A Stradivarius is a stringed instrument built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari (okay, there's our 360-year-old Italian.) These instruments have a reputation for a superlative quality of sound that defies comparison. The name "Stradivarius" has also become a superlative applied to designate excellence. To be called "the Stradivari" of any field is to be deemed the finest there is. There are fewer than 700 genuine Stradivarius instruments in existence today.

Today, music experts still discuss theories about how these extraordinary instruments produced their special sound. (There's our passion for the violin!) What we do know is that the most prominent theories trace it back to the species of wood – which included spruce, willow, and maple – as well as how the wood was coated. The coatings included potassium borate (borax), sodium, potassium silicate, and vernice bianca, a varnish composed of Arabic gum, honey and egg white.

Recently Jeff Siegel, president of Mica and current TAPPI Board Chair, and I had the privilege of visiting the Michelman corporate headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio (the company I hint at in my opening riddle, of course.) Our gracious hosts included Rick Michelman, VP Technology and Flexible Packaging; Bob Poletti, VP Marketing and Paper; John Homoelle, Director of New Technology; Don Hoesl, Marketing Manager, Paper; and Ginger Cushing, New Business Development Manager, Flexible Packaging.

Michelman has been a TAPPI Sustaining member since 1992. The company was established in 1949 as a specialty chemical supplier. Today, Michelman is a global concern with more than 200 employees (over 10% work in their labs). The company is family-owned and professionally managed. Michelman technologies include surface modifiers, polymer dispersions, and coatings. Its three business units are Chemical Specialties, Paper Coatings, and Flexible Packaging. The company serves a range of markets including paper packaging, flexible packaging, specialty coatings, graphic arts, fibers & composites, and floor care.

One of the most unusual and refreshing characteristics of Michelman is the walls-down approach between divisions. This allows cross-divisional communications, which equates to cross selling their product lines. "We connect the dots between divisions," says Rick Michelman. Michelman's stated values include Integrity, Respect, and Success, with the slogan "The story of our past, the foundation for our future."

The firm also recognizes that sometimes two heads are better than one when it comes to providing customer solutions. Michelman has formed several alliances with other companies, which gives both firms the capabilities to co-develop commercial solutions that they may not have been able to offer by themselves.

Oh yes, I almost forgot the riddle at the beginning of this article. How do all these things tie together?

Well as fate would have it, Rick's grandfather, Joseph, was a very inquisitive person. He set out on a quest to discover the secret of the sweet sound produced by a Stradivarius. He sided with the coatings speculators, and was convinced that his tests with varnishes and coatings would lead him to discover the "Secret". I don't know if his experiments with coatings solved the mystery -- but his quest led to the founding of one of our industry's "Stradivari" coating solution providers. For more information on Michelman please go to www.michelman.com.

A final thought: There are two types of people in our industry: TAPPI members, and those who should be. For more information on TAPPI please go to www.tappi.org.

Until next time!

Larry Montague, TAPPI President

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TAPPI members are encouraged to vote in the 2010 TAPPI Board of Directors Election. Under the provisions of the TAPPI Bylaws, Article VIII, the TAPPI leadership is elected by ballot of the voting members. During the first week of December 2009, ballots and voting instructions for the 2010 Board of Directors election were sent via email to TAPPI Members. Emails were distributed by Election Services Corp (ESC), an independent election firm.

The Nominating Committee has recommended a slate of three candidates. Members are encouraged to visit the TAPPI website to review members of the current Board and learn more about the slate of three nominees.

Online voting is fast and easy. Voting began December 1, 2009 and will end on January 15, 2010. Be sure to cast your ballot, which is available online for your convenience -- have your ballot number and TAPPI Member number ready.

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We are striving to have all 2010 Membership renewals completed in a timely manner to prevent interruption in your TAPPI benefits. Please note that membership payment is due December 31, 2009. To renew online simply login to TAPPI's website (www.tappi.org) with your username and password and choose the Renew TAPPI Membership link in the Membership drop down listing on the home page.

For faster service you can renew your dues with a credit card over the phone by calling TAPPI's Member Connection Center at 1-800-332-8686(US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), or +1-770-446-1400.

New Multi-year Membership: Save time and money! Receive two full years of TAPPI membership for US $328, and save $20 off the list price; join for three years and save $42. Call Member Connection to take advantage of this offer.

Our members have asked for help in making a business case to management about the value of TAPPI Membership. Easy! Just check out the Value Proposition on page two of our membership flyer.

If you're not already a TAPPI member, this special offer makes TODAY a great time to join -- just give us a call. If you are already a TAPPI member, thank you for your support. Be on the lookout for your renewal notice, which will offer you a choice of multi-year memberships.

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Date: January 16-18, 2010

Location: Charleston, S.C.

If you're available over the Martin Luther King Holiday, you'll want to catch the great program for students being offered at the 2010 TAPPI/PIMA Student Summit. Program highlights include:

• State-of-the-Industry Address on "Sustainability and Eco-Confusion"
• Effective networking
• The Annual Engineering Challenge
• Job recruitment interviews with hiring companies
• Sessions on job transition and getting the right job
• Area mill tour

Need travel money? TAPPI has two ways to help you cover up to US$500 in travel costs:

1) The Deborah Ann McNutt Memorial Student Summit Stipend: Thanks to the generosity of Hercules, there are four stipends available. Each one will fund up to US$ 500 in travel costs. Requirements and application details are available online. (Apply no later than December 18, 2009.)

2) TAPPI Travel Stipend Drawing: If you would like to enter your name, send your resume to dtrimmer@tappi.org by December 18, 2009 and agree to be interviewed at the Summit. A random drawing will determine the winner of the stipend, and the winner's resume will be reviewed by our participating companies.

Everyone who attends the Student Summit is a winner and here's your chance to be a special winner compliments of TAPPI & PIMA. So mark your calendar and act now while there's still time!

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Date: January 11-14, 2010
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

TAPPI's 2010 Kraft Recovery Course will examine key recovery operations in a kraft pulp mill to help participants increase their ability to improve pulp production efficiency while minimizing operating costs and environmental problems. Register by December 15, 2009 to save 40%, even on the reduced price for members. Save even more when you register three or more attendees from the same location!

The TAPPI Kraft Recovery Course will help you discover new ways to cut costs, solve problems and increase productivity. You will also learn about new energy saving methods at the Energy Reduction Panel Discussion.

Engaging team activities and practical exercises help attendees hone problem-solving skills and retain knowledge. Attendees are encouraged to bring their specific problems to the expert course leaders for solutions you can use back at the mill.

Course Chairman Honghi Tran serves as Professor and Director of the P&P Centre at the University of Toronto. Tran has authored or co-authored more than 200 publications, including chapters 9 and 10 in the TAPPI PRESS book Kraft Recovery Boilers, and has obtained eight U.S. patents. He was named a TAPPI Fellow in 2000. The faculty includes experts who are recognized leaders in their field and veteran instructors: Bob Bartholomew, Jim Brewster, David Clay, Doug Foran, James Frederick, Tom Gencarelli, Thomas Grace, Glenn Hanson, Mikko Hupa, Paul Johnson, Jean-Claude Patel, Dale Sanchez, Sandy Sharp, and Richard Wessel.

Complete course information and online registration is available online - don't miss this excellent opportunity for practical knowledge building and networking that make TAPPI Courses an industry mainstay.

TAPPI Intro to P&P Technology Course

Date: January 11-14, 2010
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

With a comprehensive program and the expert leadership of NCSU's Mike Kocurek, TAPPI's 2010 Introduction to Pulp and Paper Technology is one of the most highly-rated courses TAPPI offers. Register by December 15, 2009 to save 40%, even on the reduced price for members. Save even more when you register three or more attendees from the same location!

A popular choice for new hires, sales reps, non-technical personnel or anyone seeking to expand their industry know-how, this course delivers a broad overview of the entire pulping and papermaking process. Attendees are encouraged to bring specific questions about any aspect of pulp and paper production, including new technologies, operating issues, or industry trends.

Course instructor Michael Kocurek is Professor of Paper Science & Engineering at North Carolina State University. He is one of the most recognized educators in the paper industry, and has been leading the "Introduction to Pulp and Paper Technology" course since 1974. In 2005, he was inducted into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on those who have made preeminent contributions to the global pulp & paper industry.

Complete course information and online registration is available online - don't miss this excellent opportunity for practical knowledge building and networking that make TAPPI Courses an industry mainstay.

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Nominations are now open for management level awards through PIMA's prestigious and well-established industry awards program. All the awards recognize accomplishment and expertise in the field of management. The first three highlight leaders who have made significant contributions to the paper industry over time. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2010.

Nominations are open for the following awards:

• PIMA'S Executive of the Year: PIMA's highest honor, traditionally presented to senior-level executives in the pulp, paper or converting industries for excellence in management and outstanding contributions to the industry as a whole.
• Mill Manager of the Year: Recognizes the mill manager who has best demonstrated outstanding leadership, management, and organizational skills leading to improved results at the facility for which he or she is responsible.
• The Brookshire Moore Superintendent of the Year: Recognizes the mill superintendent who has shown high personal standards and professional management qualities that contribute to the betterment of those under their management and in their company.
• Technologist of the Year
• Ray H. Cross Community Service Award
• Delano L. "Del" Boutin Local Section Service Award
• Thomas F. Sheerin, Sr. Service Award
• IT Service Award
• Kenneth H. Phillips Specialist Group Award
• Student of the Year Award

The one-page Nomination Forms are available online, in both a printable PDF format or as an interactive online form. Complete award descriptions are also available online. Honor your peers, coworkers, and managers, and help promote management excellence in our industry, by making your nominations for PIMA Awards.

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The National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training (npt2) was granted continuing support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the project entitled "NPT2 -- Building a Technologically Advanced Pulp, Paper, and Allied Industries Workforce and Contributing to the Development of the Nation's Renewable Energy Capacity." The grant is under the direction of T. J. Murphy (Executive Director of the Center), Dumont B. Henderson, Barbara McDonald, Harry T. Cullinan, Mary B. Cornell and Ralph Benefiel.

Effective August 15, 2009 the award is a continuing grant that has been approved on scientific/technical merit for a three-year duration. Other NSF Centers of Excellence have been established for the fields of Aerospace, Agriscience, Biotechnology and Marine Advanced Technology.

Established in June 2004, npt2 has the mission of providing the pulp and paper sector of the U.S. forest products industry with a globally competitive, technologically advanced workforce, and giving students and workers across the nation exciting and effective education and training opportunities. Since its inception, the National Network members have provided critical training and education services to the pulp and paper industries through a scholarships-internships-jobs model based on academic and industry partnerships.

The renewal funding will be used to support the following areas: (1) Broad Outreach, (2) Curriculum Development and Enhancement, (3) Sustainability, (4) Student Recruitment, Retention and Job Placement, and (5) Faculty Development. It also provides provisions for the research, development and implementation of curriculum to accommodate the cellulose-based, renewable energy initiatives currently undertaken at the country's pulp and paper mills which could then be used as a model program for other colleges and universities to help meet the nation's energy needs.

The National Network is a part of the Technologically Advanced Workforce (TAW) platform supported as an important technology platform by the American Forest and Paper Association's special project group Agenda 2020 and TAPPI. Visit www.npt2.org to learn more.

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In November, the 2010 Papermakers Technical Program Committee met at TAPPI Headquarters in Norcross, Georgia, to plan the Papermaking Program for PaperCon 2010, which will be held May 2-5, 2010 in Atlanta. The group met to select the best papers from nearly 100 abstracts submitted for the conference. The Papermaking Program will feature presentations describing the latest innovations and best practices in:

• Papermaking
• Paper Machine measurement & control systems
• Fluid Dynamics (Headboxes and forming)
• Tissuemaking innovations
• Chemistry -- fillers and additives

The full program will be posted on the PaperCon 2010 website by mid-December. To find out more about the conference, visit www.papercon.org.

Pictured are (L to R) Larry Anker, Craig McKinney (TAPPI), John Neun, Shih-Chin Chen, Darren Swales, Rosy Covarrubias-Mirza, Jeff Reese, Marc Foulger, Philip Wells, Scott Springmier (TAPPI), and Bandaru Ramarao.

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Gulf Coast TAPPI will offer a two-part program sure to deliver great ideas to your mill. The meeting will also feature a mill tour of Abitibi-Bowater in Coosa Pines.

First, the Corrosion & Materials Engineering Committee will be conducting a free, one-day Corrosion & Materials Engineering Seminar seminar on TIPs and topics relating to the identification and control of corrosion within the pulp mill processes. The Friday Technical Session will focus on topics relating to the Recovery processes.

Call for Papers: Gulf Coast TAPPI is looking for presentations, preferably with direct mill experiences or applied research, relating to the following topics, or other current topics in the recovery area:

• Na/S; white/green liquor balance
• Sulfidity purge strategies
• Purge for chlorides
• Dissolving tank controls
• Black Liquor Evaporator operations
• Liquor cycle impact on digesters, lime kiln, caustic plant, recovery boiler

If you are interested in presenting information for the benefit of our industry, please contact Chris Dietel at dietelc@dteenergy.com.

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Available in both English and Spanish, this DVD directly addresses safety concerns and safe practices in corrugated manufacturing facilities. It is a great source for training new employees and a valuable refresher for industry veterans. Topics included are:

• General safety
• Flexo folder-gluer safety
• Diecutter safety
• Stacker safety
• Material handling safety
• Corrugator safety

By special arrangement with the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC), TAPPI members can purchase this DVD for the same reduced rate as AICC members. Order details are online.

Special note: Disponible en español, también. Available in Spanish, too.

2009 EPE Proceedings Now Available
The latest innovations in energy, fiber, and environmental compliance drew a large crowd to TAPPI's 2009 Engineering, Pulping, and Environmental Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, USA October 11-14, 2009. If you were unable to attend this meeting, you missed a wide-ranging program of presentations, panel discussions, and workshops. But thanks to TAPPI Press, you won't have to miss out entirely: 2009 EPE Conference Proceedings are now available. Highlights include:

• Business Trends that explored global shifts in supply and demand, along with worldwide investment trends within the industry.
• A Pulping Track to help mills achieve high contribution, low-cost pulping operations without negatively affecting yield or quality. There were also separate sub-tracks for pulping, bleaching, recycling and non-woods themes.
• An Engineering Track with four complete sub-tracks covering energy, power and recovery; corrosion and materials; biorefinery; and maintenance and mill operations.
• An Environmental Track focused on how mills should respond to the shifting environmental and regulatory landscape.

The 2009 TAPPI EPE Conference Proceedings CD-ROM is fully searchable and includes the written papers, presentation slides, and poster session from most of the sessions. It is the next best thing to having been there! Check the online Table of Contents to learn more about this excellent value.

The List Price for this complete Proceedings is US$111; the TAPPI Member Price is only US$74 (a savings of 33%.) If you are not already a TAPPI member, you can join and receive the discount. For details, visit www.tappi.org/join.

Logo gear makes great corporate gifts
Whether you're at the plant, visiting customers, or hitting the links, make sure everyone knows you're a TAPPI supporter. New TAPPI or PIMA logo merchandise looks good and lets potential contacts know that you're serious about your commitment to our industry. Logo items are also a great way to thank your boss for supporting your involvement in TAPPI and PIMA.

This collection of quality apparel includes polo shirts, woven shirts, caps, and wind shirts. Now available: Eagle Dry Goods Classic Polo Shirts, Eagle Dry Goods Classic Twill Shirts, Harriton Brand Caps, Harriton Brand V-Neck Microfiber Pullover Wind Shirt, and more. Visit the TAPPI Bookstore for easy, online ordering.

FBA & TAPPI Help you benchmark plant performance
TAPPI and the Fibre Box Association (FBA) are offering this updated FBA/TAPPI Productivity and Waste Survey, which provides useful benchmarking data that is otherwise unavailable from any other source. With the information provided in this report, companies can evaluate their productivity, waste and starch consumption data against participating plants. Surveying top performers, it includes information on machinery and labor operations, as well as waste from box plants from primarily U.S. operations as well as several international plants.

For more information on the Productivity and Waste Survey, or to order your copy today, contact Peggy Lacy, FBA Director of Data Services, at placy@fibrebox.org or 847-364-9600.

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TAPPI is offering a presentation forum for researchers and coating technologists to present their findings among colleagues concerning coating fundamentals or leading edge developments relating to paper surface treatment, converting and printing operations. The 11th Annual Coating Fundamentals Symposium will be held October 11-13, 2010, in Munich, Germany.

The Technical Program Committee has tentatively planned sessions to include the following subject matter:

• Advanced understanding and developments of paper coating processes and structures
  • chemistry and interactions
  • coating structure and functional process properties
  • mathematical and computational modelling
• Advanced understanding of paper requirements (including surface characterization)
  • calendering / finishing
  • printing and functional imaging, e.g. electronic printing
  • converting
• Sustainability: Advances at the forefront
  • sustainable components and processing (including e.g. energy saving, coating recycling)
  • sustainable products (e.g. bioactive and barrier coatings, binder systems)

Deadlines: Extended abstracts are due to TAPPI by February 1, 2010; full manuscript drafts are due April 19, 2010; final manuscripts will be due June 30, 2010. Authors interested in being a speaker or poster presenter should send their abstract(s) as an email attachment and cover message to Advcoat@tappi.org. All manuscripts will also be considered for potential publication in TAPPI JOURNAL. If you encounter any difficulty sending your abstract, please contact Craig McKinney at +1 770-209-7294 or cmckinney@tappi.org.

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TAPPI has unveiled its exciting new event -- BioPro Expo™ -- a major conference and exposition scheduled for August, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. BioPro Expo covers the entire biomass processing spectrum, from supply through processing and utilization. It also connects diverse industry groups interested in renewable energy resources, from suppliers of agricultural, municipal and wood wastes to producers of dedicated energy crops and food processing facilities.

BioPro Expo's educational program and comprehensive tradeshow will focus on practical ways to transition products, residues and wastes to energy and biofuel resources. The program also covers supply and demand issues and government policy. By bringing together member expertise in bioenergy production with experts from various industries, TAPPI brings a unique perspective to the bioenergy field with BioPro Expo.

"We are excited to combine our industry experience in wood waste feed stocks and conference organization with information from government and academic entities, technology suppliers, renewable energy consumers and associations in industries looking for more sustainable and profitable ways of doing business," said TAPPI President and CEO, Larry N. Montague.

Subject matter experts from related associations and agencies will consult in program development, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Forest Landowners Association, and the Georgia Poultry Federation.

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Share YOUR favorite advice -- about life, business, work or leadership -- by sending in a quote to share with other Over the Wire readers. Email your quote suggestions, along with your name and company information, to jbottiglieri@tappi.org. We value the input of our OTW readers.

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