CATTLE RAISERS COMMUNITY
Of things that concern cattle raisers…
MEMBER NOTES
Infl uence By Claude Koontz, Association Promotion Committee chair
T
HE TITLE OF LAST MONTH’S AR- ticle was “Membership
Growth…Why?” The article highlighted the fact that Texas and Southwestern Cattle Rais-
ers Association (TSCRA) is pushing hard, both in terms of staff and volunteer time and money, to grow our membership. While we actively ask our members to recruit new members, we must motivate those mem- bers by showing specifi c benefi ts. We canvassed not only TSCRA’s 4 offi cers, but all the
directors at the June Summer Meeting. The responses can be categorized into 3 broad areas, which will be addressed in the coming months. This month we will discuss the fi rst of the 3, which is Infl uence. That is, infl uence as it relates to political clout —
the more members on TSCRA’s rolls, the stronger its voice in Austin and in Washington, D.C. Infl uence is directly proportional to the number of members that an association represents. Think of the tremendous political infl uence of the
NRA or of AARP. This infl uence derives from the mil- lions of members (or voters) each association represents. From an individual TSCRA member standpoint,
the benefi t of the association’s ability to exert political infl uence is 2-fold: ongoing and immediate. In terms of ongoing infl uence, TSCRA’s Govern-
ment and Public Affairs team in Austin, composed of Jason Skaggs, Laramie Adams, and Kaleb McLaurin, typically tracks more than 600 bills during the Texas legislative session. These bills can have a broad range of issues, such
as animal health, eminent domain, property rights, or water rights, to name only a few. This team is work- ing on issues that can or do affect virtually all TSCRA
14 The Cattleman August 2016
members who own cattle and/or land. When the Legislature is not in session, this team
meets with elected offi cials at all levels of government, regulatory agency representatives, as well as with the team’s constituency — TSCRA members. Many times, it is the immediate benefi t of the asso-
ciation’s infl uence that proves the most dramatic and memorable for an individual member. For example, a member is informed that his or her
property is being considered for condemnation under eminent domain or that a county may be quarantined. In such instances, a member may contact the team in Austin to seek advice and infl uence with appropriate elected offi cials or agencies. Whether it be our staff’s ongoing work on behalf
of the entire membership or the efforts on behalf of an individual member’s issue, successful outcomes are greatly affected by TSCRA’s ability to infl uence decision-makers. This ability is directly proportional to number of
members. We are strong as we reach 20,000 members, stronger with 25,000 members, and even stronger with 30,000 members. Keep the membership insert in this magazine in
your vehicle. Next time you visit the feed store, the vet clinic, or roping arena, ask at least 1 person if he or she is a TSCRA member. If they are not members, give them this form. Let’s
grow this membership so when you are advised that your property is under consideration for condemnation or your county may be quarantined, you will have the most infl uential association by your side. We look forward to seeing you, and the prospective
members we know you will bring along, at the next Ranch Gathering in your area!
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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