Must Be Present to Win in Advocacy

The Joint NASBP/SFAA Virtual Legislative Fly-In is set for March 25, 2021. This is a great opportunity to be part of our advocacy efforts in a virtual setting (you don’t need to travel). Sign up here by March 11.

Well, now that I have your attention . . .

Sitting in my office at home, I often look out my window and am thankful for my choice to make Surety my career. After all that has happened this past year, I truly believe that our product and services remain an important contributor to our economy. I acknowledge that I’m not a frontline hero (we should thank these heroes each and every day) but I like to think that what we all do each day positively contributes to the betterment of our own communities.

At this time of year, I again turn my attention to the accounting reconciliation of my annual contribution to our local, state, and federal governments (a.k.a. taxes). This is also a reminder of the impact that government agencies have on our industry. There are a lot of ways we can have our voices heard on our own personal and professional issues. For me, I follow Past President Susan Hecker’s advice and place an annual reminder on my Outlook calendar to make sure I have authorized the NASBP SuretyPAC to solicit me for the year. I used to joke that I just like having the gold star on my NASBP name badge, but after many years of attending our Fly-In and other advocacy efforts supported by NASBP, I realize how important all our advocacy efforts are for our Association and our industry.

In my first Pipeline column I emphasized that Advocacy is one of the three pillars that are the foundation of our Association. Certainly, my opinion hasn’t changed. As we hear talk of infrastructure being an important component to our nation’s economic revival, it is imperative that our collective voices be heard. We need to make sure that surety bonds are properly used to ensure that taxpayer dollars construct needed infrastructure. We need to make sure that our Surety Bonds, which guarantee a wide variety of license, permit, and commercial contract obligations, are understood for the true value that they provide.

Our CEO, Mark McCallum, reminded me that our issues are bi-partisan and support good government–not just good for our government but also good for our communities and our clients.

Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’ve been reading the NASBP Focal Point e-bulletin, you know that the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council recently issued an important rule on individual surety regulations that represent good government. This has been a NASBP Advocacy priority dating back to 2011. Numerous NASBP members, industry allies, and other supporters worked hard over the past decade to help make this happen. I can say that all of their efforts have resulted in federal regulations that protect taxpayer dollars and help ensure vital infrastructure and other community resources are built to last. Take a moment to read a more detailed report about that legislative accomplishment.

Getting back to the March 25 Fly-in. On a serious note, our annual Fly-in is one of the most important initiatives that is annually undertaken by our Government Relations Committee, headed by Committee Chair Brian Ayres. I’ve come to appreciate my annual trip to DC and the experience of visiting our government representatives’ offices to discuss issues that are important to our industry, our clients, and our communities. It remains important that we “Be Present to Win” in Advocacy.

I mentioned on a recent 5-15 Leadership Committee call that this year’s Fly-in is a great way to see how every NASBP member can be active in the workings of our government. I often tell people that one regret I have is that I wasn’t more politically aware earlier in my career. But it’s never too late to start. It was only two years ago that I started to attend local town hall meetings held by my congressman. If it weren’t for the chance opportunity to sit down with him in his DC office a few years ago during our NASBP Fly-in, I would never have thought about seeing him in action talking to his constituents on a one-on-one basis about real issues that affect people’s everyday lives.

I know that a lot of what we read and hear about government at every level isn’t necessarily flattering. But I still believe that government can have a positive impact on each of us. I also believe that positive and continuing advocacy can have a valuable impact on how our products and services are used for the benefit of everyone.

Mark Munekawa is Senior Vice President – Surety of Woodruff Sawyer in San Francisco, CA. He can be reached at mmunekawa@woodruffsawyer.com and 415.399.6482.