March/April 2010
San Diego offers a new venue for convention participants to explore in between building connections and attending valuable workshops to help them strengthen their businesses. What does success mean to you? For some people, success means wealth, power, or fame. For others, it has to do with simpler pleasures. The ReMA 2010 annual convention—with "Success" as its theme—will help attendees explore what it means for the recycling industry as a whole as well as for their businesses. Success takes planning, perseverance, and a long line of well-defined goals. These goals, once executed, turn dreams into reality. Take a step toward success by attending this year's show of informative and educational workshops May 4-8 in San Diego, at the city's harborfront convention center.
As always, the convention offers many opportunities for networking with potential new business partners and reconnecting with old ones, as well as the valuable information you can absorb from the convention's commodity spotlights, workshops, and other programs that will help you succeed in the recycling world.
This year's convention begins with two days of ReMA governance meetings, including meetings of the board of directors and many committees and divisions. On the afternoon of Saturday, May 8, is the third board meeting and the election of ReMA's new national officers and board members.
Opening and Closing Events
The exposition remains the centerpiece of ReMA's annual convention. It opens its doors the evening of Wednesday, May 5, with the gala opening-night reception. This exclusive reception, open only to fully registered attendees, gives you a first look at new products and services so you can plan your exhibit hall visits during the rest of the week. Thursday and Friday you can speak with vendors and colleagues about exhibit products and services while enjoying the informal exhibit hall luncheons. This year's expo hall features 225-plus exhibitors occupying more than 375 booths and more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit space.
The closing-night gala on Saturday, May 8, allows attendees to step aboard the USS Midway, one of the nation's longest-serving aircraft carriers. Now a naval ship museum permanently berthed just a short distance from the convention center, the Midway will host ReMA conventiongoers throughout the ship, most notably on its 4-acre flight deck—amid restored helicopters and airplanes—with a 360-degree view of the San Diego skyline, Coronado Island, and the San Diego Bay Bridge.
Program Highlights
The convention offers three general sessions of interest to all attendees. Because the depth of the global recession and the outlook for economic growth remain on people's minds, ReMA has brought back the Spotlight on the Economy, which will take place Thursday, May 6. The U.S. recession—which began in December 2007—might be over, but the manufacturer-led recovery remains uneven, with unemployment hovering around 10 percent and overall consumer spending less than robust. This discussion considers whether this is the "new normal" in terms of growth prospects going forward or whether deeper undercurrents are at play—globally and domestically—that could derail economic recovery in 2010. It also looks at who or what will lead this recovery and how business leaders need to prepare for what's to come. Moderator Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics (Austin, Texas) will lead the discussion, which includes John Rutledge of Rutledge Capital (Las Vegas).
ReMA's general session on Friday, May 7, once again focuses on safety. Speaking is E. Scott Geller, a consultant with Safety Performance Solutions (Blacksburg, Va.), who specializes in behavior-based safety. Geller helps companies improve their safety culture by designing, implementing, and sustaining people-based processes to reduce workplace injuries and incidents. The goal for companies is to achieve a safety culture transformation by increasing safety leadership, employee engagement, and personal responsibility.
The trio of general sessions concludes Saturday, May 8, as Condoleezza Rice, who served as secretary of state for the George W. Bush administration from 2005 to 2009, takes the podium as ReMA's keynote speaker at the chair-elect's general session. Rice now teaches political science at Stanford University (Palo Alto, Calif.) and serves as a senior fellow on public policy at the university's Hoover Institution. In a change from recent years' schedules, Rice and Geller will take the stage after the scheduled breakfasts on May 8 and May 7, respectively.
| Know Your Metals
Brush up on your knowledge of metals from aluminum to zinc at a four-part metals identification workshop track on Saturday, May 8. The track features individual sessions on copper and brass, aluminum, nickel/stainless alloys, and analyzers and metal identification technology. Each session will cover standard identification procedures and technologies available for identifying materials coming to the yard. Unlike other workshops, the metals ID track is open to attendees with trade-show-only badges. Toolbox Talks Return
After a lengthy hiatus, ReMA is bringing back Toolbox Talks for the 2010 convention. These sessions—presented by ReMA's expo hall exhibitors—address productivity and facility maintenance from the point of view of a yard manager or company executive. This year's talks are Power Company Issues: Understanding Your Power Bill. Recycling processes require large amounts of electricity to run their operations. This workshop will help attendees decipher their power bills, address power quality issues, and consider ways to lower their electricity costs. Shredder Tips and Tricks for Improved Production and Reduced Downtime. Learn how to make your shredder operations more efficient and maximize production by adjusting factors such as crane operations and equipment maintenance. The Future of Materials Theft Compliance. Metals theft laws passed at the state level in the past few years come with a set of new reporting requirements. This workshop will survey these requirements and look at the technologies available to recyclers to help them comply while automating more of their financial operations. Green Energy: Electric-Driven Machines in Recycling Operations. As more and more scrapyards seek ways to reduce their energy use, new technologies are coming online that might help. This workshop will look at one approach—the benefits and challenges of electric-driven scrap processing machines. Environmental Compliance and Infrastructure. This session will focus on programs, tips, tools, and systems that facilities nationwide have employed for head-to-toe environmental compliance and will provide a road map for avoiding third-party lawsuits. Magnet Safety in a Recycling Facility. Magnets are ubiquitous in many recycling operations. This workshop will look at the various types of magnets commonly used and address how to safely operate and maintain this equipment. Development of an Operator-Training Program. Training is essential to safety and productivity. This workshop will help you develop and implement a program to ensure yard workers have the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to safely and efficiently operate scrapyard equipment. Direct Hydraulic Drive Systems. This workshop's speakers will give an overview of direct hydraulic drive systems' features and benefits and describe how they're used with shredders, including their reliability, performance, life-cycle cost, and safety. |
Keeping Up With Commodities
Keeping track of the commodities markets is an important part of operating a successful recycling business. Attendees can learn about what's driving the markets and where experts believe they are headed by attending ReMA's commodities spotlight sessions. Learn what challenges and opportunities face each segment of the industry from respected analysts and industry veterans. The sessions remain some of the convention's most popular programming, so arrive early to claim your seat. Here's a breakdown of the spotlights and the speakers confirmed at press time:
Spotlight on Iron and Steel. Domestic steel production fell 47 percent last year, and the total global output declined about 8 percent. China's production, meanwhile, continued to expand, accounting for 47 percent of the world's steel production in 2009. This year the guess is for greater production from the United States, the European Union, and Asia, with China again the dominant factor. As most forecasts call for higher end-use consumption, the panelists will discuss at whether they expect mills to remain disciplined or whether supply will overtake demand, leading to a steel bust. Are the economic underpinnings strong enough for a sustained recovery for this industry, and what about the raw material response from global suppliers of iron ore, coke, energy, and scrap? Speakers include Tamara Lundgren of Schnitzer Steel Industries (Portland, Ore.), Michael Locker of Locker Associates (New York), and Keith Grass of The David J. Joseph Co. (Cincinnati).
Spotlight on Copper. After a firm start to the new year, confidence in the red metal faded midway through the first quarter of 2010. Questions about global demand have resurfaced following credit-tightening measures in Asia, fresh sovereign debt issues within the European Union, and the potential for new U.S. banking regulations. Recent price forecasts point to higher average copper prices this year, but much depends on an assumed synchronized global recovery and a weak U.S. dollar. This session will address whether copper's position as the leader for the base metals complex is secure, and what it would mean for refined copper and scrap if China's hot economic climate cools. Speakers include Ed Meir of MF Global (New York), Randy Goodman of OmniSource Southeast (Spartanburg, S.C.), Tim Strelitz of California Metal-X (Los Angeles), Jeff Burghardt of Luvata (Buffalo, N.Y.), and moderator Brian Shine of Manitoba Corp. (Lancaster, N.Y.).
Spotlight on Aluminum. Last year, aluminum averaged around 75 cents a pound—down 35 percent from 2008. This year the consensus forecast calls for aluminum to average closer to a $1 a pound, as global demand and consumption recover. Though most price and consumption forecasts remain generally upbeat, more than a few forecasts note that the global supply of primary aluminum—as measured by visible aboveground stocks and excess capacity—may cast a shadow on the light metal, keeping market values range-bound until the supply picture moderates. The panelists will discuss what might be missing from this cautious scenario and how big a threat the more than 4.5 million mt of LME-based aluminum inventories might be. Speakers include Jack Hockema of Kaiser Aluminum (Foothill Ranch, Calif.), Jorge Vazquez of Harbor Intelligence (Laredo, Texas), Jerry Weinberg of Sigma (Shanghai, China), and moderator Jay Sherwood of Schupan & Sons (Kalamazoo, Mich.).
Spotlight on Nickel/Stainless. Not unlike the other major LME-traded metals, primary nickel's average prices are expected to recover this year, following the 30-percent, year-on-year decline recorded in 2009. Principal price drivers include the strength of real and apparent demand for stainless steel products by consumers and service centers, the projected response from the supply side (mines, smelters, and scrap), and the level of Chinese imports of nickel units. Most forecasts point to a balanced global market this year, but opinions on nickel's price prospects vary greatly. The session will consider the hidden hurdles to recovery and whether nickel is a supply-led or demand-led commodity. Speakers include Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics (Austin, Texas) and George Adcock of the London Metal Exchange (London).
In addition to these popular metals spotlights, the 2010 convention offers spotlights on paper, electronics, rubber, and plastics, each of which is described below.
Taking Stock Of Paper
For the first time, ReMA's Paper Stock Industries Chapter will hold its spring chapter meeting at the convention. Educational programming for this audience includes the Spotlight on Paper on May 7. Though the domestic output for 2009 is expected to reflect the levels last seen in the late 1980s, exports of recovered fiber continue to set year-on-year records, with China setting the tone. As domestic demand for paper and board remained low in the first quarter of 2010, virgin pulp prices rose steadily, as did prices for bulk and high-grade recovered fiber. For example, quotes for OCC were at values last seen 15 years ago, with supply unable to meet demand, especially from international buyers. With paper and board consumption expected to grow little in the near future, supply-side issues for virgin pulp and recovered fiber should influence the near-term outlook. This spotlight explores where the paper markets are heading, what products buyers will demand in the near future, and how processors, packers, traders, and mill operators can meet the next decade's demand. Additional programs of interest to paper recyclers include the following:
Combustible Dust in Paper Recycling. Combustible dust is a serious problem for paper recyclers. This workshop looks at control procedures that companies can implement in their operations.
The Future of Technology in Paper. Do digital media mean the end of paper, or is this just a new beginning for paper use and technology? This session will attempt to answer that question and more as a panel of industry experts discusses the industry's challenges and how new markets can strengthen the demand for recovered fiber.
Today's Opportunities for Paper Mills Worldwide. Paper mill operators face the same questions as others who work with recovered fiber. For example, how do the markets affect the need for paper products worldwide? A panel of mill representatives will discuss this and other challenges and how mills can address them in the future.
Plugging Into Electronics
Once again, the convention will feature the Electronics Recycling Summit, a special track of programs for those in this growing recycling sector. Two special classes scheduled for May 5 are free to fully registered convention attendees, but they require separate registration because seating is limited:
How to Become an R2/RIOS Certified Electronics Recycler®. R2/RIOS is the first accredited program that certifies that electronics recyclers are following the U.S. EPA's Responsible Recycling (R2) practices—and the only one to offer the trademarked designation of Certified Electronics Recycler. This course will provide insight on how to prepare for certification, giving the perspectives and experiences of companies that were the first to achieve R2/RIOS certification.
Electronics Recycling Services. As electronics recyclers search the market for new revenue opportunities, leading companies are advancing beyond the traditional recycling models to add new products and services to what they offer. In this course, industry experts will share their experiences and knowledge of services that are now becoming part of the big picture of electronics recycling, including data security, cell phone collection and recycling, parts recovery, and compliance management.
Separate registration also is required for a tour of two local electronics recyclers: E-World Recyclers (Vista, Calif.) and One Earth Recycling (El Cajon, Calif.). Go to www.isriconvention.org to register for these two classes and the tour.
Other electronics programming kicks off May 6 with the Spotlight on Electronics, which covers the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and the importance of certification, industry reputation, and building capital with strategic partners. The featured speaker is Mike Richter, ex-star of hockey's New York Rangers and adviser to the Sierra Club (San Francisco) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (New York). The Electronics Summit programming continues with these workshops:
United States/China Electronics Recycling Forum. A representative from the U.S. Department of Commerce will facilitate a Chinese panel delegation that will address the status of electronics recycling in China and the outlook for the future, including challenges of trade and export issues.
Managing Change in Electronics Recycling. A panel of experts with a variety of perspectives on the electronics recycling industry will address the hot topics facing the industry today, such as certification, export, and collaborative programs of recyclers, manufacturers, the media, and nonprofits.
Materials Recycling Challenges and Opportunities. This session will look at the current state and future implications of two challenging material streams in electronics recycling: CRT glass and plastics.
Electronics Recycling Summit sessions are included as part of the full convention registration.
| Ahoy, Recyclers!
This year's ReMA conventiongoers are in for a special treat. Not only is the closing gala back, but it's back in a big way, as attendees step aboard the USS Midway, the United States' longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century. The evening's highlights include ReMA's recognition of convention attendees who served aboard the ship, which was commissioned in 1945 and saw tours in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. Attendees will get a firsthand glimpse of what it was like to serve aboard the USS Midway, which was decommissioned in 1992 and is now a floating museum in San Diego Bay. If you or someone you know who has served on the carrier will be attending the convention, contact Chuck Carr, ReMA vice president of member services, at chuckcarr@isri.com. |
Reviewing Rubber and Tire Recycling
Tire and rubber recycling workshops include a Spotlight on Rubber, which this year focuses on policy issues surrounding rubberized asphalt, its benefits, and why states use it. Other sessions for this industry segment include
Markets for Recycled Rubber Surfacing. This workshop will look at the growing markets for processed tire rubber in athletic and recreational surfaces, including rubber playground mulch, pour-in-place surfacing, and crumb rubber infill in synthetic turf fields.
Combustible Dust Control in Tire Recycling. Combustible dust is a serious problem for tire recyclers. This workshop will address specific control procedures companies can implement to minimize this hazard.
Tires and Plastics. This workshop—of interest to tire, rubber, and plastics recyclers—will focus on applications that mix scrap tire rubber with plastic or scrap plastic with rubber.
Taking Plastics' Pulse
Workshops for plastics recyclers include the Spotlight on Plastics on May 7, which will address market conditions for the most popular grades of plastic, including HDPE, PP, ABS, PVC, and polystyrene. Other workshops for those who handle this commodity include the abovementioned workshop on applications that mix scrap tire rubber with plastic or scrap plastic with rubber, as well as the following:
Plastics ID. This class will describe technologies and techniques for identifying ABS, PVC, and acrylic plastics and teach processors what to do and what not to do when handling them.
Improving Plastic Recycling Through New Sorting Techniques. One of the biggest challenges for plastics recyclers is providing a clean and consistent recycled plastic supply for end users. Industry leaders in this session will discuss how they use sophisticated sorting technology to make that goal a reality.
Tending To Business
Many of the 2010 workshops will help scrap businesses operate more efficiently, safely, ethically, and profitably.
RIOS—the Recycling Industry Operating Standard. Many years of development have resulted in a quality, environmental, health, and safety management system for the recycling industry that now has received third-party certification. Learn more about RIOS and how it can positively affect your operations and your bottom line.
Firsthand Experiences With RIOS in Operations. This workshop gives attendees an opportunity to learn how RIOS can benefit their companies from representatives of the industry's first RIOS-certified facilities.
How to Buy Scrap With Other People's Money. Lines of credit, letters of credit, and cash flow management are challenges for any commodity recycler. This workshop will explore the current tight credit markets and give guidance on using credit in this economic environment.
The Present and Future of Global Trade. This workshop takes a look at global markets and how they relate to scrap. What markets exist today, and what markets are expected to exist in the future?
Combustible Dust: What the (Dusty) Crystal Ball Shows. OSHA is developing rules that are likely to further regulate combustible dust in the recycling industry. This workshop will look at current regulations and discuss the ramifications of the rulemaking underway. (Other workshops address dust control specifically for rubber and paper processors.)
| When in San Diego...
Although the convention covers many important business issues, don't forget to take some time and enjoy all that San Diego has to offer as California's second-largest city. Your biggest problem might be limiting your choices, which range from museums to wildlife—and don't forget the sand and surf. Here are a few ideas: Visit the historic Gaslamp Quarter. This district has some of the city's best dining and entertainment, with more than 100 restaurants, jazz bars, and dance clubs to choose from—all within walking distance of the convention center and ReMA's reserved hotels. Stroll along the waterfront. Follow the boardwalk just a few short steps from the convention center and both convention hotels to Seaport Village, a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining, and entertainment complex that will transport you to a harborside setting of a century ago. Get some fresh air. If getting some exercise and enjoying the views sound appealing, then visit Mission Bay, a family playground eight miles from downtown San Diego, which features bike paths, walking trails, and campgrounds as well as Sea World. Take a walk on the wild side. A trip to the city would not be complete without a visit to the San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, the nation's largest urban cultural park. The park also houses 15 major museums, performing arts venues, and gardens. Have some fun. If you're bringing the kids—or you're a kid at heart—visit Legoland, about 30 minutes north of San Diego in Carlsbad, Calif., or cool off at Knott's Soak City, the area's largest water park, just south of the city in Chula Vista, Calif. Hit the beach. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the area's 70 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, where you can get your fill of surfing, boating, sailing, and swimming. Cross the border. If you're looking for more of an adventure, why not visit another country while you're in the San Diego area? Just 30 minutes south, Mexico beckons for those who want to explore another culture. Several operators offer day tours of Tijuana by bus, or you can take the San Diego Trolley to the border and walk across for a day of sightseeing. For other ideas, stop by the convention center's restaurant and concierge desk for more information as well as special offers and discounts to the city's attractions, restaurants, and entertainment hot spots. The staff also can help with directions, reservations, and scheduling tours. You can also visit www.sandiego.org to plan your visit before you get there. See you in San Diego! |
U.S.-China Scrap Trade Consult Meeting. Chinese and international secondary metals companies can meet each other and discuss trade opportunities during this workshop hosted by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association. Experts from CMRA will give presentations on China's scrap import policies and AQSIQ registration as well as other important scrap trade issues in China.
Stormwater Management. Over the next five years, the recycling industry will most likely see an increase in stormwater management requirements, including more stringent compliance rules. In this workshop, ReMA will share the first-phase results of its research program, which looks at the recycling industry's stormwater discharges, and it will discuss the research program's next phase.
Human Resources: Expansions of Labor Laws. The change in administration in Washington, D.C., has brought with it a change in priorities concerning labor law. This workshop will focus on changes in the laws and in how they are being enforced today.
Feds vs. States: Who Gets Our VINs? If you handle whole scrap vehicles, you don't want to miss this session. Get the latest update on the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System directly from the U.S. Department of Justice's regulatory office responsible for implementing and enforcing the federal law that requires reporting vehicle history and title information to NMVTIS. Though the law allows reporting via state DMVs, currently only a few states are collecting the information needed to comply. What does this mean for scrap recyclers and auto dismantlers who planned to use this reporting route?
| Take A Chance, Help A Cause
While milling about the exhibit hall, don't forget to stop by and peruse the second annual RRF silent auction. The Recycling Research Foundation—ReMA's research and education arm—has collected numerous items it will be auctioning to raise money for its work. RRF funds industry research and provides scholarships to ReMA member firm employees and their children. Items available to bid on this year include a Los Angeles vacation package that includes two tickets to the 2010 Emmy Awards or the 2011 Grammy Awards; magnet chains to fit with one magnet in the buyer's yard, valued at $1,000; and artwork made from scrap. A complete list of auction items and donors will appear in the on-site convention program. (To donate items to the auction, contact Tom Crane, 202/662-8536 or tomcrane@isri.org.) |
Barney Fife vs. Sanford and Son: Dispelling Myths and Finding Common Goals. Partnerships among key stakeholders, including recyclers and law enforcement officials, are the most effective way to address materials theft, but recyclers and police often don't communicate and sometimes don't even know how to talk with one another. This workshop explores the different perceptions that law enforcement and recyclers have about each another, dispels many common stereotypes, and describes the opportunities for working together to catch criminals and reduce the incidence of materials theft.
Creating Community Partnerships. Learn how scrap recycling companies have gone from being the target of accusations and finger-pointing for materials theft problems to finding solutions by reaching out to local law enforcement and other stakeholders to build local coalitions.
Academic Research on Materials Theft. The increase in materials theft—particularly metals theft—has caught the attention of the academic community, which has sought to identify trends that can help deter these crimes. Researchers from the University of Indianapolis and Northeastern University will discuss current and future research on the issue.
Rail Transportation. Learn how to get better rail service from one of the country's leading experts on rail shipping, and get a detailed briefing about what the new railroad transportation legislation means for you.
DOT CSA2010 Enforcement Initiative. In July 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation will begin replacing its SafeStat motor carrier safety rating system with an enforcement initiative called Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010. SafeStat only used driver out-of-service violations, accidents, and vehicle maintenance issues in the scoring system. CSA2010, however, will count all driver violations—including those of contract haulers—in your firm's safety rating, which could greatly affect your score, future inspections, and insurance costs. Learn what you need to do now at this informative workshop.
Radiation Safety: Train-the-Trainer. In January, ReMA Safety distributed to all members and branches a copy of its new radiation safety manual and training program. This train-the-trainer session will provide practical guidance on how best to implement the program.
Understanding Ocean Freight. Understand the complex world of ocean shipping and how it affects you and your global shipments. Speakers will discuss the myriad shipping rules and practices that influence the cost, timing, and success of your shipments.
Tax Topics Affecting the Scrap Industry. Learn how the current budget bill can help and hurt your company, what incentives the government offers to the scrap industry, how to minimize the cost of capital investment and complying with government regulations, and more at this session on federal and state tax and regulatory issues.
Getting Heard
Getting your message out to the public is an important part of doing business. ReMA has designed a series of workshops to help you make the most of new communication technologies and understand how to deal with the media during times of high stress or anytime.
Winning at Crisis Communications. Do you know how to handle the media during a crisis at one of your facilities? Learn how successful companies have incorporated crisis communications planning as part of their overall corporate strategies. See how planning and practice can help ensure that your company can properly handle any crisis situation and come out with its reputation and community standing intact.
Managing the Media: Getting Your Point Across. This seminar will give you the tools you need to feel comfortable and confident when talking with the media and to get your message heard. Learn how to package your message in sound bites, how to "shut down" a reporter who starts asking questions you are not prepared to answer, and more.
Social Media: Building Image and Profits for Your Company. Everyone knows that social media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and numerous other platforms have taken the world by storm. More people are turning to these media for information and entertainment. Can these tools help build your company's image and profits, or are they merely fads that will fade with time? How do you decide which ones are worth pursuing? This session looks at which social media offer the best opportunity for your company to succeed in today's rapidly changing information world and how you can incorporate them into your corporate strategies.
Just For Fun
The 2010 ReMA convention and exposition will include programming that's not all about business, including a luncheon exploring the wines of California and how to pair them with various foods. Also, spouses who register for the full convention program are welcome at all public parties and receptions, general sessions, breakfasts, and exhibit hall luncheons as well as all workshops and "Just for Fun" programs.
Registering For Success
Full registration to ReMA's "Success" convention includes admission to the opening-night gala reception, general sessions, hospitality areas, workshops, spotlights, "Just for Fun" programs, the exhibit hall, and the closing gala. A limited number of closing gala tickets are for sale to nonregistered spouses or guests, with a limit of one ticket per attendee while supplies last.
ReMA's online registration system is faster and simpler than ever. Just visit www.isriconvention.org/register. Enter the ID number located by the mailing address on the back of your convention catalog (or any other ReMA brochure), and the system does most of the work for you. Or request your ID number by e-mailing your name and company name to convention@isri.org. You also can register multiple attendees at once. The system will send a confirmation via e-mail. Online registration will remain open throughout the event.
Printed registration forms and payment must be postmarked or faxed by Monday, April 5. ReMA will process printed registrations received after that date on site. Register only one individual per form. If paying by check or money order, mail the registration form with payment to ReMA Convention, 1615 L St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036-5664. If you are paying by credit card, fax the registration form with payment to 202/624-9257. Please note: ReMA will not process any registration form not accompanied by payment in full or the required credit card information. ReMA plans to send confirmations within two to four weeks of receipt of properly completed registrations. Contact ReMA if you do not receive a confirmation in that time. ReMA does not confirm hotel reservations. To confirm hotel reservations, contact your hotel directly.
Registration Fees. Only representatives of ReMA members in good standing, their guests, and members of specifically invited organizations may register at the member rate. If your firm is a subsidiary of an ReMA member firm, note that on the registration form to facilitate processing. ReMA will charge all other registrants the nonmember fee. For ReMA members and their guests, the 2010 convention registration fee is $900 per person; for nonmembers it is $1,250. Tickets for the trade show only (May 6-7) are $500.
Registration Deadline. Preregistration costs less and saves you time when you get to the convention. To preregister, ReMA must receive your registration and payment no later than April 5. ReMA will process registrations received after that date on site. Convention registration on site will open at 7 a.m. on May 4. ReMA encourages preregistered guests to pick up their badges early, as lines can get long during peak periods prior to the opening gala reception and the general sessions. If you plan to register on site, allow a minimum of 20 minutes (longer during peak periods) to process your registration and prepare your badge at the registration desk.
Trade Show Only. ReMA offers a trade-show-only registration for those who plan only to visit the exhibit hall. The badge provides entrance to the exhibit hall May 6-7 and includes lunch and other hospitality offered on the exhibit floor. ReMA also is offering a set of four metals identification sessions on May 8, which trade-show-only attendees can attend. (See "Know Your Metals" on page 68.)
Hotel Accommodations and Transportation. Making your reservations in the ReMA room block provides a discount off the standard room rates at the official convention hotels. It also helps ReMA meet its commitment to the hotels, avoiding penalties and keeping registration fees down. ReMA has negotiated with two hotels for special convention rates—both just a short walk from the convention center and about a 10-minute taxi ride from the San Diego International Airport.
The Marriott Hotel and Marina recently lowered the ReMA convention room rate to $249 a night, single or double, plus tax. Participants who already made reservations at the Marriott will automatically receive the new rate. Manchester Grand Hyatt rooms are $269 a night, single or double, plus tax, and include free in-room Internet access. Both hotels feature spectacular harborfront views, notable restaurants, fitness centers, outdoor attractions such as pools, tennis courts, and walking and jogging paths, and more. Room blocks are filling up fast. Make your reservations before they sell out by calling the Marriott at 800/228-9290 or the Hyatt at 800/633-7313 (mention the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries room block).
Or reserve a room online by going to www.isriconvention.org/hotels. This block of rooms is for registered ReMA convention attendees and exhibitors only. If the room block is sold out, visit www.isriconvention.org for additional options. The Web site also contains the latest schedule information, an interactive look at the exposition floor, and other exciting convention news. •
San Diego offers a new venue for convention participants to explore in between building connections and attending valuable workshops to help them strengthen their businesses.