The Cutting Edge^™ February 2005

Read the February issue of The Cutting Edge online, OR print the attached PDF and take it with you.
To read every article in this month's issue of The Cutting Edge on one HTML page, click here To PRINT the entire issue, click here, and then hit PRINT in your web browser. Or you can email jconey@fernley.com for a PDF of the newsletter.

Public Policy

2005 Public Policy Fly-In a Huge Success; Keep the Momentum Going!
February 15th - 16th marked the largest turnout for WMMA's annual Fly-In event, with over 100 manufacturing participants from various industries sectors. Executives from companies in the following associations actively participated: American Home Furnishings Alliance; Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers®; National Retail Hardware Association; National Wood Flooring Association; Woodworking Industry Machinery Association; Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America; and Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America®

CAN-SPAM
By John Satagaj, email@jsatlaw.com
Back in December 2003, President Bush signed into law the "Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act of 2003," the first bill aimed at the regulation of unsolicited commercial electronic mail (e-mail). On December 16, 2004, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the regulations and defined what constitutes a "commercial" e-mail...

Business Briefing

Changing Woodworking Industry Demographics
by Art Raymond, araymond@raymondnet.com
A glimpse at attendance data from the 2004 IWF provides anecdotal evidence of changing woodworking industry demographics. As expected, residential wood furniture, impacted by numerous plant closings, sent 12% fewer people to the Fair. Over 13% fewer members of the contract wood furniture sector attended as that industry continues the severe hangover from the 2000-01 economic downturn. Attendance rose by 28% and 67% respectively in the cabinet and architectural woodwork sectors. Both continue to defend their markets from foreign competition...

Industry Information

Improve Your Sales and Business Forecasting Practices
Accurately forecasting the future of your business is critical to maximizing your bottom line performance. In an effort to give members a competitive advantage, WMMA has once again partnered with the Institute for Trend Research (ITR) to provide members with the tools to stay at least one-half business cycle ahead in your business planning process. This glimpse into the future will enable you to appropriately plan for the ups and downs in the marketplace...

Product Liability Workshop

NAM's Manufacturing Week Includes "Avoiding the Mistakes that Cost You in Court" - March 10-11
This workshop, sponsored by NAM and Perkins Coie LLP, is a must-attend for in-house counsel, risk managers, senior managers, product-quality, customer service, engineers and other employees who make decisions that could cause their company to lose a product liability lawsuit that it should have won. Taking place at Chicago's McCormick Place.

Member News

Cameron Holdings Corporation Acquires North American Products Corporation
Vincent Gorguze, Chairman of Cameron Holdings Corporation, announces the acquisition of North American Products Corporation. North American Products is a world leader in the design, manufacture and servicing of industrial cutting tools for the wood products and metal working industries. The company, founded by Arthur Segal in 1941 and headquartered in Jasper, Indiana operates 12 cutting tool service centers in the United States and Canada. The company will operate under its new name and logo NAP Tools LLC and additional information can be found at its internet address of www.naptools.com. The acquisition was effective January 20, 2005...

Association News

Tom Onsrud Named WMMA Treasurer
Tom Onsrud, President of C.R. Onsrud Inc., has accepted the position of Treasurer for WMMA. Tom is a long time member and contributor to WMMA, and is also on the WMMA Board of Directors. Tom will be Treasurer through the 2005 WIC, when the Board will be asked to vote Tom in for another full year as Treasurer, through the 2006 WIC. Please welcome Tom to this position.

2005 WIC Early Bird Registration Deadline March 4th!
The deadline to save $100 on your WIC registration is Friday, March 4th. Act now! All details for events, schedule, registration discounts for volunteer leaders, spouse activities and hotel can be found on the WMMA website at HYPERLINK http://www.wmma.org/events/wic.cfm. Don't delay! The sooner you register for the WIC and the Contact Table Program, the sooner your suppliers, dealers and manufacturing colleagues can schedule appointments with you!

WMMA® Staff Information Peter Perez President Jim Laster Vice President / Treasurer Kenneth R. Hutton Executive Vice President Bill Norton Director of Marketing & Information Jean Coney Director of Committees & Editor, Cutting Edge Karen Boyle Administrative Director Harold Zassenhaus Export Director G.A. Taylor Fernley Management Liaison John Satagaj Legislative Counsel 1010 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20001 (202) 639-8888 Joseph Mc Hale Legal Counsel © 2005 by Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America, Philadelphia, PA. All rights reserved. This publication or any parts of it may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. For permission to reprint articles or to send correspondence, write to: WMMA®, 100 North 20th Street, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1443, Phone: (215) 564-3484. Fax: (215) 963-9785. E-mail: wmma@fernley.com. The opinion expressed in any articles by outside consultants are their own views and not necessarily those of the WMMA®.