Pub. 1 Issue 2

VIRGINIA AUTO DEALER www.vada.com 14 Grassroots Activism: Making personal connections and getting engaged in grassroots activism is more important than ever. G rassroots activism is considered one of the most effec- tive forms of advocacy. It is about encouraging per- sonal conversations, deepening political participation, and driving change from the ground up. It is when and where you as a business owner or an employee of a Virginia business can make the most change. New car dealerships are lo- cated in just about every single district across Virginia, meaning every legislator relies on your local car dealership to keep their communities economically and socially healthy. It is no secret that selling cars in the state of Virginia has become more difficult as our industry is impacted by many outside forces, all of which ultimately impacts you as dealers, your customers and your communities. Engaging in grassroots advocacy is a crucial step that can be taken to connect with your local legislators and encourage them to engage in a di- alogue about priorities that are not only vital for the success of your business but to their community and constituents. In 2018 there were more than 65,000 Virginians employed by new car dealerships and directly related businesses, which means that all elected officials should be concerned with the state of our industry. Most people, including most dealers, are hesitant to become politically involved, whether at the local, state or federal level for reasons ranging from the belief that change is hopeless to disillusionment with the politicians themselves. The truth is that politics are a necessary part of modern life and have be- come a necessary component to running a successful business. When it comes to politics and policy, acting sooner is better than acting later. The earlier you head-off problems, the easier they are to solve. Neglect the problems, though, and they only get worse. You may also hesitate to get involved because of time constraints, however VADA makes it as easy as possible for you to engage in an effective and time efficient manner. There are three main reasons you should engage in grassroots activ- ities within VADA: 1 Grassroots activities are effective. Few people participate in the political process, so those who do take part have more influence than they would have otherwise because they have in- creased access to legislators and other officials who make public policy decisions. You can often find politicians who are involved with grassroots activism themselves. It is only natural for them to recognize the importance of such efforts, and to listen to what committed individuals have to say. 2 Grassroots activities are a good way to educate your peers. By informing other people about important issues our industry is facing, it becomes easier to encourage others to recommend making changes. Most people suffer from infor- mation clutter — there is simply too much going on for peo- ple to be able to thoughtfully consider every piece of infor- mation that comes their way. VADA boils information down and makes it as easy as possible for you to digest critical and complex issues facing your business. By extracting the most important information and deciding where and when effort should be made to maximize results, VADA grassroots activi- ties become more efficient and effective. Why You Should Engage