Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1332064
8 PalletCentral • January-February 2021 palletcentral.com A Time to Reflect & Look Ahead A s we roll into 2021, the staff is especially encouraged by the news of vaccinations taking place now and in the coming months. Although this is very promising news, we recognize that a return to normal will take time, and we are proud to continue to lead this industry. At the time of this article, NWPCA led a grassroots campaign to 50 governors and hundreds of state senate and house members urging pallet manufacturing workers be vaccinated under the Center for Disease Control (CDC) directive 1b; essential workers and critical businesses. Wooden pallets and containers are a critical piece of global supply chain logistics and clearly recognized as such as seemingly all 'essential' goods make it through the supply chain on wood pallets. Therefore, our industry's workers must be vaccinated to ensure shelves are stocked and Americans can continue to stay safe as the country turns the corner on this life-altering pandemic. INSIDENWPCA NWPCA Government Affairs N WPCA continues to meet with federal agencies during the transition between administrations, including a meeting with Deputy Administrator Osama El-Lissy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Specifically, the NWPCA is pushing back on a regulation that would require a declaration on pallets being repositioned into the United States from other countries. At this time, we believe it would hinder the movement of pallets at a critical stage in our country's battle against COVID-19. NWPCA's Gething Appointed to SEC Executive Committee B eginning in January, Dr. Brad Gething, was appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of the Softwood Export Council (SEC). In the past few years, NWPCA's growing partnership with the SEC has led to a joint project in July 2020 to explore the potential market opportunities in Mexico. Funding provided by the SEC has been allocated toward addressing the Mexican wood packaging market. NWPCA Announcements and Upcoming Events This SEC project also includes bilingual Mexican staff to assist with member communications and market exploration. Gething named to SEC's Executive Committee further strengthens our SEC partnership. NWPCA Committees Host Webinars T he NWPCA Recyclers and Government Affairs Committees hosted webinars this fall. They were well attended with over 50+ attendees per event. For the "Post-Election Analysis" on November 14th, NWPCA was joined by National Journal's Casey Wooten who presented on how the outcome of the elections will impact our industry. The December 14th webinar, "OSHA and the Biden Administration: What to Expect in 2021," was co-presented by NWPCA and OSHA safety expert Adele Abrams, Esq. Adele focused on safety and health, labor and employment law, and the incoming Biden Administration. In 2021, expect to hear more on federal regulations and legislation that will affect you and your business. These and other past webinars can be replayed at palletcentral.com/webinar; PDS training at palletcentral.com/ pdsonline. NWPCA 2021 ALC Moved to Fall 2021 T he NWPCA 2021 Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) will occur in the fall. The conditions and circumstances brought about by COVID-19 would have made it nearly impossible to host the event in March 2021 without endangering the health and safety of our attendees and staff. The decision to postpone did not come easily, especially with limited dates available to rebook such a substantial event. At press time, the official dates were not confirmed. Check back with palletcentral.com, and watch your email for announcements on the 2021 ALC. Membership Renewal is Underway M embership renewals for 2021 are in full swing and we thank all those that have already renewed their membership. Know that the NWPCA staff is working for you. We lobbied and engaged Administration officials, and for the first-time ever, achieved 'Essential Worker' status for our industry. We are operating today because of this recognition. These and other association pivotal activities can be read in more detail on the following pages. iStockphoto.com/kovop58 Dr. Brad Gething