|
|
|
 |
|
Home / Washington Business - January/February 2008 / Chair's Corner: Before calling an attorney, call AWB |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Chair's Corner: Before calling an attorney, call AWB |
|
|
|
Written On: January/February 2008 |
|
|
|
Written By: Brad Carlson, Chair, Board of Directors |
|
|
|
Brad Carlson owns Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver. He served on the board of his local chapter of the American Cancer Society and is active in the Washington State Funeral Directors Association. He is active with the Vancouver Executives Association and serves on the board of Legacy Hospital. Carlson is a loyal Washington State University grad, donating both time and money to his alma mater.
Over the years, many people have asked me why I belong to the Association of Washington Business. Over the next few months in this column, I'd like to tell you why I'm a member and ask you to recruit your customers, suppliers and business colleagues to be AWB members, as well. It's in their collective self-interest to join, and help us reach our goal of 7,000 members by next October.
Everyone in business must recognize that government often has more to say about their business than they do. In fact, government decisions can wipe out the most carefully laid plans a corporation or small business owner can devise.
For example, a few years back the state Department of Ecology wanted to implement mercury emission standards, which would greatly impact crematories around our state. DOE wanted funeral directors to remove fillings from people's teeth before cremation! Can you believe that? The proposed rule did not make sense and would have added additional costs and hassles for grieving families. AWB worked very closely with funeral home owners, managers and the Washington State Funeral Directors Association to help get the issue resolved. AWB helps small business!
Black-and-white rule
When I first became active in AWB, there was a small pizza franchise owner who was about to be hauled into court because one of his part-time workers would not abide by the state's "black-and-white" rule. Restaurants can require workers to wear black pants and white shirts, as long as they do not specify a particular brand. Without delivery people, the pizza restaurant would fold because it didn't have a sit-down facility.
The worker got an attorney and filed a discrimination charge. The franchise owner called AWB and asked for the name of a good discrimination attorney. AWB President Don Brunell told him that before he called an attorney he would call the Washington Human Rights Commission to see if there was another way to solve the problem. Don talked to the commissioner and, without divulging the owner's name, learned he didn't need an attorney and set up a mediation session. The result was the worker agreed to wear the black trousers and white shirt while delivering pizzas. AWB helps small business!
Pasco potato packer problem
A state Department of Agriculture directive ordered a small Pasco potato packer to double-bag five- and 10-pound plastic bags of potatoes for shipping to the Southeast. The requirement was unnecessary and would have actually damaged the produce during shipment. It would have put him out of business. After failing to convince the director of the merits of the case, AWB went to the governor and explained the situation. The governor agreed with AWB's rationale and ordered the department to withdraw its directive. Again, AWB helps small business!
Even large companies benefit from AWB membership. For example, when an aluminum company had some specialty vehicles embargoed at a Seattle dock until the company licensed them, AWB stepped in. The company was at loggerheads with the Department of Revenue, even though they explained vehicle licensing was unnecessary because they would never leave the plant. They would be used to transport molten metal from the furnace to the casting rooms.
Company representatives brought the issue to AWB's tax committee and their tax experts, who argued successfully for the department to reverse the ruling. The ruling was precedent-setting and impacted forklifts, as well. With the collective power and expertise of AWB, the department lifted the embargo and dropped the licensing requirement.
The point is that AWB has experts on staff that can help when problems crop up, problems that could otherwise wipe out a business. No other statewide association in Washington has that capability.
Power in numbers
AWB combines the resources and expertise of large companies like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser with a large grassroots network of smaller businesses to solve problems for our members and improve our state's business climate. AWB works to create and sustain jobs and economic opportunities. No employer, no matter how powerful it may be, can achieve the results that AWB can. There's power in numbers, and with that power we're all better off.
So as we move into 2008, I'd ask you all to help recruit more AWB members. Your association will be stronger and our collective voice in Olympia will be stronger. Remember, AWB is Washington's state chamber of commerce and the voice of business in Olympia.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
