Page 23 - MetalForming November 2010

one important new member benefit from the association, an online center for safety and loss-control resources called myPMA Risk Manager. A com- prehensive library (in English and Span- ish) of nearly 2000 safety policies and procedures, posters and other training documents, myPMA Risk Manager allows member companies to build cus- tom loss-prevention programs.
“I encourage the magazine’s readers to log on to the association’s new web- site, www.pma.org, to learn more about this important member benefit,” says Clay, “and to visit the site regularly to stay informed on other new services as they’re introduced.”
Networking and Advocacy
While several Pridgeon & Clay employees are active participants taking advantage of a range of opportunities offered by PMA, Clay appreciates two particular member benefits: networking and advocacy.
“Working in sales (before rising to
Pridgeon & Clay designed and built this robotic welding cell used to manufacture an auger mixer assembly that goes into the anti-pollution system of heavy diesel trucks. The cell features a Fanuc welding robot and Fronius arc-welding equip- ment. Shown is Keith O’Brien, vice president of global operations (left), and John Beld, production team leader.
A Sense of Urgency in Advocacy
the level of CEO), I understood well the value of networking with my customers, but not until I attended a PMA annual meeting (in 2003) did I discover how valuable networking with my peers could be,” shares Clay.
Soon after that experience, Clay put
both feet firmly in the PMA waters by attending a Washington, D.C., fly-in event, to lobby Congress during the era of President Bush’s steel tariffs.
“It was then that I realized how important it is to try to make a differ- ence in how the government acts, in
Clay pledges to build a sense of urgency in PMA’s advo- cacy efforts, “because,” he says, “the issues are as critical as they have ever been. By the time the 2012 election sea- son is in full swing, we’ve got to be fully engaged, and we need to raise a lot of money. We’re fighting tax increases and legislation hostile to manufacturing, along with unfair currency manipulation.
“I can give money to or speak
with my representatives here in
Western Michigan,” Clay adds, “but
they (and other congressmen in
manufacturing-intensive areas of
the country) already ‘get it’; it’s like
preaching to the choir. PMA
(through its One Voice partnership
with the National Tooling & Machining Association) acts as an advocate for manufacturing all over the country, reach- ing policymakers who may not fully understand our issues and their importance to our economy.”
One Voice advocacy efforts have paid off handsomely over the years. Here’s a snapshot of recent results:
• Lobbied hard on behalf of The Small Business Jobs Act, passed in September, that will offer immediate benefit to the thousands of small and medium-sized manufactur- ers who are experiencing unprecedented difficulty access- ing bank loans for day-to-day operations or investment. This bill will provide long-sought support for small busi- nesses seeking credit from banks, and help companies expand and make new investments thanks to tax incen- tives targeted toward small businesses.
• Stopped Employee Free Choice Act for three straight years—Despite unions spending more than $400 million since 2007 to pass the Card Check bill, we have successful- ly killed the bill in each year and are fighting to beat it back again in 2010.
• Developed a National Manufacturing Policy—In July 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill, following OneVoice input,
to establish a national manufacturing strategy.
• Access to Credit for Manufacturers Becomes Law—OneVoice took the lead for small manufacturers in Washington and proposed several solutions to the credit crisis facing small businesses. We succeed- top priority for President Obama.
ed in making this a
• National Currency Manipulation Call-In Day—OneVoice
led an effort to hold a National Currency Manipulation Call- In Day, during which thousands of manufacturers called Congressmen asking them to move on legislation to stop illegal currency manipulation by China and others. As a result, the House Ways and Means Committee passed criti- cal legislation to give manufacturers the tools they need to fight currency manipulators.
•Tax Credit Provisions Extended—Few sections of the fed- eral tax code support manufacturing in America. OneVoice has helped to extend the Research and DevelopmentTax Credit 14 times, improve and extend Bonus Depreciation and Section 179 Expensing, and expand the Section 199 Domestic ProductionTax Credit to 9 percent.
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