NATIONAL UNAFFILIATED SHIPPERS’ ASSOCIATION BEGINS OPERATIONS

   After a successful meeting in Rhode Island last week, the National
Unaffiliated Shippers’ Association said it’s ready to begin operations.
   Groundwork for the shippers’ association was laid earlier this year by
Thomas C. O’Rourke, director of corporate and international logistics for Dryvit Systems, a subsidiary of RPM Group of Cos., which manufactures exterior wall cladding.
   Dryvit, along with 23 other shippers, plan to combine their freight
volumes to negotiate lower rates with ocean carriers. These shippers
believe that it’s the best way for the them to stay competitive against
larger shippers under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.
   O’Rourke was appointed president of the National Unaffiliated Shippers’ Association (NUSA). Other appointments include Kevin Harrington of Wm. Zinsser Co. as vice president; Jeff Morse of Seafreeze Ltd as secretary; and Paul Gelinas of Arpin International as treasurer. Board members are Jim Gage of SuperValu as chairman; and Lynn Danielson of Sappi Fine Paper and Stan Davis of Chemical Products Corp.
   The Rhode Island Export Assistance Center, a not-for-profit data system managed by the state of Rhode Island and Bryant College, has offered to provide communications and confidentiality of NUSA data.