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TAPPI News

TAPPI Board of Directors Election Voting Is Open

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.

Meet One of Our Newest Members!

Per Emilsson, Senior Sales Manager with UMV Coating Systems AB, in Säffle, Sweden, is TAPPI's newest member. While visiting the Norcross, Georgia area recently, Per took advantage of the TAPPI Heaquarters meeting space facilities (a benefit of membership) and got a chance to meet many of TAPPI's headquarters staff. He's shown here (on left) with TAPPI President Larry Montague (right). UMV Coating Systems AB serves a strong aftermarket in the global paper and board i

ndustry with a focus on coating and drying. A business unit of Mattssongruppen, UMV Coating Systems has been an innovator in the coating business for more than 40 years and has made over 600 installations worldwide.

As a TAPPI Member, Per plans to become involved in TAPPI's Coatings Committee, hoping to bring a European industry perspective to the group. Other professional interests include quality control/testing and papermaking. Welcome to TAPPI, Per!

To follow Per's example, you can join TAPPI online.

TAPPI Courses for January

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.

TAPPI Kraft Recovery Course
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.

PIMA 2010 Awards Seek Nominations

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.

Find Out What's Happening at the 2010 Student Summit

Date: January 16-18, 2010

Location: Charleston, S.C.

Attend the 2010 TAPPI/PIMA Student Summit and find out what's really happening in the pulp and paper and packaging industries directly from professionals challenged with the day-to-day operations. The Student Summit will give you direct interaction with industry leaders for valuable info on employment and career development within the industry. 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!

Gulf Coast TAPPI Winter 2010 Meeting

Date: February 18-19, 2010
Location: Coosa Pines, AL

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.

TAPPI Offers Free Membership

In these tough economic times, TAPPI is reaching out to help members weather the storm. To support you through an unexpected job transition, TAPPI offers one free year of membership to loyal members who become unemployed -- giving you uninterrupted access to valuable resources such as TAPPI's members only Directory and Career Center. (To take advantage of this special one-time offer, you must have been a member in good standing for 5 years.) TAPPI supports its members year-round through networking, resources and cutting-edge publications.

We want to have all 2010 Membership renewals completed on time so no member will miss a day of TAPPI benefits. Please note that membership payment is due December 31, 2009. Also, TAPPI's Code of Ethics has been updated and is now available online.

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 by phone (with a credit card) 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 at the number above to take advantage of this offer.

If you're NOT already a TAPPI Member: Don't despair! Just give us a call. Also, check out the Value Proposition on page two of our membership flyer; it will help you make a business case to management about the value of TAPPI Membership. Easy! We can't wait to welcome you aboard.

In Memorium: TAPPI Fellow, Isaiah Gellman

TAPPI Member Dr. Isaiah (Sy) Gellman, an internationally recognized environmental scientist and engineer, passed away on December 10 in New York City, at 81 years of age. Gellman had retired as president of the National Council of the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) in 1995.

Gellman served for eight years as president of NCASI, the forest products industry's environmental quality management research arm. As president, he conducted a cooperative industry-supported program toward identifying industry environmental protection problems, developing solutions, and gauging the industry's progress in environmental protection. Since his retirement from NCASI, Gellman conducted special studies and activities related to the continued sustainable development of the global forest products industry. He served as Senior Author for over 700 technical bulletins issued by NCASI.

He was a chemical engineering graduate of the City University of New York (1947) and received an MS and Ph.D. in sanitation from Rutgers University in 1950 and 1951 respectively. As a member of TAPPI, in 1975 he was named a TAPPI Fellow, and received the Environmental Division Award. He was also a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Water Pollution Control Federation, American Society for Testing and Materials, Air Pollution Control Association and Sigma Xi.

Quote of the Week:

"An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today."

-- Laurence J. Peter, Canadian-born business writer

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.