LobbyComply Blog

I walked into my first State Government Affair Council (SGAC) Leaders Policy Conference in 2000 at the WigWam Resort in Arizona. I was stunned! The senior executives of our clients were at that meeting. I was having a Romper Room moment.

And I have never missed a Leaders Policy Conference since then.

Here is the skinny on SGAC. It is the premier national association for multiple state government affairs professionals for major U.S. corporations, trade associations, and service providers, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year.

SGAC offers meaningful ways for members to get more involved in the community. Whether you are looking to expand your network, develop professionally, or help shape the future of our organization — there is a place for you.

State and Federal Communications encourages its staff to enroll in the professional certificate program and the advanced certificate program. These programs demonstrate your expertise and commitment to the profession.

The National Summit held in the spring of every year is specifically designed to offer educational programming, best practices, and engaging sessions for those in attendance.

The crème de la creme program is the Leaders Policy Conference held right before Thanksgiving with six (6) of the legislative leaders from every state eligible to attend. The legislators and SGAC members meet to discuss upcoming sessions and topics. It truly is my #1 favorite conference to attend.

Find out more about State Government Affairs Council at www.sgac.org and hope to see you in Naples, Florida.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz

@elizabethbartz

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State and Federal Communications is excited to be at the 2017 SGAC National Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana.

President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz , Director of Operations Amber Fish Linke, and Client Specialist Nola Werren are attending this year’s event, where attendees will discuss how “Managing State Government Affairs is BIG but NEVER EASY”

You can see the agenda here, and follow the conversations on Twitter with the hashtag #NSSGAC.

Here is our March calendar. If you are attending any of these events, please say hello!

March 6-9   PAC National PAC Conference, Miami Beach, Florida

March 7   NCSL Foundation Lunch, Washington DC

March 7   Women in Government Relations Leadership Program Session #3, Washington, DC

March 9   Montgomery County Council – African American Affairs Advisory Group Meeting, Silver Spring, Maryland

March 12-14   NASPO Exchange – How to Market to State Governments, St. Louis, Missouri

March 14   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

March 23   NCSL Foundation and SGAC Annual Roundtable, Washington, DC

March 23-25   American Copy Editors Society National Conference, St. Petersburg, Florida

March 28   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

March 29-31   SGAC National Summit, New Orleans, Louisiana

Here is our November-December calendar. If you are attending any of these events, please say hello!

November 16-18   NABPAC Biennial Post-Election Conference, Breakers Palm Beach, Florida

November 19-22   SGAC Leaders’ Policy Conference, Dana Point, California

December 2   Advocacy Leaders Network – Benchmarking, Training, & Next-Level Advocacy, Washington, DC

December 6-9   NCSL Capitol Forum, Washington, DC

December 7   Ohio Holiday Reception, Washington, DC

December 7   WGR Holiday Party, Washington, DC

December 11-14   COGEL Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana

Here is our October/November calendar. If you are attending any of these events, please say hello!

October 3   Akron Roundtable 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, Akron, Ohio

October 19-21   Public Affairs Council Fall Board Meeting, Laguna Beach, California

October 20   Akron Roundtable, Akron, Ohio

November 10   Professional Women in Advocacy Conference, Washington, DC

November 16-18   NABPAC Biennial Post-Election Conference, Breakers Palm Beach, Florida

November 19-22   SGAC Leaders’ Policy Conference, Dana Point, California

State and Federal Communications is excited to be an event sponsor of the 2016 SGAC National Summit in Portland, Oregon. President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz and Client Specialist Nola Werren are attending this year’s event, which boasts the theme “Changing the Game of Advocacy.”

You can see the agenda here. You can follow the conversations on Twitter with the hashtag #NS2016.

Here is our November/December calendar. If you are attending any of the coming events, please stop by and say hello!

November 10   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

November 12   AGRP Annual Meeting, Washington, DC

November 16-17   Professional Women in Advocacy, Washington, DC

November 21-24   SGAC Leaders’ Policy Conference, Washington, DC

November 23   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

December 6-9   COGEL Conference, Boston, Massachusetts

December 8-11   NCSL Capitol Forum, Washington, DC

December 11   Advocacy Leaders Network – Creating a Mobile Advocacy Toolkit,
Washington, DC

December 14   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, has a full schedule this week in Washington, D.C.

A leading expert in government relations compliance, Bartz was featured in the “Successful State Lobbying Today” session of the Association of Government Relations Professionals State Lobbying LCP program on Monday, October 19.

On Tuesday, October 20, Bartz presented a webinar for the State Government Affairs Council (SGAC). She was joined by Gerard Dehrmann of Walmart Stores and SGAC President 2015-2016.

State and Federal Communications is proud to be a sponsor of the SGAC 2015 National Summit Philanthropic Event. This year’s event was working with Outreach Inc. to pack meals for the needy. We are always looking for good ways to help!

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications and Amber Fish Linke, Director of Client and Product Operations are attending the 2015 SGAC National Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. This year’s conference promises a great combination of expert sessions and networking. It runs from March 18-20.

Take a look at the amazing agenda here. You can follow the conversations on Twitter with the hashtags #SGACSummit15 and #SGAC40.

Here is our March – April calendar. If you are attending any of the coming events, please stop by and say hello!

March 4   Ohio Birthday Party, Washington, DC

March 9   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

March 18-20   SGAC National Summit, Nashville, TN

March 23   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, D.C.

March 26-28   ACES National Conference, Pittsburgh, PA

March 29-31   NASPO How to Market to State Governments, Philadelphia, PA

April 9   WGR Politics, PACs and Grassroots Conference, Washington, D.C.

April 30   DiversityBusiness.com Annual Program, New York City

One of the best parts of being involved with State Government Affairs Council is its dedication to help others. In November at its Leaders Policy Conference, the group raised money for Tee It Up for the Troops with a golf tournament.

Problem is I don’t golf. I have tried. I don’t golf. I can drive the golf cart, but to go out on the course…I look like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack.

Thanks to SGAC and Tee It Up for the Troops we were able to help by bidding on a golf bag. In this case it was a bidding war with Chris Badgley from Daiichi Sankyo until the group offered to throw in another bag if I matched his bid. So, I now have a golf bag.

Tee It Up for the Troops was established in 2005 and has donated nearly $4 million to honor, remember, respect, and support veterans and their families. This past year the group has:

• Assisted more than 22,000 military families, saving families more than $35 million in lodging costs alone, plus food and transportation;
• Helped nearly 4,000 veterans to restore a sense of self, family, and hope;
• Served more than 1,500 of the most severely wounded service members with year-round programs in more than 30 different sports nationwide; and
• Reunited more than 50 wounded veterans who were separated due to battlefield injuries, changes in rehabilitation, or other reasons beyond their control.

State and Federal Communications knows when we team up with others we help make a difference. If you are so inclined, check out www.teeitupforthetroops.org to see how you can help.

Until next month, see what you can do to help others less fortunate.

Thank you,

Elizabeth Z. Bartz
President and CEO
@elizabethbartz

The SGAC Foundation Leaders’ Policy Conference is always an extraordinary gathering of legislative leadership from the states and top state government affairs professionals. We are attending the conference, which will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 22-25, 2014. The agenda boasts a wide range of speakers including Donna Brazile, Secretary Tom Ridge, and Ashley Judd!

State and Federal Communications is proud to be a Special Events Sponsor of this great event!