Incoming WSWA chairman Charlie Merinoff (ceo and chairman of Charmer Sunbelt Group) urged listeners at the 69th Annual WSWA Convention & Exposition to come together and work towards the greater cause of building this industry. The CARE Act (HR 1161), of course, has been a majorly controversial piece of legislation in the industry, while privatization in Washington State has also taken center stage. While working on CARE and Washington State over the past year, Charlie began to look at the wine and spirits industry "as a microcosm of the world. Here we are with major issues, major changes facing us. If we can't come together as an industry, why should we expect our [country's] leaders to?"