SPI South's Board of Directors Sets High Standards

On May 9, the SPI South Board of Directors met in Raleigh to update SPI South's Annual Goals and Objectives and determine measures of achievement. The following SPI South goals should directly impact the industry in a positive and meaningful way.

• Secure a minimum of $500,000 in state funding for training incumbent plastics production workers, focusing primarily on Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina.
  
  
• Provide a listing on SPI South's web site making members aware of the various incentives and tax credits available to industry in southern region states.
  
  
• Plastics Learning Network participants enrolling a minimum of 500 students and adding 20 new company participants.
  
  
• Be the SPI region with the greatest number of plastics operators taking the NCP exams by registering a minimum of 600 test takers.

Plans are Underway to Meet the Goals

SPI South staff has already begun work on achieving their goals and objectives to secure $500,000 or more from state government agencies to help train existing plastics workers in the southern region.

• Florida has increased its funding grant for the fall to $250,000 for training incumbent plastics workers based on the success of the PLN spring training and certification program. To expand the number of locations where PLN students can receive the satellite training, SPI PLN manager, Barbara Darby, will attend Florida's Continuing and Adult Education Standing Committee meeting in June to share how Florida's 28 community colleges can benefit from providing classroom space with satellite technology for the PLN.
  
  
• Martin Lancaster, President of the North Carolina Community College System met with SPI South in May. As a result, it is likely that the state will pay for plastics company employees who take the National Certification in Plastics exam. SPI is also educating the legislature about the benefits of reconfiguring the administration of its federal Workforce Investment Act funds. In order to implement a program for training incumbent workers similar to the successful Florida program, it is easier to do at the state level versus setting up several individual programs with each local WIA Board.
  
  
• Official with the Louisiana Department of Labor officials met with SPI South to outline the various training resources available for existing plastics workers. Louisiana has a tremendous amount of money through its Workforce Development Training Fund. A single company could qualify for up to $250,000 in state training funds, with the stipulations that it has operated in Louisiana and contributed to the state's unemployment insurance for the last three years. However, a complicated application process currently hampers access to the funds. SPI South hopes a program similar to Florida's will be implemented so that SPI can save Louisiana plastics companies the time and money involved in developing individual training packages.
  
  
• The Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates met with SPI's State Affairs Vice President in June to discuss workforce-training programs for the plastics industry and other important topics.
  
  
• SPI South is educating South Carolina's legislature about the need for establishing a state program to receive federal WIA incumbent worker training funds. SPI is not aware of any qualifying program in the State.

SPI Staff Meets with Several High-Level Federal Officials

The week of June 11 was a busy one for SPI government affairs, as the association continued its aggressive dialogue with key Federal officials on issues of concern to the plastics industry.

SPI President Meets with Vice President Cheney

On Monday of that week, SPI President Don Duncan joined a select group of trade association executives in a luncheon meeting with Vice President of the United States, Richard Cheney. Although it was agreed that specifics of the discussions would remain off the record, a significant amount of time was spent on the topic of energy and, to a lesser extent, environmental concerns. All participants had input into questions asked of the Vice President, and other subjects broached ranged from European politics to national defense.

SPI's Energy Task Force Convenes in Washington

Three days prior to the Cheney meeting, SPI's new Energy Task Force held its first meeting to begin formulation of strategies on the critical energy issue. At the meeting, Task Force members received first-hand perspectives from members of all plastic industry segments on the effects already being felt from the energy crisis in California and heard presentations from two industry energy coalitions with which SPI is considering partnerships. The Task Force also agreed to pursue action at the federal and state level and began reviewing SPI's existing energy policy and refining the association's role and messages. The SPI Energy Task Force is looking to expand its membership beyond the core SMG I Steering Committee in order to get a broader perspective from the industry, and is seeking members from SPI's regions to participate. The task force will meet next on June 18. If interested, contact Maureen Healey at (202) 974-5219, or e-mail mhealey@socplas.org.

More Meetings with EPA Administrator and Other White House Officials

On the topic of environment, Duncan and SPI Chief Regulatory and State Affairs Officer Maureen Healey attended an issues briefing with EPA Administrator Christine Todd-Whitman on June 12. Over breakfast, Whitman provided insights into her philosophy that "environmental and economic goals go hand in hand." She also outlined EPA's legislative priorities and its programmatic and regulatory plans.

In yet another high-level meeting that week, Healey met on June 14 with key White House officials, including Kristine Simmons, Special Assistant to the President for Government Reform, and members of the White House Domestic Policy Council, to begin a dialogue between the plastics industry and the Bush Administration on government reform and energy issues. In stressing the need for regulatory decisions to be based on sound science and economics, SPI noted that, because the plastics industry includes many small companies and traditionally operates on a narrow profit margin, it is particularly vulnerable to onerous regulatory and energy costs.

SPI had discussed similar points during a recent meeting with Richard Russell, Chief of Staff for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. SPI emphasized the need for industry representatives to have opportunities for regular, two-way communication with Federal regulators at the FDA, EPA and OSHA, among others, to ensure mutual understanding of goals and considerations associated with regulatory actions.

To ensure that the plastic industry continues to have voice in Washington as federal regulations are created, evaluated and enforced; SPI will build upon its relationships with Bush Administration representatives and other Federal officials.

State Legislators Informed of Industry Training Needs and Energy Concerns

In May, SPI South, APC and SPI's State Affairs Department hosted legislative receptions in Columbia, S.C. and Raleigh, N.C. Both events had a strong legislative turn out. Prior to the receptions, industry attendees were briefed on SPI's agenda for securing funds for plastics training from both states so that they could personally share with the legislators how state training funds for plastics technicians will help keep the plastics industry competitive.

Following the receptions, SPI South sent letters to all the legislators in North Carolina and South Carolina outlining the economic contributions of the plastics industry in both states and educating them about two primary concerns of our industry. Legislators learned about the profound and adverse impact that the national energy crisis is having on the industry and were asked to include SPI in discussions relative to the formation of state energy policies. SPI also noted shortcomings in both states for effectively administering federal WIA funds for incumbent workers and requested their assistance in resolving the gaps. For a copy of the letter, call 864/239-2939 x. 3, or e-mail prastatt@socplas.org.

PLN Board Meets and Agrees to Expand Course Offering

The Board of Directors for the Plastic Learning Network convened in May to discuss ways to improve the program. The Board decided to expand the PLN's course offering to include a safety class and a Paulson Injection Molding Troubleshooting and Simulation course. Additionally the Principles and Practice Courses for Injection Molding and Extrusion, currently 16 hours each, will be upgraded to 28 hours with more in-depth, technical content to challenge plastics workers with three or more years experience.

Presently the PLN Board consists of Joe Bennett, United Southern Industries; Dennis Hayford, Polymers Center of Excellence; Jinx Bagget, Wellman; Carolyn Holderman and Claud Lott, South Carolina ETV; and Richard Sturgis, Gary Moore and Barbara Darby, SPI. As more states provide grants for PLN training, additional directors from the industry in those states will have slots on the PLN Board. Presently, a board position for Florida is open for someone with experience in training and skill development of plastics technicians to provide guidance on the industry's needs. If interested, contact Richard Sturgis at (864) 239-2939 x. 2, or e-mail at rsturgis@socplas.org.

SPI's Spring Training Puts Florida Plastics Workers in the Big League!

This Spring over 271 Florida plastics production operators and technicians received training to prepare for the SPI National Certification in Plastics (NCP) exams in injection molding or extrusion through SPI's Plastics Learning Network (PLN). Seventy-nine percent of those taking the NCP exams this spring were from Florida companies, making SPI South the region with the greatest number of plastics workers enrolled in PLN and taking the NCP exams. The 36 Florida companies participating in PLN and NCP can be directly attributed to a $210,000 Workforce Florida grant to pay the course tuition and exam fees for up to 300 employees from qualifying plastics companies. To qualify, a company simply has to be current on its state taxes and worker compensation insurance and have operated in Florida for one year.

SPI marketed the Workforce Florida program for PLN training and NCP exams extensively to both SPI members and non-members. Surprisingly, only four companies were SPI members, representing 33 workers. SPI hopes that more members will take advantage of the program, however interest in membership has been generated as companies realize that the Florida program exists as a result of the ongoing efforts of SPI staff with Florida officials.

Prior to the 271 employees taking the NCP exam, SPI changed testing vendors, choosing NetCertification as the new NCP test provider, due in large part to their ability to provide the certification exams on the Internet. When the exam is taken on line, two sets of passwords are required and an approved proctor must be present to maintain the integrity of the test. Despite some initial technical difficulties with course transmission and NCP passwords, which have been resolved, the Spring courses were deemed a success and plans are underway to present the next round of PLN training this fall."

Florida Plastics Employees Recognized in Ceremony

Fifty-four plastics industry employees from Boyce Engineering, Precision Tool and Mold, Tuthill Corporation, Ven-Tel, Precise Massie, Cavaform, Protex and Precise Technology received recognition for completing the PLN courses in Preparation for Certification in Injection Molding and Extrusion at a ceremony held at Precise Technology in St. Petersburg, Florida last week. David Outlaw, Plant Manager at Precise Technology, welcomed the guest speakers and employees from the various companies. "It is the motivation and initiative of employees such as these who choose to increase their knowledge that contribute greatly to the success of the companies they work for and who are an example of excellence to their colleagues. That is why it is so important to recognize their accomplishment," said Mr. Outlaw. Guest speakers included Mike Littman of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce; Barbara Darby, SPI's PLN manager; Carolyn Holderman of South Carolina's Educational Television, which provides the PLN satellite downlink service; and Chuck Jones, the PLN instructor with the Polymers Center of Excellence. Following the speakers' comments and the presentation of the Certificates of Completion, an autographed Joe Demaggio baseball was presented to Ven-Tel Plastics after a drawing was held.

SPI Member Companies Make Hands-on Training Possible

Two SPI member companies donated $300,000 in plastics processing equipment to the new plastics technology program at Greenville Technical College in Greenville, S.C. Van Dorn Demag provided the program with a 110 Cadence and 230-ton HT injection molding machines, and Conair Plastics Systems of Pittsburgh contributed auxiliary equipment such as dryers. These equipment donations will help attract students to the plastics manufacturing curriculum and serve the growing training needs of the plastics industry in the Southeast.

Southern Region Annual Meeting Slated for September 28

SPI South's Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the SPI South Board meeting scheduled for September 28 in Charleston, S.C. All SPI member companies with facilities in the Southern Region are invited to send a representative. SPI plans to have a golf outing following the two meetings. Typically, the annual meeting is held during breakfast at the SPI Southern Conference, but due to the German K-Show scheduled this fall, SPI South will not host a conference. SPI South's by-laws require an annual meeting to update members on the region's goals and to provide a forum for discussion of important issues.

Orient Me! Available in Spanish

Orient Me!, SPI's multi-media orientation program, is now available in Spanish due to a high demand for a second language version of the product. The Orient Me! computer program provides a fun and interactive approach for orientating new employees and is proven to help reduce the high costs associated with employee turnover. Companies can purchase just the Spanish version of the program, or a package with both the English and Spanish versions. The cost of Orient Me is $5,000 for SPI members and $10,000 for non-members. The Spanish version will be available for half-price when purchased with the English program. For more information contact Kelvin Mims at (202) 974-5346, or e-mail kmims@socplas.org.

SPI to Host Largest Plastics Show in 2001

Many new products and services will be introduced at Plastics USA 2001 to be held October 2-4 in Chicago. Plastics USA 2001 will be the leading showcase for technologies relevant to processors serving all major markets. There will be over 500 exhibitors offering a range of products such as machinery and components, molds, robotics, auxiliary equipment, software, tooling and more. The appliance, automotive, medical and packaging markets will be the top four largest markets represented according to those exhibitors responding to a recent SPI survey. Plastics USA 2001 will be the largest North American plastics show this year providing an important industry update between NPEs to over 15,000 visitors from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central and South America. Plan your trip in advance by visiting www.plasticsusa.org. You can register and make hotel reservations online, search for exhibitors or products, print out a floor plan with customized exhibitor lists, get details on the educational opportunities and much more. Contact SPI Trade Shows Department with any questions at (202) 974-5235, or e-mail tradeshows@socplas.org.