I thought of the NPA regional associations when I was writing my last post. (and I quoted the white-hat-wearing Mike Pelton, from the NPA"s East Region in that post.)
The regional associations are a vital part of protecting our access to natural products - and they make sense to support.
Picking up on the "business insurance" concept mentioned last time, Carolyn Behrman, new President of the NPA's Midwest Region makes the point that NPA membership is a great way to protect your business - and only costs $1.44 a week! There aren't many better bargains than that! (Her full article is found at - www.maho4health.org.)
When thinking of the regional associations and when talking about their benefits, I usually refer to the activities taken by Dot Boyd, Executive Director of the Western Region. (www.naturalproductsassocwest.org/) I think quite highly of each of the regional associations, their staff, their officers and their members, but I use Dot as my "poster child" of the great work that a region can contribute.
It seems that every time that I talk with Dot, she is on her way to or from the state capital in California. She is always visiting legislators, attending hearing, or making her (or would that be our?) voice heard in Sacramento. When you think of what a large market for natural products that California is and how far-reaching their legislation can be, the work that Dot and the NPA West Region does is very valuable to us all!