Regional Spring Association Report

NESMA News

By Jim Mintun, Gibbs Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the New England Spring and Metalstamping Association (NESMA) was forced to shelter-in-place to keep our members safe and healthy. With the uncertainty created by the crisis, the board of directors has been holding our monthly meetings via Go-To-Meeting conference calls to discuss business matters. We increased the frequency to three times per week in an effort to keep member companies informed about the latest in mandates from the various governors’ offices, as well as opportunities for small business loans to help our members navigate through these unprecedented times.

Fundraising

Fundraising events we have sponsored for many years have been impacted

CASMI Report

By Michael Bandy, CASMI Co-Executive Director

SpringWorld 2020 Update

SpringWorld 2020 will take place Oct. 7-9, 2020, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. With more than 90 percent of available space sold on the trade show floor, companies that are interested in exhibiting at SpringWorld 2020 should contact the Chicago Association of Spring Manufacturers, Inc. (CASMI) to secure their participation. Call 630-359-4273, or email info@ by the uncertainty. Our popular Casino Night, originally scheduled for March 26, 2020, has been rescheduled to Oct. 28 at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Bristol, Connecticut. Our Vanguard Committee scheduled a May 27 evening at Dunkin’ Donuts Park to watch the Hartford Yard Goats, baseball’s Double A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. With the current baseball season startup now ques tionable, we were forced to cancel this event until next season. The Wire Association International trade show at the Mohegan Sun Casino in June was cancelled, so our planned bus trip to the event was called off.

Training

We continue to sponsor more educational and training sessions despite the crisis. Fall classes at Bristol Tech, casmi-springworld.org. Exhibiting information is also available on the organization’s website at www.casmispringworld.org/page/SWExhibiting.

Registration is now open for the event. To learn more about SpringWorld and to register free of charge, visit www.casmi-springworld.org/page/ SWHome. Those who attend SpringWorld will: • Network with other spring manufacturers and wireformers • Gain new insights for your business aided by Naugatuck Valley Community College, will begin in October and last for 10 weeks. On Tuesday evenings our Fourslide Machine Technologies will be held, while Thursday nights will be devoted to our Spring Winding class. Please see our website www.nesmausa.com for more details.

Important Dates

The following events (all in Bristol) are scheduled for 2020 (subject to change due to the crisis): • Sept. 14, 2020, NESMA Annual

Golf Outing at Chippanee Golf Club • Oct. 28, 2020, NESMA Casino

Night at DoubleTree Hilton Hotel • Dec. 3, 2020, NESMA Holiday

Party at Nuchie’s Restaurant • Dec. 4, 2020, NESMA Annual

Meeting at DoubleTree Hilton

Hotel See the newest technology available to improve your productivity, quality and service Attend free educational seminars offered on the show floor

New for 2020: High-quality food stations (e.g., street tacos, carved sandwiches, salads, cash bar, etc.) will be available at various locations to encourage lunch on the trade show floor and stronger attendance during key business hours.

SpringWorld, which is presented by CASMI every other year, provides a unique opportunity for spring

manufacturers, wireformers, OEMs and their suppliers to network, including one-on-one discussions with colleagues to share challenges, discuss solutions, and provide new insights for business.

CASMI to Host an Evening

CASMI will host its third installment of “An Evening at the Ballpark” at Impact Field, Rosemont, Illinois, the home of the Chicago Dogs, a team of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball (AAIPB). The AAIPB is the largest and most successful independent minor league baseball league in the United States. The event will take place Aug. 20, 2020.

Attendance includes a game ticket, networking, seating, food and beverage. Details and registration are available at https://www.casmi-springworld.org/

at the Ballpark

event/ballpark20.

“Cannabis in the Workplace” Re-Scheduled for CASMI’s November Meeting

The March CASMI membership meeting, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, has been re-scheduled for Nov. 12, 2020, at Maggiano’s in Schaumburg, Illinois. Mike Wong, a partner at SmithAmundsen’s Labor & Employment Practice Group, will tackle the topic of “Cannabis in the Workplace.”

On Jan. 1, 2020, the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act went into effect,

217112 Syntech Casmi Ad 1_4 Page_26233 J&R Casmi Ad 1_4 Page 5/31/ allowing adults over the age of 21 to legally purchase and use cannabis products. During this presenta tion, Mike Wong, who special Mike Wong izes in labor and employment law, will discuss how the legalization of marijuana impacts your policies and procedures, including the hiring process, drug testing, disability accommodations and discipline/ termination. Understanding the law itself and different provisions that the law has which specifically address employers is important, so that you can understand and limit your exposure to legal challenges and take steps to have a healthy and productive workforce.

For details, please visit www.casmispringworld.org. n

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