HispanicBusiness

NEW YORK - April 30 - The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA), in conjunction with the Internet Alliance (IA), will hold its Government Affairs Conference at the Westin Fairfax Hotel in Washington, DC on May 1-2. The conference will feature panels conducted by legislators and officials who shape the laws that impact the direct marketing industry.

"This conference provides an excellent opportunity for marketers to learn more about how our government affects their businesses' bottom lines," said H. Robert Wientzen, president & CEO, The DMA. "As we adjust to life within the new economy, this conference comes at a critical time for marketers. More than ever before, they need to learn about the issues that affect their businesses and voice their opinions. There's no doubt that postal reform, privacy regulations and Internet taxes could have a dramatic impact on how marketers operate."

Kicking off the conference will be a keynote discussion headed by Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform. The Chairman will discuss his views on the much-needed reform for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and his committee's plans for action.

Additional keynote speakers will include: H. Robert Wientzen, president & CEO, The DMA; Jerry DeVault, national partner, Ernst & Young Innovative Solutions Group; and Stephen Kline, assistant attorney general (Internet Bureau), State of New York. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials will discuss consumer protection policies.

Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) will discuss the new Gramm-Leach-Bliley financial privacy regulations and the attempts by some legislators to make the rules even more stringent. Senator Carper currently serves on three important committees: Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Governmental Affairs; and Environmental and Public Works.

A highlight of the conference will be the Gala Reception, which will be held at the Phillips Collection, the oldest museum of contemporary art in America.

To register or for more information, visit www.dmagovernment.org or call 212.790.1500.

The DMA is the leading and largest trade association for businesses interested in interactive and database marketing, with nearly 5,000 member companies from the United States and 53 other nations. Founded in 1917, its members include direct marketers from every business segment as well as the nonprofit and electronic marketing sectors. Included are catalogers, Internet retailers and service providers, financial services providers, book and magazine publishers, book and music clubs, retail stores, industrial manufacturers and a host of other vertical segments, including the service industries that support them.

According to a DMA-commissioned study, direct and interactive marketing sales in the United States exceeded $1.7 trillion in 2000, including $110 billion in catalog sales and $24 billion in sales generated by the Internet. The DMA's Web Site is www.the-dma.org and its consumer Web site is www.shopthenet.org.