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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPI PRESIDENT HONORED

WASHINGTON (May 18, 2000) — Donald K. Duncan, president of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), has been honored by the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) for his efforts and leadership on behalf of the elastomers industry.

Duncan, who received the IISRP's "General Award" in a ceremony in Heidelberg, Germany, on May 16, served on the Institute's Board of Directors for seven years, including terms as president and vice president. He was instrumental in redirecting the organization to better meet the current and future needs of the members and the industry.

Attached are the remarks Duncan made in accepting his award.

Duncan became SPI president on Feb. 2, 2000. Prior to joining the Washington-based plastics trade association, he was president and chief executive officer of DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC, a joint venture between two of the nation's largest chemical companies: DuPont and The Dow Chemical Company.

Before joining DuPont Dow Elastomers, Duncan was general managing director of DuPont's Elastomers Strategic Business Unit, which had revenue of approximately $1 billion and about 2,000 employees located throughout the world.

His prior duties during his 34-year career at DuPont included senior research, manufacturing, marketing and business leadership responsibilities in work assignments throughout the Americas, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing the fourth-largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI's 1,700 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.3 million workers and provides $274 billion in annual shipments.

"What it Takes to be a Successful Trade Association"

By Donald K. Duncan

I sincerely thank you for this honor in being presented with the "General Award" of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers. It means a great deal to me, as it comes from an organization that I greatly respect and which I consider a truly successful trade association.

As you may know, I recently was appointed president of The Society of the Plastics Industry, a 63-year-old trade association that faces some modern challenges, many of which are similar to those faced by IISRP while I was on its Board. You can be certain I already am taking what we learned in redirecting the IISRP to put, and keep, SPI on the road to success, as well.

And what makes a successful trade association? I'd say it comes down to three elements – all of which are exemplified by the IISRP.

The first is relevance.

I remember when this organization faced this critical test. That is, were our people and programs relevant to our members for the '90s and beyond?

To IISRP's credit, we brought in outside help, listened to our members, admitted our weaknesses, took a hard look at our programs and made some difficult changes. We discovered what had to be done to make our programs and services meaningful and useful and then we went out and did it. Inherent in achieving this "relevance" is the commitment of the members to put in the time and effort to facilitate the changes.

I commend all involved, and I am proud to have been part of this effort.

The next element is cooperation.

All industries are segmented, and all segments are trying, in their own ways, to move the industry forward.

The key is to get everyone pulling together.

I believe this industry and this association are shining examples of coalition building, of bringing together strong industry segments into one powerful whole in a positive and constructive way.

We need only to look at IISRP's international leadership and, in the U.S., its cooperative efforts with the RMA and technical organizations such as the ACS to find illustrations of how a successful association cuts through the noise of competition to create a single industry voice. In today's environment, it is very easy to separate and cluster our energy and resources around geographic regions, industry segments or issues. While these are important, they cannot come at the expense of the industry as a whole.

In forming these coalitions, IISRP members have created a network of organizations that work together, take care not to overlap and don't dissolve into dispute. There is a sense of cohesiveness and appreciation of a common goal: doing what is best for the industry.

On this, as well, you are to be commended.

The third component I'd like to address is respect.

I know from experience that you have created an environment in which all members can come together in a respectful manner, even though they are fierce competitors outside the context of the Institute. This manifests itself in two ways: respect for the competitor company and for the individual who represents that company.

Indeed, this is a hallmark of a truly great trade association: mutual respect, regardless of industry segment or company size.

One great aspect of this component is the true friendships that develop. They say a true friend is someone who will sing with you on the mountaintop and walk with you through the valley. We had our ups and downs through this process, but our friendships held, as did our resolve to work together to make this a first-class trade association.

Truly, it's as much a thrill for me to be here with so many friends as it is to receive this award.

Let me conclude by saying that, going forward in this new phase of my career, I hope to do what you already have done and to achieve some of what you already have accomplished.

Less than a decade ago, the IISRP faced some extremely difficult, real-world challenges. It met those challenges with meaningful introspection, a spirit of cooperation and respect for all involved, and it is still working to meet those challenges.

You should be proud of your accomplishments, as I am proud of having worked with you. I know you will do what it takes to keep the IISRP moving forward, and I anticipate more great things as you take this organization into the 21st Century.

Thank you for allowing me to play a small role in your success, and thank you again for honoring me today.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc is the trade association representing the fourth-largest manufacturing industry in the United States. SPI's 1,800 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.3 million workers and provides $274 billion in annual shipments.

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