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Environmental
Partners
Program
WCPA’s
Board of Directors recently decided to formally
adopt the new Environmental Partners Program (EPP)
and was given the blessing by DATCP to do so.
WCPA will now begin an aggressive marketing and
promotions campaign to encourage retailer participation
in this important industry-directed program. The
program was designed to provide agronomic input
retailers with opportunities to learn from each
other and to have their facility assessed to identify
innovative industry ideas and to share potential
improvement ideas regarding non-rule related practices.
Now, WCPA will take the lead role of administering
and directing the EPP.
The very heart of the importance of the EPP is
that it empowers retailers within Wisconsin to
take the lead in the implementation of non-rule
related activities and practices rather than take
a passive position and experience continuous passage
of mandatory rules and restrictions. The EPP puts
WCPA members in the driver’s seat by allowing
them to take the lead in being progressive and
proactive. But, as I have become aware, some retailers
are skeptical since they are concerned with trust
issues related to inviting DATCP to their facility,
or are concerned that the assessment will lead
to expensive improvement recommendations, while
still others have asked how they will personally
benefit from the program. If any of these are
aligned with how you have viewed the EPP, please
rethink your position. We have removed these barriers
to dramatically improve EPP support and participation.
WCPA Ambassadors:
The most significant change to the EPP is the
establishment of the new WCPA
Ambassadors Program. WCPA
Ambassadors are selected by the Board
of Directors to serve as representatives to
retailers who decide to participate in the EPP.
Ambassadors go through an educational process
that prepares them to have in depth knowledge
needed to assist retailers who want to participate
in EPP. WCPA members who decide to participate
in EPP may select an Ambassador of their choice
to assist with a pre-assessment, be present during
the actual assessment, and serve as a resource
following the assessment. WCPA Ambassadors will
ease the trust issues associated with the assessment
by ensuring that the retailer is fully prepared
to participate in EPP without concern for negative
outcomes or expensive recommendations. Finally,
retailers who participate in EPP are supporting
an industry-driven program that has great potential
for long-term benefits in protecting their facility,
the health of the industry, and generating professional
and industry-wide recognition that is deserved
for stepping up to the plate.
We need the industry’s support in making
this a successful and well participate in program.
WCPA will initiate its first Environmental Partner
Program site reviews during fall 2005. To participate
in the EPP program, please click the link to the
EPP application.
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