NewslineVolume XI, Issue 11 - September 4, 2009
The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue: New Seal of Approval Vacuums Announced
Earning silver-level certifications are: the CK 14/1 QD Tornado Quick Draw Unit from Tornado, a division of Fenton, Missouri-based Tacony Corporation, and the Garry Ultralight Vacuum from Garry Vacuum, LLC, based in Lake Balboa, California. Congratulations to the new Seal of Approval recipients! Contact Pat Jennings at 706.428-2123 View Complete List of SOA-Approved Vacuums. Congressional Candidates Speak at CRI-Sponsored ForumFive Georgia congressional candidates talked issues over their box lunches at a Meet and Greet Governmental Forum held Sept 1 at Dalton's Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. The event, which was sponsored by CRI's Government Issues Committee, offered the public an early look at some of the candidates who are currently vying for the 9th District congressional seat that is being vacated by Nathan Deal in his bid for Georgia governor in 2010. While at least 9 candidates have announced their intention to run for the seat, the five Republicans on the dais have officially filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Another filed candidate, Independent Eugene Moon, was invited but chose not to attend. Appearing were: Mike Evans, former Georgia Transportation Board Chairman and State Representative, Tom Graves, State Representative and real estate investor from Gordon County, Dr. Lee Hawkins, State Senator and dentist from Gainesville, Jeremy Jones, businessman, and Bill Stephens from Blue Ridge, a banker, former State Senator and gubernatorial aide, and 2006 candidate for Georgia Secretary of State. All five supported limiting government, cutting taxes, and putting a halt to deficit spending. While opposed to government-run healthcare, several offered private sector-based ideas for reducing healthcare costs. Contact Bethany Richmond at 706.428-2125. View Local Newspaper Coverage of Event Congressman Deal Addresses Healthcare Issues at CRI-sponsored EventGeorgia Ninth District Congressman and 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal spoke to approximately 300 concerned constituents at a town hall meeting held September 3rd in Dalton at the North Georgia Trade and Convention Center. The event was sponsored by the Carpet and Rug Association and the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce. Deal explained in detail the process the proposed Democratic health care bill has undergone so far and speculated on how things might change after the congressional recess ends, saying "the landscape on this issue has changed radically" in recent weeks. Deal answered questions from the audience and said he thought the anger and frustration that has surged forth at other town hall meetings has come from fear and uncertainty over what exactly is in the bill, and distrust of the speed with which Democrats are pushing for passage. Contact Bethany Richmond at 706.428-2125. View Local Newspaper Coverage of Event CRI Blog Grows in Scope, ReadershipA monthly review of CRI's 5 month-old blog site, CRIblog.org, shows that the social media communications tool is successfully reaching out to new audiences and connecting with carpet industry readers on topics of interest to them. Of the total traffic on the site, it is notable that 54% comes from so-called "organic" searches - or readers who find their way to the site based on keywords entered into a search engine. "Traffic from organic searches represents new people who are searching for information and finding it on your site," explains Christine Whittemore, Chief Simplifier for Simple Marketing Now and CRI's consultant for the blog. Generating 77 visits in August, the most popular search term by far was "HIRE Act", referring to the proposed legislation supported by the carpet industry that would give tax credits for home improvement purchases. Next popular is "Scientific Facts", which refers to CRI's post about an article that appeared in National Floor Trends magazine on how science dispels the myths that associate carpet with increased asthma and allergy symptoms. Third popular is the term "Carpet Recycling" which connects readers to multiple articles on the blog about the activities of the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). In all, August's eight blog posts generated 910 visits, or 23% more than the July numbers, and 1,330 page views, also up 26% over July. "In only five months time, the CRI blog is becoming a force to be reckoned with," said Whittemore. Contact Bethany Richmond at 706.428-2125. CRI Sustainability Manager Published in Green JournalSustainability Manager Jeff Carrier is the author of an article that appears in the current issue of the Journal of Greenbuilding, a publication aimed at engineers and other professionals in residential and commercial construction. The article, titled, Connecting the Pieces - Carpet Industry Sustainability and Stewardship, is a comprehensive overview of the carpet industry's role in environmental issues. The article details how, over the years, the carpet industry has vastly reduced its environmental footprint, from reducing water and energy and limiting greenhouse gas emissions, to increasing the use of renewable energy and recycled materials. Carrier says the most important point he makes in the 6,ooo-word article is that in terms of environmental leadership, the carpet industry is way out in front of other building product producers, as well as U.S. manufacturers overall, as exemplified by the number of carpet manufacturing facilities that are certified by the International Standards Organization's ISO 14001 standards. The Journal of Greenbuilding is published by Richmond, Virginia-based College Publishing. Contact Bethany Richmond at 706.428-2125. View the Blog Post and Full Article Brazilian Carpet Manufacturer First South American GLP RecipientBrazilian high-end carpet manufacturer Tapetes Sao Carlos has become the first South American company to earn Green Label Plus certification from the Carpet & Rug Institute. The company, which was founded in 1951 by Otto Werner Rosel, updated to modern manufacturing technology in the 1970s and has continued to expand operations and upgrade its production and processes since that time. Tapetes Sao Carlos currently has a single category of GLP-certified carpet and is in the process of certifying a second. The company's certification effort began in 2008 when Tapetes Sao Carlos Environmental Supervisor Altair Francisco came to the U.S. to discuss with CRI the company's entry into the program. Francisco's goal was to ensure the company's products were environmentally responsible by becoming the first South American manufacturer of GLP-certified carpet. As evidence of the pride Tapetes Sao Carlos takes in its accomplishment, the company prominently displays the GLP label on its home page. In addition to South America, CRI certifies carpets made in the United States, Canada, China, Thailand, The United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Holland. CRI welcomes Tapetes Sao Carlos to the list of Green Label Plus manufacturers and pledges that the program will continue to be the hallmark of environmental responsibility in soft floor covering around the world. Contact Gary Edwards at 706.428-2105. ProSource to Offer CRI CEUsThe Carpet and Rug Institute and ProSource, the Fort Worth, Texas-based commercial floor coverings wholesaler, have signed an agreement allowing ProSouce personnel to provide professional education using CRI's series of Continuing Education Units, or CEUs. Previously, only representatives from CRI member companies were approved as presenters for CRI CEUs, but CRI opened the field to allow broader audiences to participate in CRI's professional learning program, which is sanctioned by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). CRI Technical Manager Pat Jennings says that expanding CRI's partnerships outside of membership rolls offers "significant new opportunities to multiply CRI's message to a wider audience." She says any firm interested in offering CRI's program of CEUs should watch for information on the CRI website or contact her at the phone or email below. Contact Pat Jennings at 706.428-2123. View a Complete List of CRI Continuing Education Courses TIP Meeting Set for September 18The Carpet Committee of the Traditional Industries Program for Polymer, Fiber, and Fabric Products will hold its annual research project review meeting in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday, September 18. The meeting will be held in the Brown Continuing Education Building on the Dalton State College campus, room 203. Reports to be presented include, Insulative Effectiveness of Floor Covering Materials: Impact on Energy Savings and Consumption, New Infill Product for Synthetic Turf Athletic Fields Based on Post Consumer Carpet, and Environmental Competitiveness of Carpet Products - Life Cycle Inventory Data Generation and Migration to Sustainability Standards. The program is scheduled to last from 8:30 am until 12:30 pm and will be facilitated by Georgia Tech professor and TIP Director Charles Estes. Interested parties are invited to attend. Contact Pat Jennings at 706.428-2123. View the Complete Agenda CRI Meetings
* Sustainability Issues Management Team, September 16, 12:00 - 2:00 pm CRI Participation in Upcoming Events
* Connections, September 9 - 11, Las Vegas, NV If you are aware of other events that present significant opportunities to deliver our messages to our critical audiences, please contact Bethany Richmond at 706.428-2125. Check our website calendar for other industry related events
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