Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Menu-labeling gains support on Capitol Hill…Thanks CSPI!

If you are watching your health and your waistline, you will be happy to know that menu-labeling should be coming to a chain restaurant near you. The MEAL Act will require restaurants with 20 locations or more to post calorie labeling on menus and menu boards. June 10th, in a breakthrough move, the National Restaurant Association joined with Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and health groups to help forge a compromise bill with Capital Hill to get this important piece of legislation moved forward. Similar legislation is already on the books in New York City & California, where people are happy to know just what is hiding in that restaurant food they are consuming. Soon everyone in the country will be able to sit down in their favorite chain restaurant and make a sensible decision.

Thanks to the persistence and fine work of our friends at CSPI, we will be able to pass on that 2800 calorie appetizer, if we so choose!

Labels: legislation, nonprofit

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Infants in CT will now be tested for Cystic Fibrosis

This morning reading my local paper left me surprised to find out that CT was one of two states that had not participated in infant testing for Cystic Fibrosis. However, after a six year grassroots effort by a Bethel couple, Governor Jodi Rell signed into law that infants will now be tested at birth for CF.

I always appreciate the efforts individuals make to improve legislation for the general population.

Labels: legislation

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Amazon & Overstock vs NY State

The first round of fighting in this case goes against Amazon and Overstock. Not a good sign for e-commerce. But I believe it goes beyond that to direct mail also. If this case is lost and .coms are forced to collect sales tax not only from NY State but all the other 44 states that have sales tax, can direct mailers be far behind?

The financial burden that will be placed on the marketer will be huge. It will certainly cause them to reevaluate their business strategies. E-commerce is a young and vibrant segment of our industry. Yes it's struggling like the rest of us but this decision has more far reaching effects.

Every state is strapped for money and they will put pressure where ever they can to create a tax revenue stream to help bridge their own fiscal shortfalls. We have been able to ward off the collection of sales tax from companies without a physical presence in the state, but if this case is lost the flood gate may be opened wide.

Labels: .com, legislation, tax

Sunday, September 28, 2008

PKD awareness week

PKD (Poly Cystic Kidney Disease) afflicts over 600,000 Americans and well over 12 million people world wide. It's a disease my family and I know about only too well. But for those who suffer from this disease we got some very welcome new earlier in the month. The Senate passed a sense of awareness "PKD Awareness Week Bill". September 14-20, 2008 are the dates. This is a big move for PKD because it took years to get this accomplished. It's a step to get law makers to understand and fund more money for research to cure this disease.

In addition, after 13 years Congress passed the GINA bill (Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act ) which gives privacy to individuals who have genetic diseases and can not be discriminated by insurance companies or employers due to their health issues.

Labels: legislation, nonprofit

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Great article by David Ball

As if the publishing industry doesn't have enough problems with paper prices rising and the influence of the electronic media impinging on readership, David Ball's article in DM News highlights how the implementation of a "Do Not Mail" legislation could really hurt not only publishers but all mailers. It's worth a few minutes of your time.

Labels: Do Not Mail, legislation, publishers

Is the "Do Not Mail" threat looming larger?

Every industry news outlet has articles about the threat of the Do Not Mail legislation. The leaders at the DMA have spoken about it for the past year, and more recently DM News' front page article speaks to it. Another article from Multichannel Merchant talks about the pit falls that catalog merchants find when customers use the services of the Opt Out online organizations.

I've said it before, the DMA and our news outlets have done a great job of rallying the troops behind all the initiatives surrounding Green15 and CCC but come up woefully short of communicating directly to the public and the outside news outlets, where most consumers get their information. I'm sure the response from the DMA is one of money. So let's start a capitol campaign to raise funds to hire a PR firm that will produce ad spots and get us in front of the consumer. The Beef industry has done it, the Milk industry has too. Even pharmaceutical companies have gone direct to the consumer.

Enough preaching to the choir. It's time to take this to the front line.

Labels: Do Not Mail, legislation

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Do not e-mail proposed for CT

Just in case you were still on holiday for the New Year, Gov. Jodi Rell of Connecticut has proposed an opt out, "do not e-mail" list which will be similar to the "do not call" list. A one time process and state residents can limit or eliminate information available from search engine sites, credit card solicitations and direct mail lists.

Labels: legislation

Thursday, December 27, 2007

The DMA responds

The DMA is responding to the ongoing negative press about our ability to police the amount of unsolicited mail delivered. Business Week will run an article not very gracious to the DMA. John Greco, President of the DMA has responded to members in a letter outlining some of the omissions in the story and stating that a letter to the editor will follow. This is of vital importance faced with all the "Do Not Mail" legislation that could be headed our way.

We really need to get out ahead of this issue. Somehow the DMA has to get in front of the public directly...I don't know maybe The Today Show, Good Morning America and all of the rest of the morning shows. We need a full on program that heads off negative impressions. It seems like we're always responding. Maybe this is happening and I just don't know it, but by the end of 2008 it may be too late.

Labels: DMA, legislation, press

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Capitol Hill

If you ever get an invitation to be part of a group from the DMA to spend the day on Capitol Hill, take it. It is a very gratifying experience. In one day you are given one on one exposure, up close and personal, to Senators and Representatives who affect the way we do business.

This year we went there with a mission: to make sure that those Senators and Representatives, who hold positions on committees that influence direct mail, are aware of what our positions are on environmental issues, "Do Not Mail" legislation, identity theft and the use of Social Security Numbers.

At each of the seven meetings we had, (which by the way consumed an entire day of walking on concrete or marble floors, traversing multiple House and Senate office buildings), we were with extremely bright and knowledgeable Members of Congress or Staffers. They were all well versed on each of the issues we brought up and understood their individual impact and how they related on the whole to the economy of direct mail. They were genuinely appreciative that we met with them.

Multiply our visit by as many groups, organizations and associations trying to make contact with them and you can respect how hard a job these elected officials and their staff people have.

The take away from this day is this: if you want to make your voice heard, you've got to get involved. I was given access to speak directly to the Congressmen and women who can enact change. It was awesome!

Labels: DMA, legislation

Monday, November 5, 2007

More anti direct mail attacks

If you are a direct marketer and haven't realized our industry is under serious attack you've been on vacation too long. With 15 states having 18 "Do Not Mail" bills this year alone (and at last count at least 7 will be carry overs to next year) we need to get ahead of the issues. Not withstanding the all out assault by the environmental groups demonizing the use of direct mail, you've got a perfect storm to put big hurt on all of us. The DMA has identified about 13 organizations who would like it very much if commercial and non profit mail stops. Groups like GreenDimes, 41Pounds and CatalogChoice are well organized and have the backing of some very well healed foundations like Merck Family, Overbrook Foundation and Tudor Investment Corporation.

The DMA has put in motion several great initiatives which are geared towards self policing on issues like recycling and The Commitment to Consumer Choice(CCC) and Mail Moves America. However, these items never seem to make it to the major news outlets or your local news channel.

Get the facts from the DMA website and get involved.

Labels: DMA, legislation

Monday, October 29, 2007

List Day on Capitol Hill

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 is List Day on Capitol Hill. This is an event organized by Mark Micali, Vice President Government Affairs for the DMA, to give list executives the ability to speak face to face with members from the Congress, both Senate and the House, about important industry issues. The ability to get "face time" with the people who make legislation concerning our industry is invaluable. To be able to grab 10 or 15 minutes with a Senator or Congressperson may just be one more way to insure that when the time comes for an important votethat could be very detrimental to our industry, they may have a better understanding of what is at hand.

You are also able to realize just how busy things get on The Hill. It's a constant flow of meetings and people moving here and there. I wondered last year just how anything really gets done. Everyone's always in meetings, going to meetings or scheduling meetings. And of course speaking to list people.

Labels: DMA, legislation

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

It's time to get serious

John Greco is right on the money. For those of you who missed his opening speech at the Fall Conference a great recap is on Direct Newsline today.

This is a scenario that happens all the time. At industry functions the conversation moves to "what's the DMA doing about 'X'" ? And no one has the answer. Well John Greco gave us all the answers. And did it quite passionately.

Now it's up to us as members of the Direct Marketing community to get behind the initiatives laid out by the DMA and make sure our clients are at least aware of what needs to be done. I've already heard people say this is just a lot of inflammatory rhetoric. Maybe it is. But I'd rather prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised than suffer the consequences. We can't afford to be wrong on this one.

Labels: chicago, conference, DMA, legislation

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

A wealth of great ideas

The Hudson Valley DMA held it's Meet the Master program today. It's special guest was Kelly Browning, Executive Vice President and COO of The American Institute for Cancer Research. He spoke on many various topics of great interest. Initiatives the DMA is involved with as they pertain to advancing benefits for members and legislation. How the Internet can impact non profits. How to make sure your offer slices through mailbox "clutter". An hour's worth of ideas seemed like five minutes.

I always like to leave these sessions feeling like I took at least one thing away that I can either use or share with others. This was just one of the many that were noted: If the Hudson Valley DMA, or any other local or regional chapter, organized a special meeting and invited their Congressperson or Senators to the event this would be the best forum to, one on one, give legislators a better understanding of our industry and how many constituents we represent in their own home state. There are enough local DMA members in the HVDMA where sponsorships would be a viable avenue to look at for this type of an event. I thought it was worth a second thought.

Labels: fundraising, HVDMA, legislation, nonprofit

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Menu-labeling gains support on Capitol Hill…Thanks CSPI!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Infants in CT will now be tested for Cystic Fibrosis

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Amazon & Overstock vs NY State

Sunday, September 28, 2008

PKD awareness week

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Great article by David Ball

Is the "Do Not Mail" threat looming larger?

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Do not e-mail proposed for CT

Thursday, December 27, 2007

The DMA responds

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Capitol Hill

Monday, November 5, 2007

More anti direct mail attacks

Monday, October 29, 2007

List Day on Capitol Hill

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

It's time to get serious

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

A wealth of great ideas

ARCHIVES

MORE RMI

ABOUT US

SERVICES

TOOLS

RESOURCES

INDUSTRY BLOGS