Tell your story.

By Melanie Bergeron, CFE

      The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is arguably what gives America its freedom.  The opening lines of the Bill of Rights grant all Americans the freedoms of speech, religion and assembly.  However, one often forgotten freedom granted by that amendment is the freedom “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”  This is hardly a meaningless postscript.  Rather it is an unambiguous indication that the framers of the U.S. Constitution envisioned a civic system where individual citizens participated in their government not only through elections, but by directly challenging the policies proposed or enacted by their elected officials.

Effective Advocacy

There are many ways to communicate with your representatives, and effective advocacy on any issue will most often include multiple contacts via phone calls, letters, emails, social media and attending in-district events.  However, the most high-impact method of advocacy is meeting face-to-face, and sharing a personal story. The IFA’s annual Public Affairs Conference provides an opportunity for you to meet directly with your lawmakers to educate them on the issues most important to the franchise industry. Each September, hundreds of franchise owners and executives travel to our nation’s capital to attend policy briefings on the most pressing small-business issues, hear from speakers and opinion leaders from government, media and business, and attend meetings with their members of Congress or staffs.  Attendees also spend time catching up and networking with their industry colleagues and taking in the sights of Washington.

Your Story Matters

The conference as a whole is a very rewarding experience, but by far the most important part of franchising’s primary advocacy event is meetings with lawmakers. As business owners and constituents, our stories matter to lawmakers and face-to-face meetings are the most effective way to tell those stories and have the voice of franchising heard throughout the halls of Congress! We continue to cultivate our relationships with members of Congress to ensure that we have strong allies who understand our issues and the role that franchising plays in the U.S. economy. We must stand united as an industry to make our voice heard to those who can have a significant impact on our bottom line. You are truly a great asset and the best advocate to raise awareness about the franchise industry and our power to create jobs and promote economic growth during this time of recovery. IFA’s staff will make sure your Public Affairs Conference experience is both rewarding and effective. Staff members are available as a resource throughout the year to help you continue to build your relationships with your lawmakers. I can tell you firsthand that both our franchisees and corporate staff have truly benefited by and enjoyed attending this event over the years and it is a great opportunity for all to get involved and make a difference on behalf of your brand. Whether you are a franchisor, franchisee or supplier, I hope to see all of you at the 2014 IFA Public Affairs Conference, Sept. 16-17 in Washington, D.C.  Be on the lookout for speaker announcements in future editions of Franchising World, IFA Insider and IFA SmartBrief.  For more information, visit www.franchise.org/publicaffairs.aspx or contact the IFA’s Government Relations & Public Policy team at 202-628-8000.

Melanie Bergeron, CFE, is chairwoman of the board for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and serves as vice chairwoman on the International Franchise Association’s board of directors.      

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