Printable Report

ICPHSO Committee Reports

ICPHSO SYMPOSIUM PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT 2004/2005

Purpose of Committee

To develop the program and all arrangements for the Annual Symposium ensuring the program is conducted in a professional manner.

Active Members:

Jeanne Bank (Chair), Joan Lawrence, David Baker, Michael Brown, Mark Dewar, John Drengenberg, Bruce Farquhar, John Kupsch, Kitty Pilarz, Carol Pollack Nelson, Walt Sanders, Marc Schoem, Elaine Tyrrell, Robert Waller, Jack Walsh, Rachel Weintraub, Don Mays, Eli, Szamosi, Zena Juroch, David Simonson, Elizabeth Nielsen, Virginia Spitler, Ross Koeser, Jane Chapman, Nelson Smith, Stacey Hunt, Ivan Wasserman

Committee Activity:

This Committee is very active with a high degree of member participation. The Committee met during the 2004 Annual Symposium and got off to a great start brainstorming ideas for the 2005 Program. New this year was the introduction of a Call for Presentations and the development of criteria for selection of submissions. Through a number of teleconferences, the Committee finalized the 2005 Symposium Program. Members Don Mays and Eli Szamosi took on responsibility for organizing a special one day seminar on Retailers and Product Safety, which will be held on Tuesday, Feb.22 nd. In addition to the Program development, the Committee was also involved in the decision to hold the 2006 Conference in Washington D.C. Registrations for 2005 are on target with most registrants participating in all four days. While registrations for targeted groups such as retailers are up, attendance from outside North America is down.

Strategic Objectives and Achievements for 2004/05:

1. Investigate the feasibility of moving the Symposium to Washington in the Spring
• The 2006 Symposium will be held in Washington, May 10-12
2. Develop new processes for program development such as a call for submissions
• A call for presentations was successfully introduced and criteria for evaluating submissions was developed
3. Maintain the pre-meeting special theme session and the ABA and CPSC seminar
• A special Retailer session will be held on Tues. Feb. 22 nd and the ABA and CPSC sessions will be held on Wed. with more streamlined and updated agendas and content

Suggestions going forward:

• Conduct online evaluation of 2005 Symposium and set targets for 2006 and overall strategic objectives in a 3-year plan. Targets for participation should focus on new sectors and international markets. Work with Membership Committee and Sponsorship Committee to identify organizations and individuals to target for marketing of 2006 Symposium. Other issues to address in 3-year plan: location of future meetings, themes, margin, cost efficiencies, marketing, and service levels.
• Develop a new program design for 2006, which capitalizes on proximity to CPSC. Consider program themes such as globalization of standards and the safety of older adults.

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2004/2005

MEMBERS: Denise Pozen. Jeanne Bank, Joan Mattson, Bob Waller, Cass Wade-Kudla; plus board members and others who attend strategic planning sessions.

Three objectives were to be addressed in 2004. Following the mission statement of ICPHSO, “An international forum for individuals dedicated to consumer product safety,” it was agreed that in all of our objectives we would pay special and particular attention to the development of an international market.

The three objectives to be addressed during 2004 were:

• Establish a comprehensive membership development plan with targeted segments for growth potential. (Membership Committee)

A specific membership plan was not developed. However the international market was one of the targeted groups identified during the strategic planning meeting. Increased membership from this market was targeted through the joint ICPHSO/ECOSA conference that was held in London in November. The conference had very positive feedback and provided an opportunity to educate potential European members about ICPHSO.

• Establish metrics and benchmarks for improving our annual conference. (Symposium Planning and Program Committee)

Key strategies under this objective included moving the annual symposium to Washington DC for either 2005 or 2006; increasing sponsorship; and developing new processes for improving content of the symposium. All strategies were successfully addressed and are covered in more detail in the Symposium Planning Committee report.

• Expand regional training programs. (Events Committee)

Strategies for this objective included expanding the network of subject matter experts; identifying appropriate geographic locations; varying conference subject matter; and scheduling two conferences for 2004. Only one conference was held, but the content of the conference in London incorporated the identified strategies.

Another 2-day strategic planning session will be scheduled after the Symposium (tentatively in March or April) to review the objectives and strategies for 2005 and incorporate input from the conference into the strategic planning process.

ICPHSO OUTREACH COMMITTEE REPORT 2004/2005

Purpose of the Outreach Committee

To provide ICPHSO membership with good communication tools and access to effective and available information and education programs.

Committee Members

Elaine Tyrrell, Chair. Depending on the activity, others committee members include Virginia Spitler, Ross Koeser, Bruce Farquhar, Joan Lawrence, and Michelle Reinen.

Committee Activities

ICPHSO Brochure: The organization’s brochure, the primary tool for membership recruitment, was updated this year and reprinted for use during European meeting and training symposium held in London on November 11, 2004. Don Mays, Chairman of the Membership Committee, suggested that the revised brochure be formatted in a pdf file and posted on the ICPHSO Website. This way, the entire ICPHSO membership can use it for general information and for recruiting purposes. We now have the brochure in pdf format and will post it on our Web. In the future, anyone may download the brochure and print hardcopies or refer colleagues to the Website to view a copy of the brochure. This brochure may need to be updated in another 2 or 3 years.

ICPHSO Website: Among ICPHSO’s communication tools is the Website. This is an ongoing activity with plans to continue updating the technology and information available to the membership as needed and as the budget allows.

An Ad Hoc Committee of fellow board members was formed in December to make recommendations to the board in two areas: 1) guidelines/criteria for selecting/accepting appropriate ICPHSO sponsors, and 2) guidelines/policy for secured section(s) on the ICPHSO Website. The committee discussions and recommendations regarding these issues will be presented for discussion to the board during its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, Wednesday, February 23, 2004.

All of these recommendations are in keeping with the purpose of the Outreach Committee as stated above and in the current ICPHSO brochure.

International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)
Events Committee Report
2004/2005

    The ICPHSO Events Committee had planned to hold a Human Factors Training Program in Bethesda, Maryland (late September 2004) working jointly with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

    Plans for this training program were overtaken when ICPHSO was offered the opportunity to host its first meeting outside the United States.  Simmons and Simmons a law firm in London offered to host the meeting in London.

    The meeting was held November 11, 2004.  The meeting entitled, "Product Safety:  Enforcement and Notification; A Transatlantic Perspective," represented a unique opportunity to hear and exchange views with the key decision makers in Europe, USA, Canada, and United Kingdom.

    The event was a tremendous success.  Attendees from 14 countries totaled 92 in number.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission contributed in the program development and, in doing so, helped create an event that served to open dialogue on consumer safety regulation with their counterparts from other countries and has laid the groundwork for future discussions, including those stated to occur at ICPHSO's Annual
Meeting and Training Symposium in Orlando, Florida, in February 2005.

    Highlights of the meeting included a side-by-side comparison of CPSC rules and European (General Product Safety Directive) rules.  Gib Mullan, CPSC General Counsel and Erik Hansson, Deputy Head of Unit, EC Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection provided the comparison.

    Keynote speakers included the Chairman of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Director General of the Health and Consumer Protection DG of the European Commission, the Head of Product Safety, Health Canada, and the Head of the UK Trading Standards Institute.  In addition, experts involved in the promulgation and enforcement of product safety regimes such as legislators, lawyers, consultants,
standards developers, manufacturers and consumer professionals participated in panel discussions and workshops on current issues in product safety.

    The meeting was tremendously successful while carrying out ICPHSO objectives to a new European audience.  Thanks to Simmons and Simmons for hosting the event and to all who contributed to the Symposium's success.