4/13/2009
HEADLINES
ASSOCIATIONS: Silver, Kuffel Head WAFD; Merger Vote Scheduled

Dee Silver of Albuquerque-based Barnhill Bolt Co. Inc. was elected the 20th president of the Western Association of Fastener Distributors. Board members announced that the Los Angeles Fastener Association and WAFD will vote in May on a proposed merger to become the Pacific-West Fastener Association.

Jim Kuffell of Missoula, MT-based Bolt & Anchor Supply is the new WAFD vice president. Keith Shaback of Pacific Fasteners Ltd. was elected treasurer.

Silver succeeds Suzanne Dukes of San Diego-based Hayes Bolt & Supply.

The two associations’ Unification Task Force cited greater strength, increased membership benefits, better support to all regions and local networks in the western U.S. and Canada, improved education programs and deeper leadership resources as reasons for unification.

The task force reach unanimous agreement on policy and governance issues and both LAFA and WAFD boards have approved the recommendations.

“The vision for the unified association is that there will still be two conferences per year focused on issues of importance to business owners and executives, like WAFD currently offers and there will still be local events and training programs offered in Southern California, like LAFA currently offers,” according to a task force statement.

Company dues will be the same $325 LAFA members now pay and less than the current WAFD dues.

The next WAFD meeting is scheduled October 15-17, 2009, at the Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, CA.

Related Links:

• WAFD