Indie Business Blog

The Fire Burning In My Belly

Igniting a New Passion For American Business

Along with many colleagues, I have been advocating against passage of the draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 for many months. While that particular draft law impacts cosmetics, food, drugs and drug devices, it also offers a snapshot of the plight of small businesses across the nation.

         

This is not just about cosmetics!!

For example, federal laws passed in August impose new laws on all toy manufacturers. While the new laws rightly require toy manufacturers to use safe materials to make toys, the truth is that the law imposes other onerous requirements on all toy manufacturers -- large and small -- without any regard for the fact that the small companies were not using hazardous materials to start with. You can read all about it at the website of the Handmade Toy Alliance.

CongressDaily Features Our Fight Against FDA Globalization

For those keeping up with my fight against passage of the draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, I want to let you know that our battle continues. Thanks to the efforts of Marie Gale, president of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild, IBN and the Soap Guild's position against the draft law was featured in the November 11, 2008 issue of CongressDaily. The publication would not allow us to reprint any part of the article and in order to read it, you must be a subscriber to the publication. One copy of a back issue costs $34.95 so I don't think I'll be subscribing soon. For what it's worth,you can see the first few lines of the article here.

I'm sure that Congress Daily is a fine publication, and worth a lot of money (November 18, 2008 UPDATE: I just found out than an annual subscription costs $4,000!) considering the efforts required to track Congressional activities these days. However, it is unfortunate -- indeed, shameful -- that the urgent information we need as citizens and "consumer business owners" is available only to lobbyists, attorneys and other representatives of the very large companies that can afford to pay for and make sense out of it.

dM and IBN Member in Television News Segment

Earlier this month, I taped a segment for WUSA-9, the CBS affiliate in Washington, DC, on the topic of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008. I wanted to share it with you because it's summarizes the heart of the issue. That is, if passed in its current form, it would put thousands of small and woman-owed businesses out of business, while doing nothing to protect consumers. The segment features me, news anchor Lesli Foster and Indie Beauty Network member Jamila White of j.blossom. Click here to open up a new browser window and watch the video. (I am not streaming it here because there's no way to supress the embed link that makes the video play automatically.)

This whole process is such a fantastic adventure for me. It is such a pleasure to be in a position to inspire, encourage and advocate on behalf of Indie Businesses across our nation.

If you have not signed our Petition in opposition to the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, please do so by leaving your comment in the comments section of this blog post. You don't have to write a lot. Just say as little as, "I oppose the FDA Globalization Act of 2008. Name, city, state."

Related Posts

Stop the FDA Globalization Act of 2008
Preparing For a Date With Congress
Sample Letters You Can Send to Congress and the Media
It's Not About You

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It's Not About You

Shame On You If You Pull the Ladder Up After You

Earlier this month, while I was on Capitol Hill and at the FDA advocating Indie Beauty Network member positions against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, I was accompanied by 4 amazing women. Each has at least one successful and profitable business, yet, she took time away from her rice bowl to join me in a fight that will positively impact business owners around the country for years to come.

         

Kayla Fioravanti, Anne-Marie Faiola, Lela Barker and Jamila White are screaming examples of women who are not so wrapped up in their own success stories that they abandon a moral obligation to pave the way for others to enjoy the same opportunities they have.

Sample Letters You Can Send To Congress and the Media

Use these Samples to Prepare Your Own Letters!

My last post offers tips and strategies to help you impact the political process in your favor. Now that you have an overview of the process, here are some sample email letters you can use to reach out to the media and your representatives in Congress.

          

Remember that these letters are meant to be samples and they have already been used effectively by IBN member Lisa Rodgers of Cactus & Ivy to set up a conference call meeting with a South Carolina Senator's staffer, and also by IBN member Starlene Moore of Supplies by Star so set up a conference call meeting with a Texas Congress woman. It's always a good idea to include a sentence or two that personalizes them so that they don't appear cookie-cutter to the person receiving them. While these samples are designed to address issues associated with the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, they can be used for most any political outreach you may be involved in at the federal, state or local level.

Preparation, Practicalities and Politics

10 Tips For Impacting the Political Process For You, Your Family and Your Business

In his book, First Things First, author Stephen Covey offers valuable tips to help us do more than just be busy and get things done. Covey says that, to be productive, we must distinguish between doing things, and doing the right things. Doing lots of stuff may land your arrow on the dart board, but in order to hit the bull's eye, you have to do the right stuff, and it all starts with being prepared. In this first in a series of posts, I put Covey's advice to good use to help you participate efficiently and effectively in the political process.

          

While my post will be written from the perspective of what we are doing regarding the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, you will be able to use my suggestions in any political arena, whether it's federal, state or local. Be sure to subscribe to Indie Business Blog so you don't miss tips to help you be effective in matters of importance to you, your business and your family.

The Sky Is Falling ... Or Is It?

The federal government is always doing something that affects us. Sometimes, we feel powerless to change these situations -- gas prices is a good example of that. Other times, we know there are things we can do to have an impact, but we are just too busy with other priorities. Then, there are times when we feel like the federal government acts, and the sky is falling.

          

This can happen when a proposed new law threatens to adversely affect how we live our day to day lives. How we generate income. How we feed our children. How we pay our bills. How we build wealth. In these times, we find ourselves mobilized as never before. We know that, if we choose to, we can affect change for the better. We realize that we are not powerless. That we can rise to the occasion, inform ourselves, create a strategy and move forward to implement a change that serves our just cause and alters the course of a nation. The 700+ members of the Indie Beauty Network now find ourselves in such a situation.

Preparing For A Date With Congress

Thank You For Your Support!

As Anne-Marie Faiola, Jamila White, Kayla Fioravanti, Lela Barker and I prepare to rock Capitol Hill on Tuesday, I want to thank all of you for visiting this blog, watching the video, reading the Petition and leaving your comments as opposers of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008.

            

As I type these words, there are 1,690 signatures opposing the law at this blog. By the time I upload this post, there will be more. I'm sure of it.

Stop the FDA Globalization Act of 2008!!

Sign the Petition by Leaving A Comment Below!
Indies Oppose the FDA Globalization Act of 2008

Watch this video and then read the Petition below. Sign the Petition opposing the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 by leaving your name and comment in the comments section below! The petition is for everyone: consumers and the small businesses who make the products they love!

          

This video summarizes the Indie Beauty Network's position against the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, the legislation that would put thousands of Indies out of business by forcing them to pay outrageous registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.

If passed, this law would drive consumers back to the days when they could only choose between a few huge, faceless, nameless big box stores and brands for their cosmetics and personal care products. And fewer consumer choices always leads to higher prices.

Tell Congress you want none of it by reading this Petition and then leaving your comment below as your signature to the Petition opposing the draft law. Please include your name, city and state with your comment/signature!!