---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 10:36:13 -0500 From: Henry Oppermann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Gene Mechtly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: OWM Strategic Plan (fwd) Dear Eugene, Thank you for your message and your feedback on our SI practices and the focus group for the OWM strategic plan. OWM advocates the use and acceptance of SI units, but we are also realists regarding existing practices in the marketplace and those of the regulatory officials that enforce legal metrology laws and regulations. I would like to see the FPLA changed to permit the use of "metric only" labeling. I assure you that OWM will work very closely with Gerry Iannelli and the staff of the NIST Metric Program to provide leadership and assistance on the adoption and use of metric in the marketplace, manufacturing, and regulation. Regarding the composition of the focus group, it included regulators and industry sectors with which we work routinely to coordinate activities and develop programs. The focus group was the initial effort to obtain input on our strategic plan. We are gradually expanding the external review of our plan to include broader representation. Once we update our plan to reflect more recent comments, we will make the plan available to other interested parties for their review and comment. Your comments and input are appreciated and will be considered. My best wishes to you for a Happy New Year. Henry At 11:25 AM 12/22/00 -0600, you wrote: >"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" from W&MQuarterly, and "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" from >the NCWM Directory (1998) both failed to accept the e-mail below. >---------- Forwarded message ---------- >Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 16:32:52 -0600 (CST) >From: Gene Mechtly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: OWM Strategic Plan > >Dear Henry, > > Congratulations on your promotion as the new Chief of OWM. >I saw no official announcement, but discovered your new title indirectly >for the first time in W&M-Q, Page 1, Column 3, Paragraph 2. > > Although I am not an LM (legal metrology) official, I continue >to be a member of the NCWM (No. 23530). > > You ask for better feedback to discuss any LM issues that >"customers" of the OWM care to address. Please consider these two: > > 1. The OWM and the NCWM should move more strongly toward exclusive >use of SI in all professional activities. Fewer exceptions to NIST policy. > > Although non-SI is *still required* (sadly) by the FPLA for the >public, professionals in the field of LM have no excuse for dragging >non-SI units into the 21st Century in documents intended for LM officials >and technicians. > > Members of the public have no need to be aware of the UPLR as a >document, for example, but can, nevertheless, enjoy the benefits of fair >trade which are facilitated by the UPLR. > > The UPLR and all other sections of HB 130 should be written in SI >exclusively. The non-SI requirements of the present FPLA should be >relegated to a temporary supplement to be discared when new laws permit. > > > 2. The excessive influence of corporations on OWM and NCWM >decisions should be reduced. > > For example, the Focus Group on the OWM Strategic Plan had (has?) >representatives from American Frozen Foods, the Hobart Corporation, Food >Marketing Institute, and the Tokheim Corporation, but *none* from consumer >groups. > > Why are *consumers* who must pay for the products of these and >other for-profit corporations not represented, even *more strongly* than >the for-profit corporations, in OWM and NCWM decision processes? > >Sincerely, >Eugene A. Mechtly > Henry Oppermann Weights and Measures Program NIST 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2350 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2350 Tel: 301-975-5507 Fax: 301-926-0647 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
