What is an Advocacy Officer?
The Advocacy Officer is a volunteer position coordinating regulatory, legislative, and community advocacy efforts for the bank by working with the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA). The Advocacy Officer works with other bankers, WBA staff, state, local, and federal levels of government, and other state or national trade groups.
What’s the ROI?
An Advocacy Officer helps your bank and the industry by providing action and input on legislative and regulatory policy items as well as strategic direction and assistance to the WBA Government Relations Committee. As part of the job, the Advocacy Officer may read articles, perform research, manage internal and external communication, contact legislators, and work with community leaders as well as others in the bank.
Similar to the WBA BOLT Section, these bankers have special opportunities for peer networking, educational growth, and leadership development.
- Advocacy Officers receive insider information about Madison and Washington, D.C. as well as what’s going on in Wisconsin’s economy and the banking industry (just one email per week – that’s it).
- An Advocacy Officer receives information on the best ways to inform bank staff about key industry developments and hold no-cost events that promote the bank and the industry.
- An Advocacy Officer is asked to be out of the bank only one day per year at the WBA Capitol Day (just like members of the WBA BOLT section).
Who should be my bank’s Advocacy Officer?
The typical background for this position usually includes someone who has an interest in public policy, a strong understanding of the banking industry (compliance, credit, external relations, etc.), the ability to speak for the bank on matters of regulatory or public policy, and has a fairly flexible schedule that is at their own discretion.
WBA Pro-tip: If you have someone signed up for the BOLT program, name them as your Advocacy Officer! A CEO can definitely be the Advocacy Officer, but your time is valuable, so maybe give someone a leadership opportunity!
What does an Advocacy Officer actually DO?
- Keep informed of legislative and governmental issues that impact both the bank and the banking industry.
- Communicate quarterly (optimally) with the bank’s Board of Directors and Officers on state, local and national issues impacting the industry.
- Help coordinate “Take Your Legislator to Work” days.
- Participate in the annual Capitol Day hosted by the Wisconsin Bankers Association.
- Work with WBA to coordinate annual fundraising activities for our political action funds for the bank’s Board of Directors, officers, and employees.
- Contact both state and federal legislators on emerging issues and encourage other bank personnel to do the same.
- Be the liaison within the bank for communication of WBA advocacy actions and initiatives to bank officers and board. Any other duties as assigned by the bank president/CEO.
Okay, I’m interested. How do I sign up?
Have your president/CEO fill out the form below to designate you as your bank’s Advocacy Officer. Thank you for volunteering, and welcome aboard!
