Masonry Magazine August 1997 Page. 7
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Watching Grass Grow
The British take their gardens and lawns very seriously. A gardener was asked to what he attributes to his lawn being so lush and beautiful. His reply was simple. Good soil, hybrid seed, the best fertilizer, lots of rain and a hundred years of maintenance.
You can draw a parallel between this and what our congress accomplishes. It seems there are so many special interest groups going to Washington to lobby their congressmen. Unfortunately nothing is accomplished until the polls are in and analyzed.
Twenty eight Mason Contractors with over 75 specialty contractors from all over the country visited Washington, D.C. on June 8-10, 1997. The purpose was to lobby their members of congress on important construction issues, identify state issues and learn valuable techniques for bringing policy success to their business.
I was fortunate to give the opening address at this Construction Industry Legislative Conference (CILC). We noted that in order to enact any policy change we are seeking, we must first find a secret weapon. This secret weapon is simple, painless and inexpensive. The secret weapon is you and me.
How do you become this secret weapon? It's as easy as developing a relationship with your representative or senator. If we do not have a working relationship already, we must start as soon as possible. Plant the seed.
Their names, addresses, telephone numbers, E-Mail addresses and fax numbers should be on your rolodex. After all they are working for you. You are paying their salary. Their decisions are effecting your lives and business.
I did notice a different attitude with congress this last visit. They want to hear from us as much as possible, when considering pro-small business legislation. Fertilize.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of these monsters (I mentioned them before) out here who are anti-business. Our members believe that small business needs federal taxes reduced, a real balanced budget passed, less government intervention, employee accountability as part of OSHA being a more reasonable and responsive agency, and estate tax reform, (Perpetuation of your business to your family) just to name a few.
Unfortunately my congressmen voted for one of the largest tax increases in 1993, voted against the only balanced budget put forth in years by congress in 1995 and is a strong advocate of socialized health care. (He's already running for President. Do you know him yet?). I will water his lawn.
Isn't the above enough to convince you to get involved at the grass roots level.
Both parties and both branches of government need to know that small businesses employ more workers in this country than all the fortune 500 companies combined. The indifference that discourages us from getting involved grows out of the feeling that elections are more a choice between two corrupt gangs than two serious political parties.
We encourage you to get to know your congressmen by attending their town hall meetings and give your input. With all your help we can then watch the grass grow!!
Our work awaits us, let us begin.
Donald Grant
President, Mason Contractors
Association of America
MASONRY-JULY/AUGUST, 1997 7