Building Relationships
For example: Building a relationship with a member of Congress could lead to his or her support for legislation to extend cooperative purchasing to GSA Schedule 84. Additionally, in some cases, members of Congress will be willing to "earmark" or set aside funding within an appropriations bill that would guarantee funding for a specific project at the request of one of your state or local government customers.
Establishing relationships between your employees and your elected officials could provide you and your company with important connections. For example:
Employee involvement is a process: It doesn't happen overnight, at the same time elected officials need to know what your company does and how important it is to the community.
Relating to Members of Congress
Members of Congress care what their constituents have to say. Introduce your company to an official, apprise him or her of your company's position on an issue, and show support when a decision is made that is in line with your company's priorities.
Profile Your Legislator
You should know who your elected officials are, and what they stand for. Knowledge of your representative's background and position on important issues will be vital as you attempt to influence the process. A member's first priority is to his or her constituency, those people that vote him or her into office. As a part of that constituency, you have a right of access to your representative. Exercise that right and encourage employees to do the same. There are several resources that will help you to do this.
Government Related Links
Facility Tours: Facility tours are a tried-and-true relationship builder that will demonstrate your company's quality commitment and its ties to the community. A facility tour will introduce a member of Congress to your corporation, your product/services, and your employees. Members can see how significant your presence is to the surrounding community. You can send home the message that the interests of your company are the interests of a large part of the community. Staffers on Capitol Hill can see firsthand how their decisions affect those in their home districts.
For Information: Facility Tour Kit and Manual
Recognition
Members of Congress can be recognized with small gifts that can serve as symbols of an event. If a member participated in a plant tour, for example, the gift of a hard hat or a fumed photo of that visit may end up in his or her office as a daily reminder. At the very least, members of Congress or other elected officials should be recognized with a thank-you letter, mentioned in the company newsletter or thanked with a phone call.
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