July 23, 2013, was the target balloting day for the five-year review of T 631 "Microbiological enumeration of process water and slush pulp." When the roster of the Standard-Specific Interest Group (SSIG) was pulled on that day, it was found to be not in balance according to TAPPI guidelines. "Balance" in the guidelines is defined as no one interest group having more than 50% of the members of a particular SSIG.
The SSIG for T 631 has 13 members, of which 9 are suppliers of chemicals or raw materials. Balloting cannot proceed until the SSIG is in balance (i.e., no interest group being more than 50% of the members).
For this standard to continue to be active, either the number of suppliers of chemical and raw materials must be reduced or the number of other interest categories must be increased.
If you are NOT a supplier of chemicals or raw materials, then it would be very helpful if you have enough of an interest in this standard to join the SSIG. Even if your specialty is not necessarily microbiology, but you have a broad knowledge of the industry and standards in general, you may wish to join the SSIG to help out with this balance problem.
There are two other "supplier" categories – "equipment" (companies that provide equipment and machinery) and "service and general" (which would include companies that provide general services, such as consulting or testing, but do not actually provide chemicals or equipment). New SSIG members from either of these two categories would help with the balance, as would those of you whose interest group would not be as a supplier (producers of pulp and paper, consultants, educators, marketers and commercial sellers, commercial users of pulp and paper, and general interest; "general interest" usually includes retirees or persons not affiliated with the paper industry but who may have an interest in the standard.
If you would like to join this SSIG, please contact standards@tappi.org before September 13, 2013. If we are able to achieve a balance from these responses, this method wil be balloted for its five-year review shortly after September 13.