Given the urgency of the situation, the National Association of Manufacturers has committed to doing its part to help make manufacturing a preferred career choice by 2010. As part of this effort, it plans to work with the administration, Congress, the press, educators, parents, and students in a long-term strategy for the renewal of manufacturing and the transformation of how it is viewed as a career choice. The National Association of Manufacturers will implement the following targeted activities at the community level:

• Advocating public policies that will maintain and strengthen the manufacturing sector;

• Launching an awareness campaign to promote the desirability of manufacturing careers in modern manufacturing firms;

• Filling the career-information void with copious data for counselors, teachers, parents, and students; and

• Working to make education and training in both the private and public sectors more relevant to manufacturing’s needs.

The urgent goal is to energize and focus the sector’s many resources to solve its common problem. To that end, the NAM has issued four challenges:

• To the President of the United States: Declare U.S. manufacturing a national priority.

• To the U.S. Congress: Establish “National Manufacturing Day” to recognize this priority.

• To manufacturers in the United States: Open your plants and facilities to young people, teachers, and parents on National Manufacturing Day.

• To educators in the United States: Bring your students and guidance counselors to a modern manufacturing facility on National Manufacturing Day.

U.S. manufacturing can emerge from this period of transition stronger and better equipped to compete on a global basis and maintain its core contributions to the American economy. The NAM invites all interested parties to join in this effort.