This year’s convention will be held August 14-16, 2008, at the The Tremont House at 2300 Ship's Mechanic Row, Galveston, Texas 77550. Some events will take place at locations other than the hotel. For a complete list, please view the convention schedule.

Schedule at a Glance

Thursday, August 14, 2008
Registration 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM The Tremont House
Golf Tournament/Lunch 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM Moody Gardens Golf Course
Annual Membership Meeting 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM The Tremont House
Welcome Reception and Golf Tournament Awards 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Davidson Building

Friday, August 15, 2008
Registration 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Galveston Island Convention Center
Exhibits Open 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Galveston Island Convention Center
Apprentice Meeting 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Galveston Island Convention Center
Apprentice Competition 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM Galveston Island Convention Center
Architect Prof Development Seminar 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Galveston Island Convention Center
Fastest Trowel Competition 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Galveston Island Convention Center
Apprentice & Fastest Trowel Comp Judging 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Galveston Island Convention Center
Marketplace Luncheon & Awards 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Galveston Island Convention Center
Architect Prof Development Seminar 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM Galveston Island Convention Center
TX Seaport Museum Cocktail Reception 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM Texas Seaport Museum/Elissa Ship
Dinner by the Bay, Speaker & Silent Auction 7:45 PM – 9:30 PM The Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant

Saturday, August 16, 2008
Registration 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM The Tremont House
Fishing Tournament 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM Galveston Yacht Basin
Historic Guided Tour 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Leaving from The Tremont House
Golden Trowel Architect Meeting 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM The Davidson Building
Golden Trowel Cocktails and Dinner 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM The Davidson Building
Golden Trowel Awards 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM The Strand Theatre

Schedule in Detail

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008

7:00 AM - 2:00 PM Golf Tournament at the Moody Gardens Golf Course Join us at the new Moody Gardens Golf Course for a first-class golfing experience, which includes breakfast, lunch, four drink tickets, and golf fees for one round. Please note the golf tournament is an optional event and requires a supplementary fee. You may register as a team or as an individual player. The winners will be announced and awards will be given at the Welcome Reception that evening.

1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Registration The Tremont House Upon arrival to the convention, please check in to receive your attendee bag, badge, on-site convention program and other important announcements.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Annual Membership Meeting The Tremont House As one of the most important industry meetings in Texas, all TMC members registered at the convention are asked to attend. This meeting will cover all the association committees, from what programs are working to what new items will be added in the 2008/09 year.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome Reception and Golf Awards at The Davidson building across the street from The Tremont House. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be offered, while you enjoy interacting with other industry partners.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008

7:00 AM - 4:00 PM Registration Galveston Island Convention Center

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Exhibits Galveston Island Convention Center Exhibitors will set up their booths on Friday morning at the Galveston Island Convention Center.

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Region F Masonry Skills Competition Judges and Contestants Meeting

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Exhibitors will be available all day at the Convention Center. This is a perfect opportunity to stop by and see products and services offered by your industry colleagues

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Region F Masonry Skills Competition Galveston Island Convention Center Masonry apprentices from across Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana will compete against one another in a test of skill for a cash prize. Competitors and spectators will enjoy this masonry apprentice competition that showcases the skills training in the masonry industry within Region F. Winners in first-, second- and third-year competitions will be eligible to represent Region F at the ninth annual International Masonry Skills Challenge.

8:30 AM - 12:00 PM Architect Professional Development Seminar Galveston Island Convention Center

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Fastest Trowel Competition - Galveston Island Convention Center After the Masonry Skills Challenge gets underway, this competition of lightening fast masons begins and ends before you know it. The Fastest Trowel Competition is for masons who are able to lay standard CMU quickly and with ultimate precision. Cash prizes are also awarded to the fastest teams.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Marketplace Luncheon with Apprentice and Fastest Trowel Awards Galveston Island Convention Center
This lunch is open to Exhibitors, CE Attendees, Competitors and Spectators During lunch, attendees will be introduced to new products and services and competition awards will be announced.

1:30 PM - 4:00 PM Architect Professional Development Seminar Galveston Island Convention Center

6:15 PM - 7:30 PM Cocktail Reception Texas Seaport Museum and the Elissa Ship. There will be cocktails and hors d' oevres available while you explore the Texas Seaport Museum and the historic and beautiful ship Elissa.

7:45 PM - 9:30 PM Dinner by the Bay at The Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant Come enjoy a Galveston Style dinner, bid on silent auction items and hear how your donations to the silent auction have benefited the apprentice program.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2008

7:00 AM - 2:00 PM The Tremont House Upon arrival to the convention, please check to receive your attendee bag, badge, on-site convention program and other important announcements.

6:00 AM - 3:00 PM Fishing Tournament. $700 per boat of 4 persons - Includes boat, guide, entry fee and lunch for each registrant.

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Historic Galveston Tour. Includes a 3 hour guided tour of historic Galveston and lunch in the Strand District. Receive a guided tour from Jan Johnson who has 25+ years experience giving guided historic tours on Galveston Island. Transportation will be included and the tour will begin at The Tremont House.

5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Golden Trowel Architect Meeting The Davidson Building

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Golden Trowel Dinner The Davidson Building The evening's celebration begins with a cocktail reception at 6:00 PM in the Davidson Building across the street from The Tremont House. At 7:00 p.m. guests will enjoy a sit down dinner.

8:15 PM - 10:00 PM Golden Trowel Awards will be presented next door to the Davidson Building at The Strand Theatre. A small historic theatre will be the perfect setting for the presentation of the Golden Trowel Awards and association honors.

MASONRY SKILLS CHALLENGE

Are you eligible to compete in the Masonry Skills Competition? Masonry apprentices from across Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana will compete against one another in a test of skill for a cash prize.

Event Information
Friday, August 15, 2008
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Galveston Island Convention Center

Schedule
11:00 AM, Judging
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM. Lunch & Awards

Awards
More than $1500 in prize money

Masonry Skills Forms

FASTEST TROWEL COMPETITION

After the Masonry Skills Challenge gets underway, this competition of lightening fast masons begins and ends before you know it. The Fastest Trowel Competition is for masons who are able to lay standard CMU quickly and with ultimate precision. Cash prizes are awarded to the fastest teams. QUESTIONS? Contact Jim Jones at jim.jones@texasmasonrycouncil.org.

Event Information
Friday, August 15, 2008
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Galveston Island Convention Center

Schedule
11:00 AM, Judging
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM. Lunch & Awards

Awards
More than $7000 in prize money

Fastest Trowel Competition Forms

GOLF TOURNAMENT

$150 per person - Includes breakfast, lunch, four drink tickets, and golf fees for one round. Join us at the NEW Moody Gardens Golf Course for a fun golfing experience. Please note the golf tournament is an optional event and requires a supplementary fee. You may register as a team or as an individual player. Separate registration is required. The winners will be announced and awards will be given at the Welcome Reception that evening at the Davidson Building. Additional registration form for the golf tournament must be submitted with payment.

Download the Golf Registration Form.