Woodworking Industry Leadership Forum Announces Summer 2009 Meeting at AWFS Fair

June 29, 2009 — Philadelphia, PA — The Woodworking Industry Leadership Forum (WILF), a group of wood processing industry trade association executives and volunteer leaders, will meet on July 14, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in conjunction with AWFS®VEGAS. Issues that will be discussed include public policy concerns such as wood dust litigation and OSHA’s prospective rulemaking on combustible dust; education efforts related to woodworking industry skills standards; and trade show activity. The Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America® (WMMA®), a trade association of U.S. manufacturers of woodworking machinery, cutting tools, and supplies, organized this peer group in 1997 and continues to convene and facilitate the twice-yearly meetings of more than 40 invited associations.

The purpose of these discussions is to share ideas and programs of individual associations and leverage cooperative efforts to help find and promote action for solutions to industry issues. Common topics of discussion have included:

• Promoting the significance of U.S. manufacturing to maintaining our prosperity;
• Understanding the market forces impacting the hardwood furniture segment;
• Enacting policies that reduce the cost of producing in America;
• Leveling the international playing field;
• Promoting innovation and investment in America;
• Ensuring an adequate supply of skilled workers to support our manufacturing base;
• Advocating for worker safety (e.g., hazard icons, generic operator’s manual, wood dust, and ANSI) and skill standards;
• Creating an H.R. plan that welcomes the Hispanic worker into the industry;
• Addressing emerging state regulations and legislation having national impact; and
• Communicating a fairer, more accurate portrayal of the industry.

WMMA also provides other opportunities for industry networking and collaboration. These include the Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) organized jointly with the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association® (WMIA®) and the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®). The Woodworking Equipment & Wood Processing Public Policy Fly-In held in Washington, DC, each February assembles WMMA members and other association members who learn about the legislative issues and communicate industry concerns to senators and representatives. In 2008, a group of U.S. woodworking machinery, tool and supply companies, all WMMA members, came together in a manufacturing cell to produce kitchen cabinets at the U.S. Technology & Demonstration Center — A WMMA Community Project at the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in 2008. The complete sets of kitchen cabinets were donated to Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.