Purchasing Issue: - Maci-mag.com

Purchasing Issue:
ISM Forecast Sees Mfg Growth in 2011: (Page 10)
New Haas Technical Education Center Opens At
Linn State Technical College
QTE Mfg. Solutions Rolls Out Mastercam X5
Lincoln and Des Moines Show Photos
Natoma, Norton, KS, Finishes Addition &
Installs Nakamura & Citizen Equipment
Bramko Tool & Engineering, O’Fallon, MO. Expands
and Acquires Midwestern LLC.
Year End Tax Tips From TPP
Prsrt Std
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Lawrence, KS
66044
Permit No. 34
December, 2010
Photos, Top, L-R: Haas Executives and Linn State Officials at the HTEC ribbon cutting. Bramko’s management team (see page 18).
KC NTMA’s Mike Hudson & Dean Rohr. Bottom L-R: At QTE Mfg. Solutions’ Mastercam X5 rollout; Reece Gibson, Doug Nemeth & Jeff
Kleinheider. The ISM-Nebraska booth at the Lincoln Products Show. Natoma’s Darin Campbell & Todd Boller wiith a new Nakamura.
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Mid-America Commerce & Industry is
published 11 times a year (June and July
are combined) by:
MACI Publishing, Inc.
2432 SW Pepperwood Rd.
Topeka, KS 66614-5293
David Lippe, managing editor; Ray Lippe,
editor. Published since 1973. Mid-America
Commerce & Industry is a registered
trademark of MACI Publishing, Inc.
A one year subscription is $20.00.
Phone: 785-272-5280
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Mid-America is sent to industrial
purchasing managers, plant managers,
industrial engineers, and company
presidents in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma,
Nebraska, Arkansas and Iowa.
Index- December, 2010
Vol. 38 - No. 04
Natoma Expands: Adds Equipment .5
Mo-Kan AFS: Human Element ........8
ISM Survey: Mfg. Growth Expected
in 2011 ........................................10
Des Moines Show Photos ..............14
New Haas Technical Education
Center at Linn State ....................16
QTE Rolls Out Mastercam X5 .......17
Bramko Tool & Engineering Expands
and Acquires Midwestern LLC ....18
Upcoming Issues ...........................20
Year End Tax Planning ...................21
Lincoln Show Photos .....................22
KC NTMA Holds Christmas Party ..24
Hydro Aluminum Extrusion Appoints
Sharpe as Operations Mgr .........26
Editorial ..........................................27
Upcoming Trade Shows .................30
4 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Norton, Kansas
Natoma Corporation Installs Nakamura-
Tome Mill/Turn Center, Citizen L20 Swiss
Turn Center & Completes Expansion
Natoma Corporation, Norton,
Kansas, has recently installed a
new Nakamura-Tome WT-250
mill/turn center, a Citizen L20EIX
Swiss turning center and is completing
a 30,000-sq.-ft. addition.
The 28-year-old precision
CNC machining firm offers contract
manufacturing to various industries
including; avionics; medical;
lab instrument; environmental
and communications. It offers
CNC milling, turning (including
Swiss), light assembly and packaging.
It also has easy access to all
finishing processes.
The new equipment (purchased
from McClain Tool & Technology),
was needed to replace older
equipment and to improve Natoma’s
capacity and efficiency.
“We have purchased numerous
pieces of equipment from McClain
in the past and have been very
pleased with the equipment and
the service provided,” stated Todd
Boller, VP and son of the owner
and founder, Gail Boller.
The new 7-axis Nakamura-
Tome (the company’s second) features
2.5” bar capacity, 16” turning
length, and 24 live tools.
The new Citizen Swiss turning
center (Natoma’s third) features
dual spindles, ¾” capacity, live
tooling and a 12’ barfeeder.
“McClain’s service after
the sale makes the purchasing
decision easy,” commented Darin
Campbell, general manager.
“Their equipment is very reliable
and requires little service, but
when it is needed we get next day
service, which is exceptional for
northwestern Kansas.”
Natoma has 25 pieces of CNC
machining equipment. Its crew
Above (l-r): Natoma’s Darin Campbell and Todd Boller with a Nakamura-Tome
Mill/Turn center. Below: A Citizen L20 Swiss Turning Center at Natoma.
of 50 work with a wide range of
materials including: plastics; aluminum;
stainless steel; tool steels;
carbon steel; titanium; brass;
brylium; copper; bronze and exotic
alloys.
The new addition takes the
(Continued on next page)
DECEMBER, 2010 5

...Natoma
Adds
Equipment &
Expands
From Previous Page
total capacity of the plant
up to 70,000-sq.ft. It will
be used for more equipment,
material handling
and storage.
The company is ISO
and AS9100 certified.
“It’s all about customer
service,” stated Gail
Boller. “If a customer has
a problem we take it very
seriously.”
Natoma Corporation
can be contacted at: (785)
877-3529; Fax (785) 877-
2637; PO Box 88, Norton
Kansas 67654; www.natomacorporation.com.
Above and right: Parts
produced at Natoma
Corporation in Norton,
Kansas. The 28-year-old
precision CNC machining
firm serves industries
including; avionics;
medical; lab instrument;
environmental and
communications. It offers
CNC milling, turning
(including Swiss), light
assembly and packaging.
machining & fabricating
CNC Milling
CNC Turning from Swiss to Large 35” x 129”
Fully Automated Emco Cell
High Speed Mills
Grinding
Weldments
1050 E. “H” HIGHWAY
Liberty, MO 64068
Phone: (816) 781-6765
Fax: (816) 415-8044
sales@pridemfgkc.com
www.pridemfgkc.com
precision manufactured parts
6 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

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Mo-Kan AFS Learns About The Human
Element in Competitiveness
Above: Jerry Call, AFS EvP, speaks
at the Mo-Kan AFS meeting.
The Mo-Kan Chapter of the
American Foundry Society (AFS)
held a meeting on October 21 st at
the Ameristar Casino in Kansas
City.
The featured speaker for the
meeting was Jerry Call, EVP of the
American Foundry Society.
His topic was “The Human
Element in Competitiveness.”
Call, a 28-year-industry veteran,
discussed the importance of the
workforce in staying competitive
in today’s global economy.
He raised four points for
consideration: 1) The current state
of play; 2) Workforce availability
vs. capability; 3) Valuing your
team; and 4) Involving your team.
He emphasized that focusing
on process and equipment is fine,
but the human element cannot be
overlooked.
In other chapter business,
past Chairman Vicki Brock was
recognized for her service and
retired member Gene McCloud
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Above (l-r): Chair Dan Aubuchon
presents a plaque to vicki Brock.
(35 year member) was made a Life
member.
The Mo-Kan AFS can be
contacted at: (913) 621-1320.
8 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

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ISM Survey: Manufacturing
Growth Expected in 2011
Revenues to Increase 5.6%; Capital Expenditures to
Increase 14.5%; Capacity Utilization Currently at 80.2%
Economic growth in the
United States will continue
in 2011, say the nation’s
purchasing and supply
management executives in their
December 2010 Semiannual
Economic Forecast.
Expectations are for a
continuation of the economic
recovery that began in mid-
2009. The manufacturing sector
continues to outpace the nonmanufacturing
sector and has
greater expectations for growth
in terms of revenue, say the
nation’s purchasing and supply
management executives in their
December 2010 Semiannual
Economic Forecast.
The overall forecast
projects optimism about the
U.S. economy for 2011. The
manufacturing sector, overall,
is positive about prospects in
2011 with revenues expected to
increase in 16 of 18 industries,
while the non-manufacturing
sector appears slightly less
positive about the year ahead,
with 12 of 18 industries
expecting higher revenues.
Business investment, a major
driver in the U.S. economy, will
increase substantially in the
manufacturing sector.
These projections are part
of the forecast issued by the
Business Survey Committee
of the Institute for Supply
Management (ISM). The
Above: Norbert Ore, C.P.M., chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business
Survey Committee, speaking at NAPM-Wichita’s September meeting.
forecast was released by
Norbert J. Ore, CPSM, C.P.M.,
chair of the ISM Manufacturing
Business Survey Committee.
Manufacturing Summary
Expectations for 2011 are
positive as 65 percent of survey
respondents expect revenues
to be greater in 2011 than in
2010. The panel of purchasing
and supply executives expects
a 5.6 percent net increase in
overall revenues for 2011,
compared to a 7.9 percent
increase reported for 2010. The
16 manufacturing industries
expecting improvement over
2010 (listed in order) are:
Primary Metals; Fabricated
Metal Products; Petroleum
& Coal Products; Apparel,
Leather & Allied Products;
Transportation Equipment;
Miscellaneous Manufacturing;
Furniture & Related Products;
Plastics & Rubber Products;
Machinery; Textile Mills; Wood
Products; Electrical Equipment,
Appliances & Components;
Food, Beverage & Tobacco
Products; Printing & Related
(Continued on page 12)
10 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

...ISM Survey Sees Growth
in Manufacturing for 2011
..From page 11
Support Activities; Chemical Products; and Paper
Products.
“Manufacturing purchasing and supply
executives have expectations for continued
growth and are optimistic about their
organizations’ prospects as they consider the first
half of 2011, and they are even more positive
about the second half,” said Ore. “While 2010
has been a year of recovery in manufacturing, our
forecast sees improvements in both investment
and employment in 2011. Respondents expect cost
pressures in 2011 to be somewhat greater than in
2010. Manufacturing growth is now in its 16th
consecutive month as measured by and reported
in the monthly Manufacturing ISM Report On
Business.”
In the manufacturing sector, respondents report
operating at 80.2 percent of their normal capacity,
up from 72.8 percent reported in April 2010.
Purchasing and supply executives predict that
capital expenditures will increase by 14.5 percent
in 2011, compared to a 5.9 percent increase
reported for 2010.
Survey respondents also forecast that they
will reduce inventories in an effort to improve
their purchased inventory-to-sales ratio in
2011. Manufacturers have an expectation that
employment in the sector will increase by 1.8
percent, while labor and benefits costs are
expected to increase an average of 1.9 percent in
2011. Manufacturing purchasers are predicting
strength in exports and imports in 2011. They
also expect the U.S. dollar to weaken on average
against the currencies of major trading partners.
The panel also predicts the prices they pay will
increase 2.7 percent during the first four months
of 2011, and will increase an additional 1.3
percent during the balance of the year, with an
overall increase of 4 percent for 2011.
Survey respondents expect to realize supply
chain improvements through improved
inventory/asset management; cost reduction;
supplier development/better metrics; supplier
consolidation; and better risk management.
MANUFACTURING SUPPLY CHAIN
PRACTICES IN 2011
In response to a special question regarding
supply chain optimization, 71 percent of
purchasing and supply executives plan to take
new steps in 2011 to improve their supply chain
management practices.
The favored approaches are: Improved
inventory/asset management; Cost reduction;
Supplier development/better metrics; Supplier
consolidation; and Better risk management.
BUSINESS COMPARISON: First Half of
2011 with Last Half of 2010
Looking ahead to the first half of 2011, survey
respondents are optimistic about the next half
year. Comparing their outlook for the first half of
2011 to the last half of 2010, 45 percent predict it
will be better, 17 percent predict it will be worse,
and 38 percent expect no change. Compared to the
diffusion index for the same relative prediction
one year ago (64 percent), respondents are equally
as optimistic about prospects in the manufacturing
sector for the first half year (64 percent). The
13 industries expecting improvement in 2011
12 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(listed in order) are: Primary
Metals; Petroleum & Coal
Products; Textile Mills;
Transportation Equipment;
Paper Products; Apparel,
Leather & Allied Products;
Miscellaneous Manufacturing;
Fabricated Metal Products;
Machinery; Plastics & Rubber
Products; Food, Beverage &
Tobacco Products; Computer
& Electronic Products; and
Chemical Products.
MANUFACTURING
OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT
12 MONTHS
Survey respondents are
slightly more optimistic about
the next 12 months, when
compared to their response
in December 2009. The 57
percent who report a better
outlook is greater than the 55
percent response received in
December 2009. The 34 percent
who report that the outlook is
the same is lower than the 35
percent reported in December
2009, and the 9 percent who
indicated the outlook to be
worse is lower than the 10
percent reported in December
2009.
MANUFACTURING
SUMMARY
The manufacturing sector is
currently expanding, and the
forecast indicates that it will
continue to expand in the first
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half of 2011 and at a faster
rate in the second half of 2011.
Operating rate is currently
at 80.2 percent.
Production capacity
increased by 7.5 percent in
2010.
Production capacity is
expected to increase by 5.2
percent in 2011.
Capital expenditures
increased 5.9 percent in 2010.
Capital expenditures are
expected to increase 14.5
percent in 2011.
Prices paid increased 3.4
percent in 2010.
Overall 2011 prices paid are
expected to increase 4 percent.
Labor and benefit costs
are expected to increase 1.9
percent in 2011.
Manufacturing employment
is expected to increase 1.8
percent in 2011.
Expect growth in U.S.
exports in 2011.
Expect growth in U.S.
imports in 2011.
Manufacturing revenues
(nominal) are up 7.9 percent
in 2010.
Manufacturing revenues
(nominal) are expected to
increase 5.6 percent in 2011.
The U.S. dollar is expected
to weaken on average versus
major trading partner
currencies in 2011.
Overall attitude of
manufacturing management:
optimistic, with 91 percent of
respondents predicting 2011
will be the same as or better
than 2010.
The entire report on the
survey can be found at www.
ism.ws.
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DECEMBER, 2010 13

Des Moines Product Show Held
The 3rd Biennial Des Moines
Product Show was held on October
27th and 28th at the Hyvee Hall of
the Iowa Events Center.
The event featured exhibits,
demonstrations and seminars.
It was produced by Mid-America
Expositions (www.showofficeonline.com).
Photos from the show are
adjacent.
Landmark Manufacturing
Van Am Tool & Engineering
Sioux City Foundry
14 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

I&M Machine & Fabrication
DECEMBER, 2010 15

New Haas Technical Education
Center Opened At Linn State
Linn State Technical College
(LSTC), Linn, Missouri, hosted a
grand opening of the Haas Technical
Education Center (HTEC)
Showroom on Friday, November
19 th .
The event included machining
demonstrations, campus tours
and remarks from Haas and LSTC
leaders.
The new center is the result of
a partnership between LSTC and
Haas Automation, an industry leader
in CNC machinery and manufacturing.
The HTEC at Linn State
is one of 72 across the country. It
allows machine tool technology
students the opportunity to learn on
state-of-the-art equipment used in
the workplace.
“Partnering with Haas Automation
is making the machine tool
program at Linn State more effective
in preparing students and more
appealing to prospective students,”
stated Dr. Donald Claycomb,
LSTC president.
The HTEC serves as a Haas
showroom in which Haas can
demonstrate its equipment to
prospective customers. Haas has
entrusted CNC equipment worth
an estimated $380,000 to LSTC
including two turning centers, two
vertical mills, a tool-room mill and
a trunnion. LSTC has an additional
$410,000 invested in Haas
CNC equipment that includes two
control simulators, nine VMCs,
two tool-room lathes and three
turning centers.
The mission of the HTEC
network is to promote and advance
manufacturing and productivity
through excellence in manufacturing
education.
Linn State offers more than
Above (l-r): The Haas crew at the HTEC grand opening: Brian Cregg, Tim
Doran; Kevin Piedimonte, John Crider and Anthony McCollough.
Above: Two Haas machining centers at the LSTC HTEC.
Above: Part of the crowd touring the Linn State HTEC.
35 programs and has campuses in
Linn, Mexico and Jefferson City.
For more information on
LSTC visit: www.innstate.edu.
For more information on Haas
visit: www.HaasCNC.com.
16 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

QTE Manufacturing Solutions
Rolls Out Mastercam X5
QTE Manufacturing Solutions
rolled out Mastercam X5 at sessions
in St. Louis and Kansas City
in December.
The new version includes
such features as smart roughing
& finishing; dynamic milling;
streamlined multiaxis; machining
simulation; advancements in
turning; simplified Wire EDM
and new modeling tools.
For 25 years, QTE has provided
software, training and
contract services to manufacturers
throughout the U.S.
QTE can be contacted at
www.qtemfg.com.
Manufacturing Solutions
Providers of Software, Training & Contract Services for Manufacturers
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Software for CNC Machining and Inspecting your Products
Now you can create Mastercam World Famous Toolpaths inside SolidWorks!
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877-429-5708 www.qtemfg.com
Above (l-r): QTE’s Reece Gibson,
Mastercam’s Doug Nemeth and
QTE’s Jeff Kleinheider at the KC
rollout. Left: Part of the class at KC.
DECEMBER, 2010 17

O’Fallon, Missouri
Bramko Tool & Engineering
Expands and Acquires
Bramko Tool & Engineering,
O’Fallon, Missouri, has
recently expanded and acquired
Midwestern LLC (a restructured
version of Midwest Machinery Co,
a mining equipment firm based in
Joplin, Missouri).
Bramko Tool & Engineering
was founded by Ron Swaringim
in 1993 and has been run by his
son, Michael, a 20-year industry
veteran, since 2000.
The ISO 9001:2008-certified
firm is a general job shop that
offers CNC milling, CNC turning,
grinding, EDM work, welding
(Mig & Tig), light fabrication
and tool/mold repair. It works
with all standard metals across a
wide range of sizes. Industries
served by the firm include mining,
recreational and general industry.
Bramko Tool & Engineering
recently completed an expansion,
which brings the company’s total
space to 15,000-sq.-ft.
With the acquisition
of Midwestern LLC, the
manufacturing and distribution
operations have been moved to
Bramko’s O’Fallon plant. The
sales and accounting functions
remain in Joplin.
“This acquisition enables
us to diversify our business, get
into the international market
and have our own product line,”
stated Swaringim. He noted that
Midwestern LLC operates in 22
countries around the globe.
Bramko Tool & Engineering
can be contacted at: 832 Midpoint,
O’Fallon, Missouri 63366; (636)
978-1533; Fax (636) 9980-1670;
www.bramko.net.
Midwestern LLC
Above (l-r): Outside Bramko’s O’Fallon facility: Eric Roberts; Gregg
Beechwood; Bob Bristow; Michael Swaringim & Melissa Swaringim.
Above: Bramko Tool & Engineering’s new expansion.
18 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Above: Parts machined and a
mold repaired at Bramko Tool &
Engineering.
Red, White, And Blue
And Green, Too!
Ninety years of American craftsmanship are
built into every Jensen product and process. As
part of this proud legacy, we strive to be good
stewards of earth’s resources through the products
we make and in the plants where we make them.
Precision casting and machining, expert fabrication
and finishing, and stringent inspections reduce material
waste and increase durability. Components that last
longer and provide superior performance benefit the
environment, as well as our customers.
Every division of our company shares in this effort, and
we are honored to have received a DOE Energy
Champion Award for reducing our energy consumption
by refitting our foundry with high-efficiency furnaces.
Partner with us on your next project and discover the
difference our values make.
(800) 331-3551 • P.O. Box 1509
Coffeyville, KS 67337
www.jencast.com • www.jentechonline.com
©2010A Jensen-1984
DECEMBER, 2010 19

It’s always a good time to advertise in
WHY? Because it WORKS!
We reach the right people: purchasers, plant managers,
production managers, industrial engineers, etc...
We cover manufacturing!
For more information contact:
DaviD Lippe at 785-272-5280 or
maci@maci-mag.com
UpCOMiNG iSSUeS
January 2011
metal finishing • plating • coating
February 2011
foundry • castings • molding
March 2011
powder coating • industrial services
april 2011
MetaLS

Year-End Tax Planning:
Small Businesses Can Save Big Thanks to 2010 Legislation
By Chris McQueen,
CPA – TPP Accounting
The Small Business Jobs Act, the HIRE
Act and Health Care Reform have created
new ways for small businesses to save
money. And while saving is important, so is
spending– especially now that you may be
entitled to a write-off for purchasing equipment
and even hiring new employees. The
more you understand about the tax advantages
available to you, the better positioned
you’ll be to grow your business. Let’s take
a look at what the new legislation might
mean for you.
The Small Business Jobs Act
If you’re in the market to upgrade your
business equipment, now may be the time.
The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010
liberalized tax depreciation, making the
purchase of business equipment more attractive
before the end of the year.
• Profitable companies can immediately
write off as much as $500,000 in equipment
purchases in the first year, as long as the
total assets placed in service during the year
don’t exceed $2 million.
• The increase in the immediate write-off
under code Section 179 is set to expire at
the end of 2011.
This is also an opportune time to purchase
a new company vehicle, because the
Small Business Act retroactively restored
50% bonus depreciation for the year 2010
only.
• Vehicle must be new (used auto purchases
do not qualify for bonus depreciation).
• Most autos are subject to a per-year depreciation
limit regardless of the cost of the
auto. However, by restoring bonus depreciation,
the amount of depreciation allowed
in the first year on the purchase of a new
automobile in 2010 increases $8,000.
The 2010 HIRE Act
Under the 2010 HIRE Act, tax savings may
be available to companies that hired new
employees after February 3, 2010, or will
hire an employee before the end of the year.
• If the newly hired employee was previously
unemployed for at least 60 days before
being hired by your company, and if s/
he does not replace other employees in your
company, then you are exempt from payroll
taxes on the new employee’s wages.
• If you retain the new employee for
at least 52 weeks, your company
may qualify for a tax credit of up to
$1,000.
Wages paid to the employee from
March 19, 2010 through December
31, 2010 are exempt from your payroll
taxes. (If you believe you hired
an employee who qualifies under the
HIRE Act but have not been taking
advantage of the payroll tax exemption,
you may file amended returns to
recover those amounts.)
Health Care Reform
There has been a lot of talk about
Health Care Reform and the tax credit
that is available to small business
owners who pay for their employees’
health insurance. The maximum
credit allowed under the bill could
be as high as 35% of health insurance
premiums paid by the employer.
However, there are many limits and
phase-outs included in the bill:
• Companies with more than 10 full
time employees or companies whose
full-time employees make an average
of more than $25,000 per year may
find that the tax savings aren’t worth
the time and effort spent gathering the
information needed for the calculation.
• The credit is completely phased
out for companies with more than 25
full time employees, or if the average
annual wages of your company’s
full-time employees is greater than
$50,000.
We focus on your
business’ financial
needs - so you can
focus on making
your business
successful.
A few other important “to do’s”
by year end
Some other items to review before
the end of the year:
(1) Accounts receivable aging
reports - Follow up with customers
for invoices past due by 90 days. If
any are determined to be uncollectible,
write them off and take a bad
debt deduction.
(2) Inventory reported on the balance
sheet and current year gross
profit percentages - If inventory
balances or gross profit percentages
are out of the norm compared to prior
years, review overhead allocations
related to cost of goods sold and
perform a physical inventory to determine
if adjustments need to be made.
(3) Fixed asset detailed listing
report - Perform a physical inventory
on the items listed in the report
and delete assets no longer owned.
This can help the company save on
future years’ personal property tax
assessments and also could result in
a write-off in the current year, if the
discarded asset had not yet been fully
depreciated.
Chris McQueen is a tax manager
at TPP Certified Public Accountants,
a Kansas City-based firm that offers
accounting, retirement plan administration
and CFO services, so you can
focus your time and energy on what
you do best. See TPPkc.com for more
information.
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help them minimize their tax liabilities, while
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ever changing tax laws.
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Our outsourced CFO services ensure owners
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913.498.2200 | www.tppkc.com
DECEMBER, 2010 21

Lincoln Products Show Held
The 17th Biennial
Lincoln Product Show
was held on September
29th & 30th at the Lancaster
Events Center.
The event featured
exhibits, demonstrations
and seminars.
It was sponsored by
ISM (Institute for
Supply Management)-
Nebraska and produced
by Mid-America Expositions(www.showofficeonline.com).
Photos from the show
are adjacent.
Machining / Fabrication (Sheet, Plate, & Structural) / Welding
Turning, Milling, Punching, Cutting, Stamping, & Forming
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Phone: 417-235-7182 • Fax: 417-235-8262
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Phone: 816-241-1200 Fax: 816-231-5542
Email: a1paintpowder@aol.com
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ISM-Nebraska Van Am Tool & Engineering
Grain Belt Supply
Brand Preference Development
22 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Landmark Manufacturing TCI Fabrication J&J Wire
I&M Machine & Fabrication
Dutton-Lainson Company
DECEMBER, 2010 23

KC NTMA Holds Annual Chistmas Party
The Kansas City Chapter of
the National Tooling & Machining
Association (NTMA) held its
annual Christmas Party at the
Ameristar Casino in Kansas City
on December 4th.
Highlights of the evening
included installing Mike Hudson,
Heartland Fabrication and
Machine, as the new chapter
president for 2011 and recognizing
2010 president, Dean Rohr, R&D
Leverage, for his contributions to
the chapter.
The KC NTMA chapter can
be contacted at (816) 739-4422 or
www.kcntma.org.
Photos from the event are on
this page and are also available
at the chapter’s website www.
kcntma.org.
Above (l-r): Chapter Executive
Torree Pederson is recognized by
Dean Rohr at the Christmas Party.
Above (l-r): Outgoing President Dean Rohr receives a plaque from Past
President Bill Goodman at the KC NTMA Christmas Party.
Above (l-r): Incoming President, Mike Hudson is installed by outgoing
President Dean Rohr at the KC NTMA Christmas Party.
Left: Part of
the crowd
at the KC
NTMA
Christmas
Party.
24 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

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“Sharpe has over 13 years experience managing
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26 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

CNC FABRICATION & METALFORMING MACHINERY
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Editorial
...From page 27
courts dissolved the Standard Oil
Trust in 1892 and in 1911 an antitrust
decision broke the company
into separate corporations.
Rockefeller retired from
active management in 1895
and until his death in 1937, he
devoted most of his time to his
many philanthropies. (Before
1910 he had given $35 million
to the founding and support of
the University of Chicago and of
course his money is still being
distributed today).
Even after all these years,
some people are still debating
whether these folks really “paid
their dues” to society.
Now about Gates and
Buffett. The two have announced
that 40 of America’s richest people
have agreed to sign the “Giving
Pledge”. This could be at least
$115 billion.
Kimberly O. Dennis,
president and CEO of the Searle
Freedom Trust, expressed her
opinions in a Wall Street Journal
article.
In regard to the amount
pledged, she says, “It’s an
impressive number. Yet some–
including Messrs. Gates and
Buffett–say it isn’t enough.
Perhaps it’s actually too much: the
wealthy may help humanity more
as businessmen and women than as
philanthropists.
“What are the chances, after
all, that the two forces behind
the Giving Pledge will contribute
anywhere near as much to the
betterment of society through their
charity as they have through their
business pursuits?
“Successful entrepreneursturned
philanthropists typically say
they feel a responsibility to ‘give
back’ to society. But ‘giving back’
implies they have taken something.
28 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

What, exactly, have they taken?
Yes, they have amassed great
sums of wealth. But that wealth is
the reward they have earned for
investing their time and talent in
creating products and services that
others value.”
Ms. Dennis believes
foundations can achieve a great
deal if they meet the donor’s
objectives. But, she sees nothing
“inherently better or nobler
about using one’s resources for
charitable purposes than for any
number of other ones. If anything,
the marketplace does a better job
of channeling resources toward
where they are most valued, and
of punishing failure. Companies
shut down all the time. How many
philanthropies close because of
poor performance?
“Charity may solve some
problems, but as Carlos Slim,
the world’s richest man (and a
non-signer of the Giving Pledge),
says: ‘Poverty is not fought with
donations.’”
Of course individuals are free
to do whatever they want with their
money, but we have noticed over
the years that it is very difficult for
the guardians of those foundations
with tens of millions of dollars
to avoid a political leaning that is
sometimes the exact opposite of
the donor’s intentions.
Also, we think of charity as
more short-term aid in helping
people get their lives back,
whether it’s from illness, deaths,
disasters, etc. Since the state is
assuming responsibility for many
functions that used to be performed
by charities–not the least of these
are education, health care and
reliving poverty, it is important
that some of this excess wealth go
to start new businesses. After all,
they are the long-term engines that
allow citizens to earn money year
after year and lead useful, happy
lives.
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DECEMBER, 2010 29
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Omaha Products Show
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October 26, 2011
Sioux Falls Products
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October 18-20, 2011
Wichita Industrial
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4433, wits@witshow.org,
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30 MID-AMERICA COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Oct. 18th, 19th, 20th, 2011
Century II Convention Center Expo Hall - Wichita, KS
Established in 1974, the Wichita
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PO Box 9251, Wichita, KS 67277 • (P) 316-729-4433 (F) 316-942-2726
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