CSPA embraces change: new ideas are sprouting at the annual mid-year meeting.

THE "C" IN CSPA doesn't stand for change, but change is certainly a key focus for the Consumer Specialty Products Association. CSPA reworked its mid-year meeting in Chicago last month to better meet the needs of its members, and most who attended the event applauded CSPA's efforts. In fact, more than 500 industry executives attended the event, which was held May 2-6 at the Chicago Marriott.

A key component of these changes was Innovention, CSPA's new forum intended to foster efficient and economical business meetings in order to promote information exchange regarding new products, ingredients and opportunities for industry professionals. At the same time, CSPA retained many of the tried-and-true aspects of the mid-year meeting, including suppliers' suite night and division programs that focused on a diverse range of topics.

This combination of old and new worked for the mid-year meeting and it has helped CSPA expand its membership.

"At a time when many associations are losing members, CSPA continues to change, evolve and attract new members," observed Christopher Cathcart, president of CSPA. "In the past year, the association's membership has climbed from 235 to 252 companies."

Mr. Cathcart said new and existing members are attracted to CSPA because the association offers three key components:

* strengthening partnerships;

* working closely with government and

* enhancing industry's image.

"Our base is growing," Mr. Cathcart insisted. "New members have confidence in what we do."

In his opening remarks, the CSPA president detailed some of the ways in which CSPA is working for its members. For example, the hospitality suite night, which has become a key element of the mid-year meeting, is one way how the association fosters partnerships within the industry.

On the regulatory front, CSPA is in talks with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding Toxic Release Inventories. Mr. Cathcart noted that the new EPA administrator, Steve Johnson, is a scientist, which should make him more willing to listen to science-based groups such as CSPA.

Still, CSPA's work in the regulatory field is far from over. Mr. Cathcart noted that there are currently 150 bills in state legislature that require the association's attention.

In recent years, CSPA has worked hard to improve the industry's image to the public and lawmakers. Mr. Cathcart noted that Product Care, the association's stewardship program for the industry's products, now has 73 member companies and the roster should reach 100 by the end of the year.

"Product Care is a public demonstration of what we're all about and what we stand for and represent," explained Mr. Cathcart.

The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) made a big breakthrough during the past year when it received $100,000 in funding from the Federal Government. ACE works on a variety of issues including poison control and product abuse in the form of "huffing." ACE expects to distribute educational kits to all 50 states by 2007.

On the pesticide front, DEET is being viewed in a more favorable light these days as concerns about West Nile Virus and similar insect-borne illnesses appear in the consumer press.

Finally, CAPCO continues to spread the word about the benefits of the aerosol package. According to Mr. Cathcart, the group has had remarkable success in teaching the benefits of aerosols to students and teachers. To build on that success, CSPA recently launched a new website, www.aerosols.com.

In his remarks to members, CSPA chairman Bill Auriemma of Diversified CPC urged the audience to be pro-active when it comes to regulations.

"These agencies have a job to do. We can be part of the solution, or part of the road kill," he warned the audience.

Mr. Auriemma also reviewed some the incredible changes that have taken place in the past few years and how technological advances have reconfigured the world of business. "We must pursue innovation in order to stay ahead of the competition," he insisted.

Hail to the Innovators

In addition to reading, writing and arithmetic, American students should learn the important role that innovators have played in the success of the U.S., said Sir Harold Evans, the keynote speaker at CSPA's Innovention luncheon.

"An invention is just a novelty unless it is put to use," he charged.

He called Britain an inventive society, but not an innovative one. After all, the British invented many of today's indispensable items such as the jet engine and radar, but it was the American economy that brought these and other technologies to their full potential.

To educate Americans and others about the important role that innovators played in the country's development, Sir Harold wrote a book, "They Made America," which provides snapshots on how innovators such as Thomas Edison, Cyrus McCormick and Isaac Singer reshaped the American landscape.

But while the rate of innovation is increasing, Sir Harold warned that major changes must take place if the U.S. is to maintain its leadership role in the global marketplace.

"We need long-term investment and we must restore respect for science," charged Sir Harold. "You can't understand America unless you understand business."

Insights into President Bush

In order to understand U.S. government, you have to understand the president and his policies. Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer provided a detailed look at how the current president, George W. Bush, tackled the issues that will define his presidency. Mr. Fleischer told the audience that early in his presidency, Bush lost faith in Yassar Arafat and his Middle East policies. In fact, in a discussion with one Arab leader, President Bush insisted that the Palestinians would eventually find a leader willing to move toward real peace in the Middle East. As it turned out, that leader was current prime minister Mahmoud Abbas.

"George W. Bush knew a real reformer would emerge from Palestine," he recalled. "Leadership often depends on the ability to shake the status quo."

As another example of leadership, Mr. Fleischer relayed a conversation that the president had with Nobel Peace Prize winner Eli Weisel regarding Saddam Hussein. Mr. Weisel recalled how Western Europe refused to heed the warnings of Winston Churchill back in 1938, before Adolf Hitler launched the Blitzkrieg on Poland. Mr. Weisel reasoned that if the world had listened to Churchill in 1938, World War II may have been averted.

"Did we avert World War III by removing Saddam?" Mr. Fleischer asked the audience. "We'll never know. We may have been wrong about weapons of mass destruction, but we do know Saddam was working to acquire mustard gas and nerve gas."

Finally, Mr. Fleischer told the audience that the president can not let popularity polls dictate his actions. "He stands on principle and is comfortable with who he is," said Mr. Fleischer. "When a liberal truly stands on principle, he'll gain followers (to retake the White House)."

During the opening session, Kevin Shan of Pennington, NJ received Murray Glauberman award, an $8,000 scholarship that is awarded to a college-bound high school senior who demonstrates academic achievement and leadership qualities. Kevin, the son of Shilan Shen of Lonza, will study engineering at Stanford University.

RELATED ARTICLE: Aerosol fillings top 3.6 billion--a record in 2004.

AEROSOL PRODUCT unit fillings rose 2.8% last year to a record 3.65 billion units, according to results of the 54th annual Aerosol Pressurized Products Survey developed by the CSPA. The results were announced during the aerosol division meeting held during the CSPA Mid-Year Meeting in Chicago.

By product segment, personal care fillings jumped 4.8% to nearly 944 million units, accounting for 26% of all aerosol product unit fillings, according to the Association. Household products were the second largest category, with more than 931 million units and 25% of fillings. Other categories and their percentage of the market were: automotive (16%), paint (13%), food (11%), insecticide (7%) and miscellaneous (2%).

During the aerosol division meeting, division chairman Michael Freeman of WD-40 urged members to focus on the future and try to change the industry for the better during the next five years.

"Our industry is at the crossroad," he insisted. "Is this our last hour or our finest hour?"

To ensure the latter, he urged members to create a win-win situation for both industry and regulators. At the same time, he called for members to focus on innovation to grow sales and profits.

One example of innovation is Sexy Hair Concepts, a leading manufacturer of professional hair care products. Mark Stiller, the company's chief operating and financial officer, provided a blueprint of how to foster innovation in a company:

* Deliver new products and value;

* Experiment and take risks;

* Failure is an option (as long as you learn from it) and

* Create a workplace where new ideas and creativity are encouraged and rewarded.

Joe Bowen of Aeropres detailed the latest activities of the Consumer Aerosol Product Council (CAPCO). Although 60% of consumers still have a negative attitude toward aerosols, Mr. Bowen insisted that CAPCO is making progress through four key activities: The National Science Class Challenge, exhibiting at the National Science Teacher's Association meeting, proactive media relations and expansion of the "No CFC" and recycling logo programs.

"CAPCO has something that is really working. We're moving the needle, but we need your support," he concluded. "Last year, only 20 companies supported CAPCO."

Also, during the division meeting, Doug Fratz and Joe Yost of CSPA gave members an update on the activities of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).