|
U.S. Metric Association |
|
The U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc., is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1916. It advocates U.S. conversion to the International System of Units, known by the abbreviation SI (ess-eye) and also called the modern metric system. The process of changing measurement units to the metric system is called metric transition or metrication.
Among other things, this site contains information about the metric system, with some specifically designed for educators, as well as information about USMA and links to some other sites.
Conversions between unit systems are a poor way to learn the metric system, and conversion factors (or numbers converted with inappropriately-high precision) can make the metric system look complicated. Therefore we do not supply unit conversion utilities, but Google has a calculator that understands units.
What's New: Updated Information by Date: 2010-07-24: The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act page in our laws section now includes information about NIST's proposal to amend the law to make inch/pound units optional, thus allowing metric-only labels as well as dual units. 2010-07-01: Added a reprint of a Metric Today article about metrication at Proctor & Gamble to the Going Metric Pays Off page. 2010-06-17: PDF of the 2010-July/August issue of Metric Today is now available online for USMA members. 2010-06-02: Added a reprint of a Metric Commission Canada's Metric Monitor article about industrial chemicals to the Going Metric Pays Off page. 2010-04-15: PDF of the 2010-May/June issue of Metric Today is now available online for USMA members. 2010-04-15: Check out the revised the Metric Today page, including a short history of USMA's newsletter. 2010-03-18: Added an Imperial Express SuperChair metric elevation sign, courtesy of Marc Sayce, to the metric signs page. 2010-03-12: Added a reprint of a Metric Today article about Ingersoll-Rand to the Going Metric Pays Off page. 2010-02-28: See the notice about NCWM's Weights and Measures Week, 1 - 7 March 2010. 2010-02-11: Added a publication (NIST Special Publication 1038: The International System of Units (SI) — Conversion Factors for General Use) to the SI reference publications page. |
|
Metric Today is a membership benefit of joining USMA |
|
The Metric System Poster Lend a hand to your local school. Help spread the metric message by gifting it with this colorful poster! Sized 53 cm × 71 cm and printed on thick glossy paper in full color, this poster displays the International System of Units. For U.S. destinations, the poster is $10, including shipping in a mailing tube (add $7 for each additional poster). [For non-U.S. orders, e-mail valerie.antoine@verizon.net to obtain cost of shipping/handling.] Visit USMA's supplies page to order. |
|
A SI Metric Units Poster is available from USMA for the shipping/handling fee of $1.50 Titled SI Units, the poster contains the seven SI base units and most of the SI derived units with special names. Printed in two colors, black and red, the poster looks very similar to the adjacent illustration. Suitable for mounting on a wall, this 28 cm by 43 cm poster was developed to accompany a set of materials sent to schools in the Montgomery County (Washington DC) area. A large supply of these posters remain, and USMA will send them free for the cost of shipping and handling.
To order, send $1.50 each for shipping/handling with a request for the free SI Units chart to:
For multiple copies of the poster, e-mail valerie.antoine@verizon.net for the cost of shipping and handling.
USMA, 10245 Andasol Avenue, Northridge CA 91325-1504.
Metric System Information for Teachers/Educators:
| Available for Purchase the 17th edition (revised 2007) of USMA's Guide To The Use Of The Metric System A updated easy-to-use 34-page metric system style guide that shows the metric system units and symbols (short forms) and gives rules for using them. Appendixes contain information on technical units used in industry, conversion factors for the most commonly used units, and tips for remembering the everyday units and their sizes. This guide is also a very useful reference for teachers. Click here for a Table of Contents. 1 to 9 copies: $15 each, plus $4.00 shipping/handling for single copy
For multiple copies, e-mail valerie.antoine@verizon.net for the cost of shipping and handling. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Send orders to: USMA, 10245 Andasol Avenue, Northridge CA 91325-1504 |
|
|
USMA offers a selection of books, charts, posters, rulers, measuring tapes, bumper stickers, and thermometers specifically for learning the metric system. These and more items can be found on USMA's |
|
Other Metric System Information and Related Standards links
Click on these external links for non-USMA metric Web sites with important and useful information.

E-mail: USMA Webmaster
Copyright © 1996-2010, U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc. All rights reserved.
Web hosting courtesy of Colorado State University.
Web site maintained by USMA Webmaster. View Website usage statistics.
Updated: 2010-07-25