GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPORT
GR Engagement in an Age of Political Skepticism by Amy Schoppman NMEDA DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
W
hen I was eighteen, I
that, while I may work in politics, I
Richard)—in this magazine and
enrolled in a course
personally understand that politics
elsewhere. While I find some comfort
called “The History of
can seem inaccessible, indecipherable,
in knowing that I’m far from alone,
Western Political Theory” during
frustrating, amorphous,
I will never not find it perplexing
my Freshman year of college. I
inconsequential, petty, pretentious,
that members (of any Association,
lasted four days. Was my short-
[insert additional unflattering
not just NMEDA) actively decline to
lived involvement due to one of
adjectives…]. Basically, it’s not for
participate in Government Relations
my classmates uttering the words
everyone. I recently attended a US.
(GR) efforts that would impact
“jurisprudential analysis” and
Chamber of Commerce seminar on
their businesses, their customers,
“apathetic plurality” (in the same
government affairs and advocacy that
their employees, and/or their lives.
sentence, no less)? Possibly. Was
referenced two thought-provoking
Everything NMEDA’s GR team does
it because I was eviscerated by
statistics that helped me realize this
is for the benefit of the automotive
the Professor, during a clumsy and
aversion to politics is particularly
mobility industry, our membership,
ill-conceived attempt to charm,
prominent in the Association world:
and the clients that our membership
when I called her “Mrs. Clark”
(1) 84% of Associations “find it
serves. Whether you’re a Republican,
instead of “Dr. Clark” (an offense
challenging to get members involved
a Democrat, an Independent, a
so multi-layered that, in hindsight,
in Government Affairs/Advocacy”
Libertarian, a Transhumanist, a Moonie
I’m practically impressed with my
and (2) 52% of Association members
(in which case I would genuinely
teenage ignorance)? Perhaps. Or was it because the unfamiliar terminology, acronyms, public figures, and idioms flying around during class discussion made my head spin and led me to the conclusion that I’d bitten off more than I could chew (an experience I now identify as a forerunner to my first year working with Dave Goch, during which I understood maybe 60% of what he said to me)? It’s conceivable. Whatever the case, I dropped the course and took “Sociology of Deviance” instead. It seemed like a more natural fit, anyway. I bring this up to demonstrate
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NMEDA Circuit Breaker
“
Everything NMEDA’s GR team does is for the benefit of the automotive mobility industry, our membership, and the clients that our membership serves.”
“are unsure about their Association’s
love to have a conversation with
Government Affairs/Advocacy
you), or align yourself with some
process and priorities.”
other political affiliation, I think we
Let’s first address “The 84 Percent.” I
can all agree that political efforts
have previously expressed my stance on NMEDA member engagement— with apparently palpable frustration, based on the feedback I received from Richard May (I’m better now,
advantageous to our industry are, generally speaking, “a good thing.” For this reason alone, I ask readers to (re)consider involvement in NMEDA’s GR activities.
