The Washington association that lobbies for lobbyists feels the group needs some rebranding and wants to change its name to nix the word “lobbyists.”
The leaders of the American League of Lobbyists say their work has evolved, and members do lots more than troll Congress to try to shape legislation.
They’re into grassroots organizing and public affairs, they say and other sorts of politics and advocacy. In short, they’re not simply lobbyists anymore!
But as professionals, they know that reputation matters, and theirs stinks (see above). They poll only slightly better than U.S. Congress these days.
“Everybody has a misconception that lobbyists are walking around with a pocketful of cash and that’s it,” said Monte Ward, the group’s president.
Ward says, “The new brand will seek to fully represent the broad range of responsibilities that a government relations professional practices daily.”
They narrowed the new name down to The Association of Government Relations Professionals or The National Association of Government Relations Professionals.
Edgy stuff, we know. The board of directors had some tense discussions, and there were a few early October focus groups to test the waters on this.
On Monday, the board finalized its decision. Ward will ask members to approve the switch to the Association of Government Relations Professionals.
The board also approved a new tag-line: “Voice of the Lobbying, Public Policy, and Advocacy Professions. Members will have 30 days to vote.
The group’s bylaws require two-thirds approval before the name can be changed, but we’re guessing this lobbying effort will be nearly unanimous.
Congress may want to follow suit if the shutdown ever ends.
Maria de Villota Dies; Formula One Test Driver Was 33
Former Formula One test driver Maria de Villota was discovered dead in a hotel room in Seville, Spain, earlier today. She was just 33 years old.
Her death comes a year after nearly dying in an awful racing accident. An autopsy showed that lingering injuries from her wreck likely caused her death.
De Villota’s sister, Isabel, said an autopsy indicated that she had died in her sleep around 6 a.m. due to “neurological damage” from her crash in July 2012.
De Villota lost an eye in the accident but had since seemingly recovered from the wreck, even driving again, writing a book about it, and getting married.
Spanish police said her death was from “natural causes” and that there was no indication of foul play. They said de Villota’s manager alerted staff at the hotel.
De Villota was injured in a crash during testing for the Marussia F1 team in England, losing her right eye and sustaining other serious head injuries.
De Villota, a Madrid native, was the daughter of Emilio de Villota, who competed in F1 from 1976-82. Her family used de Villota’s Facebook page to say:
“Dear friends: Maria has left us. She had to go to heaven like all angels. I give thanks to God for the year and a half that he left her with us.”
F1 officials and drivers at the Japanese Grand Prix were stunned by her death.
“My deepest condolences go to the family,” said FIA president Jean Todt.
“Maria was a fantastic driver, a leading light for women in motorsport and a tireless campaigner for road safety. Above all she was a friend I deeply admired.”
“She was an inspiration not just to women in this sport, but also to all those who suffered life-threatening injuries. If anybody represented strength and optimism, it was Maria.”
“Her sudden death is a big loss to the motorsport world.” To translate this content in other language, contact Translation Companies UK
