Letter to the Editor

"There's Work to be Done, and it Ain't Free"

Dear Editor,

The ASA-PAC just finished its first year of existence. Many reading this may not have noticed.

What we may have noticed is the effectiveness of efforts to address legislative business. Few of us realize how expensive it is to "man the pumps" for the various legislative brushfires.

Many of our governmental interactions have been most effective through the volunteer determination and personal expense of our membership. Other efforts have required coordination of meetings, meals, conference facilities and personnel to get out the message. None of the work to make our voices heard in the halls of government has occurred for free.

I realize a large segment of our population and our membership views governmental involvement as somehow "unclean." It would be foolish to assume everyone in government service is above reproach, just as it would be foolish to assume nobody is honest. Understanding legislative machinations and divining the honest leaders is the key to effective, professional representation of our association to the various legislatures.

In the last few years, professional representation, coupled with determined efforts of volunteer leadership, has served us well on a shoestring. In the current economic climate, we are unlikely to achieve the same level of success with the same limited expenditure. We desperately need the funding mechanism provided through our ASA Political Action Committee using the personal and private contributions from our members. The ASA-PAC allows the segment of our members willing to make the financial sacrifice to experience the gratification when our goals are eventually accomplished.

I invite you to share in the experience of being a part of our legislative successes. Contribute to ASA-PAC, and make our industry voice heard!

- Eddie Ehlert*
MazdOnly Ltd, Chamblee, Ga.

*Editor's note: Eddie Ehlert is a member of ASA's Government Affairs Committee.