Executive Letter: Taking the Lead on Advocacy
By Rose Oswald Poels
Last month, over 200 bankers from across Wisconsin convened in Madison for the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s annual Capitol Day. This turnout — the largest in WBA’s advocacy history — attests to our members’ ongoing commitment to speak up on behalf of our industry and advocate for legislation that helps our customers and communities. Many bankers participate throughout the year in making calls, sending letters, and personally contributing to the industry’s political action funds, and your physical presence at events such as Capitol Day plays a crucial role in reinforcing the collective voice of Wisconsin’s banking industry.
The last biennium has resulted in several advocacy accomplishments that would not have been possible without the active participation of WBA-member bankers and the support of elected officials on both sides of the aisle. As we switch gears to what is to come in 2024, including the U.S. election later this year, we must be proactive in maintaining our current success. Recently, each member bank was mailed the annual Advocacy Toolkit. If it has not already arrived, please keep an eye out for it in the coming days. The Toolkit features several resources including best practices, how to identify and contact local legislators, as well as all the ways your bank can choose to assist the Association in our political fundraising efforts.
Although fundraising is not the most endearing aspect of advocacy, it is certainly one of the most important. Monetary support helps the WBA team effectively lobby for key issues impacting the industry and our communities. For this calendar year, WBA hopes to raise at least $300,000 in personal contributions to support the Association’s advocacy efforts. Through the Alliance of Bankers for Wisconsin (ABW) political conduit or Wisbankpac, bankers are able to donate directly to the candidate(s) of their choosing or pool their contributions with other individual bankers to maximize the overall impact in the political process, respectively.
While bankers are welcome and encouraged to join WBA’s Leadership Circle, awarded to those who contribute at least $3,000 to any combination of the ABW or Wisbankpac, it is important to emphasize that even small-dollar contributions help make a big difference. By donating at the Silver Triangle level (at least $1,000), you join a network of dedicated supporters who play a vital role in bolstering the advocacy initiatives that support elected officials who support the banking industry.
If you have any questions regarding political fundraising or would like to learn more about which donation level is right for you, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lorenzo Cruz, WBA vice president – government relations, or me. With so much in store for the upcoming legislative session, I truly appreciate the members who go out of their way to join WBA in our advocacy efforts on behalf of the banking industry.
