It's All Part of the Journey

By Michael Gelskey, Sr.
WSTDA President

I hope that everyone survived the holidays and enjoyed all that they had to offer: family, friends, laughs, memories and a time to reflect upon our many blessings. The fast paced flurry from late November up to the beginning of the New Year now seems like a fading blur.

I also hope that business is strong, given the times. When reflecting on 2009, a comparison to 2008 might not be a valid one. The meteoric climb began in 2007 and 2008 was a year of excess. I had often said if you did not do well during this period, you certainly must be doing something wrong and how much longer was this pace going to continue? Now the prognosticators have moved the period for “normalcy” to the second or third quarter of the current year. Might I suggest a more valid comparison of 2009 to 2007 or 2006? In doing so, the comparison might be more realistic and certainly less stark.

The Fall Meeting in Seattle was an outstanding one and it was very nice to dedicate it to our friend, Chris Walsh and to honor Joanne and John Walsh. The committee meetings were productive as usual and the presentation by Mike Parnell was very informative and worthwhile.

The Legal Resource Committee continues to make progress on the warning labels and product safety bulletins. Final drafts are being prepared and scrutinized for accuracy. Ultimately, the LRC will review and approve, making a recommendation to the Board of Directors to adopt them. We owe a great debt of gratitude to all that serve the association through their committee work and particularly want to acknowledge Bob Jasany and Greg Babinchak for their contributions and tenacity.

It was a delight to receive the newly published 2010 Recommended Standard Specification for Roundslings, RS-1. This document will lead the way for other WSTDA standards as it is one of the best standards of its kind. Our thanks go out to the entire Roundsling Committee for their time and talent.

We all know that our collective strength is founded upon volunteerism and the ability to set our own commercial interests aside for the common good. The spirit of altruism is alive and well in the membership of the WSTDA. I was honored when Ken Coe agreed to chair the Web Sling Committee (In his spare time). Chairman Koe and his committee have begun to review and work on the re-write of the Recommended Standard Specification for Web Slings, WS-1. This document will no doubt build on the excellent precedent set by our newly published Round Sling Standard and address features unique to web slings.

Our Tie down and Testing Committees are also busy at work, writing new standards and protocols for tests that make the WSTDA and its products a treasure-trove of technical information.

Recently it dawned on me that anything we do is a process, requiring quite a journey. Countless hours and the talent of the best people in our industry come together to form and build the standards that set the way for other associations and consensus standards writing bodies. The public review process is available to those who are not actual members. There is certainly adequate time to address any concerns and my mantra in Seattle began and will continue to be, “No Skin in the game, then don’t complain.” Thanks to all our committee members who at this point are not only the epitome of selflessness, and probably skinless!

It is also very encouraging to see that despite the times that new members continue to join the WSTDA. This speaks volumes about the value added aspects of membership in the WSTDA. If you fabricate slings, tie downs, webbing, yarn, fiber, thread or hardware why would you not want to be part of the association and attend the meetings? The opportunity to immerse one’s self by attending and participating is a benefit that I have received at every meeting. Again, I have to ask myself, why wouldn’t someone take the opportunity to surround themselves with the best minds in our industry?

If you are currently a member and are interested in serving on one or several of the committees, all you need to do is approach the committee chair and make your interest known. Likewise, if you have been a member and would be interested in being a director of the association, please contact one of the members of this year’s Nominating Committee: Greg Pilgrim, Ken Webb or Loren Stolin.

I would also ask that all members support and give additional consideration to the associate and regular members who not only attend the meetings, but sponsor our events. This is service above and beyond the call of duty and we sincerely appreciate you. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the upcoming meeting in Hawaii and really assist in keeping the attendance fees as low as they are.

Those of you who did not attend the Seattle meeting may not have heard the special incentive that you will receive by staying at the conference location hotel, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. The rates as advertised will allow members to receive much more than the “standard” issue room, but guaranteed oceanfront accommodations.

We are just a few months away from our spring meeting on the beautiful island of Maui. The Hawaiian expression, “Maui Noka Oui” or “Maui is the Best” is certainly on the mark and what a wonderful setting for our meetings. There is no truth to the rumor that one of our directors pressed for this location. In doing so, with the special luau festivities there will be no opportunity for me to address the membership at our banquet, over the sounds of the melodic and tranquil Hawaiian music.

I am looking forward to our time together and all that will be accomplished. It is a pleasure to serve you and thank you for all that you do to make the WSTDA and by “association” each one of us as member companies and individuals, the best that we can be. I wish each of you health, happiness and peace in the New Year and look forward to seeing you in paradise.

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