Pub. 1 2019-2020 Issue 1

19 CNCDA offers many ways for you to engage and offer your support on priority issues that directly impact you, your business and the future of California’s new car dealers. Everything from letter writing campaigns to engaging at critical times in the legislative process, local dealership meetings and our Annual Dealer Day in Sacramento are all ways you can engage in grassroots activism to help lawmakers understand why franchised new car dealers are critical to California’s economy. Jenny Dudikoff McLaughlin is the Director of Public Affairs for the California New Car Dealers Association. Jenny manages all communications internally and externally, while overseeing and implementing public affairs strategies to support the promotion of CNCDA and franchised new car dealers to policymakers, dealership employees, consumers and the general public. There are three main reasons you should engage in grassroots activities within CNCDA: 1. Grassroots activities are e ective. Few people participate in the political process, so those who do take part have more influence than they would have otherwise because they have increased access to legislators and other officials who make public policy decisions. You can often find politicians who are in- volved with grassroots activism themselves. It’s 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 impor- tant issues our industry is facing, it becomes easier to encourage others to recommend making changes. Most people suffer from information clutter — there is simply too much going on for people to be able to thoughtfully consider every piece of information that comes their way. CNCDA boils information down and makes it as easy as possible for you to digest critical and complex issues facing your business. By extract- ing the most important information and deciding where and when effort should be made to maximize results, CNCDA grassroots activities become more efficient and effective. 3. Grassroots activities train future industry and as- sociation leaders. When someone gets involved at a grassroots level, such interest and action can dem- onstrate that they have the ability, the intelligence, and the willingness to do more. As people provide service through a grassroots activism, it’s not uncom- mon for them to be noticed and then given additional opportunities. If people who have the capacity to be leaders are going to become more influential and effective, it will be necessary to find them, educate them, and give them the opportunities they need for the future. CNCDA offers many ways for you to engage and of- fer your support on priority issues that directly impact you, your business and the future of California’s new car dealers. Everything from letter writing campaigns to engaging at critical times in the legislative process, local dealership meetings and our Annual Dealer Day in Sacramento are all ways you can engage in grassroots activism to help lawmakers understand why franchised new car dealers are critical to California’s economy. CNCDA continues to be committed to ensuring a healthy business climate, promoting policies that protect California’s franchised new car dealers and advocating on behalf of dealer members to elected officials and poli- cymakers, but we can’t be nearly as effective as we can with your help. So please take the time to engage with us and your local legislators today. 3