Strategic Planning for Government Affairs

Creating Agreement, Support, and Direction for Your Government Affairs Efforts

Why Have A Strategic Plan?

PART ONE

Start Building Your Plan

Assess What You Have

Influencing the Outcome

Define the Audience

Identify Direction

Determine Decision Makers

Locate Response

What will you need to be effective

•Budget•Materials•Resources•Manpower

Determine Your Needs

Case Study: SEMAR

The South East Minnesota Association of REALTORS®•Governing 5 Counties and 40+ Municipalities up to 100 miles apart•HEAVY member involvement•Vastly different political beliefsWhat do you do when no one has ever met?

PART TWO

Testing Your Plan

Develop Your Timeline

You Can’t Control It

External D

emands

Coalition

Stay Flexible

Gather Data & Test Messages

• Conduct Research– Polling– Focus Groups– Influencers

• Test Audiences• Refine Messaging

Avenues

Case Study: CSUF & CollegeTown Development

California State University Fullerton•50 Year History in the community•35,000 Students•Transitioning to more destination campus•Active Angry ResidentsHow do you undo 50 years of history and establish public trust in 6 months?

PART THREE

Implementing Your Plan

Stay On Point

When to Re Evaluate

One More Thing…

GIVE CREDIT

Case Study: What went wrong?

A major trade association•Well funded corporate members•Minimal culture for PAC fundraising•Multiple communication channels•Engaged volunteersHow do you go down when there is nowhere to go but up?

So… What’s it Look Like?

• Monthly Plans• Specific Tasks & Assignments• Specific Goals and Annual Tracking• Identified Targets• Methodology to Reach Targets• Assigned Contacts• Assigned Follow Ups

Why should we get involved?

“The penalty for refusing to participate in politics is that you will be governed by your inferiors”

- Plato

Strategic Planning for Government Affairs

Successful GA Program• Policy• Politics• Public Advocacy

The Right Plan Gets You There!

Chip Ahlswede – (714) 402-1430chip@gastrategies.comMeredith Weisel – (301) 437-2554Meredith@gastrategies.com