Issue #19  •  Spring 2004

The Newsletter of the

Web Sling & Tie Down Association

WSTDA Heads West

for Spring Meeting in San Diego

If early registration numbers are any indication, we’re expecting record attendance at this year’s Spring Meeting in San Diego, March 7-10, 2004.

If you haven’t already registered, please do so by February 6^th for earlybird rates. After February 6^th, registrants will be charged a $100 late fee. DETAILS

WSTDA Unveils New Web Site

We are pleased to unveil WSTDA's new, redesigned website at www.wstda.com. Please visit the site and send us your feedback.

You will notice some new features on the site - including an "Industry Links" page that will take you to some very useful industry websites.

Convention Hotel Deadline Approaching

If you are planning to attend the upcoming Spring Meeting in San Diego, don’t delay in making your hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency Islandia. The cut-off for reservations at the Hyatt is February 11. After February 11^th, we cannot guarantee room availability or our WSTDA rate of $159.

March is a busy time in San Diego…don’t delay in making your reservations. DETAILS

WSTDA Thanks Sponsors for Spring Meeting

Thank you to the sponsors of our upcoming Spring Meeting in San Diego:

Ribbon Webbing - GOLD

Dupont-Sabanci - SILVER

American Webbing & Fittings - BRONZE

The sponsorships from these companies give WSTDA the ability to offer quality programs and events at the meeting and reasonable prices.

It’s not too late to become a sponsor for the Spring Meeting. Do you want to increase your exposure at WSTDA’s 2004 Spring Conference? Are you unable to attend the conference but want to make sure you’re still represented? In either case, WSTDA sponsorship opportunities will help you to demonstrate your support and commitment to the industry.

Three levels of sponsorships are available:

Gold  - $500

Silver  - $350

Bronze  - $200

If you are interested in sponsoring a particular event, such as the Members’ Banquet or Welcome Reception, please contact Fred Stringfellow at 443-640-1070 x102 a.s.a.p. as these event sponsorships will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis. DETAILS

Mark Your Calendar

WSTDA has a great line up of destinations in store for its members. After the Spring Meeting in San Diego, we’ll be in Washington, DC for the Mid-Year meeting, November 7-9.

The 2005 Annual Meeting will be held in the charming resort community of Niagara-on-the-Lake, in Ontario, Canada. DETAILS

Meadows to Address Product Liability

at Spring Meeting

Product liability continues to be a major concern to manufacturers, distributors, and dealers in the industry. WSTDA has invited Dart Meadows of Balch & Bingham LLP to talk to our group at the Spring Meeting in San Diego about product liability prevention and defense. This will be an encore presentation for Meadows, who was the guest speaker at the mid-year meeting in Baltimore in 2000.

Meadows believes a company has a threshold decision regarding whether it is going to be proactive about product liability, and have appropriate plans and procedures in place, or simply be reactive when an accident occurs, turn over the matter to its insurer and hope for the best. Meadow’s view is that manufacturers, distributors and dealers need to be proactive, make an investment in product liability prevention and defense, which is an investment in the company’s long term future. This approach is much better long term as opposed to cynically viewing product liability as a nuisance or a distraction from generating sales and earning profits. DETAILS

Component Manufacturer Has No Duty to Warn re Hazards of Completed Product

Under New York law, which says that a component manufacturer cannot be held liable to an injured employee for the failure of the owner and assembler to post warning signs which the component manufacturer is in no position to know are necessary, the manufacturer of a clevis pin slip hook had no duty to warn the ultimate user of its hook of the dangers of using the hook in conjunction with overhead lifting, a federal district court in New York held in Beneway v. Superwinch, Inc., 216 F.Supp.2d 24 (N.D.N.Y., 2002). DETAILS

Welcome New Members

WSTDA welcomes two new members to the association -- Cargo Equipment Corporation and Courroies Pasquier, Inc. DETAILS

WSTDA Gold Rush

WSTDA Mid-Year Meeting attendees (below) enjoyed a walking tour through an active gold mine outside Denver during the member outing.

WSTDA Staff

Fred Stringfellow, CAE

Executive Director

443-640-1070 ext. 102

Carol Hannan

Director of Meetings & Membership

443-640-1070 ext. 108

WSTDA Events

WSTDA 2004 Annual Meeting

March 7-10

Hyatt Regency Islandia Hotel

San Diego, Calif.

WSTDA 2004 Mid-Year Meeting

November 7-9

Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel

Washington, D.C.