Pride in the Industry

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Washington, will hold its annual convention and trade show in Las Vegas from March 15 to 19 at the Mirage Hotel. This year’s theme is "A Decade Committed To Pride in Our Industry". The event marks the association’s 10th year of existence, although ISRI officials will not devote much time at the convention to celebrating the anniversary, preferring instead to look ahead to future plans and goals.

Unlike previous years, this year’s ISRI convention will feature a theme for each day. The first day, Saturday, will be devoted to leadership development, and will include a workshop for ISRI chapter leaders. Sunday’s theme is governance – that’s the day most of the committees will meet. Monday’s focus is fiscal management, Tuesday’s theme is company systems that can increase productivity and profit, and Wednesday’s theme is government policy, regulations and politics.

Organizers expect between 2,800 and 3,000 attendees, according to Evelyn Haught, director of communications for ISRI. This is about the same number that attends each year, although Las Vegas tends to draw a larger crowd than Orlando. "Usually we have our largest and most successful conventions in Vegas," says Haught. "It’s an easy destination for most people to get to, it’s usually cheaper, and they like going there."

The suite of rooms ISRI had reserved at the Mirage was sold out in early January, and an additional block was sold out shortly thereafter, she says, which could bode well for even larger numbers than usual. "I don’t know whether this is a sign that we’ll have a larger attendance – I don’t want to exaggerate it," Haught cautions.

The opening night of the convention will not include a formal presentation, as it has in the past, but instead will focus on a large party opening the exposition and trade show aspect of the convention. In honor of the association’s 10th anniversary, there will be visual displays commemorating significant people and events during those 10 years.

"That is probably going to be the only key event linked to the anniversary," says Haught. "This is ISRI President Jim Fisher’s wish. He wants to focus more on the aspects he sees as inherent in the pride in the industry – to look forward rather than look backward."

This year’s trade show is going to be "sensational," according to Haught. "It’s really a record. We sold out all the indoor space in the show by the first week in January, although because the Mirage outdoor facilities are large, we can continue to accept outside exhibitors. We already have about 12 or so. But that’s usually limited to very oversized heavy duty equipment like cranes. I think that says a lot about the caliber of the show – we have a waiting list."

The convention’s keynote breakfast speaker will be Dr. Paul Pearsall, a motivational speaker whose topic will be "Pride and Productivity: Five New Paths to Healthy Work". "He’s very big on leading a balanced lifestyle, and this happened to fit rather nicely with Jim’s vision," says Haught.

There are some other high-profile speakers planned for the convention, including former president George Bush and presidential campaign advisors Mary Matalin and James Carville. "It should be a lively convention," says Haught.

Under Jim Fisher’s administration in 1996, there were several changes to the traditional ISRI quarterly meetings, says Haught. Formerly called board meetings, these are now referred to as national membership conferences, and more of the ISRI membership is encouraged to attend.

"These have definitely grown in terms of the caliber of the program, as well as attendance," she says. "Previously these had been governance meetings of the association where committee work took place, and which culminated in a board meeting. They were always open to any member who wanted to attend, but we’ve made a much bigger effort to attract non-committee-type members to these, and to really emphasize that they have a direct voice in the governance of the association. Another change that has helped to attract greater participation has been the encouragement of committee chairmen to invite speakers to the various committees. And this concluded with probably our most successful quarterly meeting ever in New York in December."

Fisher has also heavily emphasized leadership development. Last June, he instituted a leadership conference outside of Washington for all of the committee chairman and vice chairmen and board members, along with key association staff who are liaisons to those leaders.

"He hired facilitators and really had a very immersed, in-depth two and a half days to help them pull out potential that they perhaps had not even discovered, in hope that this would also bring out more of the people participating in the committees," says Haught.

This will be a continuing theme throughout the year. "There will be a convention program that builds on this that is limited to 50 people, and it’s primarily oriented to chapter leaders," she says. "And then he will have another leadership development conference June or July to continue that real immersion in the concept of leadership. It’s totally tied to the pride in the industry theme about involvement, education, reaching for higher standards, and learning how to talk about the industry to a larger audience. You’ll hear more about this at the convention."