Page 8 - JulyAugust2016 Vol34 No2
P. 8
APWA By Andrea Eales
Public Works Advocacy Matters
Advocacy should be a top priority their expertise. The most effective way, I believe, for
for all APWA Chapters. Though many Some of the tools being utilized to aid APWA members to help inform their U.S.
APWA members tend to shy away from Senators and Representatives about Public
participating directly in advocating for the APWA Advocacy efforts on the Fed- Works is to set up a meeting with staff in
Public Works issues to their local, state or eral level include the APWA Washington the district offices, and with the Congres-
federal lawmakers, the unique insight and Report which is sent out to subscribers sional Member when they are home in
expertise APWA members have to offer each Monday Congress is in session. This the district/state. Simply call the local
is an invaluable resource to public office one page brief is a great way to receive office, or stop by, if convenient, introduce
holders. In fact, it has been my experi- concise information about what is hap- yourself and let the staff and office know
ence in more than 21 years of working in pening on Capitol Hill and in Federal you are local and want to be a resource
the political realm, most elected officials agencies impacting Public Works. APWA who can share what is happening on the
are eager to meet with and learn from the members may sign up to receive the local level. Being a resource to them is
operators who are responsible for car- APWA Washington Report and archived invaluable, and it truly takes nothing but
rying out laws and regulations. Further, issues through www.apwa.net. a little bit of time. Perhaps to make it less
despite the skepticism many Americans intimidating, consider pulling together a
have towards political figures, most public The APWA website also links to other small group of APWA Chapter members
servants seek elected office because they great Advocacy resources with a simple and identifying a local challenge or prior-
are looking to make positive differences click on the “Advocacy/Government ity pertaining to Public Works, then set
in peoples’ lives which achieve good and Affairs” tab located on the top block of up a meeting with the local congressional
practical results—much like Public Works the right side of the APWA home page. office. Even a meeting with staff is ter-
professionals. Through this portal, APWA members are rific, as it is the state and district staff who
able to access APWA Government Affairs are charged with making sure their boss
I joined APWA in January 2015 as the Contacts, APWA policies, the APWA Leg- knows what is going on back in the state
Director of Government Affairs, and I islative Action Center, and the Govern- where their voters live.
head up APWA’s Washington, D.C. office. ment Affairs InfoNow.
I very much enjoy meeting with and hear- Now you may be reading this and
ing from APWA’s membership about the In addition to these information re- thinking, “What? No way. First, I do not
issues which matter most from a federal sources, access to the “APWA Advocates” want to get into trouble at work. Second,
policy perspective—including transporta- sign-up is available. The “APWA Advo- who am I to speak up on behalf of APWA
tion investment and related policy, water cates” is a very important action alert or local Public Works?”
issues, environmental regulations, Public network utilized when legislation relevant
Works as emergency responders, the to Public Works is moving in Congress. Both things I have heard consistently.
Americans with Disabilities Act, public An “APWA Advocates” alert contains a In response to not wanting to get in
rights of way, sustainability, and more. As pre-written email on the issue at hand trouble at work, I say, first you are a U.S.
we know, the varied tasks Public Works which can be personalized by the “APWA Citizen and it is your Constitutional
professionals handle daily affect the lives Advocate” or sent “as is” to the U.S. Sena- Right to speak to your elected officials.
of every person across North America. tor or Representative. Furthermore, utilize your APWA Chapter
Responsibly utilizing limited funding and do it on your own time and on your
while protecting both natural and infra- Many APWA members think that own computer and phone. The Chapter
structure resources, ensuring safety, and the Congressional offices do not read can establish a local Government Affairs
appropriately responding to the needs of the emails sent from constituents, but I committee, tasked with tracking one or
their varied communities is a monumen- promise, they are reviewed, tracked and two priorities and alerting the Chapter
tal undertaking. Informing policymak- categorized by issue by the Congressional members to any activity in the identified
ers at all levels of the vast duties that fall staff, and the information is then provided priority areas. A Chapter Government
under the Public Works umbrella, in my to the Member of Congress. These types of Affairs Committee can take the lead
view, is an essential function of APWA communications assist elected officials in in conducting outreach to the Senator
and its more than 29,000 members. keeping in touch with their constituents. or Representative and inviting them to
Chapter events and activities—a Chapter
Through this article, it is my goal to When responding to an alert, the dinner, a National Public Works Week
encourage APWA members to dip their “APWA Advocates” may choose to call the function, a Public Works Open House, a
toes into the advocacy waters. First, Congressional office using the informa- Chapter meeting. Invite them often and
please know the APWA Government Af- tion provided within the action alert get to know them as your fellow citizens.
fairs team is very much focused on help- email, or simply hit “send” through the Again, be a resource.
ing APWA members to actively engage link provided with the action alert, to sub-
in advocating for Public Works priorities. mit a personalized email. It is simple and Moreover, because APWA’s policies
We are not capable of successfully doing effective. The more a Senator or Represen- are developed through our membership,
our jobs without APWA members and tative hears about an issue, the more they they are not radical ideas or proposals
will pay attention to that issue. It also may out of step with Public Works agencies.
ultimately affect whether a bill is passed or
whether it fails.
8 TPW July/August 2016
Public Works Advocacy Matters
Advocacy should be a top priority their expertise. The most effective way, I believe, for
for all APWA Chapters. Though many Some of the tools being utilized to aid APWA members to help inform their U.S.
APWA members tend to shy away from Senators and Representatives about Public
participating directly in advocating for the APWA Advocacy efforts on the Fed- Works is to set up a meeting with staff in
Public Works issues to their local, state or eral level include the APWA Washington the district offices, and with the Congres-
federal lawmakers, the unique insight and Report which is sent out to subscribers sional Member when they are home in
expertise APWA members have to offer each Monday Congress is in session. This the district/state. Simply call the local
is an invaluable resource to public office one page brief is a great way to receive office, or stop by, if convenient, introduce
holders. In fact, it has been my experi- concise information about what is hap- yourself and let the staff and office know
ence in more than 21 years of working in pening on Capitol Hill and in Federal you are local and want to be a resource
the political realm, most elected officials agencies impacting Public Works. APWA who can share what is happening on the
are eager to meet with and learn from the members may sign up to receive the local level. Being a resource to them is
operators who are responsible for car- APWA Washington Report and archived invaluable, and it truly takes nothing but
rying out laws and regulations. Further, issues through www.apwa.net. a little bit of time. Perhaps to make it less
despite the skepticism many Americans intimidating, consider pulling together a
have towards political figures, most public The APWA website also links to other small group of APWA Chapter members
servants seek elected office because they great Advocacy resources with a simple and identifying a local challenge or prior-
are looking to make positive differences click on the “Advocacy/Government ity pertaining to Public Works, then set
in peoples’ lives which achieve good and Affairs” tab located on the top block of up a meeting with the local congressional
practical results—much like Public Works the right side of the APWA home page. office. Even a meeting with staff is ter-
professionals. Through this portal, APWA members are rific, as it is the state and district staff who
able to access APWA Government Affairs are charged with making sure their boss
I joined APWA in January 2015 as the Contacts, APWA policies, the APWA Leg- knows what is going on back in the state
Director of Government Affairs, and I islative Action Center, and the Govern- where their voters live.
head up APWA’s Washington, D.C. office. ment Affairs InfoNow.
I very much enjoy meeting with and hear- Now you may be reading this and
ing from APWA’s membership about the In addition to these information re- thinking, “What? No way. First, I do not
issues which matter most from a federal sources, access to the “APWA Advocates” want to get into trouble at work. Second,
policy perspective—including transporta- sign-up is available. The “APWA Advo- who am I to speak up on behalf of APWA
tion investment and related policy, water cates” is a very important action alert or local Public Works?”
issues, environmental regulations, Public network utilized when legislation relevant
Works as emergency responders, the to Public Works is moving in Congress. Both things I have heard consistently.
Americans with Disabilities Act, public An “APWA Advocates” alert contains a In response to not wanting to get in
rights of way, sustainability, and more. As pre-written email on the issue at hand trouble at work, I say, first you are a U.S.
we know, the varied tasks Public Works which can be personalized by the “APWA Citizen and it is your Constitutional
professionals handle daily affect the lives Advocate” or sent “as is” to the U.S. Sena- Right to speak to your elected officials.
of every person across North America. tor or Representative. Furthermore, utilize your APWA Chapter
Responsibly utilizing limited funding and do it on your own time and on your
while protecting both natural and infra- Many APWA members think that own computer and phone. The Chapter
structure resources, ensuring safety, and the Congressional offices do not read can establish a local Government Affairs
appropriately responding to the needs of the emails sent from constituents, but I committee, tasked with tracking one or
their varied communities is a monumen- promise, they are reviewed, tracked and two priorities and alerting the Chapter
tal undertaking. Informing policymak- categorized by issue by the Congressional members to any activity in the identified
ers at all levels of the vast duties that fall staff, and the information is then provided priority areas. A Chapter Government
under the Public Works umbrella, in my to the Member of Congress. These types of Affairs Committee can take the lead
view, is an essential function of APWA communications assist elected officials in in conducting outreach to the Senator
and its more than 29,000 members. keeping in touch with their constituents. or Representative and inviting them to
Chapter events and activities—a Chapter
Through this article, it is my goal to When responding to an alert, the dinner, a National Public Works Week
encourage APWA members to dip their “APWA Advocates” may choose to call the function, a Public Works Open House, a
toes into the advocacy waters. First, Congressional office using the informa- Chapter meeting. Invite them often and
please know the APWA Government Af- tion provided within the action alert get to know them as your fellow citizens.
fairs team is very much focused on help- email, or simply hit “send” through the Again, be a resource.
ing APWA members to actively engage link provided with the action alert, to sub-
in advocating for Public Works priorities. mit a personalized email. It is simple and Moreover, because APWA’s policies
We are not capable of successfully doing effective. The more a Senator or Represen- are developed through our membership,
our jobs without APWA members and tative hears about an issue, the more they they are not radical ideas or proposals
will pay attention to that issue. It also may out of step with Public Works agencies.
ultimately affect whether a bill is passed or
whether it fails.
8 TPW July/August 2016
