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Weiler Walked the Talk
The partnering relationship that distributors and manufacturers of gases
and welding products enjoy today was practically nonexistent in the mid-1940s.
The manufacturers' penchant for independently establishing pricing and
terms, with little regard for the distribution channel, created a hostile
environment in which each viewed the other with suspicion.
Many manufacturers were selling direct to customers, bypassing distributors as the exclusive medium through which products should be sold. Some began private-branding their products. Other manufacturers required that once a distributor established the account, that account would revert back to the manufacturer on a direct basis.
Many distributors felt pressured and began talking about forming an organization. They believed it could strengthen their role in the industry and address the growing hostility between suppliers and the distribution channel. But it was Herbert Weiler of Weiler Welding Company in Dayton, Ohio, who walked the talk. Weiler, a distributor of gas equipment and supplies, was unhappy with some of his manufacturers' requirements. He felt that a distributor association would foster dialogue with manufacturers and encourage the beginning of a fresh relationship. Herbert Weiler put his heart into laying down the groundwork for a distributors' association.
Grassroots Action
During the summer of 1945, Herbert Weiler met in his office with manufacturer's
representative George H. Ohmer, whose own office was housed in Weiler's
building. The two discussed how an association would benefit the industry.
That same day, Weiler received a surprise visit from his friend V.S. Rice
of Virginia Welding Supply Company in Charleston, West Virginia. Rice
jumped into the conversation, agreeing that an association was sorely
needed. Shortly after, Ed Caluwaert of O.K.I. Welding Supply Co. in Cincinnati
became part of the discussions, which intensified over the next few months.
The four turned their frustrations into a passion for bettering the gases
and welding industry.
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With a concept in place, it was time to take action. Weiler and Rice agreed to contribute $50 each for organization stationery, publicity, and the preparation and printing of a constitution and by-laws. Ohmer donated his past experience in association work by serving as secretary/treasurer. On September 17, 1945, the National Welding Supply Association (NWSA) was officially formed. The first item on the fledgling association's agenda was to create a constitution that would define its purpose. NWSA's mission was simple. Its mission was to promote cooperation among distributors and manufacturers.
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Association headquarters was listed at Weiler Welding Company, 324 East Second St. in Dayton, Ohio. Letters, along with a membership form and a copy of the constitution, were sent to Midwestern distributors to enlist their interest and aid. This marked the beginning of a strong membership campaign that continued into the 1950s.
Ohmer wrote to W.F. Weldon of Mobile Welding Supply Co. in Mobile, Alabama: “You are keenly interested, I know, in what is to come out of the national economic and industrial crisis and in the future of your business—and what you, as a welding supply distributor, can do about it. Unfortunately, the welding supply distributor has had no spokesman, no one to defend or champion his rights as a legitimate distributor. However, the formation of the NWSA by a group of far-sighted Midwestern distributors marks the step forward to securing the concessions commonly afforded distributors of other lines. NWSA is prepared to carry out its objectives and to arouse the welding equipment and supply manufacturers to full recognition of the welding supply business as full-fledged distributors. You have a vital stake in the success of this program. I hope you will assist us in the vigorous fight being made for your business.”
A handful of distributors responded, eager to learn more about NWSA.
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Creating a Buzz
NWSA's organizers agreed that a platform was needed for the distributors
to share and prioritize their thoughts. A meeting originally was planned
to be held in Cincinnati, but hotels in the area were already booked.
It was announced that the first official charter meeting would be held
in Dayton at the Hotel Van Cleve on November 13, 1945.
Representatives from the following 12 distributorships attended:
The First Meeting
Enthusiasm filled the air of the conference room as distributors anticipated
the start of the meeting. Following a call to order, a chairman was appointed
to lead the first discussions. Together, they addressed the issues that
were impacting their individual businesses and the entire industry. Of most
concern was their troubled relationship with their manufacturers. All were
agreed: They were determined to be recognized by their manufacturers as
a legitimate medium through which to sell products.
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During the business session, the attendees elected NWSA's first Board of Directors. They were: Herbert Weiler; V.S. Rice; G.G. Garman of Purity Cylinder Gases, Inc.; Ralph Chase of Chase Welding Supply Co.; and J.D. Hopper of Hopper Welding Supplies. They also discussed membership classes, dues and future meetings. They spent a considerable amount of time discussing how to recruit members and how to grow the association that would address concerns impacting the entire industry.
Finalizing the constitution was among the Board's first duties at the initial meeting. It was decided that a Board of Trustees shall consist of 15 Active Members, five of whom shall be elected each year at the annual meeting for a three-year term. It also was decided that “each of the regional geographical districts shall at all times be represented by one member on the Board. The Board shall elect a president and vice president from each regional district, and a secretary/treasurer from their own number. The Board shall appoint one of their number as executive committee chairman. This committee shall be composed of the chairman and one Active Member from each regional district elected from the floor at the annual meeting of the association.”
A motion was made and adopted that the matter of dues would be worked out by the Board at a later date. In the meantime, a motion was made and adopted that the attending membership would underwrite the association with a loan of $100 each, in addition to a $25 entrance fee. The $100 would be returned when the association was financially on its feet.
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After the business meeting, the buzz among the distributors was palatable. They were armed with information and collectively they were stronger than they ever were as individuals. They were ready to spread the good news of all that NWSA had to offer their industry peers. Feedback from this first meeting was positive:
Within time, inquiries from coast to coast came pouring in to Headquarters, and Rice took it upon himself to travel throughout the country, convincing many to join the association. Momentum was building and NWSA's founders' dream was now a reality.
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An association president was not elected until NWSA's second annual meeting, which took place in April 1946. L.O. Schneiderwind of Omaha Welding Company (Omaha, NE) served as NWSA's first president until May 1947. Ed Caluwaert, who had participated in those early discussions with Weiler and Rice, served as NWSA's president in 1955-1956. Weiler and Rice never served as president, although they were officially recognized as the association's founders.
Members Only
NWSA's original constitution (conceived by Weiler, Rice, Ohmer, and Caluwaert
prior to the first annual meeting) called for two distinct classes of
membership: Active and Associate. Active Members included “any individual,
partnership or corporation regularly engaged in the wholesale welding
equipment and supply business.”
Yearly dues were based on annual gross sales.
Active membership dues established at the first meeting in 1945 were as follows:
It was agreed that since the association was to work for the good of the entire welding industry, manufacturers were welcomed as Associate Members. They included “any individual, partnership or corporation engaged in the manufacture and sale of welding equipment, gases and/or supplies to the wholesale distributor.” These members paid annual dues of $300. The first Associate Member, The Black Manufacturing Company (Baltimore, MD), joined in October 1945.
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Membership classes and fees were amended over the next three years. During the first annual meeting, a dues structure of $100 was established for all Active Members. At the second annual meeting, the definition of an Associate Member was amended to include “any branch or subsidiary of an Active Member.” Each branch would be invoiced $25 for its membership. It was also decided that a third class, Sustaining Members, which included manufacturers and suppliers, would be charged $500 annually. By the third annual meeting, manufacturers were re-classified as Associate Members (eliminating the Sustaining Members class) and paid annual dues of $100. Also by that time, NWSA was starting to be recognized by manufacturers as a source for bettering the industry, and more signed up for membership. Early animosity was lessening, as both sides worked toward the goals that would benefit the entire industry.
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For the first 59 years of the Association's history, Associate Members were entitled to all privileges of the association, except voting rights and holding office. At the 60th Annual Convention in October 2004, the Associate Member class was granted two voting positions on the Board of Directors: Associate Member Vice President and Associate Member Director, effective September 2005.
Membership classes today include the Active Member (distributor) and the Associate Member (manufacturer, supplier, service coordinator), and dues are based on the member's total gross annual sales. Senior Members include those who have served as an Active or Associate member and are retired. The Association's objective remains the same: Distributors and their suppliers continue to meet for the purpose of providing a forum for industry leaders to share information and ideas that will continually benefit the entire industry.
Some things just never change...
Conquering the Industry
NWSA faced one of its greatest challenges in its early days of existence.
Another association made up of distributors representing one manufacturer's
line of products was beginning to disintegrate. Some of those members
began talking about forming a new organization that would absorb the National
Welding Supply Association. This overture represented a potential struggle
which could have a detrimental effect on NWSA.
Clearly, NWSA members were not pleased. They had given their all to bring the association to its fullest potential and were committed to NWSA's future. They would not go down without a fight.
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At an NWSA meeting in November 1946 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Board appointed a committee to attend a luncheon meeting at the Metal Show in Atlantic City, New Jersey, just twelve days later. At that luncheon, Ed Caluwaert and R.S. Mars Sr. of W.P. & R.S. Mars Company (Duluth, MN) spoke on behalf of NWSA's membership. Caluwaert discussed the association's history, explaining the difficulties that had been overcome, and its future potential. Mars insisted there was no need for a new or second association. He challenged distributors in attendance by saying, “If you really are interested in the good of the gases and welding industry, you will join the NWSA.”
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Caluwaert was successful. Talk of forming a new distributors' association ended. NWSA conquered this challenge with fervor and today remains unchallenged as the most highly respected association in the industry.
Leading an Association
Manufacturer's rep George H. Ohmer, one of NWSA's founders, assumed the
title of managing director at the second annual meeting, but within less
than a year, membership was booming and becoming hard to manage. It became
apparent that if the association were to continue to grow and prosper,
it would have to be guided by an individual or organization skilled in
trade association work. Various suggestions were made by members and many
leads were examined. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based association
management firm Fernley & Fernley was among those contacted.
Thomas A. Fernley and his associates at Fernley & Fernley met with NWSA representatives in Chicago on March 17, 1947. During that meeting, Fernley outlined a management proposition for the association. Fernley exemplified the passion that was needed in order to grow NWSA. He underscored the importance of strengthening the relationship between distributors and manufacturers, and the importance of providing the means by which members would benefit from continual education. He left NWSA's leadership with a lasting impression and an excitement for the future growth of NWSA.
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Four days later, President L.O. Schneiderwind sent Fernley a letter. “All of our Board of Trustees expressed a very good opinion of your organization. I have today written a letter to our Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee asking for an immediate vote from them in regard to your organization taking over at once.” Fernley accepted the offer on March 25, 1947, pending approval of NWSA, stating in a letter to Schneiderwind, “This office will be willing to serve the National Welding Supply Association. When we are formally and officially selected by your Board of Trustees to succeed Mr. George Ohmer, we will not expect to receive any compensation or allowance for overhead expense until such time as we are able to build up the association so that it will be possible for it to make such payments to this office.”
Schneiderwind suggested that Fernley work with Ohmer in arranging the program for the annual meeting in Philadelphia. Fernley committed to organizing an extremely successful meeting, at which his firm would officially begin its leadership responsibilities. That same month, NWSA was incorporated as a non-profit organization under the Pennsylvania charter, and its Headquarters was relocated to Fernley & Fernley's address in Philadelphia.
By working closely with the association's Board of Directors, Fernley helped to form advisory boards and committees comprised of various industry leaders. Spanning the course of its history, seven individuals employed by Fernley & Fernley have served as the association's executive director. The passion first demonstrated by Thomas A. Fernley was illustrated by his grandson, Robert C. Fernley, in 1980 when he explained, “Industries are industries are industries; but there is something special, something personal about the gases and welding industry.”
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Fernley & Fernley's President and CEO Taylor Fernley served for about 15 years as NWSA's Executive Director and managing Director.
Today's Executive Director Rick Doyle continues the tradition of a passion for the entrepreneurial spirit which remains embedded as a cornerstone of the association.
Emphasis on Education
NWSA earned a reputation for providing superior educational programs and
training to improve the overall quality of members and their businesses.
This reputation continues to hold strong today. The association provides
members with constant exposure to new and better sales, management and
technological practices and ideas through the Annual Convention, Contact
Booth Program, Zone Meetings, Spring Management Conferences and official
publications.
The roots of today's educational business sessions can be traced back to the Rutgers Course introduced in July 1962. The Rutgers Course was a one-week general management program conducted by Rutgers University. The course, specifically designed for NWSA members, was enthusiastically received. One distributor-student said, “This management development course presents many excellent well-defined steps for self-improvement, giving a very broad coverage of management material that I personally feel should be a must with those of us who are striving to do a better job of managing.”
Members today attend many educational programs geared specifically to the gases and welding industry. In addition to Convention, Regional Meetings and Spring Management Conferences, members also participate in teleconferences led by consultants and webinars conducted by member service providers, which allow them to learn from the convenience of their offices. Members also attend various seminars and classroom educational programs held throughout the year in a variety of settings.
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Annual Convention
Each association year culminates in an Annual Convention, where members
hear exceptional speakers. Past speakers have included President Ronald
Reagan, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Congressman Newt Gingrich. At
last year's 60th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, members attended seminars
led by Cisco Systems' John Chambers, writer and humorist Ben Stein, Dodgers
pitcher Carl Erskine, and former CEO Harvin Moore on ethics, among others.
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A convention favorite is the Contact Booth Program, instituted by President R.S. Mars Sr. at the 1950 Annual Convention in Chicago. Manufacturers are encouraged to reserve a booth to showcase their products. The Contact Booth Program affords the manufacturer with the opportunity to connect with old and new friends, reaffirming the bonds of their partnerships that serve to grow their companies. The success of the Contact Booth Program is best illustrated by the numbers. Exhibitors at NWSA's first Contact Booth Program networked with 189 delegates attending that year's Annual Convention. More recently, Contact Booth Program participants had the opportunity of interacting with over 500 people who attended the program at the 2004 Annual Convention.
With the professional management provided by the Fernley organization, NWSA's conventions expanded to three days and began visiting other locations, including Chicago, Miami Beach, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans. NWSA brought members together in Canada for the first time at the 21st Annual Convention in Montreal. Two years later, members convened in San Juan, Mexico. This year's 61st Annual Convention will ensue in Maui, Hawaii, on September 20-23. The reason there are more conventions than years the association has existed is because there were two meetings held in 1946. The only year that NWSA did not have a Convention was in 2001, which was cancelled after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
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Zone Meetings
The first Zone Meeting was held in the fall of 1947 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The industry was expanding rapidly and NWSA could boast a multitude of
members who brought varied leadership skills to the association. NWSA's
challenge was to transmit the knowledge of its leaders to the general
membership. While conventions were well-attended, not everyone could attend.
Zone Meetings provided local opportunities for members to come together,
share peer experiences and learn new strategies. The Zone Meetings encouraged
member participation at the grassroots level and developed a strong base
from which to further build the association. Members met in their zones
and regions to learn from each other. Together they developed new skills
and an expanded base of knowledge that enhanced their leadership skills.
The meetings expanded to two-day sessions in 1949.
Zone Meetings resulted in the establishment of the zone concept in which the association was divided according to natural geographic areas, each with a zone vice president, and later into regional areas with regional chairs. Today the association is delineated by the following zones: Eastern, Southeastern, Central, Southwestern and Western. The Canadian Zone was established in 1974.
In 1981, Zone Meetings were referred to as Zone Management Conferences. By 1994, the ZMCs were renamed Spring Management Conferences (SMCs), but Zone Meetings continued being held. The name change was meant to completely separate the meeting focus from the association's zone structure. SMCs, which are held twice each year, feature a Contact Booth Program, roundtable discussions, professional speakers and educational business sessions.
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Consulting Expertise
To keep members abreast of ever-changing industry regulations, the association
hired safety and compliance consultants. NWSA's first consultant, Edward
Dempsey, was named Traffic Consultant in 1971. He provided members with
a quarterly Traffic Bulletin, which was revised as DOT regulations were
modified or expanded. Dempsey also designed and conducted on-site seminars
for members. NWSA welcomed Gerald F. Cain as Safety Consultant in 1983.
Cain was responsible for preparing NWSA Safety Bulletins and was available
for consultation with members. Joel F. Feldman was named Government Affairs
Consultant in 1986. Feldman provided the association with the ability
to respond quickly and forcefully to legislative and regulatory proposals
likely to affect members. In 1987, Connie Robinson was appointed Bar Code
Consultant. She provided technical assistance to the association's Bar
Code Task Force and ongoing educational information on bar coding to members.
Today's consultants include DOT & Homeland Security Consultant Michael Dodd; Technology Consultant Scott Ehrnschwender; OSHA & EPA Consultant Thomas W. Eynon; Government Affairs & HR Consultant Richard P. Schweitzer; Medical Gases Consultants J. Robert Yeoman, Ron Ball and Bob Sutter; and Group Life Insurance Consultant David Irving. All of today's consultants remain available for free consultations to association members. They also provide on-site training and mock audits at special member rates.
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Norm Distributor
Early on, NWSA wanted to present distributor members with a realistic
benchmark with which to compare their sales. In order to obtain factual
data about distributors' operations, NWSA conducted an extensive survey
among members to present a benchmark of the typical distributor. The association
examined the results and introduced “Norm Distributor” in 1958.
Norm challenged members to improve their sales and professionalism. Statistics
describing the “Norm Distributor” included:
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Other statistics indicated:
Norm Distributor's performance was updated by Robert C. Fernley and his data were profiled in issues of the association's newsletter.
Today, Norm Distributor is reflected by the association's Profit Report. According to the 2004 report, today's distributor reflects the following statistics:
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The Next Generation
As the association entered the 1980s, a second generation of leaders with
new challenges and ideas began to emerge. While they took advantage of
NWSA's educational and networking opportunities, they desired a platform
to represent their generation. These members demonstrated initiative by
forming the Young Executives and Spouses (YE+S) Program.
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The YE+S Program was made up of Active and Associate members, and their spouses, who were under the age of 40. It was first launched at NWSA's 1986 Annual Convention in Seattle, where these young executives networked during a cocktail reception.
It wasn't until three years later that the Board of Directors made the Young Executives Program official at a 1989 Mid-Year Board Meeting in Chicago. The program's mission was “to provide an opportunity for early involvement in the Association.” A Young Executives Program was planned for each year at the Annual Convention. 1989 NWSA President Robert Jackson stressed the importance of the role of the younger generation in the industry, and believed it was important to provide them with a forum to meet, exchange ideas and discuss issues of mutual interest.
Today we welcome the third and fourth generations of leaders who are facing new challenges, including government regulations, economic uncertainty, technological advances, consolidation and globalization. They continue to turn to the association for guidance and direction.
Insurance
Since the association's inception, one of members' greatest concerns has
been insurance coverage. Many insurance companies are still hesitant to
cover gases and welding professionals. The Group Insurance Program's first
year of operation was 1959, and was available to both Active and Associate
members. Within two years, 63 companies were enrolled in the association's
Group Insurance Program.
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In 1976, the WESCAP Insurance Company was formed as an outgrowth of the insurance program. Because no other company would cover the association's members, a group of distributors banded together to fund a non-profit corporation, WESCAP Company, and organized a subsidiary, WESCAP Insurance Company. To participate, the insured was required to be an Active or Associate member of NWSA for at least one year.
In 1988, WESCAP-insured members were rolled into a new insurance program underwritten by Travelers Life Insurance and called the NWSA Group Life Plan. Today's member also benefits from a Group Life Insurance Program through MetLife which provides coverage for employees and their families of over 100 member companies.
Today, the question of insurance is still a pressing one, especially in light of an environment impacted by welding fume litigation issues. Association members are reaping the benefits of a welding fume litigation reference library at www.gawda.org that provides the latest information on the status of litigation. Members also are provided advice regarding the basics in protecting their companies. Members have access to the most current information on court cases, insurance availability and product warnings when they visit the association's Web site.
In April 2005, GAWDA's Board of Directors, led by President Bob Thornton, created a Joint Defense Fund for Welding Fume Litigation. The fund enabled GAWDA to engage the services of a law firm to provide members with needed guidance and strategic defense services in anticipation of, or in response to, a welding fume claim. For the first time since the welding distributor and his liability insurance policies became targets, GAWDA members who are defendants in a welding fume case and their attorneys have access to expert legal counsel with a complete view of the welding fume litigation picture, as well as information on how best to fight back.
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Setting Precedence
The relationship between distributor and manufacturer and the importance
of education and training was perhaps best underscored by the precedent-setting
Lincolnshire Supplier Conference on June 28, 1979. Two distributors who
served on NWSA's Industry Relations Committee (established in 1956) were
joined by two manufacturers in a panel discussion before an audience of
75 suppliers and 26 distributors. Together they participated in a forum
in which distributors and suppliers exchanged ideas on ways and means
to help foster a better relationship, addressing the issues that would
impact the distributor/manufacturer relationship in the decade ahead.
“The Need for Professional Management in the 1980s” was presented by W.L.C. Sturgeon, president of Consumers' Welding Supplies Ltd., and R.J. Kulperger, general manager of Gas Products, Union Carbide Canada Ltd. “The average distributor who does not anticipate and react to change in his environment will suffer some consequences, undoubtedly negative, and perhaps disastrous,” said Kulperger. He explained that many manufacturers perceived distributors as lacking the full range of professional management capabilities. Sturgeon responded by saying, “I am concerned about Norm Distributor and his survival in the 1980s. The number and intensity of challenges facing the welding supply distributor today have never been greater.” Sturgeon explained that a distributor's survival was dependent on three things: increased product knowledge, a more professional approach to all aspects of business management, and improved productivity. “NWSA is the best vehicle to pull the necessary resources together and facilitate two-way communication,” Sturgeon said.
Larry Kissler, president of Norco, and Edward Moorehead, vice president and general manager, Apparatus Division of Victor Equipment Company, presented “Education, Training and Personnel Development.” Moorehead asked the audience to ponder some questions pertaining to education and training, such as:
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“One thing is certain,” Moorehead proclaimed. “Distributors will have to avail themselves of all resources available to them over the next few years to get themselves into a proper mode to be successful through the 1980s. This implies a closer set of relationships between the distributor and manufacturer, and the need for NWSA to provide the umbrella of services that are not available from manufacturers, but needed by all distributors.”
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Kissler tackled issues voiced by distributors, revealing four areas of training critical for survival: Managerial Training, Distributor Personnel Training, Distributor Customer Training and Training Manufacturers' Personnel. “It becomes quite apparent that these are areas in which NWSA, Associate Members and distributors must work together to maximize profitability and survive as an industry in this highly competitive market,” said Kissler.
This unprecedented conference served as an impetus to further solidify the distributor/manufacturer relationship, which coincided with the association's overall mission.
Ahead of the Game
To stay in line with technology, NWSA introduced www.nwsa.com as the association's
home page address in the fall of 1996. In 1997, the Management Information
Committee announced a nationwide search for a technology consultant who
would offer support to NWSA members and advocate technology. More than
500 members crowded the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago for the 1997 Spring
Management Conference. “Our objective was that the spring conferences
this year should provide our members with a roadmap through the technology
maze,” said President Ken Biedermann, chairman of Airweld Incorporated
(Farmingdale, NY).
During that year's Contact Booth Program, more than 100 Associate Members exhibited products and services, and demonstrated technology they used to better serve distributors. Participating manufacturers were encouraged to utilize technology in order to demonstrate their companies' technical capabilities. The Contact Booth Program was re-named the Con-Tech Booth Program in order to underscore the growing importance of technology.
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The association continues to march into the future using technological advances to benefit today's member. In 2002, the association rolled out an online membership directory with complete listings of company and individual data. A new and improved Web site provides members with access to a multitude of information, including safety and compliance updates, a welding fume litigation library, quarterly Trends Reports, online store, a searchable online membership directory, the GAWDA Clearinghouse, an up-to-date Buyers Directory listing vendor products and services, and Welding & Gases Today Online, the association member journal with archived searchable articles.
Today, the Management Information Committee provides distributors with information and feedback on products, processes, hardware and software to manage their businesses more efficiently. Members are continually completing their transactions and transmitting data through cost-saving technological processes. The improved use of technological advances will lead to increased productivity, enhanced responsiveness and a long-term advantage. The Committee has published XML standards, educates members on the importance of bar coding, assists the association in migrating toward online processes, and more. As always, members are being placed firmly on the cutting edge.
Name Change Reflects Membership
At the start of the new millennium, the Board of Directors began to discuss
the need for changing the name of the association. The search for a name
more reflective of the business of members and the industry that NWSA
represents took almost two years. At the annual meeting in 2002, NWSA
unveiled its new name, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association
(GAWDA). Member response to the new name was overwhelmingly positive,
as it more strongly focuses on a broader segment of the industry, and
recognizes that members of the association come not only from the United
States, but Canada as well.
A number of designs were submitted for a new logo, and to show continuity, the logo chosen contained an icon similar to the previous one. One member said, “The new name says who we are, and will stay with us as we grow the association.”
Better Communications
NWSA's first official newsletter, Spatter, debuted in January 1946. Spatter,
written by George Ohmer, brought members the latest industry news and
featured membership benefits, business practices, tips, surveys, current
NWSA activities, committee accomplishments and findings, and meeting reports.
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A semi-monthly electronic newsletter, the NWSA Connection, replaced Spatter in 2002. The new e-newsletter format of the NWSA Connection was designed to provide members with the most current updates regarding people, events and trends in the industry, association news, educational programs, and links to news sources and related topics. Internet technology encouraged members to communicate by simply opening their e-mail.
In the summer of 2002, the association unveiled the NWSA Journal, its official quarterly publication. The NWSA Journal featured anchor columns from the association president, executive director and consultants, industry articles, member profiles that highlight distributor companies, news briefs, a calendar of events, and much more. The NWSA Journal—for, by and about association members—quickly gained the reputation as the news leader for the gases and welding industry. Members benefit from the publication of the articles, feature stories, news announcements and advertisements, creating better awareness of best practices and raising the bar of increased distributor productivity.
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When NWSA's name changed to the Gases and Welding Distributors Association in 2002, the magazine's name was changed to Welding & Gases Today. The newsletter's name was changed as well, becoming known as the GAWDA Connection.
Giving Back
To whom much is given much is expected. GAWDA members (and formerly NWSA)
have reaped the benefits of their membership and have experienced many
successes. In order to give back to those less fortunate, the Gives Back
Program was conceived by President Dave Mahoney and his wife, Donna, in
2000 as a way to honor and thank the host convention city or community.
When Mahoney introduced the idea, he wrote in his initiative. “Let's not simply take away memories; let's make memories for others as well. As a token of our appreciation for the things we take away, let's leave something for those who will never have the opportunities that we have enjoyed. What better way to say thanks to the community for having us as their guests.”
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Members generously donate on behalf of the association in an effort to benefit a local charity or charities selected by the outgoing president and his spouse. In its first year, NWSA Gives Back donated $36,000 to the Maui Adult Day Care Centers and the Hawaii Community Services Council.
At GAWDA's 60th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Golden Rainbow, a program that provides housing and financial assistance to individuals and families living with HIV and AIDS, was the fifth recipient to benefit from the GAWDA Gives Back program. The total Gives Back gift to Golden Rainbow was $57,645, over $20,000 more than the previous record, making it the most successful campaign in its history. To date, association members have raised over $196,000 for various charities.
These types of programs say something special about GAWDA members—we are caring, generous individuals, committed to helping others in need.
The Road from Dayton
The association has come a long way from its humble beginnings in a distributor's
Dayton, Ohio, office, yet the basic principles on which the Gases and
Welding Distributors Association were founded hold true today. GAWDA continues
to thrive because its members are passionate, hardworking, industry leaders
who believe in the association and the good it stands for.
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Partnerships and education are as vital today in 2005 as they were sixty years ago. The association continues to provide members with a platform to strengthen relationships and the tools to grow their businesses. Members are not only a crucial part of the association's history, but also of its future, and if the past is any indication of GAWDA's future, then the association is in for a continued extraordinary journey.
The National Welding Supply Association was the result of the vision of two entrepreneurs. Today's Gases and Welding Distributors Association, in similar fashion, is the embodiment of that vision and passion for what we do every day, exemplified sixty years later in a strong entrepreneurial spirit by each and every member—1,000 strong.
The road from Dayton has branched off to reach hundreds of distributors and manufacturers throughout North America, confirming GAWDA as a strong force in the industry. Robert Fernley was right; there is something very special about this industry, about our association, about its members.
Welding & Gases Today • Summer 2005 • Volume 4, No. 3 • Entire contents are Copyright © Data Key Communications, Inc. • All rights reserved. • Nothing may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission of the publisher.
