Mr. Schofield Goes to Washington!

UPDATE - 12/2/2011 .. OK we seem to get photos faster from Orion's Belt than the Beltway but down at the bottom are some more photos of Mr. Schofield meeting with some Congressmen.  The smiles are probably the result of all the "fuse jokes". 

What a week.  I spent the first part of the week in Washington DC at the 2011 Congressional Remanufacturing Reception sponsored by MERA (Motor Equipment Remanufacturers Association) & the Remanufacturing Industries Council.  

The focus of the event was to bring together many different "remanufacturing industry segments" so that we could pool our resources to communicate to Congress the many benefits of "remanufacturing".  I think 13 different industries were represented at this event.  I was there as a "circuit breaker (electrical) remanufacturer" but also as a representative for the Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League. 

In addition to the skilled American jobs that remanufacturing & reconditioning creates, the environmental benefits of resource conservation and landfill management are too significant to ignore.  And if you do the "total cost of ownership calculations" on top of these things, there is nothing but positive benefits for society from the promotion and consumption of re-certified goods.  But presently the government (specifically GSA) precludes the purchase of any reconditioned or remanufactured goods.  And that is what we aim to change. 

As part of my time "on the Hill", I got to meet with two members of Congress, Walter Jones of NC and Dennis Ross of FL and staff members from all the Texas legislators (photos of the Congressman as soon as they are released by whoever it is that releases them).  We have offices in both of their districts that "remanufacturer"  and they were excited to learn about what we did.  Both pledged their support to promote our businesses and told us to "keep them in the loop".  

Thanks to our hosts John Chalifoux and Anne McCulloch from MERA, thanks to Brad Williams of CBS for providing the equipment I used (yes I will bring it back working like how I got it) and also to Teresa Sprouse (my office wife) for making sure I was there on schedule.

And super thanks to my "guide/mentor/consultant" Niles Godes of Clark & Weinstock.   His counsel and assistance was great and I look forward to working with him in the future as we continue this dialogue.

Congressman Walter Jones of NC	Congressman Dennis Ross of Florida