The Power of A

American Associations Day schedule

American Associations Day tip sheet

Scholarship guidelines

Fly-In Member 2 Member page

Sample meeting request via CapWiz

Report your Hill meetings

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representative Vernon Ehlers (MI-3) will be honored with ASAE’s annual Sentinel Award at the 2010 American Associations Day. The award is given to members of Congress who are advocates for the association community and issues impacting the sector.

Senator Warner’s award will be given during the American Associations Day ASAE Board Reception, 5 - 7 p.m. on March 23 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. Senator Warner is a first-term Senator who has worked closely with the small business and Virginia nonprofit community on issues including health care and job creation. The nonprofit community in Virginia is one of the state’s largest private sector employers. State associations are also major providers of insurance and other employment benefits for employees and members.

Congressman Ehlers has represented the third district of Michigan for 18 years and is retiring at the end of his current term. Because of his support for the state and national nonprofit community, ASAE, together with the Michigan Society of Association Executives, will present a special Sentinel Award to him at the Capitol Hill luncheon on the second day of the event, 12:30 p.m. on March 24 in Rayburn House Office Building room B-340.

“We are proud to honor these two champions of the association community as we gather for our annual legislative Fly-In,” said ASAE & The Center President and CEO John H. Graham IV, CAE. “Honoring these two outstanding and deserving public servants is just one part of an exciting event that will show the importance of associations as social and economic drivers.”

Still unsure if you can attend American Associations Day 2010 (March 23-24)?  Here are the top five reasons you shouldn’t miss this program:

5. “For the 30 or so minutes we sat with Representative Steny Hoyer’s aide, we talked about what was important to non-profit organizations… It only cost me an afternoon away from my office, email, and the phone, but I got to walk and talk with my colleagues in association management about what mattered to managing our organizations.”
-Andrea Rutledge CAE, NAAB

4.  Discover tips and tricks for keeping your members ready to help your legislative agenda at our education session “Planning Your Most Successful Legislative Year Ever: Tips for Creating the Ideal Advocacy Calendar” with Stephanie Vance and Brad Fitch.

3.  “In this day of instant communication via technology (certainly important to my Association members!) I still believe eye to eye communication has the most value!  The only way to do that is to take time out and make the trip to D.C.!”
- Susan Bitter Smith CAE, Arizona-New Mexico Cable Telecommunications Association

2.  ASAE offers a one-day program that allows you to minimize your time away from the office.

1.  Apply today and receive a travel scholarship of up to $300 to reimburse your travel expenses.

For more information on American Associations Day, ASAE’s annual legislative fly-in, please visit www.thepowerofa.org or contact Robert Hay at 202.626.2788 or rhay@asaenet.org.

Join these organizations at American Associations Day 2010 simply by visiting www.asaecenter.org/flyin10 to register.  Also check out our links on the side or contact Robert Hay, Jr. with questions - (202) 626-2788 or rhay@asaenet.org.

Academy of General Dentistry

American Academy of Pediatrics, Ohio Chapter

American Academy of Physicians Assistants

American Industrial Hygiene Association

American Red Cross

American Society for Quality

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Tuesday, March 23rd
Hyatt Regency Capitol Room - Lobby Level
Down the main escalator, room to the right

12:00 - 1:00 PM
Registration

No lunch is provided; registrants will receive name badge, Member of Congress guide, and information folder.

1:00 - 1:15 PM
Welcome Address

1:15 - 1:45 PM
Review of hill visit materials

Jim Clarke, CAE
Senior Vice President, Public Policy, ASAE

1:45 - 2:45 PM
“Planning Your Most Successful Legislative Year Ever: Tips for Creating the Ideal Advocacy Calendar”

Part 1
Brad Fitch, Vice President, CQ-Roll Call Group

Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates LLC

It’s March 2010. Congress is trying to wrap up its major bills so it can go home and campaign. You want to make sure your issues are addressed before they split in the fall. Or during the debate an issue that impacts your industry may come up for a vote. Are you ready? Will your grassroots organizations be able to respond?

“The Advocacy Guru” Stephanie Vance and grassroots expert Brad Fitch will walk you through a month-by-month review of what you need to do to keep your grassroots network healthy, as well as guideposts to show whether your grassroots actions are effective.

2:45 - 3:00 PM
Networking Break

3:00 - 4:00 PM
“Planning Your Most Successful Legislative Year Ever: Tips for Creating the Ideal Advocacy Calendar”
Part 2

Congress is adjourned and members are in their states campaigning for their jobs. But this is not a time for you to rest! A new Congress is around the corner, and now is the time to begin laying the groundwork for your legislative strategy. Once again our experts will show you how to fine-tune your grassroots ahead of the major legislative calls to action, as well as laying the groundwork for your legislative agenda while Congress is out of town, and to prepare you for effective action the first months Congress is in session.

4:00 - 4:15 PM
Housekeeping Items

5:00 - 7:00 PM
The American Associations Day Reception
Hosted by the ASAE Board of Directors
Hyatt Regency Thornton Room - Top Floor of Hotel
Take elevators next to restaurant

ASAE Sentinel Award Presentation

Join your fellow association executives from the Greater Washington area and around the country for an evening of meeting, greeting and a celebration of the association community.

Wednesday, March 24th

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hill Visits

12:00 - 2:30 PM
“Meet and Greet” member of Congress lunch
Rayburn Room B-340

Invite your members of Congress and their staffs to join you for an informal stand-up lunch sponsored by ASAE. This is a good time to meet up with your group, invite your member of Congress to grab a sandwich with you, and enter your Hill visit feedback onsite!

Below are some of the organizations attending American Associations Day 2010

Will you join them?

Send in your completed registration form today and join your association colleagues at the only legislative fly-in dedicated to the association profession!

For questions, call (202) 626-2703 or email publicpolicy@asaenet.org

Arizona-New Mexico Cable Communications Association

Building Owners and Managers Association of San Francisco

American Political Science Association

National Architectural Accrediting Board

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Association of Oil Pipe Lines

Medical Compression Garment Association

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There are many professional benefits to attending American Associations Day, not the least of which is building relationships with members of Congress and their staff from your state.  These meetings can be the beginning of an important partnership for working issues of mutual interest.

However, the ASAE fly-in also provides association professionals with the opportunity to set aside the agendas of their members and advance the issues important to the profession of association management. Andrea S. Rutledge, CAE, is the executive director of the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Although the NAAB does not engage in lobbying or political activity, Andrea sees the annual fly-in as an opportunity to be a member of ASAE and to work with her association colleagues on issues that are important to associations in general. When she was asked why she values attending American Associations Day, this was her response:

As a long-time resident of the DC area and a veteran Congress watcher, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of participating in the annual fly-in. Associations with local zip codes have the advantage of spending time on Capitol Hill any time they like - it is just a METRO ride away - to talk about the issues and legislation that are important to their members. However, the fly-in offers each of us “locals” the opportunity to come to the Hill as a member of ASAE and to talk about the issues that are important to us as professionals. It is a very different experience to sit in a members’ office and talk about the economic value of associations, as I did last year. For the 30 or so minutes we sat with Representative Steny Hoyer’s aide, we talked about what was important to non-profit organizations rather than the discrete issues that were important to our members. It only cost me an afternoon away from my office, email, and the phone, but I got to walk and talk with my colleagues in association management about what mattered to managing our organizations. There is power in numbers - that’s why associations exist - and standing together as members of the same association with a common agenda was an affirming and important experience. In the time it took to walk from the Capitol to the House office buildings, I saw the Power of A at work on the personal level. The day after the fly-in, each of you may be back to talk with the members about health care, energy, tax policy, financial industry regulation, or defense spending. For this one afternoon, however, we can all stand together as association professionals seeking common goals and speaking in a common voice.

Association executives, staff, and volunteer leaders can make those important connections at American Associations Day, March 23-24, 2010.  Please take a moment to register for the event and apply for a scholarship, view the schedule of events, and even download a guide to why you should attend the event.

Tuesday, March 23rd
Hyatt Regency Capitol Room - Lobby Level
Down the main escalator, room to the right

12:00 - 1:00 PM
Registration

No lunch is provided; registrants will receive name badge, Member of Congress guide, and information folder.

1:00 - 1:15 PM
Welcome Address

1:15 - 1:45 PM
Review of hill visit materials

Jim Clarke, CAE
Senior Vice President, Public Policy, ASAE

1:45 - 2:45 PM
“Assessing and Perfecting Your Advocacy Strategy: A Guide to the Ideal Advocacy Calendar”

Part 1
Brad Fitch, Vice President, CQ-Roll Call Group

Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Associates LLC

It’s March 2010. Congress is trying to wrap up its major bills so it can go home and campaign. You want to make sure your issues are addressed before they split in the fall. Or during the debate an issue that impacts your industry may come up for a vote. Are you ready? Will your grassroots organizations be able to respond?

“The Advocacy Guru” Stephanie Vance and grassroots expert Brad Fitch will walk you through a month-by-month review of what you need to do to keep your grassroots network healthy, as well as guideposts to show whether your grassroots actions are effective.

2:45 - 3:00 PM
Networking Break

3:00 - 4:00 PM
“Assessing and Perfecting Your Advocacy Strategy: A Guide to the Ideal Advocacy Calendar”
Part 2

Congress is adjourned and members are in their states campaigning for their jobs. But this is not a time for you to rest! A new Congress is around the corner, and now is the time to begin laying the groundwork for your legislative strategy. Once again our experts will show you how to fine-tune your grassroots ahead of the major legislative calls to action, as well as laying the groundwork for your legislative agenda while Congress is out of town, and to prepare you for effective action the first months Congress is in session.

4:00 - 4:15 PM
Housekeeping Items

5:30 - 7:00 PM
The American Associations Day Reception
Hosted by the ASAE Board of Directors
Hyatt Regency Thornton Room - Top Floor of Hotel
Take elevators next to restaurant

ASAE Sentinel Award Presentation

Join your fellow association executives from the Greater Washington area and around the country for an evening of meeting, greeting and a celebration of the association community.

Wednesday, March 24th

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hill Visits

12:00 - 2:30 PM
“Meet and Greet” member of Congress lunch
Rayburn Room B-340

Invite your members of Congress and their staffs to join you for an informal stand-up lunch sponsored by ASAE. This is a good time to meet up with your group, invite your member of Congress to grab a sandwich with you, and enter your Hill visit feedback onsite!

This guest post was written by Bob Benedict, CAE, Executive Director of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors of Nevada.  Bob is an annual fly-in participant and wanted to share his view on the importance of American Associations Day.

Last year, I was new to Nevada and so when I attended the fly-in I was prepared to visit with the staff members of each of the three Members of Congress from our new state.  I am a realist since I worked on the Hill for many years as a staffer myself and I fully expected only to see staff members.  The power of ASAE resulted in my visiting with all three of our Members for several minutes each.  We got the ASAE message across and I established relationships that will last for many years.

Later in the year, I visited these same Members for my own association and was warmly received in each case because of the previous visit.  At the meeting with Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) this past spring during the fly-in, she indicated that she had an avid interest in education and I was able to relate information about our apprenticeship program to her.  She took an immediate interest and I indicated we would consider it an honor if she would attend our graduation exercises in the spring and she readily agreed.  This will form the basis for a continuing relationship in the future.

Both ASAE and PHCC benefited from the Power of A.

Of the many professional benefits to attending American Associations Day, one of the most important for association professionals is the ability to create relationships with members of Congress and their staff from your state.  The meetings that an attendee has with lawmakers and their staff can be the beginning of an important partnership between offices to work on mutual issues of interest, both association management issues and your own association’s issues.

However, the fly-in is particularly advantageous to associations located in smaller states as it allows them more time to create a relationship with their Congressional delegation.  Susan Bitter Smith, CAE, is the Executive Director of the Arizona- New Mexico Cable Telecommunications Association and an annual fly-in attendee.  When she was asked why she values attending American Associations Day, this was her response:

I am a veteran of the ASAE DC Fly-In.  I continue to come because it truly is vitally important for a Member of Congress and Congressional staff to put faces to the names that sign e-mails and letters to them on issues     Arizona and New Mexico do not have a large numbers in their Congressional delegation so I may actually get an opportunity to see the elected Member when they are back home. The people I don’t get to see at home are the members of the Washington staff and they are truly key in getting our concerns across. In this day of instant communication via technology (certainly important to my Association members!) I still believe eye to eye communication has the most value!  The only way to do that is to take time out and make the trip to D.C.!

Association executives, staff, and volunteer leaders can make those important connections at American Associations Day, March 23-24 2010.  Please take a moment to register for the event and apply for a scholarship, view the schedule of events, and even download a guide to why you should attend the event.