BREAKING NEWS

Members Jump On GAWDAwiki

Visit GAWDAwiki

"Really cool." "Incredible." "Wow!" "The best thing to happen to the industry in years." These are members' reactions to GAWDAwiki.org. Since its launch on March 23 at the Chicago SMC, GAWDAwiki has had 39,722 page views and 1,083 visitors in its first 2 weeks.

With a comprehensive collection of welding and gases terminology, videos, white papers, spec sheets, industry news and a searchable buyers guide, the GAWDAwiki Web site helps you to stay current with constantly updated information.

View Chicago SMC Photos.

The total number of welding and gases terms listed on GAWDAwiki is currently 1,209 and growing every day. Don't miss out on the action—bookmark GAWDAwiki.org today.

DOL COBRA Coverage Model Notices

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released 4 model notices employers need to inform former employees of the availability of a premium subsidy for COBRA health continuation coverage. Each of the model notices, available on the Employee Benefit Security Administration's dedicated Web page, is tailored to a specific set of circumstances. Additional helpful information can be also be found on the page. Read the full press release about the model notices on the DOL Web site. The Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return and Quarterly Form instructions can be found on the IRS's Web site.

Senate Ends Card Check Cloture

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter announced that he opposes cloture on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), denying labor the 60 votes they currently need for cloture. However, Senator Specter noted, "Card check is going to come back. It'll be reconsidered." Labor has already declared that they will now redouble their campaign for EFCA. Read more about the issue in an e-mail from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' Jade West to industry leaders.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

GAWDA Consultants Holding Teleconference Updates • GAWDA Safety Consultants Mike Dodd, Tom Badstubner and Rick Schweitzer will be holding quarterly teleconferences to provide updates on current safety issues and regulations. The first teleconference will be May 7, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. EST. Mark your calendars and save the date. Information on how to participate in this no-cost member benefit will be available the week prior to the teleconference.

April Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The April Safety & Technology Organizer is now available on GAWDA's Web site. Topics include clothing, Annual Driver Review 391.25 and daily settled pressure test.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Matheson Acquires Valley National Gases (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Matheson Tri-Gas (MTG) and CI Capital Partners LLC, a New York-based private equity firm, announced they have signed a definitive agreement under which MTG will acquire Valley National Gases (Independence, OH). Valley was acquired by CI Capital in February 2007. Since then, CI Capital positioned Valley for growth and completed 8 add-on acquisitions, increasing pro-forma revenue by more than 33%. "Our operations complement one another very well, and the combination will allow MTG to establish a national distribution network," says Valley CEO Michael Ziegler. Completion of the transaction, which is expected to occur in the 2nd Quarter of this year, is subject to HSR review and customary closing conditions.

Roy Hartloff

Scott Powell

New Hires at Lampton Welding (Wichita, KS) • Roy Hartloff joined Lampton Welding Supply Company's outside sales team for the Beatrice, NE, area. Hartloff has 9 years of experience in the industry. Scott Powell was hired as a service person for cryogenic bulk tanks. Powell has 11 years of experience with welding equipment.

Saffell Joins Eleet (Bolivar, OH) • Eleet Cryogenics hired Mike Saffell as quality control manager. Saffell has over 30 years of experience in the industrial gas industry, including positions as safety manager, cryogenic technician and certified pipe welder.

Have you seen it?

GAWDA Members Help Create Online Welding Assessment • With the help of GAWDA members, SkillsUSA, a partnership of students, teachers and industry experts, created an online, technical assessment to help candidates prove entry-level welding proficiency. The Welding Skill Connect Assessment evaluates entry-level knowledge and skills in flux-cored arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, oxy fuel cutting and shielded metal arc welding through interactive questions, videos and animations. During its development, GAWDA distributor members Butler Gas Products Company (McKees Rocks, PA) and Linweld (Lincoln, NE), and supplier members The Harris Products Group, Hobart Brothers, The Lincoln Electric Company and Miller Electric Mfg. Co. provided feedback. For more information about the Welding Skill Connect Assessment, visit this page.

John Marsland

Marsland Promoted at Air Products (Lehigh Valley, PA) • Air Products named John Marsland vice president and general manager of global liquid bulk, generated gases and helium. Marsland joined Air Products in 2002 as director of business development. He most recently served as vice president of business services, where he led the company's efforts to streamline business support services globally.

Worthington Launches New Site (Columbus, OH) • Worthington Cylinders redesigned its Web site, worthingtoncylinders.com. The new design is meant to better illustrate the company's heritage and quality products. New and improved site functionality includes a search engine for quick access to specific information, more product details and specifications, expanded multimedia content, detailed contact options and the ability to find product information based on category, applications and specifications.

Miller President Mike Weller sits on a custom chopper welded by Oshkosh North High School seniors Lucas Dowd and Casey LaMarche.

Miller Takes Part in Welding Symposium (Appleton, WI) • Miller Electric Mfg. Co. sponsored a symposium on welding careers for Wisconsin high school counselors, educators and administrators. Designed to inform attendees about the salary potential and wide variety of careers that can originate with an education in welding, the Career Horizons: Welding symposium featured presentations by current welding students, graduates of welding programs, industry experts and high school administrators. The event encouraged high school personnel to reach out to the industries and businesses in their communities to form partnerships that can improve the quality of the schools' technical education programs.

GAWDA NEWS

Members Beat the Recession at Chicago SMC • Thank you all for your tremendous support of GAWDA by attending the Chicago SMC. The event was a huge success, and several members shared their comments about the value they found by attending. Douglas A. Morton, Eleet Cryogenics vice president of sales, said, "Deciding to invest in attending the SMC in Chicago was well worth it for Eleet Cryogenics. I was able to visit with many of our loyal key customers as well as new prospects in a relatively short period of time. The networking was very valuable for our continued growth initiatives." Echoing his sentiments was Craig A. Wood, O.E. Meyer Company (Sandusky, OH) president – weld division, who said, "Given the economic climate, I have never found the networking to have more value than it did this year. That coupled with a well-thought-out program provided the return our company has come to expect from the SMC."

GAWDA President Britt Lovin addresses attendees.

Attendees view GAWDAwiki, a new benefit of membership.

The SMC provides an opportunity to network and catch up with colleagues.

DeLille Oxygen (Columbus, OH) Vice President Jim Smith, who sent 15 employees to the Chicago SMC, agreed. "Training, whether it is product knowledge training or sales process training, needs to be done on an ongoing basis. A down economy gives you that time to train, and the GAWDA Chicago SMC seemed to be a natural venue, especially with Mark Hunter's presentations on Selling a Price Increase and Negotiating Skills."

Chicago SMC presentations are available for download on GAWDA's Web site.

Invest in Your Company's Future with the Asheville SMC • If you are not yet registered to attend the Asheville SMC (April 21-24, 2009, at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa), you still have the opportunity to do so. Register online or download the registration forms on GAWDA's Web site. The Asheville SMC educational programming offers interactive concurrent sessions for executives, sales and operations.

Highlights include:

• AWS's Ray Shook on the welder shortage
• Jim Glessner from TrackAbout discussing cylinder management
• Institute for Trend Research's Jeff Dietrich with an economic update
• Jeff Vogelsang of Promontory Point Partners on improving your bottom line by 3%
• Linde's presentation on emerging markets for gases
• Young Executives Social Event at Biltmore Estate
• Young Executives Workshop on worker's compensation
• Spouse Event: Biltmore Estate tour
• A golf tournament

Contact Booth Program • GAWDA Supplier members, have you registered for your Exhibit Booth? Sign up now. The Contact Booth Program brings manufacturers, suppliers and service providers together with distributors to establish and renew business relationships and to learn about new products and services. This is a great networking opportunity you do not want to miss. Attendees and Exhibitors, take a glance at the lists of those who will be attending and exhibiting at the Asheville SMC on the Current Events page.

See more photos of the Chicago Contact Booth Exhibitors.

George Abell (l) receives his laptop from Kent Van Amburg.

Asheville Contact Booth Prizes • Attend the Contact Booth Program on Wednesday, April 22, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., and you could go home with a laptop or a digital camera. If you visit 30 or more booths, you will be eligible for a drawing for a Dell Vostro A860 laptop with 160 GB of memory, Microsoft Works and wireless networking. George Abell from Welders Supply Company of Louisville (Louisville, KY) was the lucky winner in Chicago.

Bruce Spaanstra

Randy Anderson

Two booths will have Golden Tickets, which can be redeemed for a Canon PowerShot A590 digital camera with 8 megapixel resolution, 4X zoom and optical stabilization. Bruce Spaanstra from Purity Cylinder Gases (Grand Rapids, MI) and Randy Anderson from Oxygen Service Company (St. Paul, MN) will both be taking better pictures after receiving the Golden Tickets in Chicago.

Show your support for our exhibitors and plan on attending the Contact Booth Program in Asheville. There will be food and an open bar.

HR Report Available • The April 2009 HR Manager's Legal Reporter is now available for download at www.gawda.org.

A New Member Benefit

GAWDA Clearinghouse • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for the month and is available here.

Profit Survey for Distributor Members • Participate in the 2009 GAWDA PROFIT Survey. Get full details here. The deadline for submission is April 30.

Take Advantage of GAWDA University Online • GAWDA U is an easy-to-use and inexpensive online training tool for your employees. The educational content of GAWDA U was developed to support GAWDA's primary mission of providing information to assist you in improving your company's safety and compliance.

GAWDA U Online is an ever-changing and growing program. We are conducting weekly webinars to introduce members to the functions and content of GAWDA U and to answer any questions. Please contact GAWDA Membership Director Kate Cole (kcole@fernley.com) to sign up for the introductory webinars or to find out more about this exciting opportunity!

View course listings here.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR

The GAWDA Connection is distributed on the 8th and 23rd of each month to all GAWDA members as a membership service of GAWDA, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association, 100 N. 20th Street, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19103-1443. Neither GAWDA nor Data Key Communications, LLC, their officers, directors, members and staff are responsible for contents or opinions other than those concerning Association activities.

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