President's Article Initiating Supply Management Excellence By Beatrice S. Wiest, C.P.M., President NAPM-Orange County, Inc.

Change continues to affect NAPM-OC...

AFFILIATE BUSINESS —

At the February Board Meeting, the Board of Directors appointed, and Sara Arhlen swore in Howard Leonard, C.P.M., A.P.P. to the board, and Stephen Bach, C,P.M., A.P.P. to the position of Past President. Both positions were vacant due to the resignation of Judith Smith (nee Serner), C.P.M.

• Howard Leonard will be completing the 2-1/2 year term, thus serving on the board through June 2004. Howard may be new to the board, but many of us know him as the Purchasing Negotiations class instructor. Although he has retired from the Purchasing profession (Hughes Aircraft, McDonnell Douglas, etc.), he continues to substitute teach at the elementary school level. Guess it’s never too late to have a second childhood.
  
  
• Steve Bach will be serving as Past President through June 2002. The position of Past President replaced the Director for National Affairs, and is an advisory position to the current president.

We have also adopted a financial policy for the management of NAPM-OC fund

• A statement of Investment Policy, Objectives and Guidelines has been developed between Salomon Smith Barney, a member of Citigroup, and NAPM-OC’s Finance Committee. The policy has been reviewed and adopted by the Board. The emphasis behind the development of an investment policy was to ensure that the assets of the various operating funds are managed:
  
  
  • in a manner deemed best for the promotion of the purposes of the NAPM-OC as set forth in its by-laws, and
    
    
  • in full compliance with all applicable laws.
    
    
• The purpose of the statement is to outline a philosophy and attitude that will guide the investment management of NAPM-OC funds. The Association agrees that the operating responsibility for the investments may be delegated to the Finance Committee (“the Committee”), but that all major decisions made by the Committee must be reported to the board, which shall report them to the Association.

NATIONAL —

NAPM-OC after much deliberation, discussion and investigation we have adopted the name of, NAPM-OC, affiliated with ISM.

• We will retain the blue and red rectangular logo and add the affiliation below.

PURCHASING TIDBITS —

• Robert (Bob) Nahabit conducted two seminars during February that were co-sponsored with NAPM-OC. Although the original intent was to hold the seminars at our office in Santa Ana, increased attendance required moving the workshops to a large facility, a positive for both the instructor and the affiliate. More seminars are planned for throughout the remainder of the year so be sure to check out our web-site for the latest offerings.
  
  
• March is Supply Management Month! During March’s dinner meeting we usually honor the Executive of the Year. Members submit nominations, and a panel of impartial judges select a winner. A perfect opportunity for you, the member, to acknowledge the contributions of an Executive whom has had a positive influence in your professional life.
  
  
• The Institute for Supply Management will be hosting the 87th Annual International Supply Management Conference and Educational Exhibit in San Francisco, CA from May 5-8, 2002. There will be over 100 workshops with trends and hot topics in supply management being reviewed. As a special offer, C.P.M. and A.P.P. examinations will be offered for free with a paid full conference registration or a 2-day pre- conference seminar registration. Take advantage of this offer if possible!

LIFE IN ORANGE COUNTY AND THE WORLD —

As I come to a close for this month, I am reflecting on how small the world is. The Orange County Business Journal for the week of February 18-24 has on its first page an article on how the financial situation in Argentina is affecting various companies within Orange County. Some fund companies were able to avert disaster by divesting themselves of any financial involvement with the Argentine economy while others are seeing a major drop in their sales quotas. While all the time I worry about my family that still remains in Argentina.