{"id":8591,"date":"2019-03-01T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T08:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/?p=8591"},"modified":"2020-01-17T19:27:00","modified_gmt":"2020-01-17T19:27:00","slug":"advocacy-top-priority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naylor.com\/associationadviser\/advocacy-top-priority\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy Should be a Top Priority for Any Association \u2013 Here\u2019s Why"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prioritizing advocacy is often overlooked because there are so many administrative and operational issues pressing organizations and businesses on a day-to-day basis. These demands often leave little time left for organizing advocacy efforts. Despite the countless, valid excuses that can be made for not prioritizing such efforts \u2013 advocacy should and must be prioritized because the decisions made in statehouses and Congress directly affect your capacity to succeed and thrive as an organization or business. Whether you realize it or not, and regardless of what industry you are a part of, legislative and regulatory outcomes affect your daily operations. Therefore, it is critical to your entity\u2019s survival to be abreast of issues, on both the state and federal levels, that can negatively affect your bottom line or organization\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

For example, imagine a bill is introduced in your state which proposes to make changes to licensure requirements in your industry. The changes are expected to result in increased out-of-pocket expenses for your entity or profession. Your organization or business is opposed to these changes but have no avenue or solid plan for seeking recourse. In turn, you lose track of additional changes made to the bill, your entity\u2019s voice is not heard, and the bill passes with unfavorable outcomes. Or, perhaps your industry is reliant on federal subsidies to a degree. Picture a regulation getting proposed that would decrease the monetary amount granted to your entity or to an individual you serve. Without an advocacy strategy in place, your organization or business operations will be at risk of ceasing.<\/p>\n

Individuals often take the stance that their opinions are not truly heard on issues that matter to them when it comes to shaping policy. Non-profit and for-profit entities also seem to fall prey to this philosophy. The truth is \u2013 when you speak, change can happen. Advocacy activities benefit all sectors.<\/p>\n

Advocacy includes a \u201ccall to action\u201d that encourages membership or the public to do something that will create systemic change.<\/strong> There are countless activities conducted by government affairs professionals that lead to a successful \u201ccall to action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listed below are some notable advocacy activities:<\/h3>\n