Breaking News
  Production Surges
  Welding Litigation
  The New Generation

Quality Nickel and Stainless Welding Wires and Electrodes

BREAKING NEWS

Industrial Production Surges

Industrial production surged 1.1% in May, the biggest gain in nearly six years and a fresh sign that manufacturers are on a firm recovery path as the national economy demonstrates good momentum. Factory production, the biggest slice of industrial activity, rose 0.9% in May.

Welding Rod Fume Litigation

In an exclusive article written for the June issue of Welding & Gases Today, attorneys Richard W. Fields, Esq., Katherine J. Henry, Esq., and Joel A. Fischman, Esq., detail the problem of welding rod fume litigation and suggest strategies for distributors to prepare for possible litigation.

The authors state, "Recognizing that the supply of asbestos plaintiffs cannot continue forever, plaintiffs' lawyers are looking for the next mass tort to support their practices. They have set their sights on welding rod litigation." The authors advise distributors to protect and maximize their company's insurance assets. "Companies should protect their assets, protect and maximize their potential insurance coverage, and pursue a proactive joint insurance coverage strategy with other potential policyholder defendants," they advise.

The authors offer several suggestions to help you protect your assets. The asbestos litigation experience has led numerous companies to devise reorganization strategies to protect company assets so that unrelated portions of the company can operate free of asbestos liabilities. Potential welding rod defendant companies should do the same. This is one of many tips in their article you can read by clicking here.

The New Generation

Need help understanding Generation M, that very young worker in your front office or shop? Check out www.millennials.com for resources on the Millennial generation (those born in the early 1980s). While online, surf over to www.gentrends.com, the Web site of The Center for Generational Studies, for resources on younger and older employees, and how to make it all work. And don't miss www.workforceonline.com for a look at articles on a variety of workforce issues.

WORKING TOGETHER

GAWDA Members Work Together for Act of Mercy

Caribbean Mercy

This spring, the Caribbean Mercy ship was docked in Mobile, AL, for boat repairs. The Caribbean Mercy is one of three ships in the Mercy Fleet that provides health care, disaster response and community health information to people in the Caribbean and Central American regions.

Craig Jensen of Welding Engineering Supply Company (WESCO), Prichard, AL, learned the ship needed to have oxygen piped into the operating room. Unfortunately, the time frame was immediate, as it was getting ready to sail. Once presented with the opportunity, WESCO contacted Air Products, Thermadyne, and A-Welders and Medical Supply for possible donations to make the oxygen system a reality. Air Products was the first to commit by agreeing to provide installation technician Mike Protzek and all of the piping materials. Thermadyne joined the team by agreeing to donate an automatic changing medical gas manifold. In order to connect the operating room equipment to the oxygen piping system, a hospital wall panel was needed. WESCO called A-Welders and Medical Supply and the equipment was donated. Finally, Western Enterprise joined in the effort by manufacturing and donating the manifold pigtails.

(l-r) Randy Krosp of Air Products, Craig Jensen and Jimmy Cranford of WESCO, and Mike Protzek of Air Products

Since the ship was scheduled to leave port in just days, both Air Products and WESCO moved quickly to ensure that the piping system was installed, pressure tested and certified prior to the ship's sailing. By working long hours, the system was ready to turn over to the ship in just 3 ½ days. When learning of WESCO's efforts to assist the Caribbean Mercy, Craig Steiner of Metabo and Bob Shaw from the MSI Rep Agency contributed products that were needed for other areas on the ship.

The Caribbean Mercy and WESCO would like to thank these companies for their outpouring of generosity in improving the surgical capabilities of the ship. These acts of kindness will translate to the improved health for many people in the years to come.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Paul Slizik

Slizik Retires From Butler (McKees Rocks, PA) • After 41 years of service with Butler Gas Products Co., Executive Vice President Paul Slizik is retiring July 1. He started as a truck driver in the 1960s and worked his way up through the company, holding titles including salesman, sales manager and eventually executive vice president. President Jack Butler describes Slizik as a classic success story. "Paul taught us so much about customer service and win-win negotiations with our customers and our suppliers," he says. The company honored Slizik with a golf outing and surprise party.

Delta Welders Turns 15 (Brookhaven, MS) • Founded in June 1989, Delta Welders Supply is celebrating its 15th anniversary. "We're rejoicing that we have accomplished 15 years," says President Nancy Koehler. The company also welcomes back employee Eric Koehler, who works in outside sales.

Joe Chiolo from Praxair, Inc. and John Bragg from N. H. Bragg & Sons in front of a new truck on display during the Open House celebration.

N.H. Bragg & Sons Celebrates Milestone (Bangor, ME) • In honor of its 150th anniversary, N.H. Bragg & Sons hosted a public open house for 1,500 guests. The live radio broadcast event featured 86 of the company's manufacturers, who each had a product booth, and a selling show that generated $50,000 in business for the day. Highlights included displays of the two race cars driven by NASCAR drivers Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch, door prizes and food. "It was excellent," President John Bragg says. "We were very pleased with the way it turned out." Founded in 1854, N.H. Bragg & Sons is owned and managed by the fifth generation of its original founding family.

Andersen Joins Acme Team (Lehigh Valley, PA) • Donald Andersen joins Acme Cryogenics as business development manager, medical gas systems. His focus is to grow medical equipment and service offerings by creating strategic alliances with medical equipment and service experts nationwide. Andersen brings two decades of experience to this newly created position.

In Sympathy
Bob Stevens, 62, a former long-time Multiquip and MQ Power sales and product manager in Carson, CA, passed away June 16 in an automobile accident. Mr. Stevens filled various positions for 23 years at Multiquip and was the company's Salesman of the Year in 1980. He retired in 2001, settling in Tennessee. Mr. Stevens was hired as district manager for the Florida territory in 1978. In 1981, he was promoted to Eastern region sales manager. Later, he served MQ Power as welding products manager and then as the division's Eastern region sales manager. He ended his Multiquip career as manager of the company's Telecommunication's Division. GAWDA extends its condolences to his wife, Lois, and son, Robbie.

GAWDA NEWS

GAWDA Joins Fax Ban Coalition • GAWDA was a signatory to a letter from NAW's FCC Fax Ban Coalition that was sent to members of the U.S. House and Senate urging consideration of legislation to remedy the fax ban regulations issued by the FCC last summer. The coalition's position is that the rule adopted by the FCC restricting the sending of commercial faxes will interfere in a harmful way with an essential form of business communication, particularly for small businesses. The coalition recommends that Congress enact the Upton-Markey-Barton-Dingell bill that will restore an "established business relationship" exception to the general rule against the sending of unsolicited faxes before the FCC rule goes into effect December 31, 2004.

GAWDA Specialty Gas Task Force Survey • GAWDA's Specialty Gas Task Force, chaired by First Vice President Avery "Whip" Seaman and made up of 10 member volunteers, is developing a Member-Needs Survey to learn if its members think GAWDA should develop a Specialty Gas Practice, and, if so, what programs and services it should offer. The survey will be released by the end of June. Please contribute your thoughts and suggestions when you receive the survey.

GAWDA Opens Online Store • GAWDA's Online Store is now fully stocked and open for business. At the top of GAWDA's home page under Store, you can browse GAWDA's inventory of branded publications, posters and literature; NAW publications; J.J. Keller publications; and special programs and services available through GAWDA's business partners in insurance, freight, telecom, rental cars, payment processing and many others. Click here to go to the Online Store at www.gawda.org.

Summer Issue Hits the Street • It is important to keep your employees energized and motivated so that they can build better relationships with customers and keep them excited about doing business with you, which heats up your profits. In the June issue of Welding & Gases Today, now in the mail and online at www.gawda.org, Distributors share their secrets to ensuring business success by energizing their people. Also included in this issue are a profile of Montana-based Valley Welders Supply, medical gas cylinder filling requirements for EMS, how to prevent hand and finger injuries, an analysis of why GAWDA distributors' profits are slipping and a new take on rising insurance premiums—including steps you can take to lower your costs. Don't miss the June issue! You can also read it online by clicking here.

Convention Speakers and Workshops Set • GAWDA will soon be accepting registrations for our 60th Annual Convention in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino, October 3-7, 2004. President Wally Brant and his Convention Planning Committee have arranged for a great line-up of speakers and workshops to provide the high impact, high value education you are looking for. Speakers include: President and CEO of Cisco Systems John Chambers, baseball great Carl Erskine, comedian and financial expert Ben Stein, and business leader Harvin Moore. Workshops include "The Economy, and How to Predict When Business Cycles Will Change" by economist Alan Beaulieu, "The State of the Gas Industry" by John "Buzz" Campbell, an FDA update with GAWDA's FDA and Medical Gases Consultants Bob Yeoman and Ron Ball, and a welding fume litigation update. For a schedule of events, click here. For more information about Caesars Palace, click here.

HR Report and Trainer Available • Everyone knows that employee training is necessary, but now the quality of training may be explored. The courts are interested in the content of the training course, how much money is spent on training, and the trainer's background and competency. Click here to read the July issue of HR Manager's Legal Reporter and QuickStep Trainer at GAWDA's Web site.

It's Regional Meeting Season • Make plans to attend the GAWDA Regional Meeting in your area. Not only will the meeting provide great education, but also networking and fun. Please support the member volunteers who plan and host the meetings, as they are working hard to give you an opportunity to participate in a GAWDA event in your area. The regional meeting calendar is below:

Meeting Photos • The GAWDA Central Zone Annual Regional Meeting was held June 9 at the Timber Ridge Golf Club in East Lansing, MI. Please click here to see photos from the gathering hosted by Gary Stoneback of Metro Welding Supply (Detroit, MI).

Welcome to Focus on Member Benefits, a new, ongoing series of columns that will highlight the many benefits that your GAWDA membership brings to you, your employees and your customers. Bringing Value to Your Customers with GAWDA GAWDA brings value to our members with timely safety and compliance data, great networking opportunities and expert consulting services, but have you ever thought about how you can take that value and give it right back to your customers? GAWDA offers a variety of posters, flyers and handouts that can be posted to your Web site, displayed in your offices or stores, and even distributed to your customers. It may seem like just a little piece of paper or another link on your Web site, but think about what you are saying to your customer when passing on a valuable safety tip or educating them about the product or service they are purchasing. You are showing your customers that their safety is a big priority to you. It's those little things that help you build lasting business relationships with your customers. Check out some of these great items available at the new GAWDA Online Store: Oxygen is Not Air (flyer) Safety Tip of the Month (flyer) Safety Advisory Bulletin (flyer) GAWDA Truck Placard (18 in. x 20 in. polystyrene poster) "Do You Want to Fit in this Picture?" (22 in. x 38 in. poster with exploded car as a result of incorrectly transporting a cylinder.) To visit the Online Store now, please click here.

    WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

Safety & Human Resources Compliance
Rick Schweitzer, GAWDA Government Affairs and HR Legal Consultant
June 24, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
Update yourself on new federal overtime law requirements that go into effect August 23 by participating in this teleconference. Discussion topics include changes in standards for exempt and non-exempt employees, modifications to duties test, modifications to salary test, and the effect on administrative employees, professional employees and outside sales personnel, followed by a question and answer session. For the call-in number, please click here.

Bulk Medical Gas Systems
Ron Ball and Bob Yeoman, GAWDA Medical Gases Consultants
July 21-22
Airport Holiday Inn, Indianapolis, IN
This GAWDA seminar will focus on the current requirements for designing, qualifying, installing and maintaining medical gases systems at health care facilities. Topics include an evolution of industry and FDA views of bulk systems, applicable requirements, compliance implications and best practices. For more information, contact GAWDA at 215-564-3484.

cGMPs for a New Era
July 12, Parsippany, NJ
August 9, Chicago, IL
These two workshops address relevant issues that drug manufacturers face today. Co-sponsored by the FDA, together with Pharma and three other pharmaceutical industry associations, discussions will include the risk-based approach to compliance the FDA introduced in 2002 and the integrated, or systems, approach to compliance management. Speakers from the FDA include: David Horowitz, director of the Office of Compliance and Joseph Famulare, director, Division of Manufacturing and Product Quality. To view the brochure and register to attend, please click here.