Hundreds of people from aggregates operations all over the country are gathered in Washington, DC this week for the NSSGA Legislative & Policy Forum/Fall Board Meeting.
Doug Needham, president of the Michigan Aggregates Association, highlighted how the state association and NSSGA have been working together to tackle a legislative concern in Detroit.?Some city residents and lawmakers are seeking to pass an ordinance that restricts storing aggregates inside the city limits, including a ban on piles of aggregates higher than 15 feet, a requirement that they be covered or set back 100 feet from water. One construction company estimated that it would cost $30 million to comply with the ordinance.
“As we were meeting with the city attorneys, state senators and representatives and others, NSSGA reached out to members of Congress to educate them on the impacts of the ordinance,” said Needham. “We also gathered a coalition of other groups who would be affected and continue to let city council members and officials know that our industry is already heavily regulated and we’re concerned about losing jobs as result of storing materials outside the city limits.”
NSSGA helped to draft a one-page whitepaper on the concerns with the ordinance in a single day, and MAA shared it with the press. Over 18 months, dozens of people have testified at hearings and meetings and continue to write letters and make phone calls in opposition to the ordinance. MAA continues to reach out to the mayor’s office to educate them on the impact of the regulations, as well, and NSSGA stands ready to support MAA as needed.
Annual Convention and AGG1 Registration Supports Houston Recovery
The NSSGA Meetings and Education Committee meets during NSSGA’s 2017 Legislative & Policy Forum/Fall Board Meeting on September 25, 2017.
The NSSGA Meetings and Education Committee announced that people will have an option to donate to the American Red Cross when registering for the 2018 NSSGA Annual Convention and AGG1 Academy & Expo, March 4-8, 2018.
Attendees will have an option to contribute up to $20 during the registration process as part of a donation to the Red Cross to assist with hurricane recovery efforts. Registration for the event opens Oct. 10.
Committee members also selected the final slate of educational courses for the 2018 AGG1 Academy program. The aggregates industry’s premier educational event will once again offer something for everyone, from 101-level basics to detailed technical case studies, led by subject matter experts from NSSGA member companies.
Three Crisis Communications Tips
The NSSGA Communications Committee listens to a presentation on crisis communications.
Brian Kennedy of FTI Consulting offered the Communications Committee several tips for handling crisis events.
“Plans change, and it’s important to be nimble, but the act of planning for a crisis is so important for companies so that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities,” he said. “It’s important to demonstrate concern, compassion, accountability and transparency.”
Proactive media relations can also help when a crisis emerges. “The hardest time to make a friend in the media is during a crisis,” Kennedy said. “Having a proactive and positive relationship with press goes a long way when a company needs the benefit of the doubt.”
Young Leaders Set Sights on La Jolla??The 2018 Young Leaders Annual Meeting will be held April 24-28, 2018, at the Hilton Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Calif. Franz Peters, Young Leaders Steering Committee chairman, said that the group has high hopes following a reunion year event, which was open to all YL alumni, in Arizona.
