WASHINGTON - Politics and mold. While some might ask which is worse, both were major topics of discussion at the 2003 Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) convention, held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
Because the proceedings took place in our nation's capital, this explains, in part, why attendees bantered about politics. The fact that former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, was the opening general session speaker contributed to the case. Fueling the political fires were Sens. Mary L. Landrieu and Evan Bayh, who made brief speeches before the association presented its safety awards. And, of course, there were political overtones to the talk from Sheet Metal Workers' International Association (SMWIA) General President Michael Sullivan at the annual labor forum.