Southwest region still in need of grassroots ambassadors

The GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador program is off to a successful start with 89 members now advocating GCSAA policies and initiatives at the local, regional and national level.  

For those of you who are not aware of the grassroots program, it was established at the 2014 Golf Industry Show and matches a GCSAA member with all 535 members of Congress (by 2018), allowing members to establish strong and beneficial relationships with elected policymakers and represent golf on issues that are important to the industry.  

Class A, SM and C members are eligible to serve as an ambassador and appointments are for a two-year period.  Ambassadors are required to perform the following activities during the two-year period:

• Attend more than 50% of events on ambassador engagement calendar.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with assigned policymaker, and keep abreast of, and advocate, GCSAA policy statements and initiatives.
• Regularly review GCSAA publications, action alerts and updates on GCSAA Government Relations Online.
• Respond to GCSAA action alerts in a timely manner and engage colleagues to participate in such efforts to the extent required or necessary. In this role, a GCSAA grassroots ambassador must be able to represent GCSAA as a whole and the advancement of its members and the golf industry in general. 
• Meet personally with assigned policymaker or his or her key staff at least twice each year using these options:

1. Attend one August recess activity while policymaker is in the district.
2. Visit policymaker in his or her district office.
3. Visit policymaker in his or her Capitol Hill office.
4. Host the policymaker at a golf course.
5. Invite assigned policymaker to attend chapter meeting or other GCSAA affiliated function.

• Attend GCSAA Advocacy Boot Camp if attending the Golf Industry Show, if it fits in with personal schedule.
• Promptly report to the GCSAA government relations department all actions and outcomes tied to ongoing advocacy efforts.
• Include government relations and advocacy information in your chapter newsletter or chapter websites, as appropriate.  
• Provide bi-annual government relations updates at chapter meetings.                 

There are a number of congressional deistricts in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada still in need of qualified ambassadors.  You may only represent the district in which your facility is located.  All GCSAA ambassadors will receive the training and resources needed to become a successful advocate for the game. 

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For more information on the program, or to check on availability in your area, please contact me at jjensen@gcsaa.org , Kaelyn Seymour at kseymour@gcsaa.org or visit the website at http://cqrcengage.com/gcsaa/Ambassadors. 

Becoming a grassroots ambassador is a great way for you to enhance your overall skill set and advocate on behalf of the game you love.