ISD announces strategic plan. The Independent Sealing Distributors board of directors met recently to "envision the association's future and to plan for the next 12 to 18 months," according to president Don Bybee. Having surveyed members earlier about the direction and makeup of the group, the ISD board accepted a major goal and four specific objectives.

"ISD will become the world's leading forum for independent fluid sealing distributors, to be accomplished by: certifying fluid sealing specialists worldwide; establishing ISD chapters on every continent; becoming the premier source of industry information and reference; and gaining 100 percent participation of worldwide fluid sealing manufacturers and independent distributors," according to the mission stated by the board.

The board is also developing a one-year Action Plan for 2002, based on long- and short-term decisions and goals.

For more information, contact ISD at (410) 263-1014.

AMTDA elects new leaders. The American Machine Tool Distributors' Assn. elected Robert Johnson 2002-2003 association chairman. He is president of J&H Machine Tools, Inc., of Charlotte, N.C.

Other officers elected at the association's annual meeting in April include: chairman-elect, Ralph Hegman of Hegman Machine Tool, Maple Grove, Minn.; treasurer, Clark Smith of Smith Machinery Co., Salt Lake City, Utah; secretary, James Addy of Addy Machinery Co., Inc., Detroit, Mich.

ISMA develops long-range plan. The Industrial Supply Manufacturers Assn. strategic planning group recently held a session to assess the condition of the industrial supply chain and "generate a long-range plan to govern its direction," according to Charles Stockinger, ISMA executive director.

The session stressed the need for a continued partnership with the Industrial Distribution Assn., as well as the need to expand trading partner involvement in trade shows, conventions and other initiatives.

Some issues addressed by the group include: a focus on e-commerce initiatives; improving the understanding on Internet-based software development; and benchmarking other channels and associations with high adoption rates.

BSA elects slate of officers. The Bearing Specialists Assn. elected 2002-2003 officers at their annual convention: president, Peter Fitzpatrick of Bearing Specialty Co., Canton, Mass.; first vice president, Jeff Ramras of Applied Industrial Technologies, Cleveland, Ohio; second vice president, Craig Gipson of Gipson Bearing & Supply, West Homestead, Pa.; and secretary/treasurer, Doug Savage of Bearing Service, Inc., Livonia, Mich.

Bishop joins EASA staff. Tom Bishop, a 32-year veteran of the electrical apparatus industry, joined the staff of the Electrical Apparatus Service Assn. recently as a technical support specialist. He was chairman of EASA's Technical Services Committee for five years.

"During his tenure, he was instrumental in securing ANSI recognition for EASA's Recommended Practice for the Repair of Rotating Electrical Apparatus," said EASA president and CEO Linda Raynes.

Also, EASA's annual convention will be held June 16-19 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sessions will include Mechanical Repair Tips and Troubleshooting & Repair of Servo Motors.

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

FPDA welcomes new members. The following companies are new distributor members of the Fluid Power Distributors Assn.: Hei-Tek Automation, Phoenix, Ariz.; Doig Corp., Cedarburg, Wis.; Power Transmission Products, Portland, Ore.; Spectrum Industrial Products, Berea, Ohio; and Universal Hydraulics International Ltd., Twinsburg, Ohio.

The following companies are new associate manufacturer members: The Sheffer Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio; System Seals Inc., Cleveland, Ohio; Bucher Hydraulics USA, Kenosha, Wis.; and Allenair Corp., Mineola, N.Y.

FPDA also endorsed Sentry Insurance Co. of Stevens Point, Wis., as its business insurance carrier.

"Insurance rates are climbing sky-high. Our partnership with Sentry Insurance should afford our members an alternate to those climbing rates," said FPDA executive director Paul Prass.

Send Association News to associate editor Al Tuttle, 275 Washington St., Newton, Mass., 02458; call (617) 558-4770; fax to (617) 558-4327; or e-mail to atuttle@cahners.com.