ALEXANDRIA, VA — Now is the time to move the needle forward on floral concerns in Washington, said Congressional Action Days (CAD) advocacy trainer Stephanie Vance. “The 114th Congress offers unique opportunities to positively impact the policy process for the long term, ” Vance said.
CAD veterans know Vance as the “advocacy guru” whose frank advice and funny practice scenarios help them feel at home on Capitol Hill. “Stephanie demystifies the lobbying process,” said Drew Gruenburg, COO of the Society of American Florists (SAF). “She dispels the image of lobbying as deal-making reserved for political insiders that happens in smoky back rooms ind closed doors. In reality it’s just a sales process — and our members do that every day.”
Think your business is too small to matter or you can’t make a difference because you’re not a Washington hotshot? Think again, Vance said.
“If you live, work or have a store within the legislators’ district or state, you wield more power than you realize,” Vance said. “When someone walks into a congressional office, the first question any legislator asks is ‘Are you from the district?’” A constituent’s ability to influence how his or her lawmaker votes “is the very definition of a representative democracy,” she said.
Vance will be on hand to help prep industry advocates during the CAD Issues and Advocacy Training presentation on Monday, March 9. She’ll also be at Tuesday’s Grassroots Breakfast to offer advice and answer questions before members head to Capitol Hill.
During the Issues and Advocacy Training, she’ll do a quick review of lobbying basics to bring first-timers up to speed and then delve into the realities of lobbying in the current Congressional environment and how to go about building long-term relationships. “We’ll also discuss some new research about social media’s impact on the policy process and how to use it to your advantage,” Vance said.
“The Issues and Advocacy Training is all about making everyone comfortable on Capitol Hill,” said Gruenburg. “The idea of lobbying makes some people nervous because they think they need to be an expert. All they really need to do is explain how an issue impacts their business,” he said. At the briefing, SAF’s government relations’ team provides attendees with talking points and explains how to put them into personal perspective. SAF also provides detailed position papers for delegates to leave behind.
“What’s most important is making a personal connection with the people in your lawmaker’s office and growing that relationship over time,” Gruenburg said.
SAF is going all-out to encourage members who’ve never attended CAD before to give it a try this year. If one person from a company registers, a first-time attendee from the same company can come along and register free.
“This is the floral industry’s biggest and most important annual grassroots action in Washington,” Gruenburg said. “Visibility is critical.”
Visit safnow.org/congressional-action-days for details about SAF Congressional Action Days, March 9-10 in Washington, D.C.
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The Society of American Florists is the leading organization representing all segments of the floral industry. SAF is proud to provide marketing, business and government services to its members, including growers, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, importers, educators, designers and allied organizations. The association was chartered by an act of Congress in 1884.
Source: The Society of American Florists
