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The Cutting Edge™ August 2004

Public Policy

The Coalition for the Future of Manufacturing has designated October "Manufacturing-Making America's Future" Month - with the goal of educating and mobilizing political candidates in the final weeks leading up to the elections. During October, manufacturers are urged to engage in an array of political and societal leaders needed to help change the climate for U.S. manufacturing. Toolkits - available online at www.nam.org/toolkit and in CD format in mid-September - will provide manufacturers and their associations with a variety of materials to help further our message.

Among the recommended activities manufacturers can undertake in October:

- Candidate Dialogues. Hold forums in central locations with political candidates.
- Plant Tours & Field Trips. Host tours of facilities for political candidates as well as for schoolchildren and editors.
- Editorial Board Meetings. Hold group meetings between local manufacturers and local editors.
- Employee Activism. Hold roundtable discussions with employees to discuss the political issues of the campaign and the need to vote pro-manufacturing. (For more information visit www.nam.org/P2.)

To learn more, contact Stephen gold at (202) 637-3102 or sgold@nam.org.

Table of Contents
Making Sense of it All
October is Manufacturing Month
Conference - Manufacturing Competitiveness of the Forest Products Industry:
Competing in Today's Global Manufacturing and Consumer Marketplace
WMMA® Member Earns Federal Government Matching Funds Grant through an Article read in The Cutting Edge
Wood Bedroom Furniture Tariffs Reduced
Wood Furniture Import Trends
Congratulations to WMMA's® Challengers Award Winners!
IWF 2004 a Success
Tools to Help Manage the Hispanic Workforce
Innovative Energy, Efficient Industrial Ventilation - Provided by Ecogate