DIS Operating Committee Meeting

Wednesday, October 3, 2001
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Minutes

The newly formed Operating Committee met for the first time. Thirty-six people representing nine Foundry members and 17 Associate Members were in attendance. We opened with "round robin" introductions and with each person in attendance discussing, briefly, the markets and business environment from their perspective. In general, the comments were that business was slow, however some members reported "pockets of prosperity". In general, slow times have resulted in businesses improving their performance and engineers looking for new solutions. This has resulted in an increase in quoting activity and requests for products and services related to improved product performance or reduced manufacturing costs.

After introductions, DIS President, Denny Dotson introduced the new committee format and the structure that had been first discussed at the Waterloo, Ontario meeting last spring. It was the goal of that steering committee to establish a committee structure that more effectively "tapped" the talents of the DIS membership and one that would improve the effectiveness of the organization. At an ad hoc steering committee meeting in Waterloo, four subcommittees were defined to combine and replace the existing committee structure. They are as follows:

The DIS Board is dealing with any necessary modifications in DIS policy related to these changes. Those policy issues are outside the scope of these newly formed committees.

Denny Dotson asked the Operating Committee members present to choose a subcommittee that best fits their skills. Then he charged each subcommittee with the responsibility of establishing a Mission Statement and some measurables related to the execution of that Mission. The Operating Committee then broke out into the newly established committees. The organization and outcomes of that subcommittee work follow.

Ductile Iron Marketing Committee

*Committee Chairman, Paul Gerhardt was absent. In his absence Gene Muratore filled the role of acting Chairman.

Mission Statement: To disseminate information about the attributes of Ductile Iron to the metal forming industries by all appropriate means. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Paid and non-paid press releases and advertising of the DIMG technical booklets.

2. Use of the DIS website.

3. "Cast It" and "Cast It in Ductile Iron" on video and compact disk.

4. Exhibiting at trade shows.

5. Seminars for design, materials and manufacturing engineers.

Goals: Increase awareness of the attributes of Ductile Iron (castings) amongst design engineers, material specifiers, and component purchasers/manufacturers, by expanding on the efforts of the DIMG, through additional funding from the DIS.

Current Activities: The following describe the scope of the activities of the DIMG.

1. Ongoing press releases for DIMG literature

2. Preparation of a press release for the "Cast It" video conversion to CD. This release will go to trade magazines, not on the website, as the original pressing may be insufficient vs. the volume of requests on the internet.

3. All DIMG literature is now uploaded to the DIS website and is fully downloadable.

4. Negotiations are underway with AFS to share space at the SAE show in Detroit in March 2002 and at the ConAgg/ConExpo/IFPE/SAE Off Highway show in Las Vegas in March 2002.

Discussion items:

1. Wells Durabar has secured space at the Las Vegas show and has offered the DIMC an opportunity to share the space. Final details will be worked out with Bob O'Rourke. Investigating the possibility of a "live" computer link in the booth for access to the DIS website.

2. The DIMC will be responsible for programs/speakers at these venues.

3. Very few members of the committee have viewed the "Cast It" video. One copy of the video was circulated to all committee members from the Rio Tinto office with an address list of committee members for mailing.

4. Discussions were held on how to get more visitors to the website. One possible solution is to purchase a list of names and make a mass email to the list. The title of the email must be attractive in order to avoid instantaneous deletion of the email by wary engineers.

5. The AFS has announced that there will be no shared space at the SAE show in Detroit. The committee must evaluate the benefit of space specifically for the DIMC. This would incur and additional expense that is not currently in the DIMG budget.

6. The feasibility of a DIMC Bulletin Board on the website was discussed. It was uncovered that the DIS website will unveil a Contact Us section within 60 days that could serve the same purpose of a bulletin board. This can be a platform for queries from design engineers regarding Ductile Iron.

7. No discussion of the DIMG budget was held, although the numbers are as follows:

Revenue:

Expense Budget:

Programs and Publications Committee

Mission Statement: To obtain the highest quality of speakers to communicate the newest technology of Ductile Iron and related processes. The can be accomplished through speakers at each T&O meeting and various publications of the Ductile Iron Society.

Goals and Objectives:

1. Establish speak guidelines (by July 2002)

2. Address the issue of commercialism (by June 2002)

3. Review presentations in advance
   a. Slides / PowerPoint
   b. Full written report
   c. 200 word abstracts

4. Producers subjects of interest (members to provide to Chmn. Oct 01)

5. Review speakers package for adequacy (by Oct 2002)

6. Any changes in the program chairmen (by July 2002)

7. Promote DIS Research Committee presentations (by Oct 2002)

8. Speaker gifts (by Oct 2002)

9. Keith Millis Symposium arrangements (Oct 2003)

10. ADI Conference (Fall 2002)

11. Articles and abstracts on DIS website (by June 2002)

12. $400 payment for speaker abstracts of presentations (Oct 2001)

Member Services Committee

*Chairman Tim Brown was absent and Denny Dotson served as Acting Chairman

Mission Statement: To make DIS valuable to existing and potential customers.

Goals:

1. Establish a list of 50 qualified potential new members,

2. Bring three potential members to each meeting

3. Review participation at DIS events and in services (compared to past years).

4. Conduct a survey of membership on benefits of DIS

College and University Relations Committee

Mission Statement: To expose the maximum number of young adults possible to Ductile Iron technology as it relates to its:

• Design

• Application

• Manufacture

• Research

• Career Opportunities

Action Items (Oct 2001 - May 2002)

1. Provide a hard copy of "Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers" to all students attending the FEF CIC conference and those attending the AFS Cast Expo.
   a. Keough to acquire the books
   b. Mroczek to prepare the DIS stickers
   c. Fitzpatrick to draft a letter to accompany the books.

2. Invite local students to next DIS meeting.
   a. Csonka / Keough