Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/877664
- 6 - THE STATE OF THE ASSOCIATION – TOUGH AS NAILS! NWPCA made substantial progress toward its five-year strategic plan, raising the profile of NWPCA with elected officials and federal career employees overall. We had a record 40+ registrations for this year's Congressional Fly-In. NWPCA members covered 10% of Congressional offices on Capitol Hill in one afternoon. More members are now stronger, more effective planning advocates in Washington, D.C., and in their home districts. The State of the Association is strong—membership strong and financially strong. Our members have stepped up to the plate and answered the call to support our efforts both financially and through their time, which has helped us maintain our relevance and effectiveness. Your support has allowed us to provide you with a dedicated advocacy and communications team backed by world class organizations. For example, on communications crisis management and strategy, we employ FleishmanHillard, a company with a notable global reputation. The law firm of Olsson Frank Weeda provides legal, regulatory, and bipartisan government affairs representation. And we work with the Polsinelli firm which focuses on the issue of food safety, a growing concern and important issue for the industry. Weekly and monthly policy, political, and pertinent news of what is happening in Washington, D.C., is made available to the advocacy team with subscriptions to the National Journal. The National Journal serves government and industry leaders with intelligence, insights, and connections to save time, increase efficiency, and deliver success. It is one of the most trusted sources of information in Washington, D.C., with over fifty years of experience. The Lobbyit firm worked with staff during the NWPCA Congressional Fly-In in June, 2017, guiding our members through the halls of Congress. Through this unique access, we were able to focus attention on critical business issues related to the wood packaging industry. Specifically, we were able to address labor, the affordable care act, proposed bans on wood packaging, immigration and tax reform. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN 2nd District), a long-time supporter of the industry, reserved a room in the House Ways and Means Committee for the NWPCA. Two U.S. Representatives spoke to our group and were presented with the "2017 Champion of the Wood Pallet and Wood Packaging Industry" award. Ben Remmey of Remmey - The Pallet Company, presented an award to Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA 5th District); Morris Neeb of Bay Wood Products, presented to Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL 1st District). Also pictured is Larry Howell of Cottondale Wood Products.