NEWS Volume 6, Issue 6 The Newsletter for PMI Members — by PMI Members November/December 2003 PMI is Reaching Beyond Its “Traditional” Borders by: Ralph Herrbach, PMI President Thank you once again to each of actions in the form of public relations, credits” for you who attended the fall meeting in and lobbying efforts, we have those in Washington, D.C. It takes impacted the horizon of industry allied fields participation at a high level and good manufacturers to avoid costly and preparation by those in leadership obstacles. associations. positions to make these meetings More recently, in our effort to We will offer successful. It appears all those present broaden the reach, impact and image certification during our meeting agree that the of PMI, we have embarked upon an of our own as Ralph Herrbach Plumbing Manufacturers Institute is a initiative to push the activity of the well. sound organization with an excellent association more actively into a role of Secondly, we are exploring what staff and dedicated manufacturer advancing industry education and opportunities might exist by offering members. We can all share in the training. After all we are the “associate type” memberships to other pride of how PMI has evolved since its “Plumbing Manufacturers Institute.” classes of related industry partners. rebirth in 1997 and 1998. Through these efforts, it certainly can The result will be to expand the The theme of this year’s meeting be said that we are shaping the “reach” and “influence” of PMI and at “SHAPING THE FUTURE” was industry and its future as well. We are the same time enrich opportunities for particularly relevant from my vantage doing so by broadening the awareness dialogue, further education and point, and in a number of ways. and knowledge base within the ranks networking to ultimately achieve our Certainly PMI’s historical strength and of member companies…as well as goal of PMI being recognized as the leadership in the arena of codes and manufacturers in the “not yet acknowledged “center of expertise” standards is a continual way in which members” category. With additional when it comes to the plumbing this organization plays an important focus and some creativity on the part industry. In so doing we will be role in molding the codes and of our board of directors and staff, we enriching a “brand identity” for PMI. standards to which industry can expand PMI’s sphere of influence Another example of how PMI is manufacturers (both members and non- out to other members of the industry’s now reaching out beyond its traditional members) build their products…and in distribution chain. borders is our initiative to use the grant a real sense, the products that Two other areas are being studied we have received through NAM consumers use every day in their by the board, along these lines of (National Association of homes and other buildings. broadening our reach. We are looking Manufacturers) to promote to young In another arena…as an into the continued expansion of the people, careers within the plumbing organization PMI has demonstrated its training/education initiative to target manufacturing industry. ability, on numerous occasions, to head groups outside the ranks of And, while these are interesting off legislation and/or regulatory manufacturers. First, we are looking efforts, you have the PMI Board’s actions that were not in the best into the possibility of linking certain of assurance that pursuit of these interest of our industry…or our our educational forums to certification downstream customers. Through swift programs and “continuing educational Continued on page 8 In This Issue. Two High Notes and a Farewell . 9 Turning Our Vision of PMI Into Reality . 2 Meet Chicago Faucet’s Suzanne Shaw . 10 A New Push for Water Efficiency By U.S. EPA . .3 2004 PMI Dues Investment Information . 11 PMI Continues to Shape the Future . 4-7 Welcome Amerikam . .11 PMI Signs Memorandum of Understanding . .8 A Fond Farewell to Lori Smelser . .12 Shaping The Future. .Turning Our Vision of PMI Into Reality! by: Barbara C. Higgens, PMI Executive Director Upon returning Unless you live in a remote part of ways to make improvements for from the PMI the world or have no electricity, ourselves as well as our children. As 2003 Fall computers do affect your life. our parents could not imagine our Meeting, I Computers assist the monitoring and dreams, neither can we foresee the re-read the controlling of most planes, dreams of our children. As we educate following automobiles, and traffic lights. them, we must inspire them to use their editorial by Computers facilitate magazines, creativity and imagination for this is Clint Medlock, newspapers, radios and televisions in truly where our future lies.”* President, almost every aspect. Even telephone PMI is realizing many of its Stafford Cutting calls would be impossible without dreams, as we pursue new ways to Dies, Indian computers. The article you are shape the future. We have added six Barb Higgens Trails, N.C. currently reading was written, checked new members since the 2003 Spring which appeared in The Cutting Edge, a and corrected with a computer. Meeting. We enjoyed record newsletter serving the die cutting and Computers give us the ability to use attendance at the fall meeting. We die making industry. (Hey! Gimme a another person’s intelligence at welcomed four prospective members break! As much as I live for them, I moment’s notice. Before computers, I to the meeting as guests with the hope know there is more to life than reading never would have attempted to write that they will join our ranks. We have plumbing industry magazines!) an article for a magazine. Only with a list of 12 more prospects who have Being a fan of the space race, the aid of this computer’s spell expressed an interest in attending the Albert Einstein and the power of checking, grammar checking and other spring meeting in April. We have imagination, this article really hit tools can I write acceptably. I now added a variety of forums and home. It is particularly relevant in have the confidence needed to express seminars to our ever-expanding list of view of our fall meeting theme of my thoughts knowing the content of the member benefits. Together with “Shaping the Future,” the spectacular article is the key to its response. financial assistance from the National presentation by NASA spokesperson, Albert Einstein was quoted as Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Jack Bacon, and our visions for PMI saying, “Imagination is more we will begin planting the seeds to and the industry. I wish I had written important than knowledge.” As in the encourage a new generation to this article. I didn’t. (But I’ll be “back Apollo space mission, it’s not the consider careers in our industry. We to you” at the end of it.) Here it goes: power of the computer that sent us to have a new, official relationship with “On a warm Sunday evening in July the moon, it was man’s imagination. the U.S. Department of Commerce to 1969, like millions of others, I watched It’s not so much about the computer promote fair trade throughout the Neil Armstrong make his famous small having become a part of our life, as world. We have a solid base of step for man. Until recently, I never much as it is human imagination about dedicated, supportive members. We realized the magnitude of information the computer’s capabilities that affect are financially sound and in the unique needed to complete this mission. us. As our needs change, our (and enviable) position of offering a Rocket into space at approximately imagination must heighten. As dues adjustment downward to 18,000 miles per hour, take a 60 hour computers become more sophisticated members not already participating in flight, then orbit the moon 13 times, and our imagination becomes more the dues abatement program. launch the Eagle, descend from 50,000 vivid, change will accelerate. As we move forward, we will feet into the Sea of Tranquility, take a So often we take our current maintain the focus on our existing short walk, blast off again, be hurled capabilities, imagine enhancements priorities as well as continue to look toward Earth at 24,000 miles an hour and then use these ideas to improve for ways to expand PMI’s areas of and splash in the ocean at a our products. I doubt Alexander influence, building on our strong predetermined location. Sound like a Graham Bell had the foresight to foundation, making improvements as walk in the park? I don’t think so. envision cellular pocket phones. needed to ensure PMI’s role as the What amazes me most about their Though Orville and Wilbur may never definitive “Voice of the Industry.” mission was that the computers used to have thought about flying to the moon, Life is good. calculate this mass of information had a small piece of fabric along with a Thank you, PMI members and less capacity than my current home piece of the propeller from their plane friends, for your ongoing dedication to computer. This leads me to the was placed on the moon to signify PMI. Happy holidays to you and conclusion that computer capabilities their contribution. yours! are limited by the intelligence and As we inherit our parent’s dreams, imagination of the programmers. we accept their capabilities, yet seek *Reprinted by permission Page 2 PMI News November/December 2003 A New Push For Water Efficiency By U.S. EPA by:David Viola, PMI Technical Director In response to increasing pressure the Energy Policy Act of 1992.