MELTING POT No cruise for Washington trade groups

Dec 12, 2008 | 11:56 AM |

Times are obviously pretty grim at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Not only did the large trade association recently cut staff and operating expenses by 10 percent, the NAM also axed a glitzy Potomac River cruise and reception for its members and cancelled its annual press lunch at the National Press Club. Other Washington-based trade groups are slashing staff and expenses as well.

Just a couple of days after the NAM move, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced it was immediately cutting 52 positions in an attempt to save $11 million in costs next year. Jerry Howard, president and chief executive officer of the NAHB, said the staff cuts were the result of the "most serious recession we've faced in more than 50 years." The home builder association cutbacks come at a time when that group, along with several others, are engaged in a....