GAWDA celebrated its 60th anniversary at its 61st meeting on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Maui and the location certainly helped achieve a record attendance of 1016 members, associate members and their families.
Established by 13 distributors in Ohio in November 1945, GAWDA, who were called NWSA until 2002, has seen the industry come a long way in the 60 years since that first meeting. Its vision is simple – “To promote the safe operation and economic vitality of distributors of industrial gases and related welding equipment”. Run by professional management company Fernley and Fernley and ably supported by more than 90 volunteers on various committee and task forces GAWDA’s key activities include arranging safety seminars, business training and government representation.
Companies attending included all of the major gas companies as well as a number of major suppliers to the industry including the likes of Worthington cylinders, Chart Industries and Thermadyne. However, the majority of people making the long journey were from the traditional gas and welding distributors from which GAWDA gets its name and for whom GAWDA provides a valuable support service.
Spread over four days, the focus of GAWDA conventions is very much placed on networking and a host of events and recreational activities ensured that attendees had ample opportunity to spend time together and catch up with colleagues and friends alike.
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