BREAKING NEWS

Convention Registration Opens

Members can now register to attend GAWDA's 63rd Annual Convention, taking place in San Francisco, CA, on September 15-19. Visit the Current Events page to download the Convention Registration Form, as well as the Exhibitor Application, Golf Tournament and Gives Back donation forms. Please note: Contact Booth Program exhibitors who would like to be listed in the 2007 Exhibitors Guide in GAWDA's magazine, Welding & Gases Today, should return their Exhibitor Application form to GAWDA as soon as possible in order to meet the magazine's publication deadline. Individual and corporate donations to GAWDA Gives Back can be made by filling out the donation form available on www.gawda.org and faxing it to GAWDA Headquarters. Online convention registration will be available by July 13.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Minimum Retail Pricing Ban

On June 28, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that minimum retail price agreements between manufacturers and distributors do not automatically violate antitrust laws. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy observed that minimum price agreements can benefit consumers by enabling retailers to invest in customer service or provide more retail space to a specific product without fear of being undercut by discount rivals.

Dive Into Summer!

The latest issue of GAWDA Edge, the e-magazine for young professionals in the gases and welding industry, is available at www.gawdaedge.org. Discover how to keep yourself safe this summer both on and off the job, get to know the history of GAWDA, and learn more about GAWDA's Young Executives group. Plus, find out how you can deepen your knowledge of the gases and welding industry, even under the sea! GAWDA Edge is also available in mobile and dial-up versions. And don't forget to visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other up-and-coming industry professionals.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

July Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The July 2007 Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Topics include Hazard Communication Standard, Hazardous Materials Security Program, Preparing for an FDA Inspection and Respirator Safety Tips.

NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Associate Members Generon IGS of Houston, TX, and Helium & Balloons Across America of Charlotte, NC.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Woonsocket Supply Sold (Woonsocket, RI) • Woonsocket Supply Company was sold to New Bedford Welding Supply, based in New Bedford, MA. The company now operates as NBWS, LLC dba Woonsocket Welding Supply, and will remain in its present location. President Adam Shaw will remain with the company through the transition.

Williams Metals and Welding Alloys Wins Award (Wayne, PA) • Williams Metals and Welding Alloys received a Technical Achievement Award from Worthington Cylinders. The award recognized two technical endeavors on the part of the company: Working with Alcotec to prove that aluminum drum wire can be modified to produce the same consistent feed direction as bulk spools of wire, and working with Select-Arc to show that metal-cored wire can produce a high rate of welding speed with consistent accuracy. "The award is a testament to how all of our people work to support our customers," says Joe Walton, president of Williams Metals and Welding Alloys. "There's a lot of satisfaction in being recognized for our daily efforts in being on call for a customer and working with them to help their business run better."

McBride Named Airgas Great Lakes President (Radnor, PA) • Airgas, Inc. named Kevin M. McBride president of Airgas Great Lakes, headquartered in Cleveland, OH. McBride joined Airgas in March 2007 as VP of business development for Airgas Merchant Gases, after serving as VP and general manager of the Linde Bulk Business Group, which Airgas acquired in March to create Airgas Merchant Gases.

Praxair Appoints Distributor Marketing Managers (Danbury, CT) • Praxair, Inc. appointed Joe Chiolo as distributor marketing manager for the North American Industrial Gases East Region and Joe Lehman as distributor marketing manager for the North Region. Both will be responsible for key growth initiatives, strategy and support for the independent distributor market. Chiolo has held a variety of sales, marketing and technical support positions during his 19 years with the company. Lehman, formerly account manager, also has been with Praxair for 19 years and has held positions in territory sales, national accounts and core account management.

Jackson Safety Names CEO and VP (St. Louis, MO) • Jackson Safety has appointed Thomas Burns as CEO. Burns most recently served as president of Burnes Group, a Texas-based manufacturer and marketer of consumer products. Mark Johnson was named senior VP of sales and marketing, and will lead Jackson's U.S. sales and marketing organization.

Iffland Joins Western International (Bellville, TX) • Western International Gas & Cylinders welcomed Steve Iffland as VP of business development. Iffland will focus on opportunities to expand Western's existing business with additional items that will complement current product and service offerings. He brings 22 years of experience in the gas and welding supply industry, most recently with Norris Cylinder Company.

Western Enterprises Appoints Managers (Westlake, OH) • Ruth McDermott was promoted to key account manager for Western Enterprises. McDermott, a 13-year Western veteran, most recently served as customer service manager. Irene Moore joined Western Enterprises as customer service manager. Moore brings over 18 years of customer contact management experience, including all facets of call center operations and support.

Douglas Named Sales Manager (Frederick, MD) • Geoff Douglas was named district sales manager for ABICOR Binzel USA. Douglas will cover sales territory comprising Michigan and northern Indiana.

Midalloy Moves (St. Louis, MO) • Midalloy moved to a new, expanded warehouse and corporate office on June 15. At 20,000 sq. ft., the new facility is double the size of Midalloy's former plant. The move enables Midalloy to better serve its increased customer base with added support staff and increased inventory. The company's new address is 630 Axminister Drive, St. Louis, MO.

GAWDA NEWS

Dick Smith of Lincoln Electric addresses members at the Eastern Zone Regional Meeting in Beaver, PA.

Eastern Zone Meets • On June 12, Heather Ferrand of Butler Gas Products and Kerry Sabo of Lincoln Electric hosted a Regional Meeting and Golf Outing at the Seven Oaks Country Club in Beaver, PA. In attendance were 68 members, including GAWDA President Bob Ames, who gave a GAWDA update and introduced the GAWDA Consultant video. Other speakers included Pat Murphy, president of Linde, who addressed "The New Linde," and Dick Smith of Lincoln Electric, who talked about Environmental Systems. Forty-eight members participated in the golf outing, including winners Jeff Clay of Harsco (first place) and Joe Mammarelli of Alloy Oxygen (second place).

HR Report Available • The July 2007 HR Manager's Legal Reporter and supplemental QuikStep Trainer are now available for download at www.gawda.org.

Clearinghouse Updated • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for July. For more information, visit www.gawda.org.

2007 Regional Meetings Register now for a Regional Meeting near you! Meet with customers and suppliers, network with your peers, and get some insight on the industry. It's an unbeatable value! Do you live in the Western Zone and would like to receive announcements for Regional Meetings in the Eastern Zone? To fill out the form to receive additional announcements to meetings outside your zone, visit www.gawda.org. The regional calendar will be updated as new meeting dates become available.                2007 Regional Meeting Dates                ZONE DATE LOCATION REGIONAL CHAIR PHONE CE July 20 Naperville, IL Hector Villarreal Weldcoa 630-806-2000 W July 25-27 Union, WA Dan Enz Gordon Sales Co. 360-705-2391 SE July 29-30 Southern Pines, NC Kent Buzard CTR 803-324-8101 CE August 2 Lockbourne, OH Jim Smith DeLille Oxygen Company 614-444-1177 SE August 12-13 Birmingham, AL Gregg Waltman Linde Gas 205-322-9990 CE August 15-16 Watertown, SD Cindy Day Smith Equipment 605-882-8268 CE August 16 Fort Wayne, IN Ken Flora Welder Services, Inc. 260-750-7705 SW August 20-21 Kansas City, MO David Hanchette Kirk Welding Supply 816-221-3040 CE August 21 Merrimac, WI Brad Peterson Mississippi Welders Supply Company 507-454-5231 EA August 28 Gettysburg, PA Doug Morton Harsco GasServ 717-443-0752 W October 5 Lodi, CA Rob Kinney Airgas 916-759-6445

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. 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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