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Welcome While I have been actively involved in the association for some time now, my passion for ARLTA and the ways it strives to benefit its members has grown exponentially over the past several years. Assuming the role of President of ARLTA is certainly an honor. Thank you for trusting me with that position and allowing me the privilege of serving you in that capacity. Generally, I suspect most view involvement in any trade association as a good way to promote themselves and their employers within an industry and to network with their colleagues. I did. However, through my involvement in ARLTA, serving in several different capacities along the way, my views have evolved. Now, I see active involvement in ARLTA as being necessary to preserve our profession and livelihood. Active involvement doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to serve on a committee or the Board of Directors. There are many other ways that you can be actively involved. Volunteering to speak on a topic of interest, filling out surveys and questionnaires to aid the association in improving the benefits which it offers its members, making suggestions on ways that ARLTA can better serve you, and contacting your legislators concerning matters of importance to the industry are just a few of the many other ways that you can be actively involved. Experience has shown that ARLTA’s voice at the Capitol is relatively small. Financial and vocal support of ARLTA’s legislative efforts is often limited. Yes, ARLTA has a Legislative Committee that volunteers an untold number of hours and is actively involved leading up to and during each legislative session. However, it needs your support in protecting this industry. Granted, you may not always agree with the position that ARLTA is taking on a particular matter, and that’s okay. However, if that occurs, I would ask that you contact me, the Chair of the Legislative Committee, any Board Member or our Executive Director to let us know what your view is on the matter so that it can be considered. Your voice counts and your feedback is crucial to our success. What I’ve noticed about the legislative success of other associations is that their members act when requested to do so by contacting their legislators to voice their association’s view on a particular matter. Regardless of the issue, if legislators are contacted by enough constituents, they simply cannot afford to turn a deaf ear to them. I’m sure you’ve all heard – “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” – well, its true. ARLTA, and consequently the protection of you livelihood, can benefit by your personal involvement in that regard. We will strive to make it as easy for you to do as possible. Additionally, lend some financial assistance to ARLTA, by attending the educational seminars which it hosts, and ARLTAPAC, by making a contribution (no amount is too small). Due to the relatively small number of members that ARLTA has as compared to other trade associations, it is that much more important that we all be involved and let our voices be heard. If we don’t actively participate in matters which shape the future for our industry and livelihood, we are destined to succumb to the views of other groups which are looking after their own best interest. Stand up and be counted! Wesley Lasseigne |
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