WSTDA Puts Thought Into Action

By Michael Gelskey, Sr., WSTDA Vice President

It is a pleasure to serve as your Vice President. There is absolutely no truth to the rumor that if you do not show up at a meeting, that you are elected! Unfortunately, a medical situation precluded my attendance in San Francisco, and I want to thank you for your kind words and prayers. My wife, Emily is doing just fine and looks forward to seeing you at our next meeting in Indianapolis.

As the chairman of the Legal Resource Committee I am pleased to announce that Dr. Welch is underway in her review of the WSTDA warnings. Her review will include an overall evaluation of the Association’s tags and bulletins. The warning information will be analyzed, scrutinized, compared, contrasted, tested and re-evaluated to develop scientifically documented, defensible warnings.

This process is one that is extremely important for our industry and I cannot thank our executive director, Fred Stringfellow enough for his assistance in jumpstarting this project. The concept of synthetic sling and tiedown manufacturers using the same warnings would be one of the best steps that we will ever make to preserve our industry. Inconsistency in our individual warnings will be our downfall.

The WSTDA put thought into action, and more importantly provided the funding to accomplish this important project. This demonstration of proactive, future vision was one of the many factors that attracted me to the “All New” WSTDA. The Association was transformed through the efforts of Justin Winters and further developed and perpetuated by the years of service by our past president, Becky Thiessen.

I am proud to serve under our new president, John Walsh, who is a qualified, focused and concise leader. Thankfully, Bob Jasany has decided to stay on in his position as our Treasurer, a tedious, time consuming job that none of you would want! Our Board of Directors is a group of hard working and dedicated individuals whose efforts continue to drive the Association to new heights of excellence.

The real work of our association is done at the committee level. The committee chairmen are to be complimented on the many new and exciting projects that are being undertaken. Much of the committee work is done behind the scenes via email so that the most can be accomplished during the actual committee meetings.

New or first time attendees may feel that the committee meetings are not exciting or dynamic enough. Some have shared that the meetings seem “closed” to comment from those that do not sit on the committee, and this is not true.

The lifeblood of the WSTDA is volunteerism. Your voice can be heard and you can make a difference, if you are willing to make a small investment of your time and your talent. I encourage you to become involved. In doing so, you improve your own knowledge and skill level, and at the same time benefit the industry that provides for your livelihood.

You are receiving this email as a benefit of your membership with WSTDA. You are not receiving this message because you are subscribed to an electronic list. If you have any input you would like to provide about mailings of this type, please e-mail wstda@ksgroup.org. To unsubscribe to this newsletter, click here.

Web Sling & Tie Down Association

2105 Laurel Bush Rd. • Suite 200 • Bel Air, MD 21015 • phone: 443-640-1070 • fax: 443-640-1031 • wstda@ksgroup.org • www.wstda.com