Committee Corner

As part of its continued push to help GAWDA members get the most out of their membership dues in the association and stay on the front lines of emerging industry trends and hot-button issues, GAWDA has several volunteer committees devoted to specific areas of the industry. The volunteer committees include: Government Affairs, Human Resources, Industry Partnering, Insurance Trustees, Leadership Development, Member Services, Safety, Women of Gases and Welding, and Young Professionals

This feature in Welding & Gases Today will update readers on the latest news and events from each committee. We thank all the committee chairs for their help and input as well as their service to the association and its members.

If you are interested in enhancing your GAWDA experience and joining a committee, visit gawda.org/ about/committees to fill out a GAWDA volunteer form today.

Government Affairs Committee

Endorsement. GAWDA has met with House Republican staff in the new Congress to promote consideration of this legislation.

Co-Chair Chuck Beal, American Welding & Gas

• DOT/PHMSA has proposed substantial increases to the annual hazmat registration fees for shippers and carriers of hazardous materials. GAWDA is working with allied associations to keep any fee increases to a minimum (no more than $500 for small businesses).

• The Federal Trade Commission has issued a proposed rule to invalidate all non-compete agreements for employees, outside of acquisitions. GAWDA is working with NAW in considering comments to the proposal.

Rick Schweitzer, GAWDA Legal Counsel

The GAWDA Government Affairs Committee provided updates on several outstanding legislative issues and continues to work on its primary priorities.

• In 2022 Congress failed to pass legislation to eliminate the duplicate background checks requirements and fees for a driver to obtain a TWIC and a CDL Hazardous Materials

• OSHA is preparing a proposed rule on heat illness and injury prevention standards for workers.

• On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency may not impose its Clean Power Project rules on greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas plants without specific authorization from Congress. The Court held that “major questions” of great political and economic impact may not be addressed by the agency unless Congress has clearly granted such authority, especially when Congress itself has considered but declined to pass such provisions. This ruling is expected to call into question many regulatory schemes established under vague or general enabling statutes.

• Congress passed and the President signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which reimposes taxes on sales and imports of hydrocarbon fuels. This affects the sale of acetylene and other products.

• On July 11, 2022, DOT/PHMSA published a Request for Information (RFI) on the potential use of electronic communication as an alternative to current physical documentation. The RFI sought input as to the benefits and problems with permitting hazardous materials documentation to be provided/transmitted electronically instead of in a physical form. The RFI is considering use of electronic forms of shipping papers, emergency response information, and special permits, approvals, and registrations. PHMSA is expected to hold a public meeting on this effort early this year.

Industry Partnering Committee

Current GAWDA Government Affairs Priorities:

1. Preserve the DOT’s preemption of state law meal and rest break requirements for drivers of vehicles carrying placarded amounts of hazardous materials.

2. Support implementation of a pilot program to allow 18-20-year-old individuals to drive commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce after completing a strict training and apprenticeship program.

3. Support a DOT rulemaking to allow use of electronic shipping papers for hazardous materials transportation by highway mode.

4. Work with NAW and other business groups to oppose passage of legislation limiting the use of independent contractors .

5. Continue to provide current information to member companies on changes in federal and state laws and court decisions, including protection of workers from COVID-19, use of marijuana in the workplace, and OSHA requirements.

The Industry Partnering Committee continues in its mission to provide a proactive forum for suppliers and distributors dedicated to the continual improvement of the welding supply/equipment and gas distribution industry; to communicate to our membership ideas regarding operational, marketing and systems approaches to improve the quality of service to our customer base and; to serve as a vehicle to facilitate communication and understanding between suppliers and distributors leading to improved profitability for both parties.

At the 2022 Annual Convention in San Diego, the IPC hosted its first-ever Networking 360 program. The event was a massive success, with 105 supplier member companies and 53 distributor member companies participating. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with a consistent message that the event should be held again. The IPC plans to host the Networking 360 event at this year’s Annual Convention in Hawaii and will discuss ways to continue to improve the program. Thank you to all who helped plan the event and who participated.

In addition, the IP Committee continues to work on several key initiatives including the continued support and promotion of the AWS/WEMCO Excellence in Welding Award, as well as how best to promote engagement amongst smaller supplier and distributor companies.

Committee Corner

Insurance Trustees Committee

The Insurance Trustees Committee continues to recruit new members to join the committee, with a list of prospective committee members being actively developed. If you are interested in joining this committee, visit gawda.org/about/ committees to fill out the GAWDA volunteer form.

The committee recently met with its CPA from Grossman Yanak and Ford to review the association’s financial statements and other tax and financial documents.

The committee continues to actively brainstorm on how best to compete with standard issue insurance programs and on better ways to sell our program, as well as any possible changes to the plan.

Member Services Committee

subcommittee, which will be chaired by Emily Harrell. The purpose of the subcommittee is to brainstorm and develop programs that would benefit GAWDA members, which would then be introduced to the board for consideration and implementation.

The Program Benefits subcommittee will be in addition to the MSC’s two existing subcommittees: Engagement, chaired by John Tapley, and Lead Generation (formerly known as Growing Membership), which will be chaired by Matt Cavalier and whose purpose will be to provide sales leads to GAWDA. The Committee recently welcomed in new members Jake Williams, Lance Carson, Luke Balderson, and John Scordato.

2023 Initiative developments

• Life Insurance, 401K and Health for GAWDA members

` Will Cray / Horton Group to develop

• Utilize CGA activities/programs to benefit GAWDA members

` Add to Program Benefits subcommittee

The Member Services Committee continues to place a heavy emphasis on growing its recently instituted subcommittees. The MSC will add a third subcommittee, the “Program Benefits”

` How to leverage CGA Benefits? Discuss the benefits of the training modules and e-learning.

• Create success stories about GAWDA members

Safety Committee

Co-Chair Bill Woods, American Welding & Gas

The Safety Committee continues to meet monthly for approximately 30 minutes maximum to discuss the work of the four subcommittees. The subcommittee format works well in that all members are involved, and all members will lead a subcommittee, thus 100% participation.

As reported to the Executive Board in October, the Safety Committee is committed to aiding the membership in preventing accidents by publishing benchmark documents. Following our face-to-face meeting in San Diego, it was the consensus of the committee to add pictograms to the existing documents. Most employees have little time to read three pages of safety directives, but everyone has time to view a poster which simply spells out the intent of the safety practice. To date, four new pictograms have been created and added to four best practices—all available on the GAWDA website under members only documents.

Committee Corner

Women Of Gases And Welding Committee

The Women of Gases and Welding (WGW) committee continues work toward our mission objectives through personal and professional development as well as educational and networking opportunities. The committee hosted a very successful Wine Tasting Event during the 2022 Annual Convention in San Diego. The event was sold out and received rave reviews from participants.

The committee also announced the recipients of its first-ever WGW Educational Grant during the Convention. Congratulations to the inaugural recipients of the grant, Linsey Rosenberry, Melissa Oyler, Lisa Blackketter-Royal, and Angela Radebaugh.

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