DOT States Medical Marijuana Not Allowed for Transportation Workers • The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that have enacted laws authorizing the use of "medical marijuana," advising those prosecutors not to charge persons obtaining or using marijuana for personal medical use. In light of those guidelines, the Department of Transportation has reiterated that the DOJ guidelines will have no bearing on DOT’s regulated drug testing program, including the drug testing requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers. DOT will not change its regulated drug testing program based upon these guidelines to federal prosecutors.

Specifically, DOT's drug and alcohol testing regulation—49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e)—does not authorize "medical marijuana" under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a transportation employee's positive drug test result. Therefore, Medical Review Officers will not verify a drug test as negative based upon information that a physician recommended that the employee use "medical marijuana." Marijuana remains a drug listed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, and it remains unacceptable for any safety-sensitive employee subject to drug testing under the Department of Transportation’s drug testing regulations to use marijuana.

November Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The November Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Topics include Carbon Dioxide Asphyxiation and DOT Records Retention—What to Keep and How Long.

New Members

GAWDA is pleased to welcome new Distributor Member Independent Welding Supply of Clackamas, OR.

Industry Beat
(what people are talking about)

Weld Specialty's expanded showroom.

Branching Out (Milwaukee, WI) • Weld Specialty Supply expanded its Milwaukee facility, adding 7,500 sq. ft. to its warehouse, 400 sq. ft. to its showroom and 4 new loading docks. The company also built a new 10,000-sq.-ft. facility in Fon Du Lac, WI, which is roughly halfway between the company’s locations in Milwaukee and Kaukauna, WI. Weld Specialty Supply now has 3 locations in Wisconsin.

House Upkeep (Corpus Christi, TX) • Weldinghouse hired new purchasing agent Michelle Charles on October 27. Charles is new to the gases and welding industry but has extensive experience in purchasing activities. Previously, Charles worked in the aircraft, pharmaceutical and food industries. In addition to her purchasing agent responsibilities, Charles maintains Weldinghouse's inventory status.

Don Meghbaran Jennifer Mayer

Staff Improvements (Maspeth, NY) • AWISCO added purchasing manager Don Meghbaran and process improvement coordinator Jennifer Mayer to its staff. Meghbaran has more than 10 years' procurement and accounting experience. He is responsible for refining and automating AWISCO's purchasing. Mayer has 4 years' experience in industrial purchasing and inventory control. She is responsible for internal process improvement and special projects.

Matheson Tri-Gas Adds Divisions and Reorganizes Management (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Matheson Tri-Gas reorganized the company's field operations in an effort to standardize best business practices from across the MTG team. Five Customer-Facing Divisions report to COO Scott Kallman, who is now also president. Those 5 divisions are: International & Helium; Electronics & Solar; Bulk; Packaged; and Specialty Gas, Equipment and Chemical. The organization will utilize Supply Chain Management to optimize operations.

Hydrogen Horizon (Luling, LA) • Air Products signed a long-term supply contract with Monsanto Company to build a new world-scale hydrogen production plant in Luling, LA. The plant is scheduled to be on-stream in January 2012.

Brand Change (Murray Hill, NJ) • Linde North America’s 2006 acquisition Spectra Gases, is changing its name to Linde. The brand change is intended to fully integrate Spectra Gases into Linde’s global research and development, production and distribution network.

Anne Ferro Cynthia Quarterman Erroll G. Southers

Stamp of Approval (Washington, D.C.) • The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee voted on and favorably reported the following nominations: Anne Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; Cynthia Quarterman, administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation; and Erroll G. Southers, assistant secretary of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration).

In Memoriam Dan Steele Dan Steele, Norco Inc. President Dan Steele, 70, was one of the first employees hired by Larry Kissler immediately after Mr. Kissler purchased Norco Inc. in 1968. Mr. Steele worked for Norco for more than 33 years, serving as president from 1991 until 1999 and on the board of directors until 2005. Mr. Steele recruited, trained and mentored many members of the company’s current management staff. Norco President James Kissler notes that Mr. Steele established a high standard for employees through his work ethic, his integrity and his steadfastness. “You could always rely on him,” says Kissler.

GAWDA News

Profit Planning Group • The Executive Committee has decided to discontinue GAWDA's participation in Dr. Albert Bates' Compensation and Profit Surveys/Studies due to a decrease in member participation. The Profit Planning Group still offers programs for individual companies that may be of interest to members if they desire comparisons to other distribution industries.

GAWDA Member Testimonials • Is your GAWDA membership valuable to your business? Send GAWDA (gawda@gawda.org) a quote to be used on the testimonial page of the Web site, www.gawda.org/About/testimonials.cfm, or as a marketing document.

Recording of the Employee Free Choice Act Webinar • Visit GAWDA PodCast Page and listen to the EFCA Webinar Recording.

Save the Date – 2010 Spring Management Conference • In 2010, GAWDA will have only one SMC to be held in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on April 18-20. Please mark your calendars! You can view the tentative schedule of events here.

DOT, OSHA and EPA Reference Materials Now Available • Get your complimentary copy of the GAWDA Reference Materials (formerly Compliance Manuals). The new DOT, OSHA and EPA Reference Materials, updated by the GAWDA Consultants and Safety Committees, were distributed to attendees at the annual convention in San Antonio. If you did not attend the convention and would like to receive the USB drives containing these materials, please complete this request form and fax it to 215-963-9785.

GAWDA Clearinghouse • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for the month, it can be viewed here.

Workshops, Web Conferences & Seminars

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