October 2013
ine | 3
Letter from the Editor
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COOPERATION– Bertrand Russell once said it’s the only thing that will redeemmankind. Cooperation has been described as the critical
foundation on which successful businesses are built and fundamental to anything involving productivity or the achieving of quality. Assess-
ing the extent to which cooperation is emphasized in an organization has been said to provide the most effective means of determining the
quality of leadership in an organization. Yet, these are not new concepts. All can embrace the longstanding wisdom inherent in a phrase
originally attributed to Aesop, but made famous by America’s Forefather Patrick Henry in what was his final public speech ... United we
stand - Divided we fall.
Such sentiments weigh heavily as our new issue comes at a time when the lack of cooperation among legislators in Washington D.C. has led
to a government shutdown. There’s been a lot of political posturing and finger pointing to appropriate blame, but it derives from the fact that
the enacting of a national budget has been ransomed until demands are met involving changes to the implementation of the new health-
care law. Beyond the range of federal workers who have been put on furlough, the consequences have resulted in adverse impacts to private
citizens and well as professional enterprises alike. These events compel consideration of the ancient war waged between the Greeks and the
Romans at Heraclea, a battle that ended with King Pyrrhus defeating the Romans, yet he endured such a devastating loss of his fellow
countrymen as to negate the victory. Through the centuries that have followed, in any situation when losses overshadow that otherwise re-
garded as an achievement, it is described as a “Pyrrhic Victory.” In terms of this government shutdown, comprehending what amounts to a
win may still prove more difficult than dealing with realizations resulting from what has been lost ... faith, unfortunately, is among the first
of innocent bystanders to be fatally wounded in the killing of cooperation. Legislators are certainly earning their historically low approval
ratings. Government would do well to embrace corporate philosophy on cooperation which is consistently reflected in this month’s coverage.
In our section that deals with public service professionals, content includes an interview with Chief Hank Clemmensen of the International
Association of Fire Chiefs. While explaining how the IAFC has relied on partnerships with industry to increase public safety, he also shares
a little insight about a Labor Management Initiative with the International Association of Fire Fighters. In addressing issues between
labor and management, Chief Clemmensen says how imperative it is for two, seemingly opposing sides to sit down together, respect each
other enough to actually listen to what the other has to say, and focus on finding a win-win solution for both as opposed to only focusing
on the problem – great advice in any industry (or legislative process). Our cover feature on Main Stream is complemented by coverage of
initiatives such as the Global Aquaculture Alliance, British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association and the Alaska Seafood Cooperative.
In each story, you’ll read how professionals have worked cooperatively with each other, as well as with regulatory agencies, to hone practices
that have not only resulted in better safety and quality in product supply, but solutions that impart environmental and social responsibility,
as well as industry sustainability. Cooperation has helped create dynamic ambulance services in Mid Georgia, Greenwich in Connecticut,
and a national model in medical air service known as Reach. Kenwood Painted Metals has also been industrially cooperative in developing
innovative new coatings that serve in a range of beneficial applications. In the Canadian communities of Halifax, Moncton, Rothesay and
Lacombe, as well as Athens-Clarke County in Georgia, you’ll read how the municipal leadership has worked cooperatively with local busi-
ness as well as community residents to advance infrastructure improvements and sustainability practices that accommodate a greater qual-
ity of life for all. We hope you enjoy reading these stories. We also thank our sponsors. Without their cooperation, we could hardly continue
to serve as the leading online resource of business news and information in all corridors of industry.
Bill Schiller
Senior Editor, North America
Business World Magazine
