NewslineVolume IV, Issue 20 - October 3, 2003The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue: Saxby Chambliss to Speak at CRI's Annual ConferenceUnited States Senator Saxby Chambliss has been confirmed as the featured speaker during lunch at the 34th Annual CRI Conference. If you have not done so already, we invite you to register for the Conference which will take place on Friday, October 24, at the NorthWest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton. There is no charge but registration is required. Contact Sally Fortenberry at 706.428.2108. California Passes Cutting-Edge E-Waste Law; Could Carpet Be Next?California has adopted the nation's most comprehensive law governing the manufacture and disposal of electronics. The law has three main purposes: to speed the recycling of discarded computers and televisions; to ensure that future tech trash will be less toxic by forcing manufacturers to stop using lead, mercury, and other harmful materials; and to establish safety standards for dismantling computers in foreign countries. To fund the law, new high-tech products will be subject to a $6-10 fee. The Carpet Industry has so far avoided similar legislation by its voluntary initiative to find solutions to keep post-consumer carpet out of landfills. The efforts of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) are critical to the success of this initiative and will require continuing industry efforts to insure success. Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136. Free Trade Area Talks ContinueThe effort to complete an agreement establishing a free trade area in the Western
Hemisphere starting in 2005 will continue with a meeting of the Vice Ministers
of the region's 34 democracies from September 30 - October 3. This meeting of
the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) will lay the groundwork for the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Ministerial hosted by the U.S. in Miami in
November that will set forth the agenda for the final stage of negotiations
in 2004. The FTAA has been a priority of the U.S. and an important part of its
strategy to open markets globally, regionally and bilaterally. A team of Georgia
representatives is working to bring the headquarters of the FTAA to Atlanta.
The following items will be discussed at the TNC meeting. Contact John Miller at 706.428.2109. New Committee Structure for CRICRI's committee structure has been restructured to make sure all of CRI's committees are aligned on goals and to leverage efforts to address the profitability and growth of CRI's members. The Operating Committee will be reconstituted to oversee the activities of CRI's three issues groups: Government Issues Committee (GIC); Market Issues Committee (MIC), formerly called Issues Communications Committee; and the Science Issues Committee (SIC), formerly called Health, Environment, and Technical Issues Committee. Each Issues Committee will have representatives on Issue Management Teams who report directly to the Operating Committee on CRI's core issues: mold, asthma, maintenance, VOCs, sustainability, competitiveness, international and Georgia-specific issues, and B2B ecommerce. Additionally, each Issue Management Team will have a representative on each of the Issues Committees where appropriate. The Operating Committee will report directly to the CRI Board of Directors. It is very important to the success of these initiatives to have member input on these committees, and we urge each member company to appoint a representative to serve on these committees or teams. For additional information, contact Werner Braun at 706.428.2100. Georgia Chamber Fly-InCRI joined with the Dalton Whitfield Chamber of Commerce to attend the annual Washington Fly-In led by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The two day event included presentations by Senators Chambliss and Miller on various topics of national and local interest and a private meeting with Representative Nathan Deal. During that meeting Congressman Deal discussed the importance of immigration issues now facing Georgia and the nation. There was also a briefing by the U.S. Chamber and a U.S. Official with respect to developments in Homeland Security. A Congressional and Staff Appreciation Reception was held at the end of the first day. More than 400 people attended including Georgia's Congressional delegation, Congressional Staff members and Georgia Chamber members at the State and local level. The annual Fly-In is an important event and a great opportunity for CRI to carry the concerns of the carpet industry to Washington. Contact John Miller at 706.428.2109. Parents Favor CRI "Green Label" Vacuum CleanersSurvey says? When consumers (parents) visited the Parenting and Beyond website, they answered the following question with a resounding YES: "When selecting a vacuum cleaner for your home would you consider one tested and approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute's "Green Label" vacuum cleaner testing program?" In fact, 89% responded favorably. This survey followed the CRI "Carpet for Cleaner Air" portion of the "Safe Home, Clean Home" series that ran on the Parenting and Beyond television series in May 2003. The survey can be seen at the Parenting and Beyond website. For more information, contact Barbara Day at 706.428.2138. Visit the Parenting and Beyond website CRI Attends International Man-Made Fibres CongressWerner Braun, CRI President, was the featured speaker at this year's International Man-Made Fibres Congress held in Dornbirn, Austria, September 17-19, 2003. The conference was attended by representatives from companies and trade associations from around the world. Mr. Braun gave the Congress an update of the "Recent Developments in the Carpet Environment in the USA" and also met with some representatives regarding the organization of the World Carpet and Rug Council. Contact Werner Braun at 706.428.2100. Visit the International Man-Made Fibres website Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) Meets in ChicagoThe Council of Educational Facility Planners International's annual conference and expo took place this week in Chicago. As an expo participant, CRI provided materials and information to attendees related to the benefits of carpet in the educational environment. CEFPI attendees also include educational administrators who are responsible for buying decisions and specifications for their facilities. This is the third consecutive CEFPI event in which CRI has been involved. Contact Louise Dobbs at 706.428.2104. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Staff VisitJennifer Mendez of CRI recently met with staff at the National Conference of Sate Legislatures. All 50 states are dues paying members of NCSL and CRI participates as a private sector member. Jennifer met with the staff responsible for Membership and the Environment and Education Committees. She shared CRI's successes with regard to sustainability and hopes to be able to share these same success stories with legislators at the upcoming NCSL annual meeting. The most recent annual meeting was attended by over 6,000. Jennifer also talked with the NCSL staff about ways to reach legislators regarding legislative successes in states where the CRI story has had an impact, including preparing white papers (for posting on NCSL's website) or Legisbriefs (mailed to lawmakers). CRI will continue to work with NCSL to get our message out to legislators. Contact Jenn Mendez at 703.875.0634. Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) Conference HeldCRI represented the industry at the 2003 Indoor Air Quality Association annual conference and trade show which took place in Chicago on October 1-3. IAQA attracts attendees from all areas interested in good indoor air quality. The IAQA trade show provided CRI an excellent venue for the distribution of materials and information on carpet's contributions to the indoor environment. Contact Louise Dobbs at 706.428.2104. CRI Meetings* CRI Annual Conference, October 24, NorthWest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, Dalton, Georgia CRI Participation in Upcoming Events* Energy & Environmental Building Association (EEBA) Building Solutions
Conference & Expo, October 15-18, Chicago, Illinois If you are aware of other events that present significant opportunities to deliver our messages to our critical audiences, please contact Louise Dobbs at 706.428.2104. Check our website calendar for other industry related events |
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