ITRA and TANA agree to merge

The Tire Association of North America (TANA) and the International Tire and Rubber Association (ITRA) have announced plans to merge, pending a vote of approval by two-thirds of their respective members. If approved, the key points of the merger will be: TANA’s Steve Disney will serve as president from July 2002 to November 2002, followed by current ITRA President Tom Raben, whose term will last for one year. The next president of the new organization will be current TANA Vice President Larry Morgan, followed by current ITRA Vice President Dick Gust.
Both headquarters locations will be maintained in Reston, Va. and Louisville, Ky., and both associations will continue to sponsor the International Tire Expo and the annual "Off-the-Road" Tire Conference. The ITRA conference and trade show will be held every other year, the next on March 27-29, 2003 at the new Louisville Convention Center.
Tire and rubber regional recycling conferences and regional tire service technician training and certification programs will continue as well the associations’ publications and other member services. Initially, all members of both associations’ current board of directors will serve on the new association’s board. There will eventually be 36 members on the new board. The executive committees will also be combined initially.
ITRA’s and TANA’s current "Hall of Fame," industry awards, retread appearance contest, annual meetings, social events and other traditions will be preserved at the appropriate association events under the banner of the new organization.
TANA’s Ross Kogel will be the Executive Vice President of the new organization.
Members of each association will receive information about the merger and a ballot in the mail to be returned in December. If approved, the new association will be official in July 2002. ITRA and TANA Boards of Directors have endorsed the merger.