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Going grassroots
Paying attention to local politics can prove beneficial
to both you and your golf course.
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With the presidential campaign in full swing, you’re probably assessing each candidate’s support for business- and golf-friendly legislation.
The priorities of the nation’s leaders can make the economy rise and fall, of course. But consider this: Day in and day out, your profits are more likely affected by laws and regulations passed closer to home.
“Issues at the city and state level often are more important to business owners and operators than issues at the federal level,” notes Nancy Ploeger, president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in New York City.
That makes sense. Think about local tax rates, business fees and unanticipated business regulations that throw a monkey wrench into your plans.
And how about factors such as unmaintained streets filled with potholes and ruts? They can keep customers from visiting your golf course. Then there are slow police response times that can magnify the financial costs of burglary and vandalism. Does your fire department lack sufficient funding? Your whole business might go up in smoke. And so on.
Getting things to work right often depends on the priorities and the capabilities of your city or town politicians. “What government does and how they regulate is important to your business,” says Al Arnold, director of the Academy of Local Politics in Rice Lake, Wis. “It’s your bread and butter. Your city officials can help you or kill you.”
Here’s some good news: You needn’t take problems lying down. You can get the local mechanism running in a way that grows your course’s profits.
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Decisions made by your local politicians can have a dramatic impact on your course’s profits. |
All politics is local
Decisions made by your local politicians can have a dramatic impact on your course’s profits. How can you affect those decisions?
“Start by learning how your local government operates,” Arnold suggests. “Politics is a game. In order to be successful in any game you need to know the rules.”
Arnold advises attending one local government meeting each year to “watch, listen and, by observation, learn” how local government works. “One meeting won’t make anyone an expert, but over the years you will become more knowledgeable about your local officials and how they work.”
Learn how your town develops its annual budget — the pivotal document for taking action. “A city budget is not just a financial document,” Arnold explains. “It is a policy document.” Where tax money is being spent, or not spent, gives a clear indication about the priorities of your city council. Furthermore, funds have to be available for the city to take any action you may desire throughout the year. “It does no good to complain about something that needs to be done if the money is not in the budget,” he says.
Indeed, policy decisions can have more of a bottom line impact than the local tax rate. “Saving a couple of bucks in taxes can cause your business to burn to the ground if fire protection is inadequate,” Arnold says.
All politics is personal
Personal networking is a powerful tool for influencing local laws. “All politics is personal,” says Nancy Bocskor, a political consultant in Arlington, Va. “Even in our modern world of e-mail, getting things done still comes down to whom you have a relationship with.”
In developing relationships, make the telephone your friend. “Call your local politicians at the city and state level and meet with them,” she suggests. “These politicians are looking for ways to help constituents. They don’t know how to do that if you don’t speak up.” If you remain hidden, your politicians may well vote in ways that unintentionally
harm your course.
Don’t wait until you have concerns before meeting with your local representatives, adds Ploeger. “Your politicians will often have issues they are grappling with and they need to talk with business people about the effects of certain regulations.”
Developing a relationship can mean more than phone calls and meetings. Consider hosting a fundraising event. “Help a politician raise money by having a coffee in your home,” Bocskor suggests. “Offer to invite your friends, neighbors and colleagues over to listen to the candidate.”
For more tips about getting the job done, see the sidebar, “How to talk with a local politician.”
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Over time, by attending city government meetings and voicing your opinions, you can have an influential voice when a really big issue arises. |
Stay informed
New local issues come up all the time. Many of them can affect your course’s operations. Don’t rely on the local newspaper to learn about them.
“Newspapers normally report on what has happened, not what might happen,” Arnold says. “And if they do report on what might happen, it might not be what you are interested in. There is only one way to keep on top of proposed local government issues and that is by following committee agendas.”
Learn which committees are likely to deal with business issues. “Find out where agendas for committee meetings are posted,” he says. “Many times they are on the town Web site. Make a point of following these agendas on a regular (monthly, if not weekly) basis. This is the only way to catch issues before votes are taken.”
Offer your input as early as possible. Will proposed legislation or regulations — water issues, perhaps — have unanticipated consequences that you might be uniquely qualified to identify? Call and let your politicians know.
“Issues are like rolling snowballs,” Arnold says. “They get bigger and bigger with time. It is easier to destroy a hand-size snowball than it is the base of Frosty the Snowman.”
On the state level, the best way to follow issues is to belong to an organization that does this for you. “If your business has a statewide association, pay the dues and belong to it,” Arnold says. “If there is no such association, join an independent business group of some kind to get your information. And when your association asks you to respond to a ‘call to action’ on an important issue, do so.”
The power of numbers
Running your course leaves you only so much time to communicate with your politicians. So leverage your relationships with organizations that can help communicate your message.
“Your local chamber of commerce will often talk with political leaders,” Ploeger notes. “Many chambers have legislative directors or advocacy managers. Usually the presidents of the chamber are involved with that aspect.”
Group action can be a powerful force in getting things done, she adds. She gives a recent example: Working together, the New York state chambers of commerce convinced the governor to reduce the workers compensation insurance rates by some 10 percent. Attend its meetings, or volunteer to serve on the chamber committee that is responsible for developing positions on local political issues.
Get involved
Effective lobbying is a process, not a destination. Don’t expect your representatives to agree with you all the time. They won’t. But over time, if you participate in small ways by attending meetings and voicing your opinions, you can have an influential voice when a really big issue arises.
“You have to be a citizen activist,” Bocskor says. “When you are not involved, it is amazing how fast laws are passed that have unintended consequences.”
Don’t let that happen. Reach out to your local politicians and you will end up with a more productive business environment. “I get so angry when people say they are too busy,” Arnold says. “You can’t be too busy to not follow what government is doing to regulate your business.”
Local issues that affect your course
How can local politics affect your course? Here are some examples from Al Arnold, director of the Academy of Local Politics, Rice Lake, Wis.
Taxes and fees
Are your taxes competitive with those of other cities? Are there any looming tax increases that will affect your course? Are there onerous business license fees or special fees for office property?
Fire protection
Does your local government budget adequately for fire protection? And how is your local ISO rating? “Your cost of property insurance can be affected by your city’s ISO rating,” Arnold says. “It’s a very good indicator of the importance a city council puts on public protection.” The initials ISO stand for Insurance Services Office. For information about that organization, visit www.iso.com.
Police protection
Will the police respond quickly to reports of burglary or robbery? “Police are taken for granted until you need them,” Arnold says. “But you should concern yourself with average response times before you need to call.” Arnold adds that if your fire department’s ISO rating is low, there is a good probability that the police department also is being shortchanged in the town budget.
Street conditions
How well maintained are your local streets? Can delivery trucks safely get in and out with their materials? Can customers get to your location without problems? If you live in an area where it snows, are streets plowed in a timely manner?
School quality
Are your city schools up to standard? “When you are recruiting highly educated people from another town, they will ask about the quality of your school district,” Arnold says.
Park conditions
Are your city parks spacious and clean? “If prospective employees have children, they are probably going to ask about recreation programs and inspect the parks and athletic fields.”
How to talk with a local politician
“Meeting with an official once or twice a year should be part of every management plan,” says Sean W. Hadley, an attorney and lobbyist in Princeton, N.J. Like any other networking event, a meeting with a politician can pay many dividends to your golf course.
You can approach local politicians with words such as these: “I’m involved in a business in your district. I want to come in and introduce myself and talk with you.”
Here are tips for being effective:
Speak up. Be professional and voice your opinion as soon as you find out about an issue.
Be nice. “Local elected officials do appreciate timely, courteous input on issues,” Hadley says. “However, all too often the input is neither timely nor courteous.”
Show thanks. If your representative makes a vote that you agree with on an issue, send a letter or e-mail, or even give a call to express your appreciation. “It is so very seldom they get one of those. It will be remembered.”
Stay in problem-solving mode. “Know exactly what you are asking for,” Hadley suggests. “Simply whining to an elected official about something usually will not get the problem solved. Have a solution ready.”
Invite officials to visit. Ask your local officials to tour your facility, meet your employees and have a group picture taken. “Especially if you have a significant number of employees, politicians are happy to appear at an event like that,” Hadley says.
Donate. “In politics, money does talk,” he adds. “It does not buy you results but it can help facilitate a relationship.” If a politician approaches you about attending a fundraiser on his behalf, it is well worth it on a reasonable basis. Later, when you have an issue, you have your go-to politician you can call for assistance.
Be courteous. “Politicians don’t like to be ambushed or surprised,” Hadley warns. “So be courteous at all times.” Tell your politician if you are going to say something negative publicly. “Make sure he or she is in the loop,” he says. “Politicians have long memories and many grudges. Make a mistake publicly that makes them look bad, and they will remember it.”
Be cordial. Don’t make threats such as, “I won’t vote for you if you won’t do this.” Don’t say, “I pay your salary.” Confrontations of this nature backfire. “You are guaranteed to not leave with good will and probably not with your goal in mind,” Hadley says.
Start early. It can take a long time to solve problems such as a deteriorating street condition. Start early and be patient.
Most important, speak up. “If you don’t call your officials, your voice will not be heard and you run the risk of laws imposed on you without your knowing,” he says. “It’s easier to stop the train from leaving the station than it is when it’s racing down the tracks. So tell your politicians, ‘Keep this train in the station!’”
Resources for local politics
For help with local issues that affect your golf facility, contact the GCSAA Information and Public Policy Department at 800-472-7878. Following are other Web-based resources.
Managing local issues
Conducting site visits for lawmakers
Building support for your issues
State and local government on the Web
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