May 2002 Welcome to the May edition of SEDA's electronic newsletter, containing latest news on industry and association activities, articles of interest to safety equipment distributors and manufacturers, and links to other sources of news and information. All articles are archived in the Members Only section of the SEDA website, www.safetycentral.org. We think it will be easier for you to navigate to find the information you need more quickly. All articles are archived and can be read at anytime. Let us know what you think of Safety Scene Online. Send your comments, or article ideas, to Steve King, Executive Director, at steve@ksgroup.org.

Table of Contents Feature Article COMPENSATION PLANNING IN UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES The 2002 Employee Compensation Report paints a picture of change in both the compensation levels and fringe benefits programs provided by distributors. Dr. Al Bates, principal at Profit Planning Group, which conducts this biennial survey of nearly 2000 wholesale-distributor firms, analyses these changes and relates them to the economic turmoil that faced most distributors in 2001. HOW DOES YOUR COMPENSATION PACKAGE STACK UP? The 2002 Employee Compensation Study provides a detailed review of compensation and benefit programs for 2000 distributors in over 30 trade associations, broken out into 20 sales volume categories and over 100 geographic areas. The safety industry report and the cross industry report are available to SEDA members for just $250.00 for the set. Use this form to order your copy today. SEDA Association News SEDA BOARD MEMBER BOB HURLEY DIES The safety industry lost a true friend and champion with the passing of Bob Hurley, president of Fendall. Bob's life and career are celebrated in this article. BOARD UPDATES STRATEGIC PLAN The SEDA Board has been hard at work updating the association's strategic plan. A renewed emphasis on making SEDA a resource for all members is the guiding principle behind the effort. Find out what SEDA's new mission statement and key initiatives are in this article. SPRING QSSP CLASS GRADUATES 32 Thirty-two new QSSP graduates have joined the ranks of the more than 500 qualified safety sales professional in the field today. Learn who among your competitors have made the commitment to safety sales excellence, and find out how you can be a part of the next QSSP class. SAFETY WEEK 2002 FAST APPROACHING Safety Week 2002, July 6-9 in Keystone, CO is just around the corner. Find out who has registered to attend so far. The SEDA Advisor SOFTWARE VENDORS — WHAT TO EXPECT Purchasing software systems can be a daunting task, particularly if you are unsure what questions to ask of vendors. This article from Steve Epner, author of the SEDA Distributor Software Guide, helps guide you through the process.