More on the Pennsylvania Milk Labeling Scandal - This time, we are digging into the identities of the people on the Food Labeling Advisory Committee who are supposed to have decided to ban milk labels that reveal information the use of rBST or rBGH.
Bonnie McCarthy is the first name on the Food Labeling Advisory Committee 10/5/07 meeting list. Who is she? Why is she there?
McCarthy is listed as representing PAN. So just who is PAN? And who is Bonnie McCarthy? Recall, that Ag Secretary Dennis Wolff's press release said that this committee is composed of: “dietitians, consumer advocates and food industry representatives.” So which is McCarthy?
PAN stands for Pennsylvanians for Affordable Nutrition.
It seems reasonable at first glance that such a group and its represenatives would have something to say about milk. So McCarthy must be classed as one of the consumer advocates on the list of categories Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff listed. Here, for example is a statement from McCarthy.
Bonnie McCarthy, the group's acting director, said the organization set up a booth at this year's farm show, which ended Saturday, to pass out literature and introduce itself to the agriculture community.
As population density and development have increased in pockets of the state — sometimes overtaking land that used to be farmed — residents are becoming less aware of the role that farming plays in their daily lives, she said.
''My daughter graduated from high school this year, and she has been to a farm,'' McCarthy said. ''Many people, not just kids, have never seen where their food comes from.''
It seem reasonable that PAN should exist and its head should be among those included in a meeting about milk labeling.
Of course, there is the question how she and PAN got invited to participate. After all, in an agriculture state like Pennsylvania, there are lots of organizations that could have been on the list.
Fortunately for PA Ag Secretary Dennis Wolff, he didn't have to look far to learn about this organization. Why? Because PA Ag Department money set it up.
Pennsylvanians for Affordable Nutrition was officially launched in January 2007, with start-up funding provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
So I guess when it came time to set up this committee Wolff didn't have to look too far. He was paying the bills to create this group. Maybe that's normal and OK.
But, wait a minute, something seems off about this really gorgeous website, obviously a website that has the money to hire good web designers. When you look at the PAN history tab, you find this:
We Benefit from Modern Farming
Today only 3 percent of our labor force produces enough food and fiber to meet domestic needs as well as fulfilling a strong export market. This huge increase in efficiency has been the result of many factors, including use of fertilizer and pesticides, introduction of farm machinery, development of hybrid strains, and increased knowledge about farm management practices.
So just who is this acting head of PAN and "consumer advocate?"
First, she is an ag lobbyist.
Agriculture Lobbying Expenditure Details
Bonnie McCarthy is listed as a lobbyist for the PA Association of Milk Dealers for which she was paid $5,680.00 in 2006. The root url http://www.pasenategop.com/ takes you to the Pennsylvania Senate Republican News, by the way.
Who is PAN really?
Here is the contact information PAN lists:
Pennsylvanians for Affordable Nutrition
116 Pine St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-635-2322
Fax: 717-635-2054
When I phoned PAN, the voicemail said I hard reached Trisha Roberts at Triad Strategies.
When I googled 116 Pine Street, I got a lobbyist list that shows the following organizations at that address - you can click on the links within each for more information - this is how the information is listed, by the way, not my addition:
Camp Association, Pennsylvania 116 Pine Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Triad Strategies 116 Pine Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Wolff Strategies, LLS 116 Pine Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
And here is Bonnie McCarthy's list.
Bonnie McCarthy - Lobbyist - not Consumer Advocate
Could it have escaped the notice of those who set up the FLAC committee that Bonnie McCarthy was not a consumer advocate but rather a lobbyist? I think not. The email they list for her is bmccarthy[at]triadstrategies[dot]com. The phone number is 717 635-2328. When dialed its voicemail answer is "Bonnie McCarthy at Triad Strategies."
McCarthy's email address is for triadstrategies.com.
Triad Strategies develops and manages relationships. We’re a public affairs firm. We’re a lobbying firm with strong, bipartisan ties in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Washington. We’re a strategic communications firm with vast experience managing issues and crises in local, regional and national media markets. We’re on a first-name basis with leaders of government, business, advocacy groups and the news media.
Triad's staff and links to their names is here.
Bonnie McCarthy is listed as Director of Public Engagement
Here is what qualifies McCarthy to serve on a committee that concerns milk labeling and the content of milk.
As director of public engagement, Bonnie helps connect clients with the audiences that are essential to their success. She counsels clients on developing and delivering effective messages to reach those audiences, particularly on high-stakes issues such as health, education, environmental protection and economic development.
Bonnie joined Triad’s communications practice in 2005 with 20+ years of public relations, crisis communications and issues management experience in business, government, agency and non-profit sectors. I'm still working on the connection of milk, Monsanto, and labels to her focus in "natural gas utility, chemicals manufacturing, and nuclear waste siting."
After more than 15 years in various industries – natural gas utility, chemicals manufacturing, and nuclear waste siting – she has a wealth of experience in risk communications and emergency response. As principal of Crossroads Communication, she provided communications counsel to a variety of clients. She consulted on coalition building, community outreach, media relations and brand development for education, health care, hospitality and homeland security clients.
She earned her accreditation from the Public Relations Society of America and has served as a national panelist for the Environmental Section, as well as Chapter President in two different states for a total of three years. After serving her second year as President of PRSA’s Central Pennsylvania Chapter, she has turned her attention to mentoring the next generation of communications professionals at six colleges and universities in Central PA.
She holds a master of science/MBA from Marshall University/West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, as well as a bachelor’s degree in speech communications from the University of Charleston (WV). She is a charter member of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals, as well as the regional director for Christmas International House in Central Pennsylvania.
Wolff
When the partners link at Triad Strategies is clicked it leads to Wolff Strategies which bills itself as Pennsylvania's "pre-eminent government affairs firm, serving the agricultural and food processing industries."
Now, Wolff is an interesting name. This spelling is the same as the of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. Are they related? According to this Press Announcement in which D Wolff gave G Wolff an award, the answer is not by blood:
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY PRESENTS AWARD FOR LIFETIME [sic] ACHEIVMENTS July 26, 2005
HARRISBURG: On behalf of Gov. Edward G. Rendell, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today presented the State Conservation Commission's (SCC) Distinguished Service Award to George B. Wolff (no relation to Sec. Wolff) for a lifetime of agricultural and conservation achievements."It is important to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Pennsylvanians like George Wolff," said Sec.Wolff, who is also the chair of the SCC. "We are thankful for his service to agriculture, and for his commitment to conserving and protecting the commonwealth's natural resources."
Wolff is a public affairs consultant and has represented the interests of agriculture and conservation in the Harrisburg area since 1953. He has worked to protect the interests of the industry through his involvement with farming issues, including a statewide nutrient reduction program and water resources legislation, food and product safety protection issues and more.
From 1980-1982, Wolff served as president of the PA Association of Conservation Districts. He has also served numerous organizations such as the National Agricultural Research and Extension Users Advisory Board, the PA Farm Bureau and the SCC.
In addition, Wolff has owned and operated farms in Lebanon County for more than 40 years where he practiced an intensive grain rotation program. He attended Purdue University, majoring in animal husbandry.
His service and achievements have helped him receive countless awards including the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Centennial Award of Merit for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Veterinary Medicine, and the Izaak Walton League of America Chesapeake Bay Conservation Award.
The award was presented at the SCC's and PACD's joint Annual Conference in Erie.
The SCC Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual who has held a position of leadership regionally or statewide with the Commission, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts or a supporting agency and has demonstrated a significant long-term service to the commission or the conservation districts.
The other Triad partner is Triad Capital Advisors. Its website says information is coming soon.
So is Bonnie McCarthy on the Wolff FLAC committee because she is a “dietitian, consumer advocate or food industry representative? They tried to make it look as if she was number 2, but . . . honestly . . . a concept that seems to be unknown when it comes to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
And that's just the first person on Dennis Wolff's FLAC list.
Comments
Add Comment