TAPPI member William "Bill" Bittle says that membership offers the best professional tools, experiences and training to help you get ahead of the competition, while at the same time making you more valuable and effective no matter what segment of the industry you are in.

"TAPPI presents a great networking experience that cannot be duplicated elsewhere," Bill says, and it is for that reason he always urges his "reports and peers to join TAPPI and tap into its knowledgebase, publications, training, and conferences." Find out more by reading this month's Member Spotlight .

Spotlight participants are recommended by fellow members and staff. If you would like to nominate a member just send their name (or names) to MemberSpotlight@tappi.org. We will forward a Spotlight Questionnaire  to fill out and return. We look forward to seeing you in the Spotlight!

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TAPPI Buyers Guide Going up? Take your search to the next level with three TAPPI members' recently enhanced profiles! We are thrilled to announce that the SUN Automation Group, Hydro Technologies Inc., and NDC Infrared Engineering have all added their enhanced listings to the TAPPI Buyers Guide.

Guide users can effortlessly find company descriptions, products and services, contact information and links for all three of these excellent companies with just a single click.

Find all the products and services you're looking for all in one place with the TAPPI Buyers Guide. To purchase a listing in the Buyers Guide or to learn more about advertising options, e-mail TAPPI@MultiView.com*

*MultiView produces the TAPPI Buyers Guide and is an approved TAPPI partner

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An Update from TAPPI's International Nanotechnology Division Officers

Division Chair: Sean Ireland – Verso Paper

Division Vice-Chair: Phil Jones - Imerys

Division Secretary: Ted Wegner – USDA Forest Service- Forest Products Laboratory

As the leadership team for TAPPI's new International Nanotechnology Division, we are really excited about the challenges of leading the Nanotechnology Division as it works to advance a broad range of activities to expand education, standards development and networking opportunities. Nanotechnology has great potential as a key technology to enable the development of a new generation of products based on traditional forest products as well as a range of other applications and renewable materials.

While much has been accomplished, we are only just beginning to see the commercial results of ongoing research and development efforts that illustrate the great potential of this technology. There are many opportunities to learn, get involved, and stay informed of new technical advances. Here are three.

International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials

In its seventh year, TAPPI's annual nanotechnology event has been renamed to reflect both the expanding applications of cellulose beyond its fledgling origins in the pulp and paper industry, to the medical and automotive industries as well as application in the military. This year's event will take place in Montreal, Canada 5-7 June 2012. Visit the event website for speaking opportunities, program details, and more.

International Standards Development

Launched late in 2011, the Division's first committee will work with international experts on coordinating standards development for nanotechnology. As nanotechnology moves from the research labs to industrial manufacturing to consumer products, new issues and discussion arise. Standards play a huge role in commerce and societal benefit. Find out more and join.

Advancements in Nanocellulose Research, Development and Commercialization

TAPPI is recruiting volunteers for the International Nanotechnology Division who can help identify advancements in renewable nanocellulose materials research, development and, most importantly, commercialization.

To learn more or join this exciting new division of TAPPI, email Mary Ann Cauthen, TAPPI Member Group Coordinator.

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The TAPPI Board of Directors elections begin today, December 1, and will conclude on January 15, 2012.

Learn more about the TAPPI Board of Directors

 In March 2012, three directors will complete their terms. To fill these vacancies, a slate of three candidates has been proposed by the Nominating Committee:

• Michael Exner, Senior Vice President and General Manager - Containerboard Mills, RockTenn ·
• Steven J. Shifman, President and CEO, Michelman Inc.
• E. Clayton Teague, Former Director (Retired), National Nanotechnology Coordination Office

Elections have begun and conclude January 15, 2012. All TAPPI members are encouraged to vote.

Biographical profiles and candidate statements for these candidates are included on the online voting site. You may vote for or against the entire slate or for or against each candidate.

To vote online, follow these three easy steps:

1. Click on Election Services Corporation voting site and log in to vote.

2. Follow the steps to log in to the voting site:

A. Enter your Election Validation Number

B. Use the tab key or use your mouse, place cursor in the text box next to "Member Number". (Do not use your Enter key.)

C. Enter your TAPPI Member Number

D. Use the tab key or use your mouse to place the cursor over the "Login" button.

E. Click on the "Login" button. 3. View biographical information about each candidate (make sure your pop-up blockers are turned off) and cast your ballot.

If you have any questions about voting online, or wish to request a paper ballot, please contact Election Services Corporation by e-mail at tappihelp@electionservicescorp.com or call toll-free 1-866-720-HELP (4357), 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Can't find your member number? Contact TAPPI's Member Connection Center at +1-770-446-1400 or memberconnection@tappi.org The results of the election will be reported on www.tappi.org  in mid-January 2012 and in the March 2012 issue of Paper 360.

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The 24th Pulp and Paper Reliability and Maintenance Conference will be held March 12-15, 2012 in Raleigh, NC. The goal of this conference is to continue to be the marketplace for Reliability and Maintenance solutions for the pulp and paper industry. And it promises to provide an arsenal of improvement solutions to help your plant improve financial performance and survive long term.

Since its inception in 1986, the Pulp and Paper Reliability and Maintenance Conference has developed a devoted following of Reliability and Maintenance professionals representing Operations, Maintenance, Stores and Engineering. Over 400 speakers have shared their knowledge and experiences along with over 3,000 conference delegates.

Learn more about this conference and register to attend at the TAPPI conference page.

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Collaborative R&D Initiatives Will Help Grow Tomorrow's Technologies

The industry needs innovations in manufacturing processes and products. The forest products industry's investment in R&D has been declining as a result of low profit margins and the cost of developing new technologies. Collaborative R&D with cost-sharing among the companies on broad industry technology needs is the best way forward. The forest products industry's Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance is the organization best positioned to provide the nexus of industry, government, and academia to advance the industry's research priorities.

Agenda 2020 promotes and encourages collaborative R&D as a public/private partnership, an approach increasingly encouraged by government agencies and other funding mechanisms. Agenda 2020's collaborative approach also provides rich networking opportunities among experts in the fields of most interest to the industry. There is no other organization in the US taking this broad view of what the industry needs technologically to succeed, and how to drive progress.

Join an upcoming webinar on December 7 to learn more about the Agenda 2020 initiative and the R&D funding opportunities that are available for your organization.

Click here to learn more about the webinar speakers.

To reserve your space at this seminar, go to our registration page.

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Rethink Trees in Less Than Four Minutes

Having trouble grasping nanotechnology as it applies to the paper industry? Or, do you need help in getting coworkers or customers to understand the nature of trees that make them uniquely suitable for renewable nanotechnology? Do you have about four minutes?

Developed by a team of industry volunteers to raise awareness of the potential of trees using nanotechnology, a four-minute video was developed to highlight the many current uses of tree fiber in countless products, as well as the potential for new products and new uses realized through nanotechnology. This video is available for viewing and downloading.

Thanks to the following companies for their contributions which made this video possible: Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresources Engineering, ArborGen, Fibria, Georgia-Pacific, Nalco, Verso, Kemira, NewPage, MWV, Sappi, International Paper, IPST @ Georgia Tech, U.S. Forest Service.

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