Advocacy 101

Legislators are always looking to meet with constituents back home in their district or state, especially in the months leading up to an election. Even a 30-minute facility tour visit to share the impact of your business on the community opens their eyes to how laws and regulations affect their constituents.

Legislator’s schedules are constantly in flux so sometimes a facility tour is not possible. However, there are a variety of other ways to meet with your legislators back home, including scheduling an in-person meeting at their local office or attending an open event. While town halls and networking breakfasts include other constituents with separate interests, legislators will spend time listening to each attendee and asking questions. The more often you can get in front of an elected official, the more likely he or she will remember you.

Every two years, the Auto Care Association hosts the Auto Care Legislative Summit where industry professionals from across the country fly into Washington, D.C. to meet with their members of Congress. The Auto Care Associations handles all of the logistics, including preparation, training and scheduling. All you have to do is show up.

Personal communications go a long way in getting your message across. Legislative offices receive thousands of communications every day from a wide range of sources, but a personal, thoughtful outreach from a constituent is the most likely to produce a response. Visit Auto Care’s advocacy website to find talking points and contact information.

While advocacy tends to focus on public policy and constituent services, party politics and elections can be effective mediums for raising your advocate profile. Auto Care operates the Auto Care Political Action Committee (ACPAC), which pools member donations to support congressional candidates who support the industry, but local fundraisers or campaign volunteer opportunities present additional paths to get more involved.