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Members of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA) will convene in Washington, D.C. on July 15-16, 2008 for the annual Summer Legislative Meeting, held at the Park Hyatt Washington Hotel.
Join members of the Legislative Committee and Board of Directors and make your concerns known with America’s Senators and Representatives. This year’s lobbying goal is 250 visits on Capitol Hill. If you are from a small state, you may be our only “constituent contact” with some Congressmen or Senators. If you’re from a large state, we will need a large delegation to get your Senator’s attention. Consider asking a fellow marketer from your region to attend with you as a prospective member or to help share the lobbying duties.
“We want them to hear from a motor fuel marketer before they consider legislation that will forever change the way we do business,” Boyett said. “With the volatile market we operate in today, one new misguided bill coming down the pike could spell the end for some fellow marketers.”
It is critical to the success of member’s legislative efforts to ensure that elected and appointed government officials understand the issues SIGMA members face. This is your chance to educate Congressional members about important industry’s issues including Temperature Correction at Retail, the FDA Regulation of Tobacco and Credit Card Interchange Fees. Specifically, FDA Regulation of Tobacco may place undue restrictions on how we display, market, and sell tobacco products and present us with higher fees and more regulation.
“Don’t worry if you’ve never lobbied before,” Boyett said. “Tim Columbus and his team at Steptoe & Johnson will give you ‘An Introduction to Lobbying’ briefing session during the breakfast prior to making your way to the Hill. You will be well prepared to educate Congressional members about the issues we face on a daily basis.”
SIGMA members represent 31 percent of the U.S. motor fuel industry. In July, approximately 200 Congressional members will meet with SIGMA motor fuel marketers from their districts to learn about issues they face as business owners in their communities. For more information, including registration forms, please contact SIGMA at (703) 709-7000.
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