1. ASSE Government Affairs
Dave Heidorn
Manager of Government Affairs and Policy
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2. 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

3. Two
Government affairs is all about influence
And you may be surprised at how much you can have…if YOU want it

4. Question of the day…

5. How does a safety pro do government affairs?

6. How does it look like a safety pro does government affairs?
Just the facts, ma’am

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. Now, how does ASSE’s GA work?

13. ASSE has a system
It’s called YOU

14. ASSE’s system of volunteers
Board of Directors
including Regional Vice Presidents *
Council on Professional Affairs
Government Affairs Committee

15. 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

16. …and more Keith Vidal, Missouri – CoPS Liaison
President-Elect – Gene Barfield, Louisiana

17. GA on the staff side Manager of Gov’t Affairs and Policy Me *
part-time Federal Representative
Adele Abrams, Esq.
who reports to me

18. Director of Professional Affairs
…reporting to
Director of Professional Affairs
Bob DeSiervo *
who reports to the
Executive Director
Fred Fortman

19. ASSE Volunteer GA is based on a regional organization
Regional Vice President *
(Regional GA Chair)
Regional Operating Committee
Chapters in a state

20. …and at the chapter level
Chapter President *
Chapter Government Affairs Chair
Members

21. So how does the system work?

22. 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

23. 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?

24. How to anticipate those problems
Communications
Organization
Meetings
Activity

25. A couple things to think about

26. For whom do you speak?
You cannot speak for ASSE without going through that approval process
You can always speak for yourself

27. Who do you represent? The safety professional The safety profession
The Society

28. Don’t hire a lobbyist

29. Now that you know the system…

30. …how do you do government affairs?

31. Remember what a safety GA pro does…
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

32. 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

33. Best, your own gut level passion

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 5. Communicate! Once you have a statement, you can send it to anyone.By
By hand
By telephone
To media outlets

38. 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

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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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.

43. 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

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

45. What’s it really all about?

46. 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.

47. 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

48. …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

49. Who’s a government decision maker going to listen to?
The person who simply voted?
Or the person who ran the campaign?

50. You can do it.

51. Don’t hire a lobbyist

52. 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.

53. Gain untold collateral awards
Influence -- for yourself or your family
Advance your career
Change things for the better
Broaden your experience

54. 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.