The International Sanitary Supply Assn. announced that the recent proposed amendment to the association bylaws opening membership to facility service providers in North America has been approved by a majority of members' votes. The bylaw change creates a new membership category for U.S. and Canadian FSPs, which include building service contractors and in-house service providers.

Welcoming FSP individuals and organizations to ISSA's current membership of 4,700 members provides an opportunity to bring the industry together and elevate the professionalism and image of the cleaning industry worldwide, according to an ISSA statement.

For more information, visit www.issa.com.

NIBA-The Belting Assn. will be in New Orleans for its 2005 Annual Convention, Sept. 17–20. NIBA's program committee met in January to plan the convention program, and education, networking and social events have been preliminarily slated.

Saturday's agenda includes committee meetings in the morning, new member orientation that afternoon, and the convention opener that night. On Sunday, the program offers opening ceremonies and the keynote speaker in the morning, and tours in the afternoon. Monday is scheduled for facilitated breakout sessions in the morning, golf that afternoon, and an evening of networking dine-arounds. Tuesday's agenda includes the conference booth program, a spouse/companion program, and the convention's farewell activities that evening.

For more information, visit www.niba.org.

The Board of Directors of the National Fastener Distributors Assn. announced that after more than eight years as NFDA executive vice president, Dave Merrifield left the association. His departure was effective April 1.

Speaking for the Board, NFDA president Tim Meyer praised Merrifield, saying, "Dave has introduced many exciting programs over the past eight years. We appreciate his years of service, and wish him well."

NFDA is currently conducting a national search for a new executive vice president.

For more information, visit www.nfda-fastener.org

Network '05, a collaborative new event hosted by the American Supply Assn. and the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors-National Assn., will be held Sept. 7–10 in Orlando, Fla. Network '05 will be the one, consolidated industry program that will include the annual meetings of both ASA and PHCC, as well as a brand new combined series of programs that will bring together the manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors in a collaborative setting for the first time.

The agenda includes: the PHCC Golf Tournament and off-site welcome event; both associations' annual meetings; networking meals; a keynote presentation by Capt. Jim Lovell and Gene Krantz of the Apollo 13 mission; a table-top business session; joint seminars; optional tours; and a closing reception.

For more information, visit www.asa.net.

kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com