|
Mobile version
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sporting Goods Companies Cautioned Not to Jump the Gun on Burma Sanctions Share    
In the wake of recent steps by Burma (Myanmar) towards democratic reforms, the European Union and some other countries have begun to relax the economic sanctions they had in place against the country. This raises the risk of U.S. companies jumping the gun on the basis of erroneous expectations about the relaxation of U.S. sanctions against Burma, which could give rise to costly fines and criminal penalties. The EU often is out front of the United States in relaxing economic sanctions, a dynamic that U.S. industries frequently complain about since it puts them at a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis their European competitors. SGMA supported a recent letter by the U.S. business community to President Barack Obama addressing that issue and urging an early lifting of major U.S. sanctions against Burma. More
Quarterly 'Pulse' of the Sports & Fitness Industry Share
Have you read the Pulse? It is SGMA's quarterly study which provides data that can be of value to you in discussions with media, analysts, investors, board members and others interested in the health of the sports and fitness industry. One of the special sections is the Sports and Fitness Confidence Index (SFCI), which has been developed to provide a periodic, comparable snapshot of our industry's overall health from both the consumer and trade perspectives. More 7.6 Million Reasons Why High School Sports Are Important! Share
On May 7, an article appeared in the online edition USA Today. The story questioned the current structure of high school sports and whether it should be scrapped in favor of a club system of sports which is present in Europe. Bob Gardner, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, did not hesitate to defend the status quo! More SGMA's VJ Mayor Tabbed for Association Executive Leadership Program Share
The SGMA is pleased to announce that VJ Mayor, SGMA's business operations manager & director of SGMA's Soccer Industry Council of America (SICA), has been chosen as one of 12 scholars to the class of 2012-2014 American Society of Association Executive's (ASAE's) Diversity Executive Leadership Program. Scholarship recipients will be provided educational programs, career mentorship and will contribute volunteer services in order to accelerate their careers in the ranks of leadership in the association profession. More SGMA Goes 'Inside the Numbers' on Aerobic Activities Share
Since 2009, there has been significant growth in overall participation in some aerobic activities such as stationary (group) cycling (up 29%); high-impact aerobics (up 23%); running/jogging (up 18%); and elliptical motion trainers (up 15%) — according to SGMA's Sports, Fitness, & Recreational Activities Participation Topline Report (2012 edition.) More Support Pro-Physical Activity Legislation — From Your Keyboard Share
If you were unable to participate in SGMA's 13th National Health Through Fitness Day in Washington, D.C. back on March 7, you can still play a role in getting the PEP (Carol M. White Physical Education Program) and the PHIT (Personal Health Investment Today) bills passed through Congress. SGMA has created electronic letters for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, customized to your local Congressman and your state's two U.S. Senators, to which you can attach your name and send directly from SGMA's website. More
Department of Justice Seizes More Than $1.5 Million in Proceeds from the Online Sale of Counterfeit Sports Apparel Manufactured in China Department of Justice-Office of Public Affairs Share
The Department of Justice has seized more than $1.5 million in proceeds from the distribution of counterfeit sports apparel and jerseys as the result of an investigation into the sale of counterfeit goods on commercial websites, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald C. Machen Jr. and John Morton, director of the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). More Youth Football Safety & Helmet Replacement Partnership Launches NFL Communications Share
As part of a joint commitment to player safety, a group of sports entities and equipment manufacturers has entered into an unprecedented partnership to create a youth football safety and helmet replacement program for youth in underserved communities. The initiative will remove helmets that are 10 years old or older and replace them with new helmets at no cost to the beneficiary leagues and will provide coaches with the latest educational information to help keep their young athletes safer and healthier. More Pay-To-Play Sports Keeping Lower-Income Kids Out of the Game ScienceDaily Share
In an era of tight funding, school districts across the country are cutting their athletic budgets. Many schools are implementing athletic participation fees to cover the cost of school sports. But those fees have forced kids in lower-income families to the sidelines, according to a new poll that found nearly one in five lower-income parents report their children are participating less in school sports. More How Working the Muscles May Boost Brainpower The New York Times Share
Upending the cliché of muscleheads, scientists at the Laboratory of Neuroscience at the National Institute on Aging recently set out to examine whether changes in muscles prompted by exercise might subsequently affect and improve the brain's ability to think. More Intellectual Property Training Programs Funded Imperial Valley News Share
As part of U.S. efforts to combat transnational crime and promote the protection of intellectual property rights worldwide, the U.S. Department of State has approved 12 projects totaling $2.6 million in Fiscal Year 2011 anticrime funds. These projects will enable U.S. law enforcement agencies and diplomatic missions to collaborate on the delivery of IPR protection criminal enforcement training and technical assistance programs for foreign law enforcement partners. More US Businesses Warn Not to Weaken Intellectual Property Rights in Pacific Trade Pact Dow Jones Newswires via NASDAQ Share
Major U.S. business groups urged the Obama administration to resist any attempts to weaken intellectual property rights in negotiations to form a free-trade zone spanning the Pacific Ocean. Warning that protections for such things as drug patents and copyrights face a "serious risk" as the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks enter into the 12th round in Dallas, more than two dozen organizations sent a letter to President Barack Obama stressing the importance of strong enforcement of intellectual property rights. More The Cost of Getting Down is Going Up The Wall Street Journal Share
In the world of obscure commodities, down is the new up. An increase in the price of down filling is forcing apparel and bedding makers to re-engineer their goods, search for alternatives or warn retailers they'll have to pass along the higher costs to consumers. It may seem odd to worry about down prices amid a warmer than usual spring, but stores are already planning pricing for their winter assortments, and puffy down jackets and vests remain a fast-selling staple everywhere from low-priced L.L. Bean and Uniqlo to luxury retailer Moncler. More
4th Annual Congressional Women's Softball Game SGMA Events Share
Watkins Recreation Center — Washington, D.C. — June 20 — 7 p.m. EDT On June 20 SGMA will be helping to host the Annual Congressional Women's Softball Game where the Congresswomen will be playing the media. Equipment for the game will be donated by SGMA members. This event generates positive visibility of Members, Members products and the SGMA with national policy makers, by not only supporting worthy causes but by enhancing the industry's image and encouraging physical activity. More 51st Annual Congressional Baseball Game SGMA Events Share
Nationals Park — Washington, D.C. — June 28 — 7 p.m. EDT On June 28 SGMA will be helping to sponsor the Annual Congressional Baseball game where the Republicans will be playing against the Democrats, at Nationals Park, to be the 51st Congressional Baseball Champions. Equipment for the game will be donated by SGMA members and after the game the loaned equipment will be donated to help increase youth participation in baseball in the D.C. area. More |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Brief is the weekly newsletter of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA). It is distributed every Wednesday. The content focuses on SGMA's core services - Research, Public Policy, and Education/Resources. The content of this e-newsletter will be brief and factual. Please send any 'letters to the editor' to SGMA's Mike May at mmay@sgma.com.
 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063 |
|||||