Bob Harris, CAE, The Nonprofit Center
Non-members benefit from lobbying --- maybe you call them
“freeloaders.” I call it a “legislative welfare” program. We respond
to their objections with rationale like: “your membership allows
access to influence the process,” or, “your participation increases our
clout.”
The fact is, successful lobbying benefits everyone, not only dues paying members. Solving the Dilemma
The issue is how to make lobbying a member benefit; an activity respected by prospects and members alike.
Do this by transforming lobbying efforts and results into tangibles. A tangible benefit is one you can publish, sell, share, distribute and control. It positions the organization as a leader by managing and controlling the information.
Try these ideas to transform lobbying into tangible member benefits:
- Compliance Manual – When a law is enacted, create a compliance manual that describes how the law came about, the exact wording, definitions, how to comply and where to go for help. Every law has a history and there is plenty of content to create a manual.
- End of Session Report – A summary of the legislative session is valued by members and retained for reference. It summarizes the organization’s platform, efforts and results.
- Legislative Directory – Create a legislative directory with contact information and committees of interest. Or, adapt an existing directory by imprinting the cover or inserting several center pages describing the organization’s issues or key bills. A legislative directory is an excellent member benefit and sellable to non-members.
- Legislative Platform – The organization or lobbyist determines a legislative agenda for the upcoming session. Prepare the legislative platform in a brochure to inform members of issues and goals.
- Legislative Audit Checklist – Most businesses comply with regulations enforced by multiple agencies. For example, a restaurant complies with licensing, smoking, safety, taxation, and labor laws, at a minimum. Describe all the regulations monitored and influenced by the association to create a legislative audit checklist. Distribute it to members annually as a checklist of the many laws requiring compliance. The checklist format serves as a practical guide to conformance.
- Regulatory Audit Service – Expand the value of the legislative audit checklist by employing staff to visit with members who want help in understanding and complying with the laws influenced by the association. One great value of the audit service is that the association has an engaging relationship with members wanting help. A second advantage is the collection of data about compliance problems that will result in better lobbying.
Bob Harris, CAE, offers free governance tips and templates at www.nonprofitcenter.com.
One of my favorite races, The Walt Disney World
Marathon, offered a clever new way to give runners a race experience
unlike any other. They partnered with the magazine, Runner's
World to offer customized training plans, connections to experts and
VIP treatment during the race weekend. Runners also received a private
packet pick-up, exclusive pre-race walkout to the race start corrals,
books and publications and an invitation for VIP access to a
post-race celebration. Only a limited number of spaces are available
and I've heard that the offer quickly sells out each year even though
runners must pay an additional $300.
