The Power of A

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!

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.