NEWS FROM GAWDA HEADQUARTERS

Committee Roundup

GAWDA’s Committees work hard to make sure GAWDA members get the maximum value for their dollars. GAWDA extends its thanks to each of the Committee chairs for their hard work volunteering their time. Below is an overview of what each Committee brings to GAWDA.

The Insurance Trustees meet at the Annual Convention each year. Currently, 115 GAWDA members participate in the GAWDA Group Life Insurance Trust Program, covering 6,500 employees and 4,500 dependents. Members received a 23 percent dividend and premium reduction in 2009. The chairperson for the Insurance Trustees is Gary Stoneback, vice president for operations at Metro Welding Supply Company (Detroit, MI), who also serves as chair of the Leadership Development Committee. “At Convention, we will roll out the new Board to be voted upon by the general membership,” Stoneback says, which will complete the committee’s primary task of picking next year’s Board.

The Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Craig Wood, president – weld division, O.E. Meyer Company (Sandusky, OH), meets on the first Monday of each month. Topics broached in 2009 have included welding fume litigation and the FDA guidance doctrine that will be updated in 2009. “Given the magnitude of the fume litigation issue, the committee has done a good job of keeping the membership abreast of cases as they work their way through the system,” Wood says.

Jenny McCall, president of WESCO Gas & Welding Supply (Prichard, AL), chairs the Membership Committee, responsible for the overall promotion of GAWDA membership and activities. “Our goal throughout 2009 has been to maintain a strong foundation of quality members during these times,” McCall says. To accomplish this, the Committee has sent out e-mail and direct mail correspondence to inform members of internal programs and education opportunities.

The strategic goal of the Management Information Committee is to support members by extending the use of technology through initiatives such as software standards, webinars, articles, and Web-based training. Chaired by Chris Dominiak, manager of information systems at Norco (Boise, ID), the committee acts as a liaison between software companies and vendors. Recent projects include the GAWDA Price File Standard and writing articles in every issue of Welding & Gases Today.

The Human Resources Committee, chaired by Robert Jackson, president of Jackson Welding Supply Company (Rochester, NY), updated the HR Recommendations Manual for the first time since 2006 and distributed the updates without cost to the membership via flash drive at the Spring Management Conferences. The updates are also posted on GAWDA’s Web site. Jackson says, “There are two open seats on the Committee. Contact me if you are interested.”

The Safety Committee promotes safe practices and raises awareness of safety issues. “The Committee is made up of a good cross-section of the industry and we do our best to provide guidance,” says Chair Bonnie Stanage of Matheson Tri-Gas.

The purpose of the Industry Partnering Committee is to “provide a proactive forum for suppliers and distributors dedicated to the continual improvement of the gas and welding supply equipment distribution industry,” says Chair Robert Ranc Sr., vice president of sales at Superior Products. The committee meets annually at one SMC and Convention to facilitate communication between suppliers and distributors.

The Young Executives Committee is for up-and-coming individuals age 45 or under who are working in any aspect of the industry. “We serve GAWDA as a way for young people in the industry to meet and network,” says Chair Richelle Smith-Brecht, executive vice president of S. J. Smith Company (Davenport, IA). “It gives them a good way to talk with people of the same age and experience level.” For 2009, the Young Executives Committee sponsored the Biltmore gathering at the Asheville SMC and the margarita- and guacamole-making session in San Antonio.