Breaking News
  Viva Las Vegas!
  New Overtime Rules
  Republican Platform

Quality Nickel and Stainless Welding Wires and Electrodes

BREAKING NEWS

Viva Las Vegas!

(Can't hear the audio? Try clicking here.)

Bet on Better Times at GAWDA's 60th Annual Convention, October 3-7 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Find out how by clicking here.

New Overtime Rules in Effect

New overtime security rules in the Fair Labor Standards Act went into effect on August 23, affecting 6.7 million American white-collar workers. Under the Overtime Security Rule, workers making less than $23,660 or $455 per week are automatically guaranteed overtime, regardless of their titles or duties. Created in 1939, this is the first major update to the rules since 1949. For more information, visit the Department of Labor's Web site by clicking here.

Republican Platform to Impact Businesses

President George W. Bush presented his party's platform during the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City held August 30-September 2. Some highlights that may impact GAWDA members include:

• A proposal to create a new Lifetime Savings Account for workers, to consolidate current law IRAs into a single Retirement Savings Account, and to consolidate numerous employer-based retirement plans into a single Employer Retirement Savings Account
• Reauthorizing the Small Business Administration
• Improving workplace safety without burdening businesses with costly and unnecessary regulations
• Keeping manufacturing a top priority
• Making tax relief permanent
• Expanding access to credit for small business entrepreneurs.
  

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

Guidance Document Released • GAWDA's Safety Committee released the guidance document "OSHA Process Safety Management and EPA Risk Management Program Coverage of Flammable and Toxic Substances in the Compressed Gas Industry." To read this article, please click here.

FMCSA Files Court Motion • The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to stay implementation of the court's July 16 decision invalidating the new Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Hours of Service rules. If granted, the stay would remain in place for a limited period of time (six months to one year) to allow the FMCSA to complete a rulemaking that complies with the court's prior ruling. The hours of service rules will remain in effect while the court considers them. The rules, which went into effect in January, allowed truckers to drive up to 11 hours, but prohibited driving after being on duty for 14 hours, and required 10 consecutive hours off duty.

MAKING THE SALE

Customers See the Difference at Keen Compressed Gas

Keen Compressed Gas Co. (Wilmington, DE) sells hundreds of small MIG machines every year. The company also sells about 30,000 pounds of steel filler metals for the machines per year. While some might feel the small packages of steel filler metals are not a viable market because of the low tonnage, Keen Compressed Gas feels differently. "Every customer who buys a small MIG machine needs a supply of filler metals where he can just pick it up from a store and keep going," says Will Keen, vice president of sales and marketing. "He might only use one spool a year, but when he needs it he should be able to easily get it." Customers—hobbyists, small body shops and small firms—had to first locate the small product in the store before buying it. This was time consuming.

Counter Salesman Terry Pendergast with Filler Metals Display

Staff from Keen Compressed Gas came up with the idea that each of their 11 retail stores needed a spool display so that when customers walk in they can go straight to the display and pick up a spool. This would be easier, quicker and more convenient for customers. To take it a step further, the company wanted to provide a better quality spool product. In the past, spools that arrived in bulk packages were removed and placed on a shelf, where they often sat long enough to be subject to corrosion. Keen says there had to be a better way of packaging the product. "Our customers should be getting fresh products that will perform well," he says. "This is important to us." Keen Compressed Gas contacted John Corrado at Filler Metals LLC to come up with a solution.

Filler Metals designed and fabricated an aluminum display specifically for 2 and 10-pound spools that can be used at table-top level or be suspended. The 3 ft. x 18 in. display holds about 150 pounds of product. Keen Compressed Gas was so pleased that they ordered enough for each store. Additionally, Filler Metals individually shrink wraps each spool before boxing them up for shipment. "We're very pleased with the final outcome," says Keen. "The product is easy to recognize when customers come into our stores." Not only are the displays accessible and attractive to customers, they have helped Keen Compressed Gas to obtain higher margins and stay competitive.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Associate Members Gas Analytical Services Inc. of Baton Rouge, LA, and Kiswel USA Inc. of Duluth, GA.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

FDA to Issue Report in September • This month, the FDA will release its progress report on the initiative for modernizing GMP regulations for the 21st century. In addition to reporting on progress achieved to date, the report is expected to lay out a road map for completing the project and specific areas of focus for FDA initiatives yet to come. Topics in this report that will be of interest to medical gas firms include progress in adopting the risk-based approach to inspections, FDA's new dispute resolution process, changes to FDA guidance on process validation and changes to FDA regulations for electronic records (Part 11).

Hobart Receives Certification (Fort Wayne, IN) • Hobart Industrial Gases & Supplies is certified to the ISO 9001-2000 standard. This achievement demonstrates the company's commitment to customer service, continuous improvement and quality management.

Fresno Oxygen Opens New Store (Fresno, CA) • Fresno Oxygen opened its tenth retail store in Stockton, CA. Each location carries a full line of welding equipment and supplies. The address is 1444 E. Mariposa Road, Stockton, CA 95205 and telephone number is 209-463-9353.

Air Products Rebuilds Facility (Lehigh Valley, PA) • Air Products began rebuilding its nitric acid purification facility in Pueblo, CO, that was damaged earlier this year. Construction should be completed in early 2005 and will not interfere with normal plant operations or other product lines manufactured at the facility. "The investment in the facility upgrade reaffirms our commitment to the high purity process chemicals business and will allow us to better serve our North American customers," said Mike Hilton, vice president, Electronic Businesses at Air Products.

Chart Announces Surcharge (Cleveland, OH) • Effective September 15, Chart Industries will adjust its base prices and surcharge amounts for bulk cryogenic storage tanks and packaged gas products. Adjustments will amount to an average gross price increase of 5% for bulk tanks and 3% for packaged gas products.

GAWDA NEWS

60th Annual Convention News Expect the Unexpected • GAWDA's 60th Annual Convention at Caesars Palace and Hotel in Las Vegas, October 3-7 is one month away! There's still time to register—this is the event of the year you do not want to miss. "Betting on Better Times" will provide learning, exploring and networking opportunities you won't find anywhere else. Be there when GAWDA presents its Award of Excellence to honor a deserving member who has had a significant impact on the association and industry. To register for the Convention now, please click here. To make hotel reservations, click here. GAWDA Welcomes Past Presidents • We are delighted to report that GAWDA's Past Presidents will be at the Annual Convention in force. Those who plan to be there are: Harry and Kathleen Moore (1963-64), Jim and Jean Duff (1967-68), Carl and Laura Seitz (1969-70), Ed and Nancy Madison (1973-74), Frank and Mary Middleton (1988-89), Dan Parris (1990-91), Jack and Elissa Butler (1992-93), Randy and Julie Squibb (1994-95), Bill and Kandy Higley (1995-96), Dave and Donna Mahoney (1999-2000), Sheron and Lyn Carter (2000-01), Jim Madison (2001-02), and Jim Kissler and Kathy Edmondson (2002-03). Ben Stein Ben Stein a Keynote Speaker • Renaissance man Ben Stein is a keynote speaker at GAWDA's Annual Convention. Many may recognize Stein from the Emmy-winning game show Win Ben Stein's Money. Others might remember him as the terribly boring teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. There are some who know him as a speech writer and lawyer for Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Ben Stein has done it all. He is a gifted economist whose astute investment and market analysis has been sought by companies and organizations across the country. He has worked as a lawyer and taught at American University, the University of California at Santa Cruz and Pepperdine University. Stein has written and published books about ethical and social issues in finance. He will amaze you with his presentation "Ben Stein on Life" Wednesday, October 6, at Caesars Palace. Armed only with his curmudgeonly persona and offbeat, dry delivery, Stein tackles the economy and tells you how to balance life's priorities while offering an eye-opening tour of life's absurdities. To read Stein's final Monday Night at Morton's column appearing on E! Online, click here. Meet Carl Erskine at Convention • Carl Erskine will be signing 150 copies of his book, Tales from the Dodger Dugout, (compliments of GAWDA) from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 5, immediately following the Business Session.

Indiana Regional Meeting • GAWDA Central Zone Regional Chairman Ken Flora of Welder Services Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN) hosted 34 attendees at the August 19 regional meeting in Fort Wayne, IN. There were 32 participants—15 members and 17 vendors—in the golf tournament. Winners included Dennis Hulth of Mittler Supply (South Bend, IN), chipping and putting contest; Wally Brant of Indiana Oxygen Company (Indianapolis, IN), second place in putting; and Ken Flora, second place in chipping. Brant gave his last speech as GAWDA President at the meeting, which Flora said was a success.

Southern Calif./Arizona Meeting • Attendance at the August 26 regional meeting in Irvine, CA, doubled from prior years. Paul Cramer of Cramer-Decker Industries hosted 58 attendees who exchanged ideas and business strategies during a golf tournament at Oak Creek Golf Club, which provided GAWDA imprinted bags filled with information about the day's event. Guests had a country style barbecue banquet, where Cramer and Scott Silva, also of Cramer-Decker Industries, handed out awards, prizes and raffle tickets. With a 100% increase in attendance this year, Cramer hopes to have everyone—and more—back next year. Contact Cramer at paulcramer@cramerdecker.com with any questions for next year's event.

Read All About It • Is your company well connected? Ours is an industry where relationships and technology go hand-in-hand. Technology enables our businesses and employees to perform better and ultimately make more money. Read how GAWDA Distributors are utilizing technology to boost their bottom lines in the Fall issue of Welding & Gases Today, in the mail and online September 15. Learn how RFID will impact our industry, and why your business needs XML.

GAWDA Meetings Offer Great Networking Opportunities GAWDA has a variety of meetings year-round to reach each of our members. The meetings range from small regional golf outings and seminars to GAWDA University and our Annual Convention. These are excellent opportunities to meet your industry peers and learn firsthand what is going on in our industry. GAWDA Teleconferences: These over-the-phone meetings are free to GAWDA members. Get all the safety, compliance and technology information you need without ever leaving your office. Regional Meetings: Regional meetings are held all over the country. They include presentations by leading industry speakers. (There may be some golfing involved too!) GAWDA University's Spring Management Conference: Two days of exceptional educational programming targeted to owners/executives, operations managers and sales leaders. This past year GAWDA joined forces with AWS and held an SMC in conjunction with the AWS Welding Show with record attendance. Everyone appreciated the opportunity to save time and money. We'll do it again in April at the AWS Show in Dallas. GAWDA Annual Convention: This is the big kahuna. GAWDA's 60th Annual Convention, October 3-7 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV, is where the industry will come together to learn, network, conduct business and have some well earned fun. Visit www.gawda.org for information on upcoming events and meetings.

    WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

Learning About Credit Card Merchant Processing and Fees—
How Much Are You Being Overcharged?
Teri Nock, Global Payments
September 14, 11 a.m. ET
This one-hour webinar will make you an expert in understanding the nomenclature and confusing fee structures associated with credit card transactions. Learn how to avoid being overcharged for credit card transactions, improve your current processing system and ensure your credit card transactions will be secure. Bank card processing is an integral part of business accounting systems customarily consisting of one-third of payment remittance. Credit card fees often cost firms tens of thousands of dollars per year, yet are rarely reviewed in the budgetary process. For more information, please click here.

Future Channel Trends and Strategies
Mark Dancer, Vice President and Principal, Pembroke Consulting
September 14, 12-1:30 p.m. ET
Channels are evolving at a breakneck pace fueled by a combination of ever-increasing customer demands, technological innovation and emerging competitors. Join this executive-level webinar co-sponsored by GAWDA to review the latest market-leading research and learn practical strategy implications for wholesaler-distributors. To register now, please click here.