INDIANAPOLIS — Among the topics discussed at the semi-annual meeting of the Independent Distributors Cooperative-USA this spring was growth – increasing services, adding to its Web site, and purchasing the distribution center/office building the group now leases, in order to expand. The meeting was held April 17-18, at the Adams Mark Hotel in Indianapolis.

IDC-USA celebrated its 15^th anniversary with another stellar sales year of 13-percent growth, said president Jack Bailey. The cooperative of power transmission specialists is experiencing growth at a time of unprecedented consolidation in co-ops and buying groups in general and distribution in particular. IDC-USA is a bearing and power transmission cooperative that has 160 distributor locations and $500 million in sales a year. In his presentation to IDC-USA members, National Cooperative Bank's managing director, Barry Silver, described the latent power of cooperatives working together as a sleeping giant.

"More should be getting together, working together for the good of each," Silver said in response to an audience question. "The reason they don't, I believe, is that they just don't know the other potential partner exists."

To the contrary, IDC has partnerships with several other co-ops, including IDI-Independent Distributors Inc. of Canada. Two IDI representatives made a presentation to members about a new power transmission components catalog that will feature a generic part numbering system. The group will continue to explore more partnership opportunities, and is trying to become more involved in national account supply, Bailey said.

In other news, IDC's Leader of the Pack Award for overall purchases went for the second straight year to Weimer Bearing & Transmission, Inc., of Menomonee Falls, Wis. Another award for purchases, the Top Dog Award, went to Akron Bearing, Akron, Ohio. Koyo Corp. U.S.A. won Supplier of the Year honors, and Kelly Supply Co., which joined IDC in 2001, won Rookie of the Year.