An Advocate's Journey And How To Make A Difference

An Advocate's Journey And How To Make A Difference
Guest Column by Sherri Lennarson, MAS
My journey to advocacy for our industry began more than four years ago in the
dead of an Iowa winter. On that long ago January day, I journeyed over snowcovered Iowa back roads to meet Iowa
Senator Chuck Grassley at a town hall
meeting. I stood in a jam-packed room to
ask him about what was then the
“Physician Payments Sunshine Act.”
Many phone calls, e-mails and visits
followed. And not just with Senator
Grassley, but with other Members of
Congress as well. Since that day, I
helped develop the PPAI GRAC
(Government Relations Action Council) and watched it grow. I experienced the
enthusiasm of regional leaders as legislative action teams were formed. I was
honored to represent our industry in Washington, D.C. during the Legislative
Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D.) event, one of the most worthy investments
I have ever made.
Today my journey continued on yet another January day, but in the glorious
sunshine of Arizona. This morning I kept a long scheduled appointment with one
of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ staffers even though the night before she
had just announced her intentions to step down from serving in the United
States House of Representatives. For me and for her it was a question of
integrity and reinforced the importance of keeping the promises we make.
Thinking about today’s events gives me the opportunity to reflect on why I
remain committed to establishing relationships with my elected officials on
behalf of our industry. It also gives me the chance to share my “lobbying”
insights as I ask each of you to personally get involved. And for those of you
who are already legislatively active I would ask that you ramp up your efforts.
First and foremost, seize the day. Although the atmosphere at the Giffords’
Tucson office was subdued and even somber, I do not regret keeping the
meeting. And even though the meeting was with an unlikely contact, I am
confident one more individual understands a little bit more about our industry.
He now knows we represent thousands of small-business owners who have a
significant impact on their local communities’ economies. He knows we strive to
help hundreds of thousands of American businesses reach their goals as they
forge relationships with existing and prospective clients. He also learned more
will be spent on promotional products in 2012 than on breakfast cereal, movie
tickets, dry cleaning and coffee shops (including Starbucks).
Volume 2, Issue 6
27 January 2012
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An Advocate's Journey
State Of The Union
PPAI Legislator Of The
Year Award
Booth-In-A-Box
Track Your Advocacy
Success
Advocacy NOW
At the very least, today becomes a dress rehearsal for tomorrow. My next
meeting will be a little easier because of today’s practice. Tell our story, your
story, passionately and as often as possible. You never know when you will be
talking with someone who can and does influence public policy. You should be
so comfortable with your elevator speech that it becomes second nature. Do not
put off a chance to tell your story. Pick up the phone. Script that e-mail. Make
the effort to contact your local congressional offices today.
And remember, what we do creates excitement and elicits a response. I
delivered helium-filled balloons (graciously supplied by Board Member Mark
Jenkins, MAS and Pioneer Balloon) with a “YOU ROCK” message. Gabrielle
Giffords often signed e-mails to her staffers with a “YOU ROCK” closing.
Staffers were touched by the colorful bouquet and willingly had their picture
taken with me. A little bit of homework went a long way today.
Advocacy is about cultivating relationships. Learn about your Senators’ and
Representatives’ hot buttons. Read about their positions in advance. Prepare as
if you were visiting a new client for the first time.
I have great respect for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. I have walked a
parallel path with her this past year. My husband, John, was diagnosed with a
brain tumor last January. He and Gabby share a remarkable neurosurgeon.
Both of them have worked incredibly hard during rehab. What John and Gabby
have accomplished over the past year is inspiring.
Gabby in particular has continued to encourage dialogue even after her
openness and accessibility caused her great physical harm and pain. Yet she
continues to encourage this public exchange and asks that we do so with
respect and civility. It is a privilege. It is a responsibility. I hope you will join me
in the cause. Our Association makes it easier than you can imagine. Please visit
PPAILAW at www.ppailaw.org or call 1-888-I AM PPAI and ask to speak with
someone in our Public Affairs Department. They will be happy to help you get
started, or feel free to contact me at jslennarson@comcast.net.
And when you make that meeting, don’t forget to distribute special promotional
pieces to your Member of Congress and their staffers. Today I left a journal with
a personal message for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords inscribed on the
inside cover. When her staffer asked me if the journal was valued at more than
$50, I said no, but smiled knowing it was a priceless tool as Gabby continues
her rehab regiment.
Get involved. Make the call. Make a difference!
Pictured Above: Sherri Lennarson, MAS, Bankers Advertising Company,
Senator Tom Harkin (IA), Scott Siegel, MAS, R.S. Owens and Eric Ekstrand,
MAS, The Mort C. McClennan Co.
The State Of The Union: The Administration's Agenda And The
Promotional Products Industry
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Obama explained the
Administration’s “blueprint for an economy that’s built to last.” This economy
would be built on a foundation of “American manufacturing, American energy,
skills for American workers and a renewal of American values.”
For each pillar, the President outlined specific strategies that his administration
would employ over the coming year. The following are likely to have an impact
on the promotional products industry.
Tax Reform
The President proposed various tax changes and reforms including higher taxes
for companies that outsource jobs, tax cuts for American manufacturers, and tax
incentives for businesses to upgrade work spaces to clean or green standards.
Considering the current political landscape of the House and Senate, the first
reform is unlikely to pass. The latter provisions have more potential.
Regulatory Reform
The President noted “there is no question that some regulations are outdated,
unnecessary or too costly.” It is his goal for each federal agency “to eliminate
rules that don’t make sense.”
For the promotional products industry, relief from the burdens of some
consumer product safety requirements has already been passed in H.R. 2715.
With this law, the CPSC is required to seek public comment on opportunities to
reduce the cost of third-party testing requirements consistent with assuring
compliance. It also contained special rules for small-batch manufacturers and
directed the CPSC to consider alternative testing requirements for those
manufacturers. PPAI has long worked with the CPSC and other regulatory
agencies to shape the regulation that affects your business. If you would like to
work with PPAI in responding to the CPSC’s calls for comments, contact the
PPAI Public Affairs department at ppailaw@ppai.org.
Aside from reform of current regulations, the President also asked Congress “to
grant [him] the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy so that our
government is leaner, quicker and more responsive to the needs of the
American people.” In this plan, the Small Business Administration (SBA) would
be consolidated into a larger agency that would include the Department of
Commerce’s core business and trade functions, the Export-Import Bank, the
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the Trade and Development
Agency (USTDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTAR).
With the creation of this new department, the President would also add a seat to
his cabinet specifically devoted to small-business issues and representation.
The increased focus on small business at the cabinet level could be a tradeoff
for narrowed focus on the unique programs that promote small-business growth.
PPAI will monitor the effect of this change on small-business programs and
work with the newly created department to advance the interests of small
businesses in the industry.
Review a transcript of the President’s State of the Union address to learn more
about the administration’s agenda. Learn more about advocacy, the issues
facing the industry and how to make your voice heard at www.ppailaw.org.
Nominate The Legislator Of The Year
Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) and the PPAI
Government Relations Action Council (GRAC) believe it is important to publicly
recognize and thank a member of Congress who has supported the promotional
products industry in 2011. Therefore, PPAI has established the first annual PPAI
Legislator of the Year Award.
Please take a moment to nominate a member of Congress who has been a
friend to our industry.
All nominations are due no later than Friday, February 3 at 5 pm CT.
Nominations will be reviewed by an impartial team of industry professionals.
PPAI will announce the winner on Monday, February 13 and invite him or her to
join advocates at the PPAI Legislative Education and Action Day (L.E.A.D) in
Washington on March 7. Learn more about L.E.A.D. at www.ppai.org/lead.
Booth-In-A-Box Spring Show Deadline Approaching
Take action and make an impact at your regional event or tradeshow. Take
advantage of PPAI’s free Booth-In-A-Box offerings.
Place your order today for spring tradeshows.
Booth-In-A-Box includes everything you need to encourage advocacy on the
tradeshow floor from pledge cards, issue flyers, signs, promotional items and
other decorative elements for their booth.
All orders for the spring shows are due by Friday, February 3.
Track Your Advocacy Success
Before your next meeting with an elected official, send an e-mail to
ppailaw@ppai.org and let us know who you’re meeting with—we’ll send you
information on meetings the industry has had with that member of Congress
before.
To keep this information relevant for all industry advocates, be sure to send the
following information after your meeting:
• Member of Congress name
• Meeting date
• Meeting attendees
• Contact information from the office staff (to be secured from business cards)
• Notes about the meeting topic
• Photos when available
We’ll save this information to the industry’s advocacy database and include
information about the meeting in this and other PPAI publications.
Advocacy NOW
UMAPP’s L.E.A.P.
The Upper Midwest Association of Promotional
Professional’s (UMAPP) Government Relations
Council (GRC) recently decided to celebrate leap year
by implementing their Legislator Education & Advocacy
Program (L.E.A.P.). Bill Benolken, GRC Chair-Elect,
will encourage UMAPP's leadership to set the pace by
meeting with their state representatives before
February 29, 2012.
Pictured Right: Sue Selseth, UMAPP executive director and Bill Benolken,
UMAPP GRC Chair-Elect.
Newton Manufacturing’s Dan Livengood Speaks With Congressman Ron Paul’s
Staff On Industry’s Concerns
Dan Livengood, a senior sales manager for Newton, Iowa’s Newton
Manufacturing (UPIC: NEWTON), took the opportunity of Republican primary
candidate Congressman Ron Paul’s (R-TX) visit to the Iowa
Speedway to speak on the promotional products industry’s
concerns in light of recent government cutbacks.
Meeting with Jesse Benton, Paul’s campaign manager,
Livengood spoke on local, state and federal spending cuts and
their impact on the promotional products industry. Livengood
shared data with Benton provided by Anne Lardner-Stone, PPAI’s
director of public affairs, as well as Newton’s own case studies
showing the effectiveness of promotional products in education and government
programs.
“Several of those in attendance were surprised to hear that there are 458,000
jobs and 32,000 companies associated with the promotional products industry,
of those companies, 95 percent are small-business owners,” says Livengood.
“We need to raise more visibility in our industry. It’s a matter of taking a little
time to reach out with genuine concern and willingness to educate those who
are of political influence.”
In an interview with CNN, Livengood encouraged politicians to learn more about
promotional products’ benefits before mandating widespread cuts or bans on
their use by local, state and federal governments.
Pictured Above: Newton Manufacturing’s Dan Livengood (right) presents
Congressman Ron Paul’s campaign manager, Jess Benton, information about
the promotional products industry.
Questions or comments? E-mail us at EmeA@ppai.org or call
972-570-3282.