Last year I wrote you about the best part of my job – “delivering member dividend checks”. I can report that the ranking has not changed. From the pictures in this newsletter and last month, you can see the fun I (and staff) have with this MTM “job”. What I rarely talk about is the second best part of my job. So here it is – touring your shops. While you live in your shop and it’s old hat to you, our members design, build, melt stuff, mold, inject, stamp, drill, weld, print, bind, deliver,…. amazing products. Sometimes the product is a simple part of a big part and sometimes it is an intricate part that makes this accounting, actuarial type guy wonder – how do they do that? I was at one shop that was making overpass steel beams. The beam in process was just over 100 feet in length. I asked the plant manager what the tolerance was?

For the poor handy skills I have – the answer would be if I could get anything 100 feet long within 3 inches, I would go out for a celebration dinner. The answer in our members’ world was .005. Our members are amazing.

Also in each of my plant tours I asked if I could operate some of our member’s equipment. Can I do that? I think I can weld, drill, stamp. Can I try that? Our members clearly sensed my lack of skills and the answer – NO. I am 0 for at least 200. Not one of you has let me turn a dial, control a robot, use a forklift, tool, print press or other fun looking machines. This could be an underground conspiracy. I have checked my safety glasses and hard hat. Thought they might have something printed on them such as “extremely clumsy” or warning “NO eye/hand co-ordination”. I have found no such warnings. Ah, maybe I should check the back of my MTM jacket. Lack of success or skills does not sway my determination – I will keep you informed of my challenge.

Till next time, spring looks to be finally here. Let’s enjoy it.