This year’s National Sash & Door Jobbers Association (NSDJA) convention will be my first extended period of time away from them. Boy, I bet it will be hard. But, I know that their grandparents will do a fine job taking care of them.I look forward to this year’s convention for many reasons. One of these is that I am not three months pregnant (with twins, no less) as I was at last year’s convention and will be able to move easily around the convention floor to see what great products manufacturers have to offer SHELTER readers (see what products some manufacturers will be offering at this year’s convention on page 35).
I’m also looking forward to sitting in on the educational seminars, especially “Uniting the Window and Door Industry: NSDJA and WDMA in Partnership.” I sat in
on last year’s presentation by Alan Campbell, the Window & Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) president, and it led to a couple of articles about the side-hinged exterior door standard (see November/December 2002, page 40, and January/February 2003, page 32). You can find out more in this issue about the educational seminars at this year’s convention on page 34.
I hope to get information for articles not only from seminars but also from attending. Please come by the booth (#321) and visit with me and tell me what you would like covered in SHELTER. Distributors, manufacturers and manufacturers’ representatives are all welcome!
I’m also looking forward to seeing Brian McIlwee take the reigns as president of the association. I’ve enjoyed working with 2002-2003’s NSDJA president George Lorenz, and I look forward to working with Brian this next year (learn more about Brian McIlwee on page 40).
This year’s Awards Breakfast also has me intrigued. I’ve seen the movie “Catch Me If You Can,” and I think it will be very interesting to see what kind of speaker Frank Abagnale will be.
I’m sure a number of you are looking forward to the convention, not only because it’s in sunny Florida, but because it’s the perfect opportunity for a family vacation to Disney World.
Too bad my boys aren’t old enough to visit with Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
See you there!
Samantha Carpenter, editor
scarpenter@sheltermagazine.com