State Legislative Day at the Capitol
In Colorado, Developing Leaders requested an event that focused on legislative action. Bob Moody, executive director of legislative affairs, and Micki Hackenberger, chapter lobbyist, presented a workshop on the workings of government at the state level. After the presentation, the Developing Leaders committee requested additional ways to get involved, and the Chapter planned a State Legislative Day at the Capitol to build on their enthusiasm and get them involved at the state level of government.
On April 23, 2008, Developing Leaders of the Colorado Chapter of NAIOP held a State Legislative Day at the Capitol event in Denver. Approximately 35 members were in attendance for the inaugural event, which included meetings with members of the Colorado General Assembly.
The morning kicked off with a welcome from Assistant Minority Leader David Balmer (R-District 39). Representative Balmer introduced members to the capitol, noting the importance of individuals taking an active role in government affairs.
The group then broke off into smaller sections to attend House and Senate sessions where legislators and members discussed the issues facing today's commercial real estate industry in Colorado.
Following their witnessing of the first-hand debates on the floor, members reconvened for a personal presentation by Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. (D). Governor Ritter fielded questions from the Developing Leaders for approximately 15 minutes, providing an overview of the most pressing issues facing young professionals in the commercial real estate industry today.
Additional appointments included scheduled meetings with Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-District 6), Representative Don Marostica (R-District 51), Minority Whip Cory Gardner (R-District 63) and Chris Romer (D-District 32), finance committee vice chair.
The Colorado Chapter's staff worked in coordination with members of their lobbying staff to plan, organize and implement a successful day. Planning began in March, with follow up phone calls and other details coordinated until the event.
Since the event, Colorado Executive Director Kathie Barstnar has noticed an increase of the Developing Leaders presence on the legislative affairs committee. The Developing Leaders committee has also created a "contribution bowl" for the Common Cents Fund (CFF), the voluntary contributions collected by the Colorado Chapter where one cent represents one square foot of property owned or managed.
Barstnar says the Developing Leaders understand the amount raised may not be significant, but it is planting a seed for increased giving as they move forward in their careers. She also noted that several of the Developing Leaders who attended both the government affairs presentation and the State Legislative Day at the Capitol have volunteered to run CCF fundraising activities at the annual NAIOP political action committee (NAIOP-PAC) golf tournament, and that these individuals would not have been as interested in doing that if they had not had the exposure offered by the State Legislative Day at the Capitol.
While the Chapter has no specific plans to hold another event next year, Barstnar says the State Legislative Day at the Capitol will be put into their planning process for 2009. The Chapter hopes to use the Developing Leaders committee to provide ideas for specific programming of interest to them.
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