Grassroots GovernmentActivities Committee

Region [Number] CRC

[RVC name]

[RVC email]

[RVC phone]

[Date]

Why? Member involvement and engagement

Guidance and education

Broad scope

Not U.S.-centric

Official structure for these activities

Discrete emphasis on interactions with local governments

Reports to Members Council

GGAC Responsibilities

GGAC shall be responsible for grassroots activities and issues that relate to local, state and provincial government bodies in areas of interest to ASHRAE members, in order to better coordinate efforts and understanding between ASHRAE grassroots members and local government.

Society GGAC Structure

Chair First Vice Chair Second Vice Chair Communications Coordinator Fourteen Regional Vice-Chairs BOD ex-officio and Coordinating Officer Advocacy Consultant Staff Liaison

Where Does GGAC Fit In? Many ASHRAE-relevant policy

issues are decided at the at the provincial, state and local level

Chapter members are most knowledgeable about their community

Establish your chapter as a resource for local decision makers

How Do You Do It?

CommunicationBetween chapters/sections/members

and with ASHRAE staff liaison

Coalition Building“Force multiplier”

Grassroots Relationships Chapters and sections should

develop relationships with local chapters of other organizations Institutes of Architects Building Owners and Managers

Association International Code Council International Facilities Managers Assn. National Society of Professional

Engineers Green Building Councils

Grassroots Relationships Many Society-level Memoranda of

Understanding Formalize scope of relationships

between ASHRAE and other organizations

List of MOUs – updated regularly – available on

ASHRAE’s website

https://www.ashrae.org/about-ashrae/policies-and-procedures

Grassroots Relationships Joint meetings and networking

events Regular discussions about

possible opportunities for collaborationTechnical programmingWorking with policymakers to

speak to ASHRAE core policy concerns that may impact their organizations as well

Connections•Inventory relationships with

policymakers

•Include them in events, communications

What Chapters and Members Can Say

Engagement with Policymakers

Serve as clearinghouse of grassroots government adoptions of ASHRAE-endorsed standards,

guidelines, and positions

Engagement with Policymakers

Encourage active, informed membership by keeping local, provincial and state governments updated on technical

issues

Engagement with Policymakers

Promote appointment of local members to local, provincial, state, and,

beyond North America,national governmental

bodies

Limitations

If requested by grassroots governmental body to assist in writing or development of

regulations, codes, ordinances, or laws, or law, or

to participate in advisory group to grassroots

government agency, upon BOG approval, go ahead,

BUT

LimitationsChapters, sections, and members must not take any action that conflicts with:Society or chapter bylawsSociety‐approved documents or publications

Any existing Memorandum of Understanding or contractual obligation between ASHRAE and another code or standards writing organization

Limitations

Chapters, sections, and members may speak to technical or method‐of‐enforcement aspects of public policy only and must not support of political party or candidate

Limitations

Chapters, sections, and members must not jeopardize chapter’s tax status, or cause chapter, section, or member to exceed local, provincial or state limits regarding registration as “lobbyist” or “lobbying organization”

LimitationsChapters, sections, and members must not request or receive any travel or transportation reimbursement (as defined by ASHRAE Travel Policy), nor any reimbursement for time away from regular employment, for activity

NO LOBBYING!ASHRAE has comprehensive matrix of what constitutes “lobbying” in all U.S. states – and is working to get similar materials for non-U.S. jurisdictions

“Lobbying” vs. “Advocacy”

In the simplest terms…

“Lobbying” v. “Advocacy”

Lobbying

“Lobbying” v. “Advocacy”

Advocacy

“Lobbying” v. “Advocacy”

Laws and regulations vary state to state, jurisdiction to jurisdiction, country to country, so consult the law no matter what

Staying Out of Trouble

It is your responsibility to know what can and can’t be done – and to convey the same to your chapter chairs

Limitations Outlined

ROB Section 2.433

MCO Section 2.6

GGAC MOP

GGAC Resource Manual

GGAC Public Policy Priorities

ASHRAE-Approved Documents

Published Standards and Guidelines

Public Policy Issue BriefsPosition Documents

All are available on ASHRAE website

Management by Objectives (MBOs)

RVC to fill in as each RVC will assign these to the chapters

Chapter Chair Responsibilities Review Section 2.6 of the MCO

Work with the chapter to keep local, provincial and state governments updated on technical issues

Inform the chapter members of local, provincial and state government issues

Seek the appointment of chapter members to local, provincial and state governmental bodies

Maintaining a list of all elected officials in the jurisdictions within the chapter’s geographical boundaries

Maintaining a list of appointed or hired government employees who have a role in the enforcement or adoption of local codes or standards relevant to the building sciences

Chapter Chair Responsibilities Provide tools to train and enable chapter

members to effect positive interactions with government entities in their communities

Serve as a conduit to keep their chapter leaders, RVC, and the Government Affairs Office staff informed on local governmental activities of interest to ASHRAE

Liaising chapter members with educational, advocacy and programs-related groups within ASHRAE

Serving as a clearinghouse of grassroots government adoptions of ASHRAE-endorsed standards, guidelines, and positions

Public Policy PrioritiesASHRAE standards

“Doing business”

Energy efficiency in the built environment

Future of the profession

Presidential Award of Excellence•Categories outline Society GGAC priority activities

•Should serve as guidance for chapters and sections on how to organize GGAC programming – especially in initial phases

Presidential Award of Excellence

ASHRAE’s President-Elect decides the specific point allocations

Presidential Award of ExcellencePAOE recognizes and rewards members who perform activities to support ASHRAE initiatives

PAOE Newsletter, Instructions, and Award Descriptions are available at www.ashrae.org

Government Activities Award•Recognizes a chapter or individual demonstrating outstanding efforts, in state, provincial, and/or local government on technical or policy issues important to ASHRAE

•Chapter Chairs submit nominations to the RVC for regional award

•Additional information regarding the Award can be found in Section 1 of the GGAC Resource Manual Section I

Resources RVC Other Chapter Chairs Society Staff Liaison (Jim

Scarborough [DC Office], jscarborough@ashrae.org)

ASHRAE Government Affairs website (http://www.ashrae.org/government-affairs)

ASHRAE’s bi-weekly Government Affairs Update (https://www.ashrae.org/government-affairs/government-affairs-updates)

Society GGAC LeadershipChair – Bert Phillips (

phillips@unies.mb.ca)

First Vice Chair – Keith Reihl (reihl@reihlengineering.com)

Second Vice Chair – Rob Craddock (rob@inlandmetal.ca)

Communications Coordinator – Ashish Rakheja (ashish.rakheja@aecom.com)