Imagine that your sports team runs out of the locker room and onto the field to find the stadium silent. There are no cheerleaders, no band, and the stands are empty. No television cameras broadcasting the game, because no one is at home watching. There are no fans – only the players, the coaches and the owners.
|
GAWDAwiki is quickly becoming a major source of industry information, definitions and education. |
Sometimes GAWDA feels like that. We have a team made up of the Board, committees, owners and senior employees. But beyond those players directly involved in GAWDA, where is everyone else? GAWDA is made up of companies, not just individuals. Does the guy on the loading dock or the young lady in the marketing department even know about GAWDA? Does anyone outside the front office benefit from your company’s membership?
Every employee in your company is a member of GAWDA and is entitled to the same benefits. I realize you cannot afford the time out of the office or the expense to send every employee to the SMC or Annual Convention. But there are GAWDA member benefits that all of your employees can utilize at no cost.
Publications
Does your copy of Welding & Gases Today sit in your inbox or on the table in your foyer? The current distribution is to key contacts and each branch. GAWDA recently announced that additional copies were available on a first come, first served basis. Do you put a distribution slip on the cover and circulate it around the company? Does it find its way to the lunch room or other public places? One company told me that they tear out my column and other articles and put them on bulletin boards near the time clocks and in the restrooms. I do not mind if my column is read while you’re standing up or sitting down!
What about our electronic publications? The biweekly Connection contains a lot of industry news, regulatory updates and association announcements. Feel free to forward it to every employee. Every employee 45 years or younger can be a member of the Young Executives and receive GAWDA Edge. Just send headquarters an e-mail with the e-mails of every employee you want to receive it, or again just forward it to them. Each issue contains a profile of one of their industry peers, industry and new product news, and information and advice they can use to grow in their careers within your company.
Web Site and Wiki
GAWDA is currently spending a lot of time and money to totally revamp our Web site. Our goal is to make the vast amount of information easier to locate, to make it easier for you to register for meetings, pay your dues and update your membership information. The Wiki, at www.gawdawiki.org or easily accessible from www.gawda.org, is quickly becoming a major source of industry information, definitions and education. Do your employees have GAWDA.org as one of their favorites or are they watching dancing cat videos on YouTube?
Reference Materials
GAWDA’s committees and consultants have updated all of the Reference Materials (formerly called Compliance Manuals) on DOT, Medical Gases, OSHA, EPA and Human Resources. USBs were handed out at the SMCs and Annual Convention last year, and order forms are on the Web site. Feel free to make copies and pass them around the company or post the material on your company’s internal files.
GAWDA U Online
GAWDA U Online is now FREE! This is a valuable training source for new employees. GAWDA has also committed funding to develop new content to ensure that the existing content stays current. What are you waiting for?
Fan Base
GAWDA will be stronger and able to contribute more to the industry if a greater number of your employees are taking advantage of our free education and information resources. Like any sports team, the larger the fan base and the energy you can create, the better the team plays.
 |
Meet the Author Jenny McCall is 2009-2010 GAWDA president and president of WESCO Gas & Welding Supply. She can be reached by e-mail at jennym@wescoweld.com or at 251-457-8681. |
