The Western Suppliers Association and the Pacific Southwest Distributors Association scrapped plans to have a joint meeting in 2001 after a series of meetings failed to resolve differences in opinion regarding funding for the event. The two associations signed an agreement in May 1999, which provided for one annual West Coast meeting of the Pacific Western Distributors Association by the spring of 2001. The PWDA meeting scheduled for May 17-20 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, Calif., will be held as a PSDA event. WSA will have its own annual meeting May 3-5 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix.
"There's a big difference between how both associations look at their associate members and their participation," said Brad Englert, president of Ideal Supply (Las Vegas) and current PSDA president. Associate members include manufacturers and their reps.
"We were trying to combine two different cultures in one annual meeting," said Don Robertson, president of Steam & Plumbing (San Francisco) and current WSA president.
The agreement between PSDA and WSA, which endorsed the joint meeting, also specified that both would remain independent, responsible for their own finances and staffing.
Both Englert and Robertson expressed hope that discussions would continue for a possible joint meeting in 2002. That sentiment was echoed by Inge Calderon, ASA's executive vice president, who said that other regional associations are planning similar discussions for future joint meetings.
