New officers, a tabletop exhibit, and transportation issues were just a few of the highlights at the National Renderers Association (NRA) Central Region Convention held in early June. The picturesque setting of Galena, IL, provided an ideal location for mixing business and a little pleasure.
The region’s annual meeting followed the second part of the Animal Protein Producers Industry’s (APPI) Continuing Education Certification Program, which was held at the same location the day before. This allowed attendees of APPI’s meeting to visit the convention’s tabletop exhibit where supplier members provided information on their products and services.
Presenters at the Central Region’s Convention addressed a number of issues, ranging from transportation safety to e-commerce and customer service. The first day of the meeting began with George Nickolson, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance, discussing how renderers can better control their commercial fleets. He informed attendees that company trucks and vehicles have the highest exposure to the public but oftentimes are not given as much attention within the business as is necessary. Nickolson, who has 29 years experience in highway safety including as a Florida Highway Patrol officer, explained what qualifies as a commercial fleet that falls under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations and educated attendees on how to keep from hiring bad drivers. He provided real life situations of drivers who were permitted to drive company vehicles, had an accident, sometimes severe where there was a fatality, and then it was discovered they had prior moving violation convictions.
“You won’t know if you have a bad driver unless you check their driving record, and keep on top of it.” Nickolson said. He pointed out that 72 percent of accidents involving company vehicles are caused by drivers other than fleet drivers, and added that the average cost to hire a new driver is $3,500.
Nickolson went on to explain how renderers can establish a risk management plan for their fleet operations, which included assigning responsibility and accountability for results of the plan, and highlighted key issues often voiced by an insurance company’s risk control department, such as consistent or regular employee training and stringent disciplinary measures that are enforced.
Driver conduct at an accident scene and on-scene accident investigation were also addressed.
“Tell your drivers to please shut up at the scene of an accident,” Nickolson advised. “You can be polite, but be careful what you say at the scene of an accident.” He suggested sending a company representative to the accident scene if it’s close enough and have a camera in each fleet vehicle to photograph accident scenes. Nickolson said to take photographs of the approaching accident from all angles of the vehicles involved and use the entire roll of film.
Attendees were next treated to a presentation by Bill Hurley and John Donicht of By-Products Interactive, an e-commerce company. They highlighted the benefits of conducting business online and the future of e-commerce for the rendering industry. Hurley discussed being able to access transportation services with the click of a mouse and selling rendered products to a wide variety of buyers on By-Products’ Internet site.
“You can use it for everything you use the telephone for,” said Hurley. “We intend to give you a new tool we think you can use to your advantage.”
The gentlemen demonstrated how products are sold on the Web site and the various options available through the software, such as limiting the offer to several companies or making it available to anyone accessing the service.
Mark Lies, a partner in the Chicago law firm of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather, and Geraldson, addressed safety issues that could affect the rendering industry. He explained that a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration law that goes into effect July 17, 2001, would require employers to keep track of injuries suffered by employees who have contact with sharps, or needles. Lies explained that employers need to protect their employees from these hazards, including those who conduct first aid at the worksite.
Lies also discussed Americans with Disabilities Act issues and strongly advised attendees that anti-harassment policies, which must include all forms of harassment, not just sexual, must be in place.
“Harassment is a big issue right now,” he stated. Lies also addressed workplace violence, explaining that terminations should be conducted as humanly as possible and that two people should be present at the termination to collaborate stories. He went on to say that if the person conducting the termination fears retaliation or a violent reaction, the termination can be conducted by telephone. Again, he stressed that having a second person on the telephone line at the time of termination will provide a witness to the situation.
Following a break for lunch, the afternoon was reserved for an entertaining presentation on customer service. Sidney Hurlbert, a humorist speaker and author on communications, provided an upbeat presentation on how to provide better customer service. He said to smile when you see people, not only to demonstrate a sign of competence and confidence within yourself, but also to help keep your personal attitude more positive. Hurlbert added that our facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language depict our emotion and that if we keep these on a positive note, people will oftentimes respond back in a positive manner. He stated that some companies have actually increased their business just by the way they answer the phone, which included taking the time to say “good morning [afternoon],” stating the company name, then the name of the person answering the phone, then asking the caller, “How may I help you?”
“And say it all with enthusiasm,” he said.
Hurlbert touched on how a positive approach not only works with customers, but with employees as well.
“Employees say they never hear anything good about them or their company,” he added.
The second day of the Central Region Convention was dedicated to presentations by association leaders and to conduct the region’s business meeting. Don Franco, NRA vice president, Scientific Services, first addressed the current bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) issues.
“When it was revealed that BSE was likely, and I use that word lightly, caused by meat and bone meal, the rendering industry, globally, changed forever,” Franco stated. He added that he is concerned about all the U.S. regulations put in place for a disease that doesn’t exist in the United States. He admitted that controls need to be in place, but stated that government should not go overboard. Franco advised attendees to “use whatever political clout you have with local and state officials, to let the people that represent us know what your concerns are.”
Franco informed attendees that APPI was in the process of conducting third party certification for compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s ruminant feed ban.
“It’s not the answer,” he said. “But third party certification is an excellent political dynamic when you have to deal with federal and consumer groups. We have to do it because it makes sense. That is how to protect the industry, by being proactive.”
Franco briefly discussed genetically modified organisms and dioxin, which he feels has been taken out of context.
“The risks of dioxin as a carcinogen are unproven and not supported by science today,” he said. Franco stated that the industry was awaiting the results of a Harvard study on BSE that he believes, in part, will make the industry look pretty good and responsible. He warned, though, that groups who want to attack the integrity of the industry might take information out of context.
Next to address the group was Tom Cook, NRA president, who first thanked Franco for his dedication and service to the association and industry.
“We are so grateful for all the things Don has done,” Cook said. He explained how the BSE issue began its resurgence earlier this year by recapping events that have taken place to date. Cook stated that NRA has taken several proactive steps to assure end users that rendered products are safe, including placing advertisements in several feed publications. He discussed President Bush’s energy plan that provides for alternative fuels and an attempt to get the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to write a “technical guideline” for burning yellow grease and animal fats. Cook went on to say that exports continue to be an important part of the industry and reminded everyone of the upcoming NRA Convention October 16-20, 2001, in Naples, FL.
Gary Pearl, president, Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), highlighted some of the research the association is currently involved with, including becoming a “reservoir” for by-products used in energy, such as biodiesel. He discussed legislation currently being considered in Minnesota that would propose going from a two percent to five percent blend of biodiesel in fuel.
“As the bill went through committees, animal fats and yellow grease were ultimately removed, leaving just vegetable oil,” Pearl explained. “A lot of effort on behalf of Minnesota renderers Van Hoven, Central Bi-Products, Darling International, and Hormel, got animal products back into the bill.” Although the bill had not passed when the legislature ended its session, Pearl believed it could set precedence for future bills in other states.
The group then held their annual business meeting, which included a report by Mike Carlson on the International Market Development Committee (IMDC) meeting held in April. He stated that ConAgra had recently joined the IMDC and that perception issues in Venezuela and the Philippines were addressed. Carlson reported that the BSE issue was still a concern among end users and a discussion paper was assembled and available for renderers to distribute to their customers. Legislative and environmental committee activities were reported by Dave Kaluzny, who said that the legislative committee voted to double the budget in order to hire consults to work with government agencies on certain regulatory issues. He also stated that presently, EPA will not be including “small,” fewer than 500 employees, rendering companies in the new effluent limitation guidelines.
“Very few renderers have more than 500 employees,” Kaluzny stated, adding that EPA is considering excluding all renderers completely but a decision had not yet been made.
During the meeting, it was voted to donate $7,000 to FPRF and nominate two renderers as “honorary members” of the central region: William G. Tarpley and David J. Kaluzny (see “It’s an Honor”).
Capping the business meeting was a change in the Central Region leadership. Mike Botelo, Ed Miniat, Inc., was elected as president, succeeding outgoing President Mike Carlson, Anamax Group. Rita Schneider was elected vice president, and Charlie Beard was elected secretary/treasurer. All three officers will serve in their position for two years.
The next Central Region Convention is scheduled for June 6-8, 2002, in Elkhart, WI.
August 2001 Render