I.D.A. launches membership promotions

The Industrial Distribution Assn. kicked off a contest tied to its I.D.A. Rewards Member Recruitment Drive. For each distributor name referred for membership by April 1, 2003, participating distributors will be entered to win a free registration to the ISMA/I.D.A. Spring Convention, May 17-19 in New Orleans. For each nominee that joins I.D.A., the member submitting the name will get a gift and a chance in a $1,000 drawing when the campaign ends April 30.

The participant recruiting the most new members will win a cruise for two to the Bahamas. The second-place recruiter wins a free registration to the Spring Convention. For more information, call I.D.A. at (404) 266-3991.

NFDA accepts scholarship applications

The National Fastener Distributors Assn. announced the availability of applications for the Gilchrist Foundation Fastener Scholarships, awarded to full- and part-time students working or intending to work in the fastener industry and are now affiliated with member companies. The scholarships, started by Robbie and Gina Gilchrist in 2000, can be used for any level of education. For more information, contact NFDA at (216) 579-1571.

NAW sponsors management course

The National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors will sponsor its Wholesale Distribution Executive Management Course June 8-13, 2003, at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Classes include Facing the Forces of Change®, Future Scenarios for Wholesale Distribution, The Ups and Downs of E-Commerce, and Financial Management and Control.

Attendees will live at the university's hotel and attend discussion-led classes daily. Teams of students will study in the evening and present their reports at the end of the course on how they would fix ailing distribution companies. For more information, contact NAW at (202) 872-0885.

MHEDA presents Sales Boot Camps

The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Assn. will host four sessions of Sales Boot Camp this year, in two experience levels.

Level One is the beginner's session, March 20-22 and September 18-20, at Doubletree Guest Suites South, Dayton, Ohio. This program offers three days of selling skills training that include building relationships, communication, people skills and selling benefits.

Level Two, scheduled May 16-17 and November 7-8 at the same location, offers two days of advanced selling skills and role-playing. Attendees are eligible for credits toward the Material Handling Sales Professional certificate. Completion of both levels earns the certificate. For more information, contact MHEDA at (847) 680-3500.

NFPA marks 50 th Anniversary

The National Fluid Power Assn. marks 50 years as the representative group for manufacturers of fluid power products with a new logo and an interactive presentation at www.nfpa.com.

The presentation, a timeline of milestones in fluid power, features industry leaders discussing the past and the future. The yearlong celebration includes a membership campaign and a commemorative art print signed by attendees at NFPA's Spring Conference and Annual Meeting in February.

ISD launches learning program

The Independent Sealing Distributors begins a new program format for training, April 25-28, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. ISD members requested several training topics in recent surveys.

In conjunction with its sister association, the Fluid Sealing Assn., ISD will present multiple sessions on a variety of those topics including fluid sealing processes, hydraulic seals, bolting technologies, gasketing, failure analysis and compression packing.

Presenters include Edward Hayman of Providence Bolting Technologies and Mark Latino of Reliability.com.

NIFS sells out floor space

The National Industrial Fastener Show/East sold its original 200 floor display spaces and added 50 more at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. According to officials, new companies and those who had not displayed for several years are signing up.

The show, scheduled for May 8-9, could be moved to a larger hall located next to the current facility, according to show officials. For more information, contact NIFS/EAST at (614) 895-1279.

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@reedbusiness.com.