Jan 25, 2005
WASHINGTON, DC — January 25, 2005 — In recognition of outstanding leadership in government affairs at the national and grassroots level, Norman S. Rich, president and CEO of Weis Markets, received the 2005 Glen P. Woodard, Jr., Public Affairs Award from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). The award was presented yesterday at the 2005 FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Boca Raton, FL.
     

In presenting the award, FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds noted that in his years of working with government, Mr. Rich has learned how laws are often enacted with good intentions — only to have a devastating impact when implemented.
     

“His style is not to rant about politics, but simply to explain how laws and regulations won’t work — how they won’t work for business, for workers and for consumers,” Hammonds said.
     

Hammonds noted that this style enabled Mr. Rich to help convince Congress to repeal the ergonomics law, as well as advance the industry’s campaign to replace mandatory country-of-origin labeling with a voluntary program.
     

“In the Glen Woodard tradition, Norm has a solid relationship with his congressional delegation,” Hammonds said. “He is a strong supporter of FMI’s FoodPAC and a member of FMI’s action team of advocates who educate lawmakers about critical issues.   At the state level, Mr. Rich hosts a Growers Dinner every year with the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture.”
     

Mr. Rich is active in the Children’s Miracle Network at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, and his company is widely known for sponsoring an annual charity golf tournament, which has raised over half a million dollars for neonatal care programs, women’s health and clinics for the working poor.