ISSA is accepting applications for its 2006 ISSA Foundation Scholarship program, which makes scholarships available to ISSA-member company employees and their family members. The majority of the nearly 50 scholarship awards to be presented for the 2006–07 academic year are $3,000 each. To be eligible, applicants must plan to attend an accredited four-year institution of higher learning in the fall of 2006. Winners will be selected based on the criteria stated in the application (available on the Foundation's Web site).

Last year, more than 50 scholarships were awarded, amounting to more than $143,000. In 2006, a total of 24 District Scholarships will be awarded to residents of the ISSA membership districts in the United States. More than 15 designated awards also are available.

Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2006.

For more information, visit www.issafoundation.org.

The National Assn. of Electrical Distributors announced that 16 companies have been named as new members in the association. Said Ken Koza, president of H.H. Barnum in Brighton, Mich., "We joined NAED to be involved and network with other distributors, to learn how they do business, and to improve our business based on what we learn."

NAED's new members include: America's Best Electricmart, Inc., Ascent Electrical Supply, Associated of Los Angeles, Best Lighting Supply, CES Electrical Supply, Courtesy Electric Wholesale Corp., Danlar, Inc., Evergreen Supply Co., General Machinery Co., Inc., H.H. Barnum Co., IEC Supply, LLC, Lighting Supply Co., Lite House Supply, Paramount E.S., Service Electric Supply, Inc., and Villa Lighting Supply, Inc.

For more information, visit www.naed.org.

The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. Foundation announced that it raised almost $163,000 in 2005, representing a 42 percent increase in contributions compared to 2004.

Highlights from the 2005 Foundation Fund Drive include: 143 companies, organizations and individuals contributed; 24 companies, organizations and individuals supported the Foundation for the first time; 66 companies made leadership-level donations of $1,000 or more; and 31 percent of continuing supporters increased their contributions in 2005.

Stakeholder contributors ($5,000–$14,000) include: the Assn. for High Technology Distribution; BC Bearing Engineers, Ltd.; Bearing Belt Chain Co., Inc.; Industrial Supply Assn.; and Martin Sprocket & Gear, Inc. Benefactor contributors ($2,500–$4,999) include: American Supply Assn. Education Foundation, Inc.; Gates Corp.; Kaman Industrial Technologies Corp.; NSK Corp.; Oilite Bearing Division; and The Timken Co.

For more information, visit www.idcareers.org.

The Electronics Representatives Assn. and the National Electronic Distributors Assn. are joining forces to co-sponsor the 2006 Electronics Industry Sales and Marketing Conference, March 28–31, at Saddlebrook resort in Tampa, Fla. According to ERA, the conference will be the industry's first educational and networking forum designed specifically for reps, distributors and manufacturers to focus on their sales and marketing strategies.

For more information, visit www.era.org.

kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com