BSI Membership Offers Opportunities for Learning

Bob Barden
2008 President,
Building Stone Institute
Barden Stone Inc.
Memphis, Tenn.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce myself to you in this issue of Building Stone Magazine. This magazine, the flagship publication of the Building Stone Institute (BSI), with a circulation of more than 17,000, offers a comprehensive view of the latest trends in the natural stone trade and serves as a resource for the latest information on BSI's programs, products and services.

As I assume the role of the President of the Board of Directors of BSI, I am honored to be guiding the path of this outstanding trade association, which has, for nearly 90 years, been working on behalf of its member companies, representing all facets of the natural stone industry.

Historically, trade and professional associations have played important roles in society. One key role, that of education, evolved from the guilds of the Old World, which provided an opportunity for craftsmen, and later professionals, to band together for training and dissemination of information. In our modern age of technology and as we operate in a global economic market, associations are critical vehicles for providing information exchange quickly and thoroughly.

BSI provides educational programs and resources to its members, enabling them to offer the highest level of quality natural stone products and services while emphasizing to end-users the many benefits of designing with natural stone. Our work takes on a multi-faceted approach. First, we continually strive to provide programs and resources that enable our member companies to offer the highest level of quality products and services. Second, we work with the architectural and design communities ensuring that they are well versed on the applications, both structural and aesthetic, of natural stone. Finally, we create materials designed to communicate to the end-user the various benefits of designing their projects with stone. The programs, products and services we offer must and do evolve to keep pace with the dynamic world marketplace.

People join professional associations for the same reasons that they join other organizations: to meet basic social, economic, education needs; to engage in the exchange of business ideas; to resolve problems or issues; and to enhance leadership skills. Access to services that help members in their businesses or professions is a primary reason to join an association.

If you have recently renewed your membership to BSI, thank you! If you are a past member, we'd love to have you be part of the "new" BSI. And if you need information about BSI membership, I invite you to visit our Web site at www.buildingstoneinstitute.org, or call our office toll-free at 866-STONE13 (1-866-786-6313). If you are in the natural stone business, you need to be a part of the Building Stone Institute!

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