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U.S. Metric Association
(www.metric.org)

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About USMAAbout SIFor teachersBasicsJoin USMAMetric WeekMetric TodayPosterSuppliesSI GuideContact us

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.


What's New: Updated Information by Date:

2012-08-20: PDF of the 2012-September/October issue of Metric Today is now available online for USMA members.

2012-08-09: Added a photo to the I-19 signs collection (and updated the I-19 sign-replacement status) in the metric road signs pages.

2012-07-25: Added a photo of a road sign in Locust Valley NY to the metric road signs pages.

2012-07-22: A new table of "Adoption of the Decimal Metric System of Weights and Measures by Country" (courtesy of Hector Vera) has been linked to the Metric usage and metrication in other countries page.

2012-07-18: Updated USMA's Do You Measure Up brochure, which is found on USMA's membership page.

2012-07-11: Added an article about Metrication in Mexico to the Metric usage and metrication in other countries page.

2012-07-10: A new chart on the Number of countries adopting the metric system has been added to the Metric usage and metrication in other countries page.

2012-06-20: PDF of the 2012-July/August issue of Metric Today is now available online for USMA members.

Metric Today - 2012 September/October
To be found in the 2012 September/October issue of Metric Today:
  • Who was John Shafroth?
  • When are Metric Week and World Standards Week?
  • What did NIST have to do with the Olympics?
  • How do hospitals weigh children?
(PDF of the 2012 September/October issue available now for USMA members. Contact the USMA Webmaster for access.)

Metric Today is a membership benefit of joining USMA

250 mm ruler
Now Available:
250 mm rulers

This plastic ruler, manufactured for QSI Corporation, is available free to USMA members—or $1 for non-members—while the supply lasts.
In addition to the ruler scale, the front side contains SI prefixes. The back side contains lists of SI units, conversions, and constants.
To get one, send your name and address (plus $1, if you're not a USMA member) to USMA Headquarters.
No e-mails or phone calls, please.
Want more than one? Just add $1 for each additional ruler, or quantity discounts are as follows:

  • package of 5 for $3.50 (70 cents each)
  • package of 10 for $5.00 (50 cents each)
  • package of 20 for $8.00 (40 cents each)
  • package of 50 for $12.50 (25 cents each)
  • package of 100 for 20.00 (20 cents each)

All prices include shipping/handling to U.S. addresses. For non-U.S. orders, contact USMA Headquarters for the cost of shipping and handling.

Now Available:
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, contact USMA Headquarters to obtain cost of shipping/handling.] Visit USMA's supplies page to order.

The Metric System poster

SI Units chart
FREE: SI Metric Units Poster

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 USMA Headquarters.

For multiple copies of the poster, contact USMA Headquarters for the cost of shipping and handling.

Now Available:
Think Metric Mugs

This 250 mL mug is dark blue with gold printing showing names and symbols of common SI units, and is available for $15 each (including shipping and handling) while supplies last.

To order, send your name and address and $15 per mug to USMA Headquarters.

Think Metric mug


Information about USMA:


Metric System Information:


Metric System Information for Teachers/Educators:


USMA SI Guide

Available for Purchase

the 17th edition (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
10 or more copies: $12.00 each

For multiple copies, contact USMA Headquarters for the cost of shipping and handling. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover accepted. Send orders to USMA Headquarters.

posters
NEED METRIC SUPPLIES?

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
metric supplies and training aids page
.

tape and thermometer


Links to Other (Non-USMA) Metric System Information, Standards, Guides, and Policies


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Updated: 2012-09-05