Legislative Key Contact Program

WAO’s Legislative Key Contact Program is an organized, hands-on strategic grassroots advocacy tool to help build and nurture strong on-going relationships between WAO members and lawmakers in Wisconsin. The success of the program depends greatly on strong member participation.

As a WAO Key Contact, you can help influence the legislative process at both state and federal levels by cultivating relationships with elected officials. By taking advantage of existing relationships and making new contact with members of the Wisconsin Legislature and the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation, you can help us educate lawmakers on industry issues, become a trusted counselor to legislators on pending legislation, and help shape new policies important to our profession.

Fortunately, lawmakers are often eager to hear input from their constituents. As an expert in your field, you are uniquely qualified to explain complex industry-related issues to policymakers and make a real difference in the legislative process. It is important for us to build a strong team of association members who have existing relationships or are willing to build relationships with elected officials who routinely make decisions on issues and proposals that impact you and your profession.

Key Contact Overview

• What is a Key Contact?

A Key Contact is a WAO member who is interested in legislative issues. As a key contact, you agree to interact with state and federal lawmakers on public policy development, including attending meetings, sending letters/e-mails, and/or testifying before legislative committees.

• What is the Responsibility of a Key Contact?

At the very least, a Key Contact commits to acting on legislative and regulatory issues when they are contacted by WAO. Typically, a call to action will ask key contacts to send an e-mail or make a phone call to a legislative office in support of our priorities. Association staff will provide key contacts with the tools (including pre-written e-mails and background documents) to make it as easy as possible to communicate with policymakers.

• What is the Time Commitment of a Key Contact?

The time commitment of a Key Contact varies depending on your level of interest in engaging in the legislative process. However, participation in the Key Contact program generally only requires a minimal time commitment, often just a few minutes to send a pre-written e-mail. Other advocacy opportunities, such as in-person meetings with legislators and testifying at a hearing take more time, but it is matched in increased support from the association.

• What are the Qualifications to be a Key Contact?

You must be a current member in good standing, have an interest in advocacy outreach, and a willingness to help promote your profession and industry.

The WAO Government Affairs Team closely monitors public policy developments that impact or industry, and when important issues arise that require grassroots action, we will utilize our Key Contacts team to strengthen our advocacy impact. As such, the program is an essential component of our overall advocacy program, we would urge you to sign-up today.

Interested..? Click here to fill out and submit a brief form.