I hope all of you had a wonderful 4th of July! It is one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, my family had a tradition of hosting the biggest, baddest fireworks display in the neighborhood. We’d have a huge BBQ, and all the uncles would gather in the street, each trying to outdo the other for the loudest or biggest firework. Neighbors would come from blocks away with their beach chairs to watch. Unfortunately, that tradition ended when I tried to carry it on in my uncle’s stead—but without the same excellent connections with the local police department… Which taught me that making the most noise might get attention, but it’s not always the best strategy.
During my time in New York’s capital, I observed other trade groups employ a similar strategy to ours: they hire a lobbyist and organize a big day once a year to meet with elected officials. In contrast, advocacy groups often opt for making as much noise as possible, but they tend to wear out their welcome quickly.
Striking a balance between these approaches is something ABMA should aim for. At a business coalition event in Rhode Island, I had the opportunity to hear from the House Speaker. He explained that there’s a lot of noise from other groups in the capital, and businesses need to be more involved to get their message across.
Beyond lobby days one of the most effective tool we utilize is yard tours, whose importance and power cannot be overstated, especially in an election year. Inviting officials to see what our businesses do, meet our employees, and understand the role we play in their communities is an opportunity we should never pass up. These tours are possibly the single most effective tool we have. They lend a face to ABMA, spark lasting relationships, and are mutually beneficial.
Building true relationships between our members and officials is key. We will not be the loudest, but instead, we will grow genuine relationships where both sides help each other succeed. Alongside our current efforts, we will bolster them with enhanced communications and outreach. A first step in this process will be identifying and utilizing new opportunities that benefit both parties.
Our initial actions toward this goal are already underway. Key elected officials will be featured in the upcoming issue of the Lumber Cooperator. We will include articles written by Federal Representatives, Governors, and the same House Speaker from Rhode Island who emphasized the need for more engagement from businesses. This initiative provides our members with valuable insights directly from their representatives and offers elected officials exposure and positive PR among their constituencies and beyond.
To build on this concept, we will send copies of the Lumber Cooperator to other officials we have previously met with, showcasing their colleagues’ participation alongside personalized information about our members in their districts. This will spark their interest and drive further engagement, showing them who we are and how we can benefit each other.
Linking our efforts to a communications strategy is the way forward to amplify all of our efforts. Demonstrating our actions can be just as impactful as the actions themselves. By showcasing our work and the value we bring to our communities, we can build stronger, more effective relationships with our elected officials and members alike.
