ReMA Establishes Industry Advocate Program

After listening to many ReMA members who have participated in the association’s advocacy programs, ReMA saw the need to create this program for a number of reasons, including the procedural and administrative changes taking place in State Legislatures and the Congress, and to be competitive in a hectic environment. The IIA Program will address changes in legislatures and will provide interested members with education and training, etc., to ensure they feel knowledgeable about ISRI's issues and confident that they can effectively articulate the issues before their legislators at every level of government.

As we head into 2015, we are seeking 25-30 ReMA members for the IIA Program's “freshman class.” These chosen advocates will be selected based upon a set of criteria, including: the ability to articulate ISRI's issues; established personal relationships with legislators (preferred); the ability to devote 1-2 hours per week as an advocate; support of employers for their efforts on behalf of the company and industry. 

It is being limited to 25-30 IIAs as we believe that any more than that number during the first year would be too many and could compromise the program’s effectiveness. Additional IIA's will be added each year (or sooner, if possible), but not so many that may jeopardize program success.

ISRI National is in the process of developing an education and training program that will enhance an advocate’s ability to encourage legislators to help the association in its legislative battles. The "faculty" will include experienced ReMA members, ReMA staff, Congressional, Congressional Management Foundation, and Podesta Group staff, among others. The IIA's will learn how to best approach a legislator's office and become that office's expert on issues affecting the scrap recycling industry.

Each IIA will be assigned to a member of ISRI's Government Relations Department. This will allow for additional training outside of formal education and training programs. The IIA and ReMA staff member will develop their own unique relationship to further enhance the association's advocacy efforts.

Built into the IIA Program will be a feedback loop where IIAs and ReMA staff can bring each other up to date on ISRI’s and other issues. The feedback loop will allow both members and staff to address the needs of each unique legislator in a timely manner.

The IIA will be in a position to get personally close to a legislator's office because s/he will be seen as an expert on the issues about which ReMA is concerned. And that is what the IIA Program is focused on.