Policy makers receive California Finishers’ message at well-attended Legislative Action Day
Sacramento – Metal Finishing Association of Southern (MFASC) and Metal Finishing Association of Northern California (MFANC), National Association of Surface Finishing (NASF) Chapters, brought members face-to-face with the decision makers in Sacramento who determine the outcome of the industry’s top legislative priorities at the annual Legislative Action Day held April 5th and 6th in Sacramento.
This strong grassroots program connected industry leaders with policy makers and created the opportunity to discuss and describe the role of the industry in the manufacturing supply chain and the entire state economy. Coming off the heels of the recent NASF Washington Forum, participants were well prepared to discuss both National as well as State-wide issues impacting their companies and further describe just how pervasive and important surface technology is as a multi-billion dollar industry in the state.
“It is critical to our highly regulated industry that legislators and regulators understand what we do and how our products affect everyday life, and how their actions can sometimes have unintended consequences,” said Bryan Leiker of K&L Anodizing, MFASC President. “Our industry is currently very strong from aerospace to commercial products. We provide hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue to the state of California,” Leiker continued.
Among the activities of the program were extensive lobbying at the grassroots level- telling the surface finishing story. Inside briefings from experts on issues critical to the industry were conducted. The goal, face-to-face meetings with members in office connecting constituents and their businesses with their legislators was carried out and there was widespread networking with decision-makers and colleagues. A lesson in the importance of participation is always reinforced by “full-contact” advocacy.
“We had a great turnout from both Northern and Southern California and the energy level was high,” said Terry McGuinness of Enviroserv, MFANC President. “The good turnout and unified effort translated into successful meetings and effective advocacy,” McGuinness continued.
The annual event was organized by MFASC President Bryan Leiker and MFANC President Terry McGuinness and executed by California Chapters Legislative Advocate Jerry Desmond and Executive Director Norman Plotkin.
It’s all about strength in numbers, and the California NASF Chapters certainly turned out and made their voices heard,” said Jean Marie Saidler of JMS Consultations, NASF Publicity guru.
The 2015 California Legislative date will be announced once officials have locked in the dates.
