ASSE Government Affairs

Dave Heidorn

Manager of Government Affairs and Policy

dheidorn@asse.org

847/768-3406

This will be about two things…

One

For better or for worse, ASSE’s state government affairs is a volunteer system

If YOU don’t do it, it won’t get done

Two

Government affairs is all about influence

And you may be surprised at how much you can have…if YOU want it

Question of the day…

How does a safety pro do government affairs?

How does it look like a safety pro does government affairs?

Just the facts, ma’am

But doing safety and doing government affairs are really not that different

How does a safety pro do safety?

Find out what the problem is Figure out the facts Apply the facts if possible If the facts aren’t applicable, figure out

something that works Communicate Walk the job

How does a government affairs pro do government affairs? Find out what the problem is or, better,

create a problem Figure out the facts Apply the facts if possible If the facts aren’t applicable, say

something anyway Communicate Walk the halls

Pretty much the same

Safety Pro Find out the problem Figure out the facts Apply the facts if

possible If the facts aren’t

applicable, figure out something that works

Communicate Walk the job

GA Pro Find/create a problem Figure out the facts Apply the facts if

possible If the facts aren’t

applicable, say something anyway

Communicate Walk the halls

As in your job, if you don’t do it, nobody will.

Now, how does ASSE’s GA work?

ASSE has a system

It’s called YOU

ASSE’s system of volunteers

Board of Directors

including Regional Vice Presidents

*

Council on Professional Affairs

*

Government Affairs Committee

ASSE Government Affairs Committee Chair, Emory Knowles, Maryland John Clark, New Jersey Don Garman, New York Ed Granberry, Florida Dianna Pressmann, Pennsylvania Jon Turnipseed, California

…and more

Keith Vidal, Missouri – CoPS Liaison President-Elect – Gene Barfield,

Louisiana

GA on the staff side

Manager of Gov’t Affairs and Policy

Me

*

part-time Federal Representative

Adele Abrams, Esq.

who reports to me

…reporting to

Director of Professional Affairs

Bob DeSiervo

*

who reports to the

Executive Director

Fred Fortman

ASSE Volunteer GA is based on a regional organization

Regional Vice President

*

(Regional GA Chair)

*

Regional Operating Committee

*

Chapters in a state

…and at the chapter level

Chapter President

*

Chapter Government Affairs Chair

*

Members

So how does the system work?

By the current ASSE rules…

If you want to take a position on a bill or reg, working with the RVP…

Get the agreement of all the chapters in a state

Get the agreement of the Regional Operation Committee

Get the agreement of the national GAC

Problems you have to deal with… Getting consensus from all the

chapters…not a problem in Minnesota but a problem in California

Timeliness Members and chapters spread out over

long distances and away from state capitols

Who’s in charge?

How to anticipate those problems

Communications Organization Meetings Activity

A couple things to think about

For whom do you speak?

You cannot speak for ASSE without going through that approval process

You can always speak for yourself

Who do you represent?

The safety professional The safety profession The Society

Don’t hire a lobbyist

Now that you know the system…

…how do you do government affairs?

Remember what a safety GA pro does…

1. Find/create a problem

2. Figure out the facts

3. Apply the facts if possible

4. If the facts aren’t applicable, say something anyway

5. Communicate

6. Walk the halls

1. Find/create a problem

Newspapers, TV and radio The grapevine ASSE State Legislative and Regulatory

Activities Report ASSE GA Update Other organizations and associations

Best, your own gut level passion

2. Figure out the facts

ASSE State Legislative and Regulatory Activities Report

ASSE GA Update State government web sites The grapevine The newspaper Call your legislator or regulator

3. Apply the facts if possible

Put something in writing. Make a statement.

The rule of three The better rule of one Less is always more Never lie

4. If the facts aren’t applicable, say something anyway

Facts rarely win in the realm of public affairs

It’s about the gray matter, not the black and white

Get something on the record

5. Communicate!

Once you have a statement, you can send it to anyone.

By e-mail By hand By telephone To media outlets

Figure out who you want to see your message Other ASSE members The legislator or regulator Other legislators or regulators Their bosses Other associations and related

professionals

Legislators’ underlings Legislators’ spouses and friends Newspapers The public Your company

6. Walk the halls

Say or write something nice to a legislator or regulator. They’re human. They want to hear supportive things.

Figure out a day and go to the capitol and walk the halls

Call ahead to the sponsor and the key committee members

Leave something behind -- rule of three

Be really nice to the secretary Say something nice to the legislator,

even if you don’t agree Leave your own politics at the door Talk only about this issue, talk quickly

and stay on point

The guy who talks about black helicopters or his mom’s problem with the DMV? Tell him the wrong date

Most important – be yourself You don’t need to wear a suit if you

don’t wear one at work Organize the visit. Make a list.

Other important ways to “walk the halls” Vote Volunteer to stuff envelopes Volunteer to have a coffee during a

campaign Invite a candidate to a chapter meeting Volunteer to walk a candidate around

the neighborhood

Donate money Get others to donate money Help run the campaign Get a friend to run for office Run for office yourself

What’s it really all about?

Influence

Think of all those things you can do to “walk the halls.”

The farther you walk your way up that list, the more influence you will have.

The Hierarchy of Influence – where do you want to be? Run for office yourself Get a friend to run for office Help run the campaign Get others to donate money Volunteer to walk a candidate around

the neighborhood

…more

Invite candidate to a chapter meeting – forget partisanship, invite!

Volunteer to have a coffee Donate money Volunteer to stuff envelopes Vote Don’t even vote

Who’s a government decision maker going to listen to?

The person who simply voted? Or the person who ran the campaign?

You can do it.

Don’t hire a lobbyist

Have fun

The best volunteer government affairs person is the person who looks at it like a hobby.

Think about it as something different than what you do at work.

Gain untold collateral awards

Influence -- for yourself or your family Advance your career Change things for the better Broaden your experience

Finally…

It’s nice to know that, when you throw pebbles into a lake, you can actually make waves, even if they’re little ones.

That’s the influence of a volunteer.