The Industrial Supply Manufacturers Assn. has renamed the ISMA/I.D.A. Spring Convention the Industrial Supply Convention, or ISCON. The name change is effective with ISCON 2004, to be held in Orlando, Fla., May 23–25.

"ISCON will be a new beginning for a nearly 100-year-old tradition," said Charles M. Stockinger, executive director of ISMA. "We hope the acronym will catch on as an easy way of referring to the premier event in the industrial supply channel, both domestically and internationally."

Groundwork for the change began in May in New Orleans when the spring convention was opened for the first time to non-I.D.A. industrial distributors. ISCON will focus on providing program content that has one primary goal — adding value to the convention experience.

For more information, call (216) 241-7333 or visit www.ismaonline.org.

The Independent Distributors of Electronics Assn. appointed the following officers: Nick Davis, president and CEO of Husky International Electronics, Inc. in Colo., as the association's president; Billy Pursley, vice president of trading for Smith and Associates in Houston, as vice president; and Homey Shorooghi, president of Advanced MP Technology, as secretary/treasurer.

For more information, call (609) 799-4900 or visit www.idofea.org.

The National Assn. of Electrical Distributors' Education & Research Foundation is seeking research topic ideas and concepts from electrical distributors and manufacturers for its next round of research topics. Currently sponsoring research on increasing distributor profitability, the Foundation's goal is to commission research studies that will help all members of the supply chain operate their businesses better, and prepare to meet the challenges of the future.

E-mail ideas or concepts to mjaworowski@naed.org.

The Electrical Apparatus Service Assn. announced its spring 2004 seminar schedule. Principles of Large AC Motors, Jan. 30–31 in St. Louis, will examine topics including motor applications, safety considerations, vibration and reconditioning. Mechanical Repair Fundamentals of Electric Motors, Mar. 19–20 in Philadelphia, will address the basic mechanical aspects of motor repair. Fundamentals of DC Operations and Repair Tips, Apr. 16–17 in Atlanta, will cover DC motor operations and repair tips. Root Cause Failure Analysis, May 7–8 in Las Vegas, will explore the cause of motor failures from the most common to the unusual.

For more information or to enroll, call (314) 993-2220 or visit www.easa.com.

The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. welcomed three new distributor members to its ranks. Gulf Coast Bearing & Supply Co. in Corpus Christi, Texas; S.C. Bearing & Industrial Supply in Signal Hill, Calif.; and Voorhies Supply Co., LLC in New Iberia, La., all joined the association in the third quarter of 2003. New manufacturer members include DSI/Dynamatic in Sturtevant, Wis.; G&G Manufacturing Co. in Omaha, Neb.; Machine Guard & Cover Co. in Holland, Mich.; Oriental Motor USA Corp. in Torrance, Calif.; and Sprint Electric Ltd. in Arundel, West Sussex, United Kingdom.

For more information, call (312) 876-9461 or visit www.ptda.org.

kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com