NewslineVolume IV, Issue 22 - November 7, 2003The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue: Clean Up at Illinois Governor's MansionQuite literally, CRI cleaned up at the Illinois Governor's Mansion. Jenn Mendez of CRI headed to Springfield, Illinois to educate the staff at the mansion about CRI's Green Label Program, specifically with regard to vacuum cleaners and the importance of proper maintenance. The visit included a demonstration using a Green Label approved vacuum cleaner, a gift to the mansion from The Hoover Company. Governor Rod Blagojevich's wife suffers from certain allergies and CRI wanted to use the opportunity to educate the staff on the benefits of proper maintenance. Jenn shared a variety of CRI's informational brochures regarding the benefits of carpet, as well as carpet care tips. The mansion is 50,000 square feet and receives over 120,000 visitors annually. Contact Jenn Mendez at 703.875.0634. Florida Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) BillSenate Bill 470 has been introduced into the Florida Legislature by sponsor Walter G. Campbell, Jr. a Democrat from District 32 (Broward County Area). The Bill would require each school district in the State to adopt and implement an indoor air quality program with annual reports to the Department of Education. The IAQ programs will be required to utilize the guidelines of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program to provide ongoing maintenance of indoor air quality in educational facilities. CRI will continue to monitor the progress of the bill and determine its effect, if any, on the use of carpet in Florida educational facilities. Contact John Miller at 706.428.2109. California to Select Environmental Justice PlanAccording to the Chlorine Chemistry Council, a little known advisory committee will be reviewing environmental justice recommendations before presenting them to the California Environmental Protection Agency for their review. One guiding principle in the plan could have far-reaching and potentially devastating consequences for manufacturers. The plan embraces the Precautionary Principle, which would require manufacturers in California to change their operations to avert any and all risks. An editorial in the Contra Costa Times expressed the concern "that this impossible standard would throw manufacturers into a regulatory nightmare, hindered by insubstantial threats." It also notes that the communities that this committee is trying to help are the ones that would stand to lose the most if companies stopped growing, scaled back or closed. A second proposal before the agency sets a more reasonable standard that would require companies to mitigate risks to acceptable levels. Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136. CRI Participates with Mannington and the Lifecare Advisory CouncilJenn Mendez of CRI joined staff from Mannington as well as architects, designers and facilities managers at the recent meeting of the Lifecare Advisory Council. This was the third year the group has met and the second year CRI has participated. This group talks with and solicits input from end-users on topics such as sustainable maintenance, sustainable specifications, design for senior living, indoor air quality and a number of other topics. The group also works with the Coalition for Health Environments Research (CHER). Currently members of the Council are charged with working on articles to be submitted for publication throughout the coming year. Contact Jenn Mendez at 703.875.0634. Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Faces StandoffA standoff between the U.S. and Brazil threatens the creation of the world's largest free trade area covering 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere. Establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, a hemisphere wide free trade area, is one of President Bush's most desired economic goals. The U.S. will hold hurriedly arranged discussions on Friday and Saturday with trade ministers from 16 of the 34 countries involved in an effort to craft a Free Trade Area of the Americas. The U.S. and Brazil co-chair FTAA discussions as they enter the final stretch leading to January 1, 2005, the deadline for an agreement to tear down trade barriers between all nations in the hemisphere except Cuba. Instead of bargaining over how tariffs and other trade barriers will be phased out, the U.S. and Brazil are currently fighting over the scope of the agreement. Brazil, concerned about U.S. refusal to negotiate over agricultural subsidies and how the U.S. imposes antidumping tariffs has threatened to remove from the table issues such as investment and intellectual property rights, two high priority issues for U.S. companies. Discussions will continue at the FTAA Ministerial meeting in Miami on November 17. Contact John Miller at 706.428.2109. Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) Annual EventCRI participated in the 2003 Energy and Environmental Building Association's annual conference and expo held during October 15-17 in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Attendees are builders, designers, and facility managers who are dedicated to the sustainability of buildings and the conservation of energy required by those buildings. CRI manned its Sustainability booth at the expo and also had two speakers on the program. Frank Hurd, V.P., presented the carpet industry's sustainability efforts, highlighting the Carpet America Recovery Effort program, and Joan Seelaus, Sr. Manager of Communications, spoke about the benefits of carpet in the indoor environment, highlighting CRI programs and industry accomplishments. For more information about EEBA New York State School Boards Association Annual Convention and Educational Trade ShowRochester, New York, was the venue for the 2004 New York State School Boards Association Annual Convention and Educational Trade Show. The convention took place October 23-26. Approximately 200 exhibitors, including CRI, featured products and services that enhance educational facilities and the effectiveness of their programs. CRI was pleased to provide attendees information about carpet's positive contributions to the learning environment. Contact Louise Dobbs at 706.428.2104. International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) Annual ConferenceWerner Braun, CRI President, participated in an IFMA program panel discussion and presentation session during the recent IFMA annual conference held in Dallas, Texas, October 19-21. CRI also represented the industry with a booth in the IFMA World Workplace expo. Contact Louise Dobbs at 706.428.2104. For more information about IFMA Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) Meets in Charlotte, North CarolinaThe Association of School Business Officials met in Charlotte for their 89th annual conference and expo during November 1-4. ASBO members include chief financial officers, directors of purchasing, directors of facilities and many others responsible for purchasing decisions. CRI manned a booth in the expo and provided attendees information about the benefits of carpet in the school environment.. For more information about ASBO CRI Meetings* Governmental Issues Committee Meeting, December 2, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m., CRI
Boardroom CRI Participation in Upcoming Events* United States Green Building Council (USGBC) GreenBuild, November 11-13,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 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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