Today is April 21st, 2020, and I am supposed to be at the American Foundry Society Metalcasting Congress in Ohio. Unfortunately, I am sitting in our corporate headquarters alone, waiting for my next video meeting. It has been a challenging time for everybody in their own way. The personal life changes that we are adapting to, our new business, and the economic environment that we are working to navigate as this period of “self-isolation” continues. I personally am trying not to focus entirely on the pandemic, but instead focus on the positives that will come out of it. Business will return, and with it a future for many young individuals just leaving the education system and entering the workforce.
We obviously will miss being part of the “show” at the AFS Metalcasting Congress, but what we will miss more is seeing all the AFS students walking around. Their eagerness to learn about the metalcasting industry is rejuvenating. Having access to suppliers all in one place to help shape their knowledge base and their future is more important than ever. That is why, once we heard the show was going to be canceled, we offered to donate a significant portion of our booth deposit to use towards supporting the activities of AFS. The American Foundry Society is a fantastic organization designed to help promote metalcasting in education, as well as to lobby on behalf of metal casters at the various levels of government. Supporting organizations like the AFS, both from the foundry side as well as the supplier side, ensures our industry remains strong for the future.
Just so you know, I am not being asked by AFS to write this. I just think it is crucial for us, as industry leaders, to support the organizations that support us. So, if you were supposed to attend the show this week, take some of those travel and marketing dollars and send them to AFS. The return on investment for your business and the industry will be paid back in multiples in the future.
Thank you,
Thomas Musschoot | President
