GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE - 2011

Fostering Trust - We will foster trust by:

• Clear and open communications
• A detailed understanding of roles and expectations
• A commitment to follow-through on expectations; and
• Development of meaningful relationships between members.

Creating the Shared Vision:

• Respond to critical legislative issues that affect the interests of our members and their constituencies.
• Communicate effectively with all of our constituents, including FPA members, other FPA/MN committees, the FPA/MN Board/leadership, and the public.
• Communicate effectively with the national FPA, in cooperation with the FPA/MN Board.

Developing Strategies & Initiatives:

• Develop a process to increase our influence on regulatory issues affecting the financial planning profession, including establishing and nurturing relationships with key regulatory and legislative
• Develop a list of key issues and our position on each of those issues, along with the MN Board, with input from national FPA
• As needed, develop position statements for submission to the FPA/MN Board, and ultimately (as appropriate) to the National Board
• Enhance data in the Minnesota FPA database to identify members’ Congressional and legislative districts
• Establish calls and in-person meetings with elected officials and/or their staff to create a dialogue about key issues affecting the financial planning community
• Research upcoming bills and provide proactive information to members on potential impact
• Define newsletter engagement to include both regulatory updates and other educational columns on critical issues (such as implementation of a fiduciary standard) in monthly FPA MN newsletter
• Maintain roster of committee members and implement two face time social events per year
• Implement one face time Strategic Planning Committee Meeting per year
• Ensure that the information for our Committee on the FPAMN website is accurate, that all links in newsletters and website are correct and reach the destination, and all posted information is up-to-date

Energizing Alliances:

• Education/Programs Committee -
  • What do we want? Link timing of newsletter article with speaker on government relations issues
  • What do they want? Reinforcement of key program messages
• Financial Literacy & Stability Committee -
  • What do we want? Collaborate with key stakeholders who have a stake in the financial literacy issue
  • What do they want? Assistance in development of a comprehensive plan for enhancing financial literacy
• Periodically request agenda time at the monthly FPA/MN BoardMeetings for critical issues identified
• Have as many committee members as possible attend the annual FPA/MN Strategic Planning Meeting
• Invite Directors/Members of other Committees to our monthly meetings to explore possible synergies

Activating Transformations:

• Add new committee members through active recruitment at monthly FPA meetings, new member receptions and enhancements to information on FPA MN site
• Develop a succession plan for new committee director every two years

Measuring Progress, Achieving Results, and Resetting the Vision

• Each strategy assigned to a specific committee member to promote ownership and assure that goals are accomplished

• Quarterly meetings (including at least two with in-person attendance) structured to assess progress toward meeting specific goals

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Library - Attachments:
• Legislative Model Letter - Initial Contact to be a resource
• Alternative Minimum Tax Information Summary - HR2643/S-2683 or HR2929/S-2701
• Alternative Minimum Tax Sample Letter to Legislators