Seminar 3: 

In lieu of the international trip I attended the 107^th Annual Meeting of the National Conference on Weights in Measures (NCWM) where I was the New Mexico state representative. This year the meeting was held in the “evergreen state” of Washington in the city of Tacoma, meaning “snow covered mountain” which is the Native American name for Mount Rainer which can be observed from all skylines in mid-Washington.

 The purpose of the NCWM July annual meeting was to debate, develop and vote on important proposals to amend the United States standards for weights and measures. My attendance at the NCWM Annual Meeting ensures that New Mexico’s interests and concerns are considered in developing weighing and measuring device and commodity regulations, many of which automatically become law in the state. 

Photo above: Washington Sec. of Ag. delivering opening remarks at the meeting.

 

             During my time in Tacoma I realized that the weights and measures industry is changing and changing fast, regulatory standards must change with it to ensure equity for consumers and sellers in commercial transactions. Changes that were debated and voted upon at the annual meeting were Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS), Portable Digital Density meters and Advanced Dimensional Measurements Systems (ADMS). I have learned from other state directors about being willing to try new testing and inspection methods and adapt to industry changes. My favorite part of the annual meeting was meeting other state directors and regulatory officials in-person for the first time. I have worked with them for over 2-years but due to the pandemic, have never met them in-person. It was a pleasure to have conversations about our state’s weights and measures programs which built cohesion with the group. I learned about management structures of others states programs, challenges with staffing and overcoming barriers with industry to reach a common goal. During these conversations I was comforted by the fact that even seasoned directors face the same challenges I do in New Mexico and they offered resources to work through challenges together.

            I had limited time to explore the city of Tacoma and Hotel Murano, the hotel which takes its name from Italian glass art. In fact, the Museum of Glass was a short walk from the hotel. I visited the outside of the museum which featured the Seaform Pavilion, Crystal Towers and Venetian Wall. One afternoon I hiked to the Point Defiance Park Beach where a lighthouse, cargo ships and ferry ships were observed. On the final day, traveling back to the Seattle airport, I stopped at Kerry park to checkout the viewpoint of the Space Needle and bay (see photos below).

   

 

                The weights and measures communities are unique, we are the only ones in the nation that complete inspections for these specific consumer goods, devices and services. I discovered a new prospective for working with industry by interpreting regulation implications and convert those policies in a comprehensible manner for all regulated parties and the public. It was a pleasure to represent New Mexico and vote on critical regulations during the 107^th NCWM Annual Meeting.

Photo above of NCWM Chairman, Ivan Hankins, delivering the closing statement at the meeting.