Like the Seasons Change, So Does the WSTDA

By John Walsh, WSTDA Vice President

Spring brings forth change and new growth and so did our Spring 2005 meeting in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was a great pleasure for me to greet so many members and guests in my home province. I hope everyone enjoyed the meetings as much as I did.

Change happened at various levels. Two Technical Committee chairs stepped aside, Fred Ambli from Web Sling and Steve Schroeder from Tie Down. Their time, effort and dedication to those committees is recognized and appreciated.

Greg Crain became chairman of the Web Sling Technical Committee with Karl-Heinz Keisewitt taking on the responsibility of chairing the Tie Down Technical Committee. Both bring a large measure of experience and wisdom to these positions.

Your board of directors also underwent significant change. Ken Coe, Greg Crain and Steve Schroeder all completed their two-year terms and each for valid reasons did not seek reelection and made way for new members. Having sat with these three at many board meetings, I can attest to the special people they are and the exceptional contribution they have made to our organization.

Mike Lindler, Ken Webb and Tom Wynn agreed to stand, were elected and took their place as new board members. Their enthusiasm, fresh ideas and industry experience will serve the WSTDA well.

Even with these changes, the regular work of the WSTDA carried on with very positive results. Good committee meetings ensued with excellent progress made on all fronts. This work has continued in the interim and all Committee members are to be recognized for their commitment.

Outside the regular committee work, the WSTDA, in the form of the board of directors and committee chairs, has continued the work of strategic planning. What is strategic planning? In my view, it is the process of deciding the form we want the WSTDA to have and drawing the roadmap we need and must follow to get there. This will not happen in one great leap but by many small steps as we find our way. Each step will be designed to improve the work of the WSTDA and move toward our goals. Accordingly, the strategic planning group discussed past progress and various future options. Two projects, for completion by our Fall 2005 meeting were selected. The first to conduct a side-by-side comparison of our standards to develop consistency of wording and format, the second to work toward promoting committee agendas in advance of the next meeting to allow all an opportunity to prepare in advance.

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and am excited with the prospect of our gathering in Annapolis. See you there!

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Web Sling & Tie Down Association

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