In the article entitled “Carrying on the tradition of Lessinia Stone,” which ran on page 122 in the May 2008 issue of Stone World, it was stated that Lessinia Stone is a soft material, and as a result, easy to extract. This, in fact, is incorrect. To clarify, there is a soft clay between the layers of Lessinia Stone, which makes the stone easier to extract and work.

The MIA announced that applications are being accepted for the MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Award for aspiring fabricators, installers or administrative personnel interested in furthering their careers within the natural stone industry. The deadline for entries is July 25, 2008, and the scholarship will cover travel and registration costs for one or more winners to StonExpo - held this year from October 15 to 18 in Las Vegas, NV. Applicants must have fewer than five years of experience in the natural stone industry, and a key to the selection process is a 250- to 500-word typed essay explaining the applicant’s commitment to the natural stone industry. Applicants must also include a letter of recommendation from his or her company describing the entrant’s commitment and potential for future leadership in the industry. Entry forms are available at www.marble-institute.com.

As part of its product development and testing program, Diamax had its Cyclone Dry Core Bit tested by an independent ISO/IEC 17025-accredited industrial testing laboratory - Environlabs of Minneapolis, MN. According to Diamax, the bit drilled 145 holes dry and 269 holes wet in 3-cm Absolute Black granite at an average speed of less than 30 seconds per hole.

Tektónica, a major construction and public works exhibition in Lisbon, Portugal, took place from May 20 to 24, and it included 874 exhibitors and more than 90,000 professional visitors. The event included a range of stone and masonry exhibits and events, including the 2008 National Competition of Construction Professionals in the masonry category.

Imago Trade Shows, a division of Atlanta, GA-based Imago Productions, Inc., and BNP Media (Stone World’s parent company) have joined forces to launch a new trade show serving the Disaster Reconstruction Industry. The National Disaster Reconstruction Expo (NDRExpo) will launch June 17 to 18, 2009 at the Earnest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. The NDRExpo was developed to unite the numerous vertical markets associated with disaster reconstruction preparation, response, recovery and rebuilding. The NDRExpo will be the first event to consolidate the disaster reconstruction industry. NDRExpo offers disaster management professionals the opportunity to explore each other’s capabilities and challenges with the goal of minimizing the loss of life and property resulting from catastrophic events. For more information, visit www.NDRExpo.com.