The 92nd Annual PAWM Technical Training Conference
October 22 thru October 25, 2007
Best Western Eden Resort Hotel
Lancaster, PA 17601
Dear Weights and Measures Officials and Industry Representatives:
On behalf of the PAWM Executive Board, I am pleased to announce our 92nd Annual Training Conference to be held October 22 thru October 25, 2007 at the Best Western Eden Resort Hotel and Conference Center located at Routes 30 and 272 in Lancaster PA.
Enclosed for your review are the tentative agenda, the registration paperwork and the annual awards announcement. Please note the cut-off date for hotel reservations is Friday, September 21, 2007. To ensure your special conference rate of $82 per night, single or double, please be sure to call or write the hotel (717-569-6444) before that date and specify PAWM as the qualifying organization.
Due to a scheduling change requested by the state office of weights and measures the conference date was moved from March 2007 to October 2007. A lot has happened in the past eighteen months, some negative but most positive. An audit conducted by the office of Auditor General revealed that inspection dates statewide were delinquent. The positive outcome of that report was the proposed hiring of 22 additional field staff most of who are in position now. A second positive was the appointment of John Dillabaugh as Director of the Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards. John brings to this position a background in law enforcement as well as broad experience as a field inspector and supervisor.
Since our last conference, the retail price of vehicle fuel has doubled. This obviously places a premium on timely and professional retail fuel dispenser inspections. Again, at the request of the state office, we have scheduled a one and one half day training session on retail fuel dispensers to be presented by Mr. Tom Stabler of Stabler Training. To compliment this very necessary device training, we have also scheduled a full day of NIST Handbook-44 training. Both of these courses will be conducted by nationally recognized instructors (Tom Stabler & Otto Warnlof) whose combined careers total nearly ninety years in the business.
Another positive resulted when a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area TV station conducted octane tests at several locations in north east PA. The results, while not officially sanctioned, were far less than reassuring. This again caught the attention of Auditor General Wagner who called for implementation of fuel quality standards and testing in PA. Under the leadership of Rep. Joe Markosek (last year’s conf. speaker) a comprehensive fuel quality bill has been introduced and is presently in the works.
Progress in the weights and measures field is sometimes slow and laborious, but progress is always welcome. It has been a relatively good year for the division of weights and measures. Let’s build on that.
If you have a question or concern about the agenda or any other issues in the field, feel free to contact me at 570-275-4747. Remember, register early and get your hotel reservation now. We’ll see you in Lancaster.
Sincerely,
Gerald Buckley, President
2007 PAWM TECHNICAL TRAINING CONFERENCE
October 22 THROUGH October 25, 2007
BEST WESTERN EDEN RESORT HOTEL
22 EDEN ROAD, LANCASTER, PA 17601-4291
PHONE: 717-569-6444 TOLL FREE: 800-528-1234
ROOM RATES (SPECIAL CONFERENCE RATE)
$82 PER NIGHT, SINGLE OR DOUBLE, PLUS TAXES
Govt. employees: please provide your tax exempt number.
Please refer to PAWM Conference when calling.
Please contact the hotel directly by phone or mail for reservations
by no later than Friday September 21, 2007
REGISTRATION APPLICATION
NAME:____________________________________________________________
AFFILIATION:______________________________________________________
ADDRESS:________________________________________________________
CITY:__________________________________STATE:______ZIP___________
TELEPHONE:__________________________FAX:_______________________
E-MAIL:__________________________________________________________
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES*PLEASE CHECK APPROPRIATE PKG
W&M OFFICIAL:COMPLETE PACKAGE INCLUDING BANQUET $110__
INDUSTRY OFFICIAL:COMPLETE PACKAGE $110__
RETIREE(W&M OR IND.) COMPLETE PKG. INCLUDING BANQUET $60__
SINGLE DAY FEE (W&M OR IND.) $60__
BANQUET ONLY (SPOUSES OR GUESTS) $30__
YEARS OF SERVICE PIN AWARD DATA:_______
Please make checks payable to: PAWM
MAIL TO: PAWM, P O BOX 2511, LANCASTER, PA 17608-2511
Pennsylvania Association of Weights and Measures
92nd Annual Technical Training Conference
Best Western Eden Resort Hotel
22 Eden Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601-4291
Lancaster, PA 17608
October 22 to 26, 2007
Tentative Agenda
Monday, October 22, 2007 8am to 12 noon
Conference Set-up and Executive Board meeting.
Conference registration
1:00pm to 4:30pm
President’s welcome
A review of PA Laws and Regs: Bureau staff instructing.
Reporting requirements for state, local and private programs: Bureau staff instructing.
The examination of retail fuel dispensers: Tom Stabler instructing.
6:00pm to 9:00pm President’s reception. Featuring our famous free buffet and liquid refreshments.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 8:30am to 4:30PM.
Fuel dispenser training for state and local staff: Tom Stabler instructing.
Tuesday, 1:00pm to 4:30pm
Fuel Dispenser training: Tom Stabler
Tuesday evening: Arrangements are pending for a scale manufacturing plant tour followed by supper at the Shady Maple Restaurant or your choice of many outstanding Lancaster area restaurants.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 8:30 am to 12:00 noon.
Timing Devices for the 21st Century: Presented by Paul Descombs, VP of Sales & Marketing for Duncan Technologies. This will be followed with a review of the EPO for typical timing devices such as parking meters (mechanical, electronic and multi-space), parking garage requirements, air dispensers, laundry dryers, car washes and vacuums.
Wednesday, 1:00 to 4:30pm.
Secretary of Agriculture, Dennis Wolff
President’s report. Gerald Buckley, Montour/Sullivan Counties.
Bureau Director’s report. John Dillabaugh, Bureau Director
PA Department of Revenue. Speaker to be announced.
PFMA Scanning Certification Program report. Ms. Autumn Thomas.
Consumer’s issue report. Mary Bach, Consumer Activist.
2007 National Conference report. Kenneth Deitzler, Chief
Annual meeting and election of officers.
Wednesday, 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Annual awards Banquet. Banquet, 6 to 9pm.
Keynote speech. Mr. David Kovach, Columbia County Commisioner.
Silver Pivot Award.
Mary Bach Consumer of the Year Award.
Associate Industry of the Year Award.
The Great Guy Award.
Thursday October 25, 2007, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Introduction to NIST Handbook-44. This seven hour introductory class will cover Handbook-44’s source, layout and use for all commercial devices. Instructed by Otto Warnlof.
Friday, October 26, 2007, 8:30 am to 12:00 noon. Tentative
Director Dillabaugh will be conducting a meeting of all weights and measures field staff on Friday morning.
The International Society of Weighing and Measurement (ISWM), Potomac Division, will be meeting at this same facility on Friday and Saturday with a possible business dinner meeting on Thursday evening.
Conference wrap-up and closing.
2007 PAWM AWARDS NOMINATIONS DUE
The annual PAWM awards banquet will be held on Wednesday evening, October 24, 2007 at the Best Western Eden Resort Hotel in Lancaster, PA during the annual conference. The deadline for nominations is Monday, September 24, 2007. Please submit your nominations along with supporting documentation in writing to Awards Chairman Edward Arnoldi at P. O. Box 53, Kulpmont, PA 17834.
The Great Guy Award:
Who Qualifies: Any weights and measures official who is a member of PAWM.
Criteria: Awarded to a weights and measures official who has pursued tough enforcement issues in a professional manner, while facing formidable opposition from any source. This award is for effort regardless of the results.
Documentation: The submitter must have documentation in the form of correspondence such as letters or memos regarding the issue or newspaper articles which chronicle the event. The committee will also accept information which is general knowledge among weights and measures officials if members of the award committee are familiar with the issue or information.
THE MARY BACH CONSUMER OF THE YEAR:
Criteria: Someone who is interested in the general welfare of consumers and who acts with total disregard for any personal gain. A person who goes to meetings or publishes in the newspaper, appears on TV or radio, speaking about our profession and making the general public or government officials aware of weights and measures. A person interested in weights and measures who aids the bureau or local jurisdictions by regularly contacting officials with bonafide complaints of wrongdoing. A person who notifies officials of violations that result in a massive recall or off-sale order of a package or product for short measure or labeling violations.
THE SILVER PIVOT AWARD:
Criteria: To honor an employee of the state bureau who, in spite of great adversity, physical or political, performs his or her duties in a professional manner and brings honor and prestige to our profession. The nominee may be actively employed or recently retired and nominations must include in writing complete biographical information and supporting documentation of the nominee’s contribution to the profession.
ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR:
Criteria: Awarded to the industry that demonstrates cooperation and compliance by working with weights and measures, that demonstrates ingenuity in a product or process that enhances equity in the marketplace, that attends the conference and demonstrates leadership in their field.
PAWM: ASSURING EQUITY IN THE MARKETPLACE
