Wrap-Up: The IFA 2012 Public Affairs Conference

By BEN HEINEMANN Take note: If you want to get a bunch of young House and Senate representative staffers to come to your event, just provide an open bar and free food from McDonalds, Chick-fil-A, Firehouse Subs and Domino’s Pizza. That’s what happened on Tuesday during the closing reception for the International Franchise Association’s Political Affairs Conference, aptly named the “Taste of Franchising.” The last day of the conference was filled with meetings scheduled by the IFA for conference attendees to meet with staffers and, when possible, members of Congress and/or the Senate. The goal of these meetings was to provide attendees, many of whom were franchisors or franchisees themselves, the opportunity to express their concerns about certain votes a politician has made on bills, laws and measures that directly affect small businesses. Seminars in advance of the meetings, led by IFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy Judith Thorman, guided attendees on topic to bring up with their representatives and encouraged the sharing of personal stories or hardships business owners have experienced over the years. A booklet provided by the IFA also outlined key House and Senate votes of 2011 and 2012, explaining if the IFA supported the legislation, as well as breaking each vote down by representatives from each state. 1851 attended meetings with the staff from Illinois Representative Mike Quigley, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, Illinois Senator Mark Kirk and Nevada Senator Harry Reid, the Majority Leader in the Senate. In each meeting, staff members listened closely as franchisors and franchisees asked questions relating to House and Senate votes, asking what the political office would do now and in the future to support franchising. At the end of the day, over 200 people ascended twin marble staircases to gather in the Cannon House Office Building’s impressive Caucus Room. Under chandeliers and a carved ceiling detailed with golds, reds and greens, many of the very same staff members attendees had met with earlier in the day flooded the room, rubbing elbows and discussing issues relating to franchising while enjoying fair from businesses some may have not recognized were franchises. The conference concluded with a special dinner for FranPAC members and contributors at Chef Michel Richard’s restaurant, Central. With hundreds of personal stories shared, many issues brought to light and constant swapping of business cards between conference attendees and government employees, the IFA met its goal of letting Washington D.C. know that the franchise industry’s voice will be heard.