HEAD: Organizations Merge to Form NASFs Michigan Chapter

DECK: New chapter intends to capitalize on previous strengths.

By Je Co!e
"he #ran $apis chapter o% the Nationa! Association %or S&r%ace Finishing '#$NASF( an the
Detroit)*ase Michigan Association o% Meta! Finishers 'MAMF( ha+e merge to %orm the NASF
Michigan Chapter in hopes o% gro,ing their mem*ership an *ene%itting %rom *eing a !arger
gro&p-
"he organizations +ote in March to &ni%y. an the ne, gro&p is no, ,or/ing to %inish ,riting a
charter. !a&nch a ne, ,e*site. conso!iate its e+ent ca!enar. an e!ect a ne, *oar this %a!!-
0Both organizations ,ere ha+ing to ea! ,ith the %act that they ,ere starting to %a!! into
ormancy.1 sai Jim Han/inson. ,ho ,as presient o% #$NASF-
Facing a potentia! rain in energy an engagement. Han/inson sai the *ene%its o% merging the
t,o gro&ps *ecame more attracti+e. since the &ni%ication *rings e2perts %rom #ran $apis
%oc&s on e&cation an Detroits %oc&s on a+ocacy iss&es in orer to create 0a greater poo! o%
reso&rces to *ring on the !oca! !e+e!3goo 4&a!ity spea/ers that attract the attention an acti+ity
o% the !oca! *&sinesses-1
"a!/ o% merging ha a!reay *eg&n *e%ore the nationa! NASF o%%ice approache the
organizations a*o&t the iea o% &ni%ying &ner its charter- 5n %act. c&rrent Michigan Chapter
E2ec&ti+e Director Erin B&rns sai that some mem*ers o% the MAMF gro&p ,ere a!reay
tra+e!ing to the #$NASFs e&cationa! e+ents an +ice +ersa. ,ith other companies en6oying
mem*ership ,ith *oth associations sim&!taneo&s!y-
7ith the goa! o% 6&mpstarting mem*er engagement %irm!y in min. B&rns sai the merger ,i!!
enco&rage net,or/ing *y *ringing together 6o* shops. !arger companies an s&pp!iers &ner one
*anner to !earn *est practices an gather &pates on ,hats going on not 6&st in the neigh*orhoo
*&t a!so state,ie- She sai the conso!iation o% the e+ent ca!enar is one o% her top priorities-
"he 8ansing S&mmit in Octo*er is e2pecte to yie! a !arge attenance *eca&se o% its centra!
!ocation. ,ith the North American 5nternationa! A&to Sho, in Detroit an the ann&a! technica!
con%erence in #ran $apis high!y anticipate on 9:;<s agena. a!ong ,ith se+era! other
e+ents-
Both the #ran $apis an MAMF gro&ps ha+e chosen three e!egates in orer to %orm a si2)
mem*er interim ,or/gro&p to ,rite a ne, charter. ecie on *y!a,s. e+e!op a ne, ,e*site
,ith the he!p o% a cons&!ting %irm an create a ne, !ogo- A%ter these tas/s are comp!ete. the
mem*ership ,i!! e!ect si2 *oar mem*ers. ,ho ,i!! e!ect the chapters presient-
0=nti! ,e ,or/ together %or a co&p!e years. ,e!! pro*a*!y ha+e a +oice %rom each sie on the
*oar.1 B&rns sai- 0Beca&se Detroit an #ran $apis are s&ch istinct mar/ets. it ma/es sense
to ha+e a +oice %rom *oth sies-1
Ami a genera! spirit o% positi+ity an e2citement. the ne, chapter has a!reay seen some hope)
%or gro,th- Han/inson sai meeting attenance has increase ten%o! in some !ocations. an
some companies ha+e re6oine that pre+io&s!y ha roppe o&t o% mem*ership- B&rns co&nts at
!east %i+e ne, mem*er companies 6oining recent!y-
05 thin/ theyre seeing ho, e%%ecti+e ,e are an that it *ene%its them in +ario&s ,ays to *e a
mem*er.1 she sai-
Michigan Chapter of the NASF, call 517!"!#$%1 or visit nasf.org&nasfchapters.php.