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NTA Warp Knit Division

History

In 1969 the Elastic Fabric Manufacturers Institute (EFMI), based in New London, Connecticut agreed to enter NTA as an industry council. Papers to form the Elastic Fabric Manufacturers Council (EFMC) of the Northern Textile Association were signed December 4, 1969 and the members of EFMI dissolved that group on January 6, 1970. The official date of organization of the EFMC is January 28, 1970.

One constituent of the EFMI was the American Power Net Association, which became the Power Net Division of NTA's EFMC. In January, 1977, the Power Net Division changed name to become the Warp Knit Division.

Warp Knit Industry Practices published in 1983; revised in 1989.

The Warp Knit Division Vendor Certification Committee was active from the late 1990s until 2001.

Beginning with the 2002 Annual Meeting, the first for the new National Textile Association that resulted from the merger of the Northern Textile Association and the Knitted Textile Association (KTA), the Warp Knit Division was blended with the Finishers Group and members of the former KTA to form the Knitters and Finishers Group.

Sceduled Meetings

  • February 6, 2002 Meeting Agenda.
  • July 26, 2001 Meeting Agenda
  • April 24, 2001 Meeting Agenda and Minutes.
  • November 16, 2000 Meeting Minutes.
  • September 19, 2000 Meeting Agenda and Minutes.
  • June 22, 2000 Meeting Agenda and Minutes.
  • March 7, 2000 Meeting Minutes.
  • December 7, 1999 Meeting Minutes.
  • October 18, 1999 Meeting Minutes.
  • April 27, 1999 Meeting Minutes.
  • February 3, 1999 Meeting Minutes.
  • September 18, 1996 Meeting Minutes.
  • October 3, 1995 Meeting Minutes.
  • May 9, 1995 Meeting Minutes.
  • November 15, 1994 Meeting Minutes.

    Leadership

    Leadership of Elastic Fabric Manufacturers Council

    James B. Carson

    Elected May 10, 1983, Chairman fo EFMC

    Leadership of Warp Knit Division

    James F. Robbins of CMI Industries, Inc. [Later Elastic Fabrics of America]

    Elected October 24, 1996, Chairman of Warp Knit Division.

    Leslie Regenbogen of Darlington Fabrics

    Elected May 23, 1990, Chairman of Warp Knit Division; served until October 24, 1996.

    On February 4, 1999, the Officers and Directors of NTA votes Recognition and Appreciation to Leslie A. Regenbogen for outstanding leadership and service.
    Jonathan Adelman

    Elected October 1, 1986, Chairman of Warp Knit Division.

    Leonard J. Rautenberg

    Served as Chairman of Power Net Division; Served as Chairman of Warp Knit Division from the group's founding in 1977 until October 1, 1986.

    Leonard Rautenberg
    A Lession In Leadership

    My favorite recollection of Leonard Rautenberg is an occurence at the first Warp Knit Division meeting which I attended when I had just started as a young lawyer at NTA. I quickly sensed that my then boss, Bill Sullivan, proper Boston lawyer that he was, was somewhat ill at ease with this fast-talking market-oriented crowd. It was clear that Bill relied on Leonard to keep things in line.

    On this particular day one member of the Warp Knit Division stated that he had heard another member's practices for entertaining customers, the details of which I won't go into, violated standards of polite society. This member suggested that the Warp Knit Division should perhaps enunciate some policy condemning such practices.

    It fell to Leonard Rautenberg as leader of the group to recommend a course of action in this ticklish situation. Thus began my education in the ways of this wise and complex man. Leonard leaned back in his chair, a glimmer of humor penetrated his stern patriarchal countenance, and with the driest of deadpan expressions he turned to his counsel and asked rhetorically, "I don't believe that will violate the Antitrust Laws, will it?"

    --Karl Spilhaus, President, NTA, December 1989, on the occassion of Mr. Rautenberg's retirement from Darlington Industries.