ASSE Government Affairs

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ASSE Government Affairs

• Dave Heidorn
• Manager of Government Affairs and Policy
• dheidorn_at_asse.org
• 847/768-3406

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This will be about two things

• One
• For better or for worse, ASSEs state government
  affairs is a volunteer system
• If YOU dont do it, it wont get done

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• Two
• Government affairs is all about influence
• And you may be surprised at how much you can
  haveif YOU want it

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Question of the day
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How does a safety pro do government affairs?
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How does it look like a safety pro does
government affairs?

• Just the facts, maam

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But doing safety and doing government affairs are
really not that different
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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 arent applicable, figure out
  something that works
• Communicate
• Walk the job

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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 arent applicable, say something
  anyway
• Communicate
• Walk the halls

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Pretty much the same

• Safety Pro
• Find out the problem
• Figure out the facts
• Apply the facts if possible
• If the facts arent 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 arent applicable, say something
  anyway
• Communicate
• Walk the halls

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As in your job, if you dont do it, nobody will.
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Now, how does ASSEs GA work?
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ASSE has a system

• Its called YOU

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ASSEs system of volunteers

• Board of Directors
• including Regional Vice Presidents
• Council on Professional Affairs
• Government Affairs Committee

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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

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and more

• Keith Vidal, Missouri CoPS Liaison
• President-Elect Gene Barfield, Louisiana

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GA on the staff side

• Manager of Govt Affairs and Policy
• Me
• part-time Federal Representative
• Adele Abrams, Esq.
• who reports to me

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reporting to

• Director of Professional Affairs
• Bob DeSiervo
• who reports to the
• Executive Director
• Fred Fortman

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ASSE Volunteer GA is based on a regional
organization

• Regional Vice President
• (Regional GA Chair)
• Regional Operating Committee
• Chapters in a state

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and at the chapter level

• Chapter President
• Chapter Government Affairs Chair
• Members

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So how does the system work?
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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

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Problems you have to deal with

• Getting consensus from all the chaptersnot a
  problem in Minnesota but a problem in California
• Timeliness
• Members and chapters spread out over long
  distances and away from state capitols
• Whos in charge?

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How to anticipate those problems

• Communications
• Organization
• Meetings
• Activity

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A couple things to think about
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For whom do you speak?

• You cannot speak for ASSE without going through
  that approval process
• You can always speak for yourself

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Who do you represent?

• The safety professional
• The safety profession
• The Society

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Dont hire a lobbyist
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Now that you know the system
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how do you do government affairs?
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Remember what a safety GA pro does

• Find/create a problem
• Figure out the facts
• Apply the facts if possible
• If the facts arent applicable, say something
  anyway
• Communicate
• Walk the halls

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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

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• Best, your own gut level passion

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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

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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

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4. If the facts arent applicable, say something
anyway

• Facts rarely win in the realm of public affairs
• Its about the gray matter, not the black and
  white
• Get something on the record

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5. Communicate!

• Once you have a statement, you can send it to
  anyone.
• By e-mail
• By hand
• By telephone
• To media outlets

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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

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

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6. Walk the halls

• Say or write something nice to a legislator or
  regulator. Theyre 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

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• Be really nice to the secretary
• Say something nice to the legislator, even if you
  dont agree
• Leave your own politics at the door
• Talk only about this issue, talk quickly and stay
  on point

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• The guy who talks about black helicopters or his
  moms problem with the DMV? Tell him the wrong
  date
• Most important be yourself
• You dont need to wear a suit if you dont wear
  one at work
• Organize the visit. Make a list.

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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

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

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Whats it really all about?
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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.

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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

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more

• Invite candidate to a chapter meeting forget
  partisanship, invite!
• Volunteer to have a coffee
• Donate money
• Volunteer to stuff envelopes
• Vote
• Dont even vote

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Whos a government decision maker going to listen
to?

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

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You can do it.
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Dont hire a lobbyist
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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.

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Gain untold collateral awards

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

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Finally

• Its nice to know that, when you throw pebbles
  into a lake, you can actually make waves, even if
  theyre little ones.
• Thats the influence of a volunteer.