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Moving forward
8 Oct, 2009 By: Marty Whitford LM Direct!
“High hopes and low overhead” was the mantra at RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) when the organization was founded in 1991. Manning the helm for RISE since then, Allen James recalls navigating choppy regulatory waters that year with no staff, 12 RISE members and an annual budget of about $40,000.
What a difference 18 years makes. Since then, environmental extremists and local, state and federal governments and agencies have turned up the heat on RISE members — pesticide, herbicide, fungicide and fertilizer manufacturers, formulators and distributors behind the technologies that protect our plants and public health. But at least today, thanks partly to James’ helmsmanship, RISE has five full-time staffers, an annual budget of nearly $3 million and more than 200 members that account for more than 90% of the nation’s specialty pesticide production.
At RISE’s Sept. 27-30 annual meeting, held jointly in Orlando, FL, with CropLife America, an emotional James announced he will step down in August 2010, and move back to his home state, North Carolina, with his wife Ann. James noted he and his good friends at RISE are far from done. They’ve increased annual contributions by nearly $1 million since 2008 (almost 50%), helping fund a new “Debugging the myth” RISE Web site and integrated, comprehensive digital advocacy campaign.
James, RISE’s first (and only, to date) executive director, has served as president of the organization and vice president of CropLife America since 2000. A search committee consisting of members of the RISE Governing Board will begin the task of finding James’ successor in late 2009.
Before ending his last RISE President’s Address, James thanked the room full of industry leaders for their continued support, and said he was honored to collaborate with such innovators who, on average, invest more than $256 million to develop and launch a single successful active ingredient.
“Together, we will reframe the debate,” James proclaimed. “We will reclaim the high-ground. We know there is a majority of people who understand how and why technology advances. When explained, they can understand the value of pest management and plant health technology, just as they understand other cutting-edge industrial technology advancements.”
To assure forward movement, RISE has bolstered its grassroots advocates to more than 1,000 members and its new consumer-facing Web site will be coupled with proactive blogging, engaging advocates in online pesticide and fertilizer discussions.
“Finally, to assure industry and association progress, our board will hire a great new president with creative and progressive ideas and leadership,” James said. “This industry will move from the shadow of the past and current challenges … to the bright light of the future.”
E. Allen James Award
RISE has created an E. Allen James Award, which will be given annually, beginning in 2010, to honor an individual who makes outstanding contributions to the specialty pesticide and fertilizer industry, epitomizing the essence of RISE’s first president.
“This award is a lasting tribute to Allen James and will be given for years to come to recognize others who build upon his legacy,” said Josh Weeks, outgoing chairman of RISE’s Governing Board and Bayer Environmental Science’s vice president of professional products, North America.
The relationship between agriculture and specialty would not be as strong and as productive as it is if James had not been chosen to lead RISE, said Jay Vroom, CropLife America president and CEO. “The extraordinary value this relationship brings to our advocacy, regulatory and communications endeavors cannot be overstated,” Vroom added.
Dan Rosenbaum, incoming chair of the RISE Governing Board and director of FMC Corp.’s specialty products business concurred: “Allen has been constant in his service and vision, and has made great strides in providing a strong, unified voice for the specialty pesticide industry.”
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