IFA™s Franchise Congress Dominates Congressional Recess Activities

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Educated and motivated members reach out to their lawmakers throughout the year to build quality relationships.  


Franchising World October 2011  


By: Meredith Nethercutt 


Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate were home in their states and districts for the 2011 August District Work Period until Labor Day. This month-long break provided a unique opportunity for franchise businesses to communicate with elected officials on such critical issues as health care.   This was also a perfect time for the International Franchise Association’s Franchise Congress key contacts to continue to build relationships with members of Congress. 


IFA Advocates Engage Lawmakers 


Through the Franchise Congress elite advocacy program, educated and motivated members reach out to their lawmakers throughout the year to build quality relationships. Here’s what franchising’s key contacts were doing over the August recess to engage with their elected officials: 


  • Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Scott Baumbach and Two Men And A Truck franchise owner in Madison, Wis., Tim Lightner, met during the Secretary’s site visit, which provided an ideal opportunity to talk about state regulations affecting franchises. 

  • Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), a freshman member of Congress, was hosted by BFC – Integrated Print Management Director of Franchise Accounts Craig Eldridge, CFE, of Batavia, Ill. and educated about franchising. 

  • Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) attended a local Chamber town hall event that was hosted by ValPak. ValPaK Senior Advisor Joe Bourdow, CFE, of Largo, Fla. heard Sen. Nelson discuss small-business issues. 

  • Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) attended an area legislative summit and incorporated points of view from Two Men And A Truck franchise owner Eileen Marrison of Lincoln,   Neb. on health care for small businesses. 

  • Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) heard from DOC & Associates President “Doc” Cohen, CFE, of Tomball, Texas, who discussed a variety of small-business issues, ranging from the debt ceiling debate to immigration, during a lengthy dinner in the district with the lawmaker. 

  • Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) met Two Men And A     Truck franchise owner Eileen Marrison of Lincoln, Neb. Marrison and the congressman met at his local office to discuss the National Labor Relations Board activity and health care reform, as well as other district issues. 

  • Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was featured during a U.S. Chamber-hosted event called “Inside Washington” that Meineke of Sioux Falls, S.D. franchise owner Doug Olson attended. 


  Franchise Congress members were asked to: 


  1. Attend a local town hall or Rotary Club meeting hosted by a member of Congress 


  2. Schedule a meeting with a lawmaker at his/her district office 


  3. Invite a lawmaker to visit a franchise business 


A special thanks to these active Franchise Congress members for continuing to build relationships with key members of Congress and their staff. It should be noted that the Franchise Congress set a goal to achieve at least 10 visits with members of Congress in 2011. The group has successfully held approximately 25 visits with lawmakers and members of the Small Business Administration. 


For more information on recess events, or to let us know of your own efforts on behalf of franchise issues, please contact IFA Director of Advocacy Meredith Nethercutt at mnethercutt@franchise.org  or 202-662-0760. 


 


 


 


 

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