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USA - 2008
Advisory Panel Builds Bridge with Community
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Part of Alcoa's vision is to be the best company in the world in the eyes of the communities in which it operates, and an active community advisory panel at Alcoa's Rockdale Operations in central Texas (USA) is helping the company move closer to that goal.
Formed in 2003, the Community Advisory Panel for Alcoa Rockdale Operations (CAPARO) consists of 15 citizens that represent diverse geographic regions and areas of interest. No Alcoa employees are members of the panel, but the Rockdale location manager serves as the smelter plant's liaison. Panel meetings-chaired by an independent professional facilitator-are open to the public, with meeting notices placed in the local newspapers.
"The panel has been a good attempt by Alcoa to build a bridge with the community," said Danna Rother, a panel member who owns property across from a newer lignite coal mine that Alcoa sold in mid-2007. "Everyone is going to have their priorities, and there are going to be different points of view. However, the panel gives a chance for everyone's voices to be heard, and it also allows Alcoa to build a knowledge base in the community so people can better understand what the plant is doing and why. I know that I appreciate a little more some of the things the plant is up against, even though I still don't want the mine in my front yard."
Adds Bob Lee, a panel member who is a retired county judge and ranch owner, "The panel provides the proper venue for opinions to be expressed and problems that may exist within the community to be communicated to Alcoa by a person most community members trust and confide in. The panel members then go back to the people they represent to convey the dialogue that occurred with Alcoa on the various issues."
Panel members determine the topics to be covered in each meeting and also invite guest speakers to provide additional information on areas of interest. Issues of concern are collected at the beginning of each meeting and either resolved during the meeting or slated for follow-up by Alcoa.
"Two things that I will continually question Alcoa on is air quality and water use," said Lee. "Those are the issues that I think are important to people in our community, and the plant does work to prove to me it is trying to improve both."
Alcoa presents a plant update at each meeting, covering activities in environment, safety, business performance, and community. During months when a meeting is not scheduled, the plant sends a written update to each panel member.
"I've seen a change in the relationship the community has with Alcoa since the panel was formed," said Rother. "For example, when the new lignite mine was announced, there was a lot of anger initially. Once that anger subsided, the affected citizens used the panel meetings as a way to get information. However, I'm disheartened by the number of local citizens who don't participate in the meetings and instead still rely on gossip. If they attend the meetings or seek out a panel member, they'll understand what is really happening."
Adds Lee, "Although there are still strained relations between the Rockdale Operations and some political factions, the panel has provided, if nothing else, transparency for the corporation. Nobody could deny that. The panel was needed and wanted, and I don't hear as much negativism as I did before. While I can't attribute all that to the panel, I do think it's certainly been a part of that change."
He continues, "I am continually amazed at the amount of importance Alcoa places on relationships with communities and individuals. I don't think that's a norm in the business world."
In 2008, a second community advisory panel will be formed to cover the power generating site at the Rockdale Operations and the new Three Oaks lignite mine—both of which Alcoa sold to TXU Mining Company LP (now owned by Luminant). The Rockdale panel will focus solely on Alcoa's smelter, atomizer, and the closed Sandow Mine, which is currently undergoing site reclamation.
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