Getting Involved – ASSE State Gov’t Affairs

ASSE Government Affairs at the chapter and state level is intended to be a member-led activity. The national office can provide expertise, advice and whatever assistance is needed to achieve government affairs initiatives at the state and local level, but the initiative to undertake activities largely must come from members themselves.

The operating procedures of the national Government Affairs Committee (GAC) explains the organization and details the simple procedures for approval that need to be followed when an initiative is undertaken.

Generally, each ASSE Chapter should appoint a Government Affairs Chair to monitor and send on to Chapter members the legislative and regulatory information that national Government Affairs provides as a free member benefit. These are the GA Updates and State Legislative and Regulatory Activity Reports. Members value the information to help them keep current with developments that could very well affect their responsibilities as SH&E professionals.

Chapter GA Chairs also should work closely with their Chapter officers, Regional Government Affairs VPs and the Manager of Government Affairs and Policy at national ASSE to pursue opportunities to impact legislation and regulation or raise the visibility of ASSE’s members among state legislators and regulators.

If you would like to be the Government Affairs Chair for your Chapter, contact your Chapter President. If you have any questions or would like suggestions on how to become more involved, please feel free to call Dave Heidorn, Manager of Government Affairs and Policy at ASSE at 847/768-3406 or dheidorn@asse.org. You may also want to take a look at a powerpoint presentation on how to gain influence through the political process that should give you some ideas on how to be involved in government affairs in your state. Chapter Government Affairs Chairs should also ask for a copy of the ASSE Government Affairs Handbook for a more in-depth understanding of government affairs.

ASSE members – on their own – have achieved positive results from changing the course of a cell phone bill in North Carolina to getting safety professionals recognized in New Jersey law. Anything is possible. But the first step is simply getting involved.