Page 46 - MetalForming July 2017

industry, and led to rapid growth for us,” says Gaskin.
Training in the metal-stamping industry also was emphasized by AMSA in 1971. A series of two-day workshops was held for key employees responsible for their companies’ compliance with the new safety regulations. In conjunc- tion, AMSA compiled its first safety- compliance handbook.
In 1972, AMSA broke ground for a new headquarters’ building in the Cleveland suburb of Richmond Heights, and the association’s technical meeting moved out of the United States for the first time, as more than 900 stampers met in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In 1975, Jon Jenson took over as AMSA president, focusing his efforts, and those of the 14-person AMSA staff, on the association’s Metal Stamping magazine, government affairs and industry statistics.
Among the early moves made under Jenson’s direction was the creation, in
Gaskin Reflects on 40-Year
Association Career
As a county economic development director, Bill Gaskin was brand new to the metal- forming industry when he joined AMSA in 1977. Thrown into the fire, Gaskin had to learn quickly, and in his 40 years at the association, including the past 17 as PMA president, he’s had a chance to watch PMA, and the role of trade associations, evolve.
“Within a short period of time after being hired, I had an incredible opportunity to learn about metalforming, its processes and technologies,” he recalls. “The common link was the flat-rolled metals used by companies, and a forming force that did not rely on heat. Active in government relations and regulations regarding noise and safeguarding, I realized that the government wasn’t fully aware of what our people do. From those expe- riences it became apparent to me as to how effective a trade association can be. We were effective primarily due to volunteer leaders, willing to spend their own time and money to change things, to be active in committees on technologies and on government and regulatory affairs.”
Over his time with AMSA and PMA, Gaskin has seen firsthand how communications have changed the association’s relationship to the industry.
“When I joined the staff, we were in a transition from a very face-to-face operation where staff and members needed to travel and be together in local districts,” Gaskin says. “We had 10 to 12 districts then, active groups that met seven or eight times per year, with industry suppliers traveling to district meetings to give presentations. That began to change in the 1980s and into the ’90s as communication and media evolved.
“We also met quite a bit with legislators and regulatory officials,” he continues. “Today, we conduct a D.C. fly-in once per year, and we send them numerous e-mails and letters. And, through our lobbying teams, we have a constant presence in Washington and in the ears of our nations’ leaders. We have become a voice for small-business
S12 MetalForming/July 2017
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