Washington D.C. Hit with a Storm of Snow, Ice, and Association Advocates; ASAE’s American Associations Day 2018
This year, ASAE gathered at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill for their annual American Association Day. March 21st marked the first day of spring as well as the DC area’s first big snowstorm of 2018. While the snowfall may have kept a few attendees from flying into DC, there was no shortage of enthusiasm for the hundreds of association executives that had already arrived or the locals that braved the elements to attend. They were there to network with old and new connections, ask their peers for advice, share tips gained through experience, learn best practices, and prepare for their fly-in on Capitol Hill the following day.
Under the theme of “The Power of A,” attendees learned exactly how associations make America stronger. The program commenced just after lunch with welcome remarks from President & CEO John H. Graham IV, Emily Walker, Chair of the Public Policy Committee, and Matthew R. Shay, ASAE Board Chair. Jim Clarke, ASAE’s Senior VP of Public Policy presented “Advocacy 101” and spoke on the challenge of advocacy, how tax reform exemplified how a challenging issue can unite the association community, and how to make the bests impact during Capitol Hill meetings. The next session, “Hill Meetings: Using the Power of A Message” helped the audience prepare their messaging.
One of the more interactive and popular sessions involved role-playing, as Mary Kate Cunningham of ASAE, Gaurav Parikh of NAFCU, and Margarita Valdez simulated two versions of meetings on Capitol Hill, the first was an exaggerated and hysterical what-not-to-do while the second was an appropriate, useful demonstration. The last session touched on the issues that affect associations and prepared advocates for what they would discuss on March 22nd. Jim Clarke gave a final send-off before a break and the networking reception in the Thornton Room. ASAE honored Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Scott Taylor (R-VA) with the Sentinel Award for their support of associations on Capitol Hill.
At the end of the day, the attendees had the knowledge and skills to spread their message. They shared how their association is driving the economy and improving society in their community. A good conference before a lobby day goes a long way in making sure that visits with elected officials achieve their objective to communicate the message.
Want to ensure you’re even more prepared the day of your Fly-In? ADA, the Advocacy Day Assistant App, ensures that your day on the hill is organized, maximized, and stress-free. With ADA you’ll be able to coordinate and schedule meetings with ease, stay in constant contact with your advocates and get real-time feedback all in the palm of your hand. Click here to learn more and schedule a demo!
