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Q: What is CAP an acronym for?

A: Community Advisory Panel. To find out more about what a CAP does, see the questions and answers below.  

Q: In what ways do communities benefit from a CAP presence?

A: CAPs provide:

• a forum for members of the community to express their opinions about industry and about their operations.
• a way for community members to become more informed about industry and HS&E practices.
• a means for the community to discuss their opinions directly with industry managers.
• Sometimes the communications lead to activities or projects which result in improvements in community safety.

Q: In what ways do the individual CAP members benefit?

A: CAP members gain valuable insight into a number of issues facing:

• other segments of the local community
• the local industry
• environmental, health and safety performance of local industry

Q: In what ways does industry benefit from CAPs?

A: CAPs help companies become more responsive to public concerns and opinions. Because CAPs act as a community sounding board, industry gains insight into a community:

• perceptions of the plant, the company, and local industry
• views on important economic, environmental or safety issues
• concerns regarding industry products and operations

Q: Who serves on the CAP?

A: The CAP members represent a broad cross-section of community interests. The membership is diverse in terms interests and expertise and in demographic factors, and may include individuals representing:

• educators
• students
• health care workers
• community advocate
• home makers

Q: How do I join a CAP?

A: Interested parties are to be stakeholders in the greater South Charleston community. For information about the South Charleston Area CAP, please contact Mary Green of Ann Green Communication e-mail or telephone:
e-mail:   mgreen@anngreencomm.com
telephone:      (304) 746-7700

To see a list of our members please see our "List of Members".

Q: What do the plants in the South Charleston CAP produce?

A: Many products that originate at the South Charleston area plants are used as raw materials by other industries. Some examples of South Charleston plants’ end products are:

• Dow Chemical Company – polyvinyl acetate (used in automotive moldings and chewing gum), amines (used in paint primers and corrosion inhibitors), UCON® Fluids (used in brake and hydraulic fluids), TRITON® (used in degreasers and car wash applications), and miscellaneous other specialty chemicals.
• Bayer MaterialScience – polyols (used in bowling balls, car seats, and in-line skate wheels).
• FMC – 23 different grades of hydrogen peroxide.
• Elementis Specialties, Inc. – bentone (used in lipstick, paints, and cosmetics).

Q: Why was the panel formed?

A: To provide a means of establishing dialogue between area industry and members of the local community.

 
MEETING QUESTIONS

Q: How often does the CAP meet?

A: Monthly, for (1.5) hours.

Q: When does the CAP meet?

A: The CAP meets on the second Monday of each month (5:30 p.m.) 

Q: What does the typical meeting agenda entail?

A: A typical meeting agenda includes:

• Dinner and introductions
• Approval of last meeting’s minutes
• New business
• Industry updates, in which industry managers discuss environmental, safety, and economic practices concerning their respective plants
• Guest speaker, work on outreach project, research, presentations, or tours
• Review of next meeting’s agenda
• Adjournment

Q: Who facilitates the meetings?

A: An independent third party usually facilitates CAPs. The South Charleston Area CAP utilizes a third party facilitator. The facilitator is Mary Green.

 PROJECT QUESTIONS

Q: How is the CAP introduced to prospective projects?

A: A member (from the community or industry) alerts the group to the potential need or benefits. If the CAP consensus is that the endeavor is worthwhile, then the planning stages begin.

Q: What criteria must be met for the group to undertake a project?

A: Activities or projects must be approved by CAP consensus and must be intended to meet the mission of the CAP. Typically, these activities are aimed at improving community safety and community education around emergency response.

Q: What is the CAP’s current project?

A: The panel continuously looks for projects to benefit the community.  At present, the group is giving support to Sustainable Development.  To learn more about that, please review minutes for 2004 and the panel's presentation.

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