ASSOCIATIONS

By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 7/1/2000

BSA annual convention focuses on e-commerce.

The Bearing Specialists Assn. 2000 Annual Convention, "BSA People: Key to the New Millennium" held in Asheville, N.C., in May, offered attendees proactive programming on the role of e-commerce, as well as on traditional business practices in the distribution channel.

IndustryWeek's editor in chief John Brandt offered the keynote presentation, combining industry trends and forecasts with the how-to methods leading companies use to manage change.

Bruce Merrifield, of the Merrifield Consulting Group, led attendees through the "Nuts and Bolts of E-commerce," then moderated "B2B Perspectives," a four-part presentation on new business models from the customer's point of view. "B2B Perspectives" participants included: Ted Fedorchak, IBM Interchange Services for e-business; Rolf Nordahl, SKF, endorsia.com; Steve Hartkopf, Affiliated Distributors, SupplyForce.com; and Chris Groobey of EqualFooting.com. BSA followed the program with information technology roundtables.

Convention attendees also elected officers for 2000-2001: president, Terry Tillsley, Transmission Supplies Ltd.; first vice president, Scott MacPherson, U.S. Bearings & Drives; second vice president, Peter Fitzpatrick, Bearings Specialty Co.; treasurer, Craig Gipson, Gipson Bearings Co.; and chairman, Bruce Hill, Minnesota Bearing Co. Newly elected directors serving three-year terms on the board are: Nick Nicholson, Bearings & Drives; Bill Kiley, Miller Bearings; and Tom Miller, Motion Industries.

For more information, call BSA at (630) 858-3838.

NAW offers new book on consolidation.

"Winning Strategies for a Consolidating Distribution Industry" by Adam J. Fein is the newest text to be offered on the National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors' publications Web site, www.nawpubs.org.

"Winning Strategies" is designed to help distributors build a game plan for the future. Fein and his staff at Pembroke Consulting use case studies and describe methodologies, approaches and resources that address the following crucial questions:

• Should you get big? Can you grow larger through an alliance? Would consolidation still be a threat?

• Should you get focused? Is it time to concentrate on specialized services that boost your competitiveness?

• Should you get out? Could it be that the time has come for a sale? What will happen to you, your employees, your reputation?

For more information on this and other NAW publications, go to the NAW publications site, or call 202-872-0885.

Pump industry welcomes comprehensive Web site.

The Hydraulic Institute has launched www.pumps.org, a comprehensive Web site devoted to the pump industry. The site serves as a primary resource for manufacturer/supplier contact information, industry news and educational materials, as well as pump standards and books.

Key Web site features include:

• SupplierFinder, which allows users to easily identify the pump manufacturer or supplier that best serves their needs

• E-store, which offers users access to training and educational materials

• News section, which posts industry press releases, presentations delivered at HI-sponsored events, issues of the HI Pump Forum newsletter, and progress summary of HI activities

• Pump standards information, including cross-section diagrams of over 100 different types of pumps.

For more information, visit www.pumps.org, or call (973) 267-9700.

EASA bestows posthumous award.

The Electrical Apparatus Service Assn. posthumously named James Anderson as the 2000 recipient of its Exceptional Achievement and Service Award. The award was presented at the closing ceremonies of the association's annual trade show in Anaheim, Calif., in April. Accepting the award were Anderson's wife, Grace Anderson, his son Art, and his daughters Kristine Anderson and Karen Kirschoffer. Anderson was an EASA member for more than 45 years and served as international president in 1972-73.

For more information, call EASA at (314) 993-2220.

Send Association News to senior editor Susan Srikonda, 275 Washington St., Newton, Mass., 02458; call (617) 558-4722; fax to (617) 558-4327; or e-mail to ssrikonda@cahners.com.