Document aDe07m7KVK3KRbgnpBpeV7kEX

FILE NAME: Calaveras (CALV) DATE: 1979 Oct 18 DOC#: CALVO 19 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: AIA Meeting Minutes with Cover Letter CAL 0019 211 m ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION 1745 Jefferson Davie Highway. Crystal Square 4. Suite 509 Arlington. Virginia 22202 (703) 979-1150 18 October 1979 MEMORANDUM FOR: SUBJECT: Members Forwarding of Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Minutes of the Association's Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting, Wedne s d a y , Sept e m b e r 19, 1979, are en closed. It is expected that the proceedings of the AIA/NA Industry-Government Conference held September 19-20, 1979, will be forwarded within 30-60 days. The next regular meeting of AIA/NA directors will be held Wednesday, Decem b e r 12, 1979, at. the Quality Inn, Pentagon City, Arlington, Virginia. Further information will be forwarded in the near future. Schedule of meetings for remainder of the Association's work year is listed below for information and planning purposes: Board of Directors March 12, 1980 June 11, 1980 September 17, 1980 Annual September 17, 1980 Executive Director Enclosures bjp/cn ? i CAL 0019 215 / ./e 2 Burton A. Gale, Rosinoid Engineering Corp.; Cindy Hayes, Nuturn Corp.j Robert Hoy]man, Calaveras Asbestos, Ltd.; Jack E. Keith, Rostone Corp.; Curtis Linke, Johns-Manville Corp.; J. J. McHugh, National Association of Filter Manufacturers; Howard Manosh, Vermont Asbestos Group; B. J. Pigg, AIA/NA StaEf; Richard H. Rosenberg, Borg-Warncr Corp.; Alfred Shaine3, P.T. Brake Lining Co,, Inc.j A. P. Tiedemann, Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc.; Richard L. Trachtman , AIA/NA Staff; James R. Weber, Bendix Corp.j W. T. Whitley, Cement Asbestos Products Company. Minutes On motion, minutes of the preceding meeting, June 13, 1979, were approved as submitted. Election of Officers Appointment of Executive Committee Mr. Schwarz, chairman of the nominating committee, placed in nomination the following persons who were, by vote, unanimously approved for office: Thomas A. Dougherty John H. Marsh Dimitry Poutiatine B. J. Pigg President Vice President Vice President Secretary and Treasurer In addition to the above officers, who are directors, the following persons were, by vote, unanimously approved as members of the Association's Executive Committeei Frank Betts Guy G. Gabrielson, Jr. Harrison B. Rhodes, Dr.Eng.Sc. Kurt Schwarz Committee/Work Area Appointments On motion, members of the Executive Committee were approved to serve in the following specific work areas: Standards Advisory and Air Monitoring Committees Harrison B. Rhodes, Dr.Eng.Sc. International Activities and Medical Affairs John H. Marsh Membership Kurt Schwarz Legal Research Committee Guy G. Gabrielson, Jr. Technical Committee Dimitry Poutiatine (E. M. Fenner, chairman) Information-Education Publications Dimitry Poutiatine CAL 0019 221 Public Relations Financial Affairs Page 3 Frank Betts T. a . Dougherty Remarks of the President A copy of the remarks of the president, Mr. T. A. Dougherty/ is enclosed. Other Business O n motion, the application for associate membership in the Association submitted by The Rockbestos Company, New Haven, Connecticut, was approved. The next regular meeting of directors is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12, 1979, at the Quality Inn, Pentagon City, Arlington, VA, commencing at 9:00 AM. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 AM. Executive Director 18 October 1979 Enclosure bjp/cn CAL 0019 214 THE ASBESTOS TOFOtwmOS ASSOCIATIOS/nohtis I Address by be. Richard pare t 1 da very such appreciate this opportunity to address such an imp. gathering even though l an not able to do so In person. This is due to factors outside my control and X do ouch regret pot being with you this opening. X ulsb to tell you something about the Asbestos International Association. Vou may be aware that thts has Its headquarters in loadon and acts on behalf of its membership from twenty-five countries. Xt-was with soma trepidation that X accepted the duty of being Chairman of the Executive Committee but the patience and understanding of our centers, which refleet so well the personal and Intellectual qualities of those who the asbestos industry world wide - has mads t b U e cast rewarding task fox me. X can therefore speak to you about the work of the Association with rtn-T authority but this X propose to do only briefly since X believe you V"-- much of it already and you will be nor# interested to consider the present effectiveness of this body and the prospects for the future. Aside from the facts, I emphasise that the views 1 express are my own. But 1 can begin with a fact. tte now have an international body that la well organised and effective. The organisation is largely the work of Six Seville Stack, the full-tlae Director Central of the Aeeoclatlon, who has brought to bear all of hie considerable experience and wisdom in the co-ordination of information and strategy, and of people. We are truly international and the various panels dealing with EEC problems, dust measurement, medical questions, tools for fabricating asbestos cement, friction materials, packaging, and conraunicetlons, are tbs responsibility of small groups of people from a very wide range of countries and branches of our industry and these are all people of very considerable quality and ability in any context. In the record, we have had successes and failures but when confronted with problems, 1 always remember that as an international group we have considerable muscle and our views are being increasingly sought by governments and by other international organisations the world over. /2 CAL 0019 212 - 2- Let me come now to what. I feel is a particularly important point and ask the question that is likely to have occurred to you : "As a member of the United States asbestos industry, why should I be concerned with the AIA? 1 do not export asbestos materials outside this continent, I have no health hazard from the use of asbestos in my plant. -So what has western Europe - or Japan - or Australia to do with me, or for that matter, with the AIA/N'A?'' A good question. 1 shall answer it. The asbestos industry is a large one. Over 20-billion dollars 1 should guess. But it is composed of many different parts. Some of these parts are small. They cover a wide range of differing technologies. All are specialised - some highly so. But they all depend upon a steady and reliable supply of cheap - yes even at today's prices, asbestos is a cheap commodity when you look around of cheap, consistent fibre. To this extent, asbestos is indivisible. If therefore, your business depends upon this supply of asbestos, you must be concerned that the continuing safe use of asbestos throughout the world is honestly and vigorously defended and protected. The co-ordination of this defense is the task of the Asbestos International Association. Let me develop this farther. The major use of asbestos is in asbestos cement sheets and pipes. 1 expect that in world terms more than 607. of asbestos consumption is in these products and the proportion may well be higher. The manufacture of asbestos cement pressure pipes is a major outlet for asbestos in the United States. Asbestos cement sheet for roofing and the like is no longer a major outlet in this country but it is of considerable importance in Western Europe a n d many other countries, particularly in the relatively undeveloped areas. It is this industry - AC pipes and sheets that consumes the great proportion - 807. or 90% may be - of the medium length fibres, Grade U and 5, / 3 > r3- It is clear that without this outlet for these fibres, the asbestos mining industry could not survive in its present form - in Canada - In the USA in South Africa - in Russia - in Cyprus - in Italy - and to on. The inevitable consequence would be that an eeonoelcally and technically * satisfactory supply of asbestos for atvj use - whether this be for textiles; for packings; for Jointings; for paper; for fifor tiles; for friction tutorials; and so on and no on -- ns ccoaosi&Aliy and technically satisfactory supply of asbestos for any use, would no longer be available. If the factors influencing the supply and demand for these fibres were commercial ones, then well and good. In the tlnlted States especially with your legislation and with the cut and thrust of competition, you would Vnou better than anyone how to deal with such a situation. But we all know this is not the case and we are dealing with new and unfamiliar factors which may deeply affect our business. ' This is why the asbestos problem la Indivisible. This Is why we must all work together to defend the safe use of asbestos in all of the outlets and especially in the major outlets and especially in asbestos cement. This then is my answer and my reason for earnestly soliciting your continuing support for the Asbestos International Association whose objectives precisely conform with these considerations. But what o the future? There are some areas where 1 believe our efforts will result in the feir and reasonable regulations that we desire although we must continue to he vlgilent and intensify our efforts particularly to ensure a dialogue with the international trade union associations, some of whom undoubtedly retain a suspicion of our motives. As we are all aware, the medical aspects of our problem are complex, often baffling and exasperating to the laynan. This does not only apply to asbestos but to many many materials about which society is perplexed. CAL 0019 222 * -4- A ' --: What is the correct balance in assessing the value a material has to society in relation to hazards associated with its use? as :- The doctors alone cannot answer this. Neither can industry alone. Neither can the anti-asbestos lobby. Neither 1 believe, can government. But all have a part to play. In spite of these difficulties that are so easy to enumerate, my own feeling is one of optimism for the future of our industry. We have a fine range of products which I am satisfied can be manufactured and used with no more hazard than is freely accepted by society as part of every-day life within a normal life span. If vie are satisfied that this is the case and 1 am - then it is our duty not only to our industry but to society as a whole, to defend our products vigorously throughout the world. But 1 have an additional reason for feeling optimistic. The huge problems for our civilisation consequent upon the so-called energy crisis which is really only just beginning, are likely I believe, to have the effect of putting environmental considerations in a better perspective than has been apparent during the last decade. This does not mean that environmental awareness will go away and it would be wrong if it did so but there is evidence that these large issues do have a cyclical quality. But as an example of what I mean, it must be increasingly relevant that the total energy used in Europe in the manufacture of a corrugated aluminium sheet for roofing is around twelve times that used for the equivalent asbestos cement product. The total energy used in the United States for the manufacture of an eight-inch iron water pipe is six Lines that used in the equivalent asbestos cement product. We who have executive responsibility for the international organisation see it as our duty firmly but responsibly to bring forward facts such as these. 1 conclude by wishing you all success with your conference and warm personal regards to you all.