[vntd_hero_section images=”60130″ heading_dynamic=”PIN Points: 2022 Wrap-Up Edition ” subtitle=”” button1_label=”” bg_overlay=”dark_blue” height=”custom” height_custom=”400″ heading_font_size=”55px” tooltips=”%5B%7B%22tooltip_title%22%3A%22Hello%20there!%22%2C%22tooltip_url%22%3A%22%23%22%2C%22tooltip_placement%22%3A%22top%22%2C%22tooltip_depth%22%3A%220.42%22%7D%5D”]
Letter from the Chair
The Public Affairs Council thanks Julie Vieburg for sharing her insights with us the past two years while she served as Chair of the Political Involvement Network. We appreciate her time, involvement and dedication!
By: Julie Vieburg
Senior Manager of Political Advocacy and Strategic Operations
Land O’ Lakes Inc.
As I am sitting here thinking about what the theme of this column should be, it is hitting me how time is relative. These last two years as your Political Involvement Chair have gone by in what feels like a second. Every time Tori reached out to me about the quarterly column, I was shocked that it had already been three months. Thankfully, she always gave me ample time to complete my assignment!
This year I promised myself I would do everything I could to not burn out. Push myself, yes, but not to the point of needing more than one Tums in the day. Three things that helped me shape a successful year:
- Mental Breaks. Whether it was taking my dog for a walk over lunch or using PTO. If you’ve been reading my columns, you’ll know I went to Puerto Vallarta and Italy. Both trips that made this year special, gave me something to look forward to, helped me grow as a person, and are why I believe I’m ending 2022 on such a productive and positive note.
- Time Management & Goal Setting. Every Sunday I ended the week reflecting on what went well, what could have gone better, and what I accomplished. I wrote everything down in my Ink & Volt Journal (10/10 recommend!). During that time, I also looked at the upcoming week and mapped out three things I wanted to accomplish, what I was looking forward to, and what I planned to eat/meal prep – saving time, stress, and ultimately empty calories. I also made an effort to live by the one-minute rule, both personally and professionally. It’s very simple: When I think of it, I must do any task that can be finished in one minute. Instead of spending your brainpower on worrying about these small tasks, do them immediately
- Does it Spark Joy? I constantly asked myself “does this spark joy?” regarding anything that was status quo, or I felt pressure to do. Do these shoes that I paid way too much for seven years ago spark joy? No – off to Goodwill. Am I enjoying this book that I am 50 pages into, and everyone recommends? No – then start a new book. Do I really want to watch another episode of 90 Day Fiancé? No – I just want to know what Big Ang is up to. Delete 35 episodes, free up my DVR, and do a quick Google search instead. By being able to let go of my own pre-conceived notions, restrictions, and expectations, I was able to spend my free time doing things that actually made me happy or sparked joy!
I plan to continue doing these things throughout 2023 – speaking of, I just scheduled a trip to Paris so please send me tips of what I should do, see and eat. As I close, I want to thank the Public Affairs Council for this opportunity – I have enjoyed my time serving as the Chair as well as working closely with Tori and Kristin along the way. They truly are two of my favorite people to work with and have always been there to help on days when I needed two (or three) Tums! And with that, please don’t be a stranger and always feel free to reach out. Au revoir![/vc_toggle]
Start the New Year with Sunshine and Learning!
[vc_single_image image=”117845″]Take advantage of early bird rates by registering for the upcoming 2023 Advocacy and National PAC Conferences! Get ready to develop professionally, expand your knowledge, network and enjoy the Florida sun!
The 2023 Advocacy Conference
February 6-9 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Early bird and discounted room rates end Jan. 12
The 2023 PAC Conference
February 26 – March 1 | West Palm Beach, Florida
Early bird and discounted room rates end Jan. 26
New Resource Alert! Lobbying Congress Tip Sheet
[vc_single_image image=”117788″]Looking to simply explain Congress to outside departments or train your grassroots advocates on the differences between the House and the Senate? Repurpose this diagram and/or tipsheet and use it as a training tool or a reference for yourself!
*Must be logged into Council Connect to view.
Just Released! 2022 Social Impact Report
[vc_single_image image=”117762″]The Foundation for Public Affairs has just released its 2022 Social Impact Report: Trends in DEI, Corporate Engagement and ESG. Findings from this year’s survey show that while a lack of diversity is still a major concern for the profession, progress is slowly being made in DEI strategic planning and partnering. The report also looks at how ESG priorities are influencing corporate lobbying activities and much more. Learn more in this Impact article on the findings.
Changing Workforce Trends in Government Relations
[vc_single_image image=”116952″]By: Madalyn Flood
Communications and Marketing Associate
Public Affairs Council
At the State and Local Government Relations Conference, speakers Jill Birnbaum of the American Heart Association and Michael Meehan of Squared Communications discussed changing workforce trends in the government relations landscape at the state and local level.
Many organizations are seeing an increase in turnover due to COVID- and salary-related challenges. Pay is an important factor for recruitment and retention, but keeping up with the cost of living isn’t always an option. The shift toward remote work has added to the retention challenge as teams struggle to collaborate with colleagues they’ve never met.
Jill and Michael shared tips from their own experiences and discussed ideas for how to succeed in spite of emerging challenges.
Here are a few of their takeaways:
One of the leading reasons employees leave a job is because they don’t believe their current company offers room to advance. This often stems from a scarcity of openings at the senior level. To combat this, companies need to be proactive in giving their employees ample opportunities to progress. Broadening your middle management tier is one solution that allows for continued growth between entry and senior levels. Develop the talent you have by facilitating an environment that allows employees to use their personal passions as guidance for the team’s government relations efforts.
Carefully consider how you build your teams.
Examine your hiring process. As the war for talent continues, review each step in your process and consider how you can streamline. Allowing potential new recruits the opportunity to work remotely provides flexibility for hiring, but don’t discount the challenges posed by managing remotely. It’s imperative your team carefully considers your plan for remote and in-person work. Another draw for new talent is the benefits package. Providing new employees immediate access to benefits like tuition assistance or paid family leave that they’d typically have to wait to take advantage of could be a major asset to your organization’s recruiting ability.
Build diverse pipelines.
Companies are focusing on building diversity in the workforce. Internally, teams are increasing investments in building diversity. They’re working proactively to change the way they engage in government relations work by examining their efforts around their own policy, practice and culture. Think proactively about everything you do within your department to build diversity. It’s important to consider the step-by-step approach you implement as you work toward racial equity in the workplace, and continue to assess that process regularly. Consider examining your pipelines for attracting diverse talent, and develop new systems to recruit and hire from, such as paid internships.
Invest in your organization’s culture.
As state government relations becomes increasingly important in the overall government relations landscape, many organizations are looking to build out their teams. However, some of these efforts have encountered low support from board members who don’t realize the value of government relations efforts beyond the federal level. When advocating for larger state and local teams, investment and culture are two important factors to note. Federal, state and local teams can and should work together to find success. Organizations must show that they value these teams equally and understand that grassroots organizers and local governments can also create change and be leaders.[/vc_toggle]
ICYMI: 2022's Trending Council Connect Resources
[vc_single_image image=”113918″]Check out the resources that got the most attention on Council Connect in 2022. Use your Council credentials to log in and view.
- Inside Elections September 2022 Political Intelligence Slides
- Hill Visit One-Pagers for Advocates
- Educating New Members “Issue 101”
- Webinar Recording: Building a Digital Strategy
- Webinar Recording: Sustainability, Social Responsibility and Global Public Affairs
PIN resources, discussions and more can be found on Council Connect. This is a free platform for Council members. Learn how to access Council Connect.