We’ve been Stock(ing) the Sleigh with socks for the homeless of Akron. A change of socks is one of the easiest and most profound ways to offer comfort to someone who lives outside and deals with cold, wet feet.

I am thrilled to report we have collected about 300 pairs of socks for the Haven of Rest, which serves hundreds of homeless people in the Akron area.

Thank you to the staff for their generous giving this holiday season!

There are more than 26,000 children in Summit County who experience food insecurity.

We have students in the Akron Public Schools who depend on the school meals for their sustenance and must do without during the holiday break.

The United Way of Summit County is answering that need by collecting food in their Holiday Snack Pack Drive.

We are proud to say we collected 588 individual snacks for those students as our way of sending love to the Akron community this holiday season.

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio has an amazing group offering comfort to some wonderful people in need.

Each month, members of the Women’s Philoptochos Society are creating lovely quilts for the military, special quilts for those in burn units, and for many other people in need! As well as being comfy, these hand-crafted quilts are works of art made with loving care.

State and Federal Communications is proud to do its part by sponsoring the cost of shipping for these precious gifts.

 
We are kicking off the holiday season with our Stock(ing) the Sleigh project for the Akron community.  This year we are collecting socks for the homeless. Our sock drive begins today and ends on Monday, December 18. All donations will benefit the Haven of Rest, which serves hundreds of homeless people in the Akron area.

Also, we are gathering snacks for the children in the Akron Public Schools with United Way’s Holiday Snack Pack Drive! It starts today and runs until Monday, December 11. You can be a champion for a hungry child in the Akron Public Schools by bringing in snack items – you can find the list of snacks here.

From all of us at State and Federal Communications, we hope you and your family has a great Thanksgiving. Our offices will be closed on Thanksgiving day and the following Friday as we give thanks.

Speaking of, we’re very thankful for all of you this holiday and look forward to many more years of providing you the unparalleled political compliance information you’ve come to expect! Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us at State and Federal Communications, we hope you and your family has a great Thanksgiving. Our offices will be closed on Thanksgiving day and the following Friday as we give thanks.

Speaking of, we’re very thankful for all of you this holiday and look forward to many more years of providing you the unparalleled political compliance information you’ve come to expect! Happy Thanksgiving!

Attending any of these events in November? You can see the State and Federal Communications Team there!

November 3 PLEN: Women in Corporate and Nonprofit Leadership Summit, Washington, D.C.

November 6-7 Professional Women in Advocacy, Washington, D.C.

November 8-11 Women in Government, Washington, D.C.

November 8 NPC Headliners Book Event: Chris Matthews, Washington, D.C.

November 15 NABPAC PAC Management Conference, Washington, D.C.

November 17 Advocacy Leaders Network, Washington, D.C.

November 18-21 SGAC Leaders Policy Conference, Washington, D.C.

It is not too early to start planning…Not for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve. I am talking about 2018 legislative sessions, primary elections, and the November 6th general election.

The Research Department at State and Federal Communications has been busy, busy, busy updating our website with the important dates you need for 2018.

• When will the states go into session? √
• When are lobbying reports due? √
• Will there be blackout periods in 2018? √
• When will the primaries be held in the states? √
• When are pre- and post-election reports due? √
• Does every state have a general election in 2018? √

You just cannot go wrong when connected with the State and Federal Communications Community to know when your reports are due; elections are held; and when legislatures convene, adjourn, recess, and go into special session.

Access is easy for our subscribers. Sign onto StateandFed.com and input your login and password. The world is then at your fingers. If you need assistance with your access information, please call Megan Huber-Kovachik or Tony Didion at 330-761-9960 and they will provide the information.

You might not be able to tell by my desk, but my calendar is organized. Staying on top of these important compliance dates will help you manage your time in 2018.

This year is almost ending, which is hard to believe. Rest assured, State and Federal Communications is at your side for 2018.

State and Federal Communications has a year-round commitment to supporting the United Way of Summit County. This includes taking part in the annual campaign, Read to Me days, and the Day of Action. But, everyone’s favorite is the office’s annual Halloween Donut and Cider sale and “pay-to-play” costume event. Not only is the event great fun, but all proceeds go to the United Way.

This year’s Halloween Donut and Cider sale was another resounding success, with 58 dozen donuts and 20 gallons of cider sold. Joe May, corporate social responsibility manager, says the sale “gets bigger and bigger every year.”

The staff delivered imaginative costumes as well as tasty treats. We were treated with visits from Kylo Ren, the friendly Starbucks barista, a flowery Snapchat filter, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, among many others. Elizabeth Bartz, our president and CEO, and Joe Vegas, with his sharp silver jacket, just shined with joy at how much we helped the United Way yesterday.

Here’s a glimpse of the office fun yesterday:

On Tuesday, October 31, State and Federal Communications is hosting its Eighth Annual Halloween Donut and Apple Cider Sale. All sales will go directly to the United Way of Summit County.

Drop in and say hello from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. and enjoy a delicious treat. We’ll be in the lobby of 80 South Summit St. in Downtown Akron, across from Quaker Square.

The Krispy Kreme regular and chocolate donuts are $1.00 per donut or $7.00 per dozen. The apple cider will be $1.00 per cup or $8.00 per gallon.

To reserve your donuts, you can email Joe May at jmay@stateandfed.com, or call us at 330-761-9960.

The CASA Board Volunteer Association of Summit County held its annual fundraiser, “I Am for the Child” breakfast on October 18, 2017. The CASA/GAL (Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem) Program of Summit County is a trained community of volunteers appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of an abused or neglected child in court. State and Federal Communications was proud to be one of the sponsors.

We also are proud that our very own Research Manager Michael Beckett has been serving as chairman of the CASA Board. Beckett led the amazing breakfast event with the compelling story of the many children in Summit County who need the services of CASA.

“We had a great morning sharing the immediate goal of the CASA/GAL Program to provide each child victim of this opioid epidemic with a trained CASA volunteer,” said Beckett.  “Thank you to Elizabeth Bartz and State and Federal Communications for facilitating and supporting my involvement with the CASA Board.”

Thank you, Michael Beckett and all of the CASA community for the terrific work you are doing for the children of Summit County!

State and Federal Communications, Inc. President and CEO, Elizabeth Z. Bartz, was honored Friday, October 13, with the Kent State University Advocacy Award during the university’s fourth annual alumni awards. Elizabeth remains actively involved in Kent State University, especially with incoming freshman.

“I have always felt it was important to pay back Kent State by being actively involved in the alumni program, creating a scholarship and supporting the university and its students,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth works to give back to Kent State and the university’s students through the Elizabeth Z. Bartz Scholarship for seniors at Howland High School planning to attend Kent State university; and the Promising Scholar Program, a scholarship opportunity for incoming freshmen in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Read more about the ceremony from the university’s news paper, The Kent Stater; and learn more about Elizabeth and the Advocacy award from the Kent State Alumni Association!

Does your advocacy work include grassroots lobbying? Do you know what actions are considered grassroots lobbying?

Generally, Grassroots Lobbying is defined as the act of encouraging the public to contact lawmakers and administrative officials for the purpose of influencing legislation or other official action.

These actions may trigger registration requirements.  And if your organization already has registered lobbyists, these actions may have to be reported.

State and Federal Communications is here to help you. Our newest tip sheet on Grassroots Lobbying will provide you with guidance on how to ensure you can stay compliant with all your grassroots advocacy efforts.

This tip sheet will provide you with the key information to keep in mind as you begin your efforts, including knowing what activities trigger registration and when you have to register.

Click here to get this FREE tip sheet today – and ensure you and your team can say “I Comply!”

Writing a monthly column doesn’t come easy for me…I want to find something to pique your interest but not make you fall asleep reading. I was kind of stuck waiting until the 11th hour to write the column when I thought I would see what I wrote in previous Septembers. (So now you will all know I am a technological pack rat and save everything I have written.)

In 2014—three years ago I still have seven (7) states to visit in this country. Now, I know those of you who follow me on Facebook cannot believe I have not been to all 50 states.  I had not completed it by 2014 and I am sorry to say I still have not reached the goal.

I really thought I could knock off South Dakota with Sen. Deb Peters at the NCSL Executive Committee meeting in October but it conflicts with a few other events that week and I cannot get there.  There is still a chance I can knock this off by taking a US vacation to see Mount Rushmore.

Back to the subject. I am now down to the Final Four!!!

• Alabama
• Montana
• South Dakota
• Wyoming

What are your outstanding ones? And, if any of you have Ohio on that list, you need to call me to attend any of a number sporting events—Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland CAVS, Akron Rubber Ducks, or a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I also have season tickets to the home games to Kent State University Golden Flashes. #flashesforever

I have a new goal and there is a new year coming up…Let’s do it!

Until next month, put your list together of states still left to see and hit the road.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz

President and CEO
@elizabethbartz