Bearing Specialists Association

LONG RANGE CONVENTION COMMITTEE

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

Tucson, Arizona

April 25th, 1999

MINUTES

LONG RANGE CONVENTION COMMITTEE  SUNDAY, APRIL 25TH, 1999

1.0CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING REMARKS

The meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m. by Co-Chairman Tillsley. Those in attendance were:

Robert BradfordBearing Distributors Inc.

John GraingerCooper-Grainger Canada

Robert K. McCormackDodge/Rockwell Automation

Susan Atmus MulveyE. B. Atmus Co.

R. P. RacineGopher Bearing Company

Bruce HillMinnesota Bearing Company

Tom MillerMotion Industries, Inc.

Kirk MorrisonRoller Bearing Co. of America

Richard A. ShusterShuster Corporation

Dennis ClarkSKF USA Inc.

Gus KontonickasThe Timken Company

Terry TillsleyTransmission Supplies (SA) Ltd.

Charlene SmithAssociation Manager

2.0ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were no announcements.

3.0REVIEW OF ANTI-TRUST POLICY STATEMENT

Mr. Tillsley called attention to the Antitrust Policy Statement that was distributed with the meeting materials. He also called attention to the presence of BSA Legal Counsel, Bill Ives, who was available to answer questions.

4.0REVIEW OF PURPOSE

Mr. Tillsley reviewed the purpose of the Committee as contained in the agenda. Continuity of process for leadership development is part of Strategic Plan Goal two, which is one of the initiatives for the formation of the Long Range Convention Committee.

5.0APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 8, 1999, MEETING

A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to approve the minutes of the February 8, 1999, meeting of the Committee.

6.0REVIEW BUSINESS PROGRAMS FOR 1999, 2000, AND 2001

6.11999 Convention

Mr. Hill gave a brief overview of the business program for 1999.

6.22000 Convention

Mr. Hill gave a brief overview of the scheduled proposed for the 2000 convention, highlighting the dinner and tour of the Biltmore on Monday evening of the convention. He also added that rooms have been blocked beginning on Friday evening and steps will be taken to encourage people to arrive early and use the rooms. It was the consensus that the plan to move the committee/board meetings to Saturday be initiated. After further discussion, it was also the consensus that the Canadian event should be continued and that a possible Saturday afternoon Canadian golf event followed by a very casual 19th hole affair would serve for 2000.

The committee discussed the business program for 2000 and offered the following topics as guidelines for the planning committee:

  • Globalization
  • Minority Women Business Entrepreneurs and guidelines that 5-10% of business vendors are minority owned.
  • Breakup of monopolies in light of what was happening during Vanderbilt era and why they are reforming today
  • Specifics of the bearing industry
  • Changing demographics of the workforce; how to hire, what employees want instead of money; why the are reluctant to transfer locations
  • Keeping profits up
  • Managing the total supply chain
  • Vision of distribution, 5, 10, or 20 years out
  • What new products will help teamwork between manufacturers and distributors
  • Why the customer is in the driving seat
  • University of Toronto author of Boom Bust Echo
  • How to handle customers who are not very profitable
  • Changing dynamics
  • Case studies and profitability models
  • Activity based costing
  • Pay a university to conduct a 3-5 year study and present findings at each convention; give them parameters of where the industry is going or the structure of the channel; use a group of people such as a think tank, not use consultants; maybe use semiretired bearing industry people.
  • How to deal with consultants
  • Revisit the topics from 10 years ago or bring back the same speaker
  • The power of the purchasing department over engineering, production, and maintenance
  • To where does an industry shrink? Look at the pharmaceutical or automotive aftermarket; do we have a choice and is this where we want to end up; how much control do we have?
  • The manufacturer’s requirement to earn the cost of capital from the manufacturer perspective

It was also the consensus that speakers outside the industry be used and especially someone with “shock value.” Also, the goal is to raise the issue not solve the problem.

6.32001 Convention

No discussion was held on this topic.

7.0CONVENTION PLANNING

7.1Review Current Non-Financial Guidelines for Convention Planning Committee

It was suggested that a new guideline be that the convention evaluation be distributed with the registration materials, not mailed to the attendees office. They would then have the option to complete and turn in on site or take with them.

It was also suggested that the liability waiver be incorporated into the registration form. Staff will check with legal counsel to see if that is possible.

It was further suggested that golf bag tags be given to the bellmen/valet so they are available on arrival and that they be larger, fluorescent, and possible plastic.

7.2Job Description for Convention Planning Committee

It was the consensus of the committee to approve the additional language for the job description. The entire description now reads as:

“The Convention Committee shall, under the supervision of the Board of Directors and the President of the Association, develop the program of events and activities for the BSA Annual Convention. It shall present to the Board of Directors a general outline of Convention programs. The Committee shall also be responsible for all arrangements for the Annual Convention, and shall act to ensure that a balanced budget is maintained and that deficit spending is avoided. BSA staff shall continue to negotiate and conclude all contractual arrangements pertaining to annual conventions and act as the communication link to all vendors.”

8.0OTHER BUSINESS

No action was taken.

9.0SUMMARY

1.Staff will check with legal counsel on incorporating the liability waiver into the registration form.

2.It was suggested that the evaluation be included in the registration packet and not mailed to the attendees office.

3.It was suggested that golf bag tags be available at the bell desk and be larger, fluorescent and possibly plastic.

10.0ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to bring before the Committee, a motion was made, seconded and passed to adjourn the meeting at 10:05 a.m.

Final Draft Minutes; BSA 1999 Annual Convention Page 1