MVMA Works with LGN to Connecting Veterinarians with Legislators

With the 2009 Legislative Session adjourned, the MVMA’s lobbying firm, Lockridge Grindal Nauen (LGN), is continuing to expand its grassroots organizing services to its members in preparation for the 2010 legislative session. LGN’s Grassroots services will augment the legislative representation LGN has provided the MVMA for over 20 years. The services include setting up tours and forums where veterinarians can meet and develop working relationships with their legislators, while staying informed of policy initiatives affecting the veterinary community.

The MVMA initiated the veterinarian clinic and legislator meetings last fall. Several meetings were set up by the lobbyists at veterinarian clinics and it proved to be very successful. During these meetings, legislators are given a tour of the clinic which provides them with a sense of what a veterinarian does for a living and it introduces you, the constituent, as a local resource on public policy matters relating to veterinary science.

If you would like to have the MVMA lobbyists schedule a legislator forum at your clinic please contact us at msschafer@locklaw.com or call (612) 596-4014. We will do all of the work in organizing a meeting at your clinic where we will do a pre-site tour, and explain to you what is expected and provide you with some tips on visiting with legislators.

MVMA will also be updating its key contact network by identifying key members in legislative districts to establish and/or maintain positive working relationships. These key contacts will serve as MVMA’s local sources for elected officials during each legislative session.

Additionally, we plan to bolster MVMA’s electronic advocacy program to prepare for the upcoming session. MVMA members will be able to contact their elected officials via LGN’s website, and we will be able to track the number of messages sent, the recipients and other information that will support the Association’s advocacy efforts at the Capitol.

We are also beginning to develop plans for a Day at the Capitol in 2010 for veterinarians to spend a half day going to St. Paul to visit with their legislators at the capitol. This is always a fun event and it sends an important message to legislators that this profession needs to be considered as they develop policies and legislation affecting veterinarians. Look for more information about this event later this year and in early 2010.

We look forward to working with you, but don’t wait for us to call. Please feel free to call or e-mail me using the contact information above to get started. The strength of MVMA’s legislative influence at the local level will be defined by the activity of its members. Let’s get active.