CBNSA Changes Name to “Mid-West”

John Wolz

The Chicago Bolt, Nut & Screw Association changed its name to Mid-West Fastener Association.
President Henry Chernow described the name change as “our commitment to moving our meetings beyond the O’Hare area [Chicago O’Hare International Airport]” and reflecting an increasing number of inquiries from potential members based outside the Chicago area.
Last year CBNSA held a meeting in Rockford, IL, and is considering other locations, such as Milwaukee, this year.
“Over the past few years a name change has been suggested with pros and cons being reviewed,” Chernow explained. In November a majority of members indicated support for a name change and over the winter voted for either Mid-West Fastener Association or Midwest Industrial Fastener Association over maintaining Chicago Bolt, Nut & Screw Association.
Mid-West Fastener Association was chosen by a few more votes over Midwest Industrial. “This does not change the history, legacy, notoriety, function, purpose or intents of the Chicago Bolt, Nut & Screw Association/Mid-West Fastener Association,” Chernow noted. “In fact we will legally maintain both names.”
“The purpose of the name change is to alleviate confusion as to our association being a small regional group only allowing ‘Chicago area’ companies,” Chernow explained. “Over recent years we’ve had many more calls than in the past inquiring whether we would consider memberships outside of Chicago. While we have always accepted memberships from across the country and at times even overseas, our name indicated we may not.” The change also reflects industry evolution. “Our industry has also expanded products, quite extensively, since 1946 when we began,” Chernow added. “We do not represent specifically nuts, bolts and screws anymore. Although it would be hard to select a name that covers all products associated with our industry theses days, ‘fastener’ covers a much wider range.
Last year the Chicago Fastener Show took on the “Midwest Fastener Expo” name, and changing CBNSA gives “one more sense of continuity for the association and the industry.”
The name change will be marked at the Midwest Fastener Expo April 19-20, 2004, at Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. For information contact executive director Nancy Rich, P.O. Box 5, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Tel: 847 438-8338 Fax 847-438-7580 E-mail: cbnsa@aol.com or cbnsa@ameritech.net or mwfa@ameritech.net Web: cbnsa.com ©2004 FastenerNews.com