March 2010 Franchising World
It is more important than ever that IFA’s members get involved in a dialogue with their members of Congress.
By Meredith Nethercutt
2010 will herald some of the biggest legislative changes to franchising the past decade has seen. How can you and your franchise best protect yourself from increased health care premiums, possible union organization in franchises and increased state regulations? Recognize the importance of advocacy this year, and use the International Franchise Association’s numerous resources to get involved and represent the needs of franchising.
With advocacy in the spotlight at both IFA and around the country this year, the association has developed several ways you as a voter and as a franchise representative can best use your time to make your voice heard on both the local and federal level. IFA’s Franchise Congress initiative, launched in 2009, recruits franchising’s top local business leaders who are educated on political issues, active in their communities, have a relationship with their member of Congress, and are willing to serve as spokespeople to their elected officials. IFA met its 2009 goal to have Franchise Congress representatives identified and active in 10 pilot states, and now have recruited approximately 120 members.
While the majority of Franchise Congress members and recruits are franchisees, IFA is looking for anyone in the franchise community who is interested in cultivating and maintaining a relationship with their members of Congress, as well as making contact on key franchise issues. This year, IFA will continue to focus on uncovering franchise advocates who are politically aware and engaged, and willing to be an ambassador on franchise issues and build positive relationships with their members of Congress. Recruitment in 2010 will be open to all 50 states, and will include outreach to key franchisors, franchisees and key suppliers. Again, the main program goal is to form a tight-knit group of franchise business leaders who will serve as ambassadors within their communities.
2010 an Important Year
An increasingly exciting mid-term election, a still-lagging economy, critical federal legislation such as health care and energy reform at the forefront of Congress, and public opinion of elected officials at an all-time low will make 2010 a year when members of Congress are depending more than ever on their voters for support. With so many of these issues directly affecting franchising and its bottom line, it is more important than ever that IFA’s members get involved in a dialogue with their members of Congress.
IFA’s Franchise Congress showcased classic examples of how your fellow franchise key contacts are making an impact. With so much federal legislative activity occurring last fall, especially on health care and small-business access to credit, IFA’s advocates were engaged multiple times throughout the legislative season. Specifically, Franchise Congress members were asked to reach out to their U.S. House members prior to the health-care vote last November, as well as with Senate members after the passage of the House legislation. Franchise Congress member Sue Glovan (Mr. Rooter franchisee, Hendersonville, N.C.) represented franchising and IFA in a special district meeting with Sen. Kay Hagen’s (D-N.C.) office. New Franchise Congress member Andy Neuman (Handyman Connection franchisee, Nashville, Tenn.) made a special trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with his congressman, Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.). Neuman spent an hour discussing specific franchise issues–a great example of building a good relationship with a member of Congress.
Franchise Congress member Doug Rogers (Mr. Appliance president, Waco, Texas) demonstrated the effective process of positive communications from start to finish with his legislator, Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas). Prior to the House vote on health-care reform last November, Rogers contacted Edwards urging a “no” vote on the harmful legislation. After Edwards opposed the bill during the vote, Rogers thanked him for his vote, and sent follow-up communications outlining what points of health-care reform would benefit franchising. Doug Olson (Meineke franchisee, Sioux Falls, S.D.) made personal outreach to Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) in seeking her opposition to the House health-care vote. As a result of constituent communications like Olson’s, Rep. Herseth Sandlin opposed the bill during the House vote. In addition, Olson has been one of a few small-business contacts being called by Sen. John Thune’s (R-S.D.) office regarding small-business economic concerns. Olson has proved to be a very valuable resource to IFA, and a great Franchise Congress delegate.
Intensive Campaign Works
To complement Franchise Congress’ health-care efforts to fight current health-reform legislation, IFA conducted an intensive grassroots campaign to target specific senators on the issue. A patch-through call campaign was launched to persuade Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), and Jim Webb (D-Va.), with 350 calls from franchised businesses pouring into each senator’s district office. The first effort was so successful that IFA implemented a second round of targeted call communications into Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor (Ark.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.). In addition, IFA’s general grassroots action alerts secured more than 1,200 e-mails into congressional offices in opposition to the health-care legislation, detailing franchise business concerns.
Franchise Congress members were encouraged to continue communications with their elected officials during the December-January congressional recess. Franchise Congress delegate Matt Cutler, CFE, chief operating officer of Two Men and a Truck International, Inc. in Lansing, Mich. hosted a meeting over the holidays with Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich). With Hoekstra, who has served Michigan’s Second District in Congress since 1992, leaving the House to run for governor, this meeting was an excellent opportunity to discuss how the governor’s office and franchising can work together in the coming years. Cutler, along with his company’s board of directors, discussed such key current issues as health care and Michigan franchising issues with Hoekstra, further building a relationship and advocating on behalf of franchising.
IFA extends its thanks to all the Franchise Congress members, and all of IFA’s grassroots responders, who were quick to take action when called upon numerous times. These quick responses to calls to action, and their work on the ground with other small-business contacts helps to prove the benefit of the Franchise Congress advocacy model.
IFA is dedicating resources to revitalize and upgrade its online grassroots action center and will keep members apprised when the new advocacy site is launched and ready for use. In addition, IFA will be unveiling its election activities through www.FranchisingVotes.com . Visit IFA’s election action center today to make sure you are prepared to cast your vote on Election Day 2010.
Meredith Nethercutt is director of advocacy of the International Franchise Association. To get involved in Franchise Congress, contact her at 202-662-0760 or mnethercutt@franchise.org . Follow IFA’s updates and postings on both Facebook.com (“FranchiseCongress”) and Twitter.com (“FranchiseCong”).