Grassroots Activism and Other ‘Outside Forces’ Focus of UPF&DA Conference

Stacey Pine, RISE grassroots manager, urged UPF&DA members to monitor anti-pesticide legislation and represent the industry’s interests at the state and local level. NPMA’s Bob Rosenberg provided a “view from Washington, D.C.” and the likely legislative challenges that will be facing the industry in the months and years ahead. A number of speakers, including Tom Evans of the San Diego Sheriffs Department, spoke about the issue of terrorism and security.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The often negative impact of outside forces on product suppliers serving the pest management industry was a recurring theme at the Annual Spring Conference of the United Producers, Formulators & Distributors Association (UPF&DA), as approximately 70 attendees listened to presentations on such diverse topics as “The New Washington and its Impact on Our Industry” to the growing influence of grassroots organizations opposed to the use of pesticides.

“I believe we are in the most challenging time in our history,” observed Allen James, president of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE), Washington, D.C. “The specialty pesticide industry has been undergoing great change, and has been under great challenge for some time, and it’s definitely accelerating.”

On the legislative front, James said RISE is currently monitoring approximately 240 bills across the country, a whopping 86 percent increase over 2006. “We are under greater stress than ever been before. Right now, we consider our greatest threats to be at the local level. It’s where we are the weakest as an industry.”

In an attempt to “bring the entire industry together to work together at the local level,” James said RISE hired Grassroots Manager Stacey Pine, who also appeared on the program. Pine warned attendees that activists don’t want to limit the use of pesticides. They don’t want to restrict the use of pesticides. “They want to outright ban (them).” In fact, she indicated 123 local municipalities in Canada have banned the industry’s products. “If you think that can’t happen in the United States, think again,” she warned.

To counter the growing threat of anti-pesticide activism at the local level, Pine urged UPF&DA members to join RISE’s grassroots initiative, whereby industry professionals regularly monitor local government for anti-pesticide legislation, alerting RISE when such efforts occur. “We need all the help we can get,” she said. “A lot of times people are intimidated by the political process. Each of you in this room has an extremely powerful voice to be exercised on behalf of the industry.” To learn more about the program, contact Pine at 202/872-8440, spine@dclrs.com.

One of the most highly anticipated presentations during the two-day conference was a session titled, “Exhibiting for Value” by Martin Smith, president of ethnoMETRICS Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich. Smith’s company specializes in analyzing a variety of trade show metrics, from trade show traffic patterns and the quality of a company’s booth to the performance and behavior of trade show personnel.

“I tell companies the soul of your company shows through your exhibit,” Smith said. Therefore, he recommends that companies thoroughly train their trade show staff, while avoiding the pitfalls of poor booth design. Three common mistakes to avoid include:

• The force field effect, which occurs when two contrasting colors of carpeting are placed directly next to one another, creating a perceived barrier between those working in the booth and trade show attendees. Studies indicate attendees are less likely to venture into a booth where such contrasting colors of carpeting exist.

• Castle building, which occurs when large walls make it difficult for attendees to view displays and interact with trade show personnel.

• Portcullis structures, which are common in medieval castles, is a term used to describe situations when trade show attendees are forced to enter a tiny entryway to a booth and make a 90-degree turn to gain access to the space.

Such flaws in booth design, coupled with bad behavior by trade show staff (i.e. talking on cell phones, resting against displays, pacing back and forth, etc.), and “you create a fortress of solitude,” Smith warned. If you’re interested in learning more about the services offered by enthnoMETRICS, visit ethnometrics.org.

Following Smith on the program was Cindy Mannes, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association, who updated attendees on the association’s efforts to educate both the public and the media about the benefits of integrated pest management (IPM). “We as an industry need to own IPM,” she said. “We can’t allow others to define it for us.”

Towards that end, the NPMA has launched a new website, www.WhatIsIPM.org, featuring a variety of tools designed to facilitate the education process, including a “home tour” highlighting various IPM techniques, the latest IPM news, and information about IPM in schools. The NPMA also has created a consumer brochure, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, titled, “What you should know about IPM.” To order copies of the brochure, call NPMA at 703/352-6762.

Rounding out the program were presentations on “Terrorism and Security” by the San Diego Sherrifs Department, the FBI and OSI Security, and an update on “The New Washington and its Impact” by NPMA Senior Vice President Bob Rosenberg. In other UPF&DA news from the conference:

• The organization plans to prepare a formal response to EPA’s proposed rodenticide mitigation measures. “The concern is this is a slippery slope we’re going down,” UPF&DA President Steve Levy said. The Board urged its members to raise their voices in opposition to the proposed measures during EPA’s public comment period.

• Cisse Spragins, president of Rockwell Labs Ltd and a member of the UPF&DA board of directors, reported that a new full-page ad is being developed highlighting the numerous contributions of industry product suppliers and the value they bring to the marketplace. The ad will begin appearing in various industry trade journals this summer.

• The UPF&DA meeting and reception held annually at NPMA PestWorld has been moved from Friday, October 19th, to Thursday, October 18th.

• Chris Donaghy, president of Residex Corporation, said the industry needs to monitor news reports of the demise of honeybee colonies around the world since pesticides are frequently wrongly implicated when environmental activists take on such issues.

• Larry Eichler, president of Prentiss, Inc., reported that the fall board meeting is scheduled for August 21-22 in Atlanta, Ga., and the 2008 Spring Conference is planned for San Antonio, Texas, with dates yet to be determined.

• The winning team in this year’s golf tournament was Jeff Alvis, Larry Smith, Drew Lockhart and Rich Vega, with Rick McDonald taking home the top prize in the closest-to-the-pin competition and Jeff Alvis winning the long drive competition.