Establishing an Effective Association Federal Government Relations Program: What Is Required?

General Understanding & Commitment by Associations Leadership

• Why government relations is important
• Defined goals and realistic expectations
• What activities, time and resources are required
• Commitment of economic and other resources and time

Develop Basic Strategic Plan for Government Relations Program

• Initial Plan
• Periodic Review & Refinement
• Lobbying Strategies Keyed to Particular Issues
• Accountability

Basic Program Elements & Execution

• Association Policy Making/Decision Making Structure & Process
  Board
  Executive Committee
  President
  Government Relations Committee
• Committee Chairperson
• PAC Chairperson
  Coordination With Other Association Programs
• Media & Public Relations
• Education
• Grassroots/Key Member Legislative Contacts Network
• Washington Presence
  Physical Presence in Washington
  Active, Visible Legislative Involvement
  Credible, Respected Representatives
• Staffing & Support
  Executive Director
  Government Affairs Coordinator
  Retained Professional Lobbyist
  Administrative support personnel & resources
• Membership Education & Participation
  Educational/Marketing Program on Government Relations to Association's Members
• Why program is important to industry and to their companies
• What the program involves
• How individual companies can participate and help
• Why companies' participation is critically important
  Information Updates & Action Alerts
  Involvement in Committee work
  Establishing & maintaining contacts with local Senators & Representatives (& reporting back)
  Participation in Association's Grassroots Network
  Attendance at Legislative Affairs Conference and/or Meetings in Washington
  PAC support
  Checking Association's Internet WEB page for legislative/regulatory updates
  Personal volunteer political involvement (e.g., work in Senator's campaign; host fund-raisers; etc.)
• Issue Identification
  Congressional
  Agency (e.g., HUD rules)
  Media
• Monitoring & Reporting on Legislative & Regulatory Developments
  Review numerous materials
  Attend hearings, markups, meetings
  Information from personal contacts
• Hill
• Agency
• Industry
• Press
  Advance Warning whenever possible
  Timely Reports & Updates
• Analysis of Developments & Proposals
  Analyze how particular trends or legislative/regulatory proposals may impact
  Outline possible options and scenarios
• Drafting Materials
  White papers
  Factual descriptions of industry
  Lobbying "one-pagers"
  Testimony
  Bills, Amendments
  Grassroots lobbying documents
• Liaison & Coordination with Industry & Other Interested Parties
  Association Member Companies' Washington Representatives
  Other Industry Associations
  Coalitions
  Opponents and/or Potential Opponents (e.g., self-styled Consumer advocacy groups)
  Media
• Establishing & Maintaining "Political Clout"
  Targeted contacts and relationship building
  Contacts & activities by Washington office staff & lobbyist
  Washington visits by member company executives
  Regional/Annual meetings speakers
  Local visits in State/District with Senators/Representatives
  Cultivation of several Key Supporters (i.e., industry champions or "political horses")
  Ongoing political involvement
  PAC contributions
  Grassroots Contacts Network Program
  Plan & develop targeted grassroots program
• Political Education & Advocacy Activities (a/k/a "Lobbying")
  Lobbyist's Hill visits
  CEO "fly-ins"
  Testimony
  Distribution of educational materials on industry
  Briefings & seminars
  Proposing bills & amendments
  Press releases & statements
  Prepare/distribute lobbying materials
  Media outreach
  Coalition formation and/or participation
  Coordinated industry lobbying campaign
  Grassroots contacts activation
• Hard Work, Good Judgments, Common Sense & Persistence