CHARLOTTE, NC - On June 5, 2008, at the press conference for the American Coatings Show, Andy Doyle, President of the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA), provided additional details concerning the merger of the NPCA and the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technologies (FSCT), which took effect on June 2, 2008.
 
Doyle announced that NPCA-FSCT staff task forces have been organized to evaluate four areas for coordination and integration. The four areas include: Coatings (NPCA) and the Journal of Coatings Technology (FSCT) publications, as well as the associations’ respective electronic newsletters; website and IT services; annual meetings, the American Coatings Show and Futurecoat!; and membership and membership dues.
 
Doyle also announced that through a governance merger, management of the two organizations will be consolidated under NPCA. The FSCT bylaws, articles of incorporation and standing rules have been amended to create a new class of membership, the association member class, in which the NPCA will be the sole voting member. This new class of membership will have exclusive voting rights that will enable NPCA to exercise governing authority over the FSCT in accordance with bylaws and standing rules.
 
A new FSCT Board of Directors has been elected to govern FSCT, comprised of the FSCT Chairman (NPCA Chairman), the FSCT Vice Chairman (NPCA Vice Chairman), the FSCT CEO (NPCA President), the FSCT President (Chairman of FSCT Management Council) and the FSCT Vice President/Treasurer (Vice Chairman of FSCT Management Council).
 
The current FSCT Board of Directors has been reorganized and is now the FSCT Management Council, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of FSCT in cooperation with FSCT’s Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Director.
 
FSCT staff will be managed by an Executive Director who will report to the FSCT Chief Executive Officer. The FSCT Management Council will act as an operational committee for FSCT’s ongoing programs and activities. The Chairman of the Management Council (FSCT President) will become a voting member of the NPCA Board of Directors and the NPCA Executive Committee.
 
FSCT’s FutureCoat! will continue as a signature science and technology event for the industry, and NPCA and FSCT will explore avenues to enhance an annual FutureCoat! conference.