Annual Meeting Introduces a New CRI
A New Focus with New, Proactive Messages;
New Officers Elected;
Prestigious Joe Smrekar Award Presented Posthumously to
Dr. Eugene P. (Rusty) Willimon

Contact: CRI Communications Department, 706.428.2103

November 7, 2001, DALTON, GA The Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI's) Annual Meeting today was full of the word "new," referring to a new focus, new messaging and new officers. Mr. Werner Braun, president of CRI, said, "CRI is a new organization -- a proactive advocacy organization. CRI is seeking the cooperation of all allies, reaching out to them to leverage their strengths. CRI is also advocating scientifically-based messages to adversaries to win their buy-in and help them to become allies." He continued, "We have an enthusiastic, well-positioned staff in place, and, with expertise from the member companies, we plan to significantly diminish many barriers to profitability and growth in the carpet and rug industry."

CRI's advocacy will include the following messages: "Carpet, Clean and Dry," dealing with care for the building envelope and care for carpet; "Green Carpet, It's not just a Color," referring to the industry's move toward sustainability; "Carpet for Cleaner Air," revolving around VOCs, CO² and allergens; "Carpet Makes the Grade in Schools," talking about carpet as the educated choice for the total learning environment in the education market; "Carpet, It Softens the Impact," directed toward the elderly care healthcare market; and the one well-known message, "Carpet, It Just Feels Better," referring to the overall comfort of carpet. These messages will be shared with our members for their distribution, and then CRI will continue targeting specific audiences from consumers to commercial end-use segments.

New Officers Elected

Mr. Dan Frierson, chairman of the nominating committee, presented a slate of nominations for the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Elected unanimously were the following for the Board of Directors (term expires 2003): Manufacturers: Richard Bierie, Mannington Mills; Mac Bridger, Collins & Aikman Corporation; Mike Derderian, Royalty Carpet Mills; Mike Gallman, Blue Ridge Carpet Mills; Charles Kennedy, Gulistan Carpet; Jim McCallum, Burlington Industries; Julian Saul, Shaw Industries; and Associate Members: Brad Hill, Solutia; Walt Hubbard, BASF; Mike Lawrence, Honeywell

Elected unanimously for the Executive Committee (term expires 2002): Carl Bouckaert, Beaulieu Group; Mac Bridger, Collins & Aikman Corporation; Dan Frierson, The Dixie Group; Jeff Lorberbaum, Mohawk Industries; Bob Shaw, Shaw Industries; John Swift, Mohawk Industries (Treasurer); Brad Hill, Solutia.

Joe Smrekar Award Presented to Rusty Willimon

Mr. Braun took great pride in presenting, posthumously, the 2001 Joe Smrekar Memorial award to the family of Dr. Eugene P. Willimon. Rusty, as he was widely known, general manager at Milliken Carpet, was an active supporter of the entire carpet industry and of CRI, where he served as chairman during 1996 and 1997. As Mr. Braun commented, "It is very poignant to present this award. Rusty exemplified exactly what Milliken envisioned when they created this award in 1998 to remember Dr. Joe Smrekar's tireless and devoted expertise to carpet industry issues. It is very fitting that Rusty be recognized for similarly showing unusual and exemplary positive leadership to CRI and to the carpet and rug industry."

CRI Directors Present Current CRI Activities

CRI Directors presented outlines of current trends for CRI activities in each area of focus.

• Ken McIntosh, Health, Environment and Technical Director, reported that the eleven experts in the technical committee have managed issues surrounding the eight technical barriers. They have overseen the generation of credible research data to counter the myth that carpet is unhealthy. Four or five technical papers will be ready to submit to the Ninth International Indoor Air Quality meeting in June 2002. Topics include maintaining the indoor environment, the quality of the air, and comfort issues in the environment.
  
  
• Frank Hurd, Director of Government and Association Relations, announced ongoing and enhanced procedures to monitor legislative and regulatory issues in every state and in the Federal government. This allows CRI to identify and develop trends and allows CRI to react before issues become crises. This proactive strategy rather than a reactive one helps CRI better focus on the issue and respond actively and appropriately.
  
  
• Steve Phillips, Director of Customer Satisfaction, reported on CRI efforts to change to immediate electronic correspondence and increased use of the web site for communications to members and to the media. Media outreach and outreach to specific audiences will include going through all media types, but will be focused particularly on the education and healthcare market segments.
  
  
• Charlott Coker, Director of Human Resources and Electronic Advocacy, announced the launch today of new navigation capabilities and a new look for CRI's web site: www.carpet-rug.com. A workgroup has been created across all focus areas within CRI and will be managed by Joan Seelaus, electronic advocacy manager, to leverage more electronic communication opportunities for outreach to all allies and potential allies.

Werner Braun dismissed the meeting by repeating that CRI is a new advocacy organization, dedicated to eliminating barriers to profitability and growth for the carpet and rug industry.