosperity for our industry, our companies, our employees and our families.

To that end, NAA will do whatever it takes to obtain our goals and we welcome producers and manufacturers across the country to join with us as we roll up our sleeves to meet the challenges. It won't be business as usual as we are committed to out-of-the-box thinking that will promote a company's success, regardless of its size or the aggregate products it markets.

As a result of over 35 hours of leadership and committee meetings at the convention, NAA producer and manufacturer members reviewed and approved visionary programs that set the stage for educational initiatives and member services including:

* A vitalization of the association's long-range strategic plan that includes a nationwide campaign promoting the use of best available local material;

* Regional Education Outreach programs establishing 12, regional, affordable, value-added, one-day, Saturday seminars at a cost of less than $100 each to be located in secondary suburban areas throughout the United States;

* A public relations campaign for the aggregate industry called "Operation Sandbags," which will establish a nationwide, emergency network of sand, gravel and stone producers who can be mobilized as a volunteer, rapid response team to deliver materials to communities threatened by severe, life-threatening flooding, and other natural disasters;

* Establishment of an aggregate resource network of NAA producers and manufacturers serving the needs of association members across the country;

* A commitment to represent the industry at the federal and state levels of government including the re-engineering of the association's political action committee, SANDPAC, by bringing the contributions to local levels; and

* An energized commitment to our manufacturer members to ensure the ultimate success of one of the world's greatest trade shows and certainly the concrete and aggregate industry's premier event, CONEXPO-CON/AGG.

As suppliers of products and services that are vital to our nation's well being, we understand the fortune of opportunities we have been presented. We also understand and recognize the valuable contributions that our association can make to further the success of our members. As such, it will be the fortune of opportunities, combined with contributions of our association, which will promote the continued growth and prosperity of our industry. NAA welcomes all industry participants, producers, manufacturers, state and national associations, state and federal agencies, and our communities to partner for our success and theirs.