BGA Club Management Conference 23 Nov 2013

Lobbying
Picking your Fight Maintaining Relationships
Paul Jessop BGA Development Committee

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1. KNOW WHO MAKES DECISIONS

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Official BGA Training Video
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Available from Amazon
£7.75
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2. KNOW THEIR INFLUENCE

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Ministers
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Members of Parliament
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And also…
• Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
• Welsh Assembly Members (AMs) • Members of the Legislative Assembly
(MLAs)
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And in local government

• Elected Councilors
• Leaders • Committee
Chairmen • Mayors and
Lord Mayors • Elected Mayors • Officials

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Know your competences (England)

• Two Tier Counties
– County Councils – District Councils
• Unitary Authorities • Metropolitan Districts • London Boroughs • City of London • Isles of Scilly

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The Nations
• Scotland
– Unitary Authorities
• Wales
– Principal Areas – Community Councils
• Northern Ireland
– Districts

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Dignitaries
• The Bishop, the Dean, the Vicar, the Priest • The Imam, the Rabbi, other faith leaders • The Residents’ Association Chair • The Chamber of Commerce President • The Rotary, WI, TWG Leader • The NFU Chairman • The Vice Chancellor, the Head Teacher
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3. RUN THE SCENARIOS

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Scenarios

• Threats
– Airspace – Noise – Obstructions – Child Protection – Road Schemes – Planning – Lease

• Opportunities
– Site expansion – Fleet upgrade – Planning Permission – Access to Facilities – Sub-let – Additional Uses

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Who
• Who makes the decision • Who influences the
decision • What can we do now to be
ready • Prioritize the list • Keep it up to date

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4. MAKE A PLAN

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Contact Plan
• People you will actively seek out and engage with
• People you will locate and start a conversation, if only to put it on hold
• People you will note in case you run into them
• People you decide are not important to you
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Club’s Objectives
• Start/continue a conversation
• Feed a message • Warn help may be needed • Seek guidance • Look well connected • Look responsible

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Contact’s Objectives
• Represent constituency
• Be seen • Look connected • Celebrate local
facilities • Have fun? • “Putin Factor”

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Contact Opportunities

• Dignitary flying day
– Eggs in baskets
• Open the competition • Launch a recruitment
drive • Cut the Ribbon
– Club House – Winch – Ka8

• Photo Opportunity
– 14 year old solo – Disability Flying Day – Women’s Gliding Day
• Carnivals, fetes, shows, festivals, etc.

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Club Member Talking Points

• Targets of opportunity
• Don’t expect everyone to be a lobbyist…
• But don’t deny them the opportunity

Doctor Livingstone I presume

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Gotchas
• The weather • Safety, safety, safety
– Not just the dignitary – But avoid the pointless hi-viz – Celebrate common sense
• Gift limits and perceptions thereof
– Check and re-check
• The “plus one”

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5. INCLUDE NATIONAL EVENTS IN THE PLAN
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Events
• Youth in Aviation Day
• National Women Go Gliding Day
• International Championships

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6. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

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Picking Your Fight
• Is this the “big one”?
• Who can really help?
• Should we keep our powder dry?
• Make a decision
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7. BE READY FOR THE NEXT ONE

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Saying Thank You
• Celebrate success • Or demonstrate persistence after failure • Send a digital photo • Send a certificate of appreciation • Send a “tombstone”
– Maybe 10cm of winch cable/aerotow rope
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8. SHARE BEST PRACTICE

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Don’t Keep Secrets
• Write a story • Submit it to S&G • Tell the BGA Development Committee • Tell it to the next Club Management
Conference
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ANY QUESTIONS?

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