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ASSOCIATION OF ROTATIONAL MOULDERS AUSTRALASIA LTD • ARMA
From the President – Trudi Duncan As 2021 has come to a close, I am sure that we all hope it will be with greater flexibility, less confinement, greater health and a positive outlook that we welcome in the year 2022. The last year has been filled with un-expected occurrences, on-the-fly decision making, navigating a world of online conference calling... which reminds me, if you haven’t checked out Zoom’s “A Video Conference Call in Real Life” video, it is a brilliantly dry take on what the last 12 months of “working from home during a crisis” has looked like for many of us. Check it out here https://youtu.be/JMOOG7rWTPg You would be forgiven for thinking that, alongside a changing of the guard, 2021 would have been about survival mode for ARMA, however, I am pleased to bring you a positive update on recent and planned activities. Much of it has been spent navigating the dynamics of an “online only” board and being remotely isolated from our ever-capable CEO Michelle. After navigating the complexities, not to be diminished, of moving from an incorporated society to a Limited Liability Company, ARMA undertook to develop the association around 5 key elements, from which there have been many highlights. It seems an age ago that the impact of COVID-19 felt perhaps a ‘temporary’ blip on our radar. At the time of writing, New Zealand is in its longest lockdown yet and from across the ditch, it has felt like Australia has spent most of the year in lockdown as the ever-important vaccination targets remains just out of reach. If there is one thing for certain, it is that we have never felt more disconnected from the world. Previously, an online purchaser only briefly considered the country of origin, fast was the process of international fulfillment and freight. Life is different now, shipping delays, uncertainties surrounding production capacity in varying parts of the world, and compounded global shortages are creating headaches everywhere. With these threats, however, come great opportunity and reports of large numbers of businesses receiving enquiry to bring manufacturing back to domestic shores heralds the new wave of business, if only you have the time to recognise it. My summary of ARMAs 2021 year • Rising to the challenge • Agility • New opportunity • Shoring up of systems • Setting industry-wide targets • Collaborating with others for industry-wide benefit • Utilising networks for support and advice For now, I hope to see you in person in the not too distant future. We have some catching up to do.
56 ROTOWORLD® DECEMBER 2021-JANUARY 2022
