Dow began the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) program with the goal of building trust, cooperation and mutual respect between Dow and the communities where our employees live and work. It focuses on two-way communication to enhance understanding of Dow’s operations and the needs, questions and concerns of local communities.
The community members on the CAP represent a cross section of the Brazosport area in terms of cultural diversity, age, education and employment. Educators, clergy, business owners, government employees, community volunteers, and retirees from throughout southern Brazoria County serve on the panel.
CAP Annual Report 2006
The Texas Operations CAP recently concluded its 16th year of operation. The panel consisted of 13 community members, representatives from Dow's management team and a facilitator.
The CAP meets monthly from September through May. Other meetings may also be requested by CAP membership or Dow to discuss topics that might emerge in non-scheduled months. E-mail and telephone calls are also employed to keep the CAP abreast on topics of interest between regularly scheduled meetings.
In addition to other questions/issues the CAP raised throughout the year, the following were discussed at 2006 CAP meetings:
- January 2006 – Workforce Planning and tour of Brazosport College process technology training facilities
- February 2006 – Air emissions and potential for health effects
- March 2006 – FAIR act asbestos legislation, update on Polymeric Methyl Diphenyl Diisocyanoate (PMDI) plant
- April 2006 – Dow’s 2005 Environment, Health and Safety goals and 2015 Sustainability Goals
- May 2006 – CAP process and meeting review and evaluation
- September 2006 – meeting cancelled due to attendee unavailability
- October 2006 – review of CAP operating guidelines, review of regional CAP meeting, review of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data
- November 2006 – Water usage at Dow Texas Operations
CAP members have the opportunity to request specific topics of discussion, but there is additional time in each CAP agenda to discuss other topics of interest and Dow’s community activities. There is also time for CAP community members to ask questions and provide input.
The CAP makes its minutes available to the public through a variety of methods. CAP members are encouraged to discuss their learnings with other community members. Where appropriate, guests are invited to attend CAP meetings to make presentations. Summaries of the meeting topics are kept on file at the Freeport Library and joint meetings with other industry CAPs in the Brazosport area take place annually.
The CAP is a critical part of Dow’s commitment to community success. CAP members provide valuable insight and feedback about Dow’s operations, and help Dow to better understand and meet the needs of the communities in which it operates.
