My state got a Proclamation! Now What?

Why get a Proclamation? Across the country there are proclamations for “National Hot Dog Day,” “Ice Cream Day,” and yes, “Speak Like a Pirate Day.” We enrolled agents deserve our day! Our goal is for every state to proclaim either February 1 or February 1 -- 7 as EA Day or EA Week, respectively, to kick off the annual filing season. This will give your members one more tool to promote their credential and their businesses during this key time. It’s just one more way to reach out to taxpayers and share our credentials, setting us apart from the rest.

How to get a Proclamation Visit your state Governor’s website and click on the “Proclamation” button. (Every state has this.) Fill out the online form (about 10 minutes). Use the template on the next slide to make the proclamation. They use “Whereas” a lot. Send. Receive the proclamation (if possible get multiple copies (see “What Else Can I Do with This”). Promote!

Proclamation Template Whereas, The enrolled agent profession dates back to 1884 when, after questionable claims had been presented for Civil War losses, Congress acted to regulate persons who represented citizens in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department; and The enrolled agent has been an important asset to both the Insert state here taxpayers and to the ____insert sate DOR here _ and Enrolled agents assist taxpayers with issues from the annual compliance filing of their tax return to more complex issues of Audit, Liens, Levy, Appeals and Collections; and Their knowledge, professionalism, and integrity make the enrolled agent "America's Tax Expert®."

Now What? First, let NAEA know. Last year, 19 states received an EA Day or Week proclamation. It’s important to allow the national PR staff to use this in promoting the EA credential to national media sources. The national staff has connections with Forbes, Accounting Today and many other national media outlets. Also, its social networks on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have a long reach.

Now What? Share the news with members and peers in your state. Let them take pride in how their credential has been promoted at the state level. This could be a recruitment tool. Put the news on your affiliate website, social media sites, in a letter to new members, and e-mail alerts. This should be as simple as a two-line statement easily included in any of the above. Bring the proclamation to a local meeting and encourage members to have their pictures taken holding the document – and then share it!

Now What? Keep on Sharing! Reach out to print, radio, and digital media outlets and share the news. NAEA has a template already to use (http://www.naea.org/membership/member-resources/tools-members). Just fill in your state’s information. With e-mail, it should only take about 30 minutes of your time to share the news with hundreds of media sources. Contact Gigi (gjarvis@naea.org) for media resources in your state.

Now What? Example: The Business Journals have a “People On The Move” section in their digital and print news. You can promote yourself and your society for having received a proclamation. It only takes 5 minutes. Be sure to have your head shot ready. Visit http://www.bizjournals.com/potm

Now What? Use social media and attach hash tags such as: #EAProclamation #EADay #EAWeek #EnrolledAgentDay #EnrolledAgent #WhatisanEA #Tax_Experts

What Else Can I do with This? Here are some uses for extra copies of the signed proclamation: Frame it and send it to your state legislators (or bring it to NAEA Fly-In Day and deliver it in person). Frame it and raffle it off to members as a fundraiser. Present it to your affiliate president as a gift for their service to the state society. Present it to NAEA to show your support of promoting the enrolled agent credential.

Take Pride! Grassroots efforts like this are essential if we are to extend recognition of the EA credential across the country. Plus, affiliates can reach out to non-members with information on the proclamation and show them what NAEA is doing locally to support EAs.

Good luck