TMVA And MAMA Tour State Capitals For Legislative Visits

The National Automatic Merchandising Association has been working with its affiliated state councils to invigorate their advocacy efforts. Organizing visits by members to their elected officials in state capitals is an activism technique that has proven effective, and a growing number of state councils have launched or restarted these programs in recent years.

Two associations that recently conducted such meetings are the Texas Merchandise Vending Association and the Mid-America Automatic Merchandising Council. TMVA's lobby day was held in Austin on Feb. 4 and MAMC hosted its first Kansas legislative "Day on the Hill" Feb.11 at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka. A regional association, MAMC represents operators in Missouri and Kansas.

The Texas association's lobby day was coordinated by legislative consultant Mario Munoz. Participants included 18 TMVA member companies, mostly comprised of vending operators, and NAMA senior director of government affairs Sandy Larson. Members prepared snack boxes to be distributed to 181 legislators in the Texas State House and Senate, sampling the variety of items now available through vending machines.

The visits focused on educating lawmakers about the vending, coffee and refreshment services industry. "TMVA members were able to talk with lawmakers in Austin about the franchise tax laws that are currently the subject of a number of pending bills," legislative consultant Munoz noted. "Our members were able to stress the positive impact the reduction or elimination of this tax would have on TMVA businesses."

The group also used the opportunity to educate lawmakers about NAMA's Fit Pick nutrition initiative and the industry's commitment to educating consumers about informed choice.

"Our legislative day was a huge success for TMVA and the vending, coffee and refreshment services industry in Texas," said TMVA president Dominic Macerola, Rome Enterprises (Houston). "The event was very well received by the legislators and their staffs."

The visit enabled association members to talk with their representatives about the industry, emphasizing that TMVA member companies are primarily family-owned and operated. "Our members were able to discuss the jobs provided by TMVA members and the citizens of Texas that we serve," Macerola concluded.

"Some of the legislators are just beginning their first term, and it gave us an opportunity to share our story," NAMA's Larson reported.

Sunflower State

MAMA assembled delegates from 12 member companies at the state capitol to participate in meetings with key legislators and with Gov. Sam Brownback. Tom Burgess and Denny Burgess, MAMA's Kansas legislative consultants, coordinated the event.

"Our first-ever 'Day on the Hill' was a big success," Burgess said. "We had our picture taken with the governor, and met with House and Senate leaders." He observed that a 25-minute meeting with Speaker of the House Ray Merrick was one of the highlights of the visit. "He was right at home with our group and very interested in the issues facing our industry today," Burgess noted.

Larson also attended the MAMA event. "It gave us an opportunity to tell our story and establish relationships that we can build on in the coming years," the NAMA official reported.

While there are no bills pending at this time in Kansas that MAMA is supporting or opposing, participants did make clear to the legislators the adverse effects that a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would have on the vending industry. They also provided information to lawmakers on Fit Pick, and provided samples of better-for-you vendable products.

"This is the first time that MAMA has hosted a legislative event in Kansas," said MAMA board member John Barnes, Treat America (Merriam, KS). "We had a good representative group of operators, suppliers and brokers that do business in Kansas, and used the opportunity to talk about our industry and the services that we provide to our customers here.

"Our meeting with Speaker of the House Ray Merrick was very interesting, in light of the fact that he had actually worked in the vending industry years ago," he concluded.

STEPPING UP:TMVA delegation assembles for a busy day of meeting with their legislators in Austin. In front row, from left, are Johnny Wallace, Ameri-Tex Vending (Cedar Hill); Phil Sikes, Gultex Vending & Coffee Services (Clute); Charley Nelms, Aeco Sales and Service (Pasadena); John Gordon, Mars Snack Foods (Birmingham, AL); Dominic Macerola, Rome Enterprises (Houston); Kendall Smith, Accent Food Services (Austin); Rich Brennan, Dr Pepper-Snapple Group (Houston); and Nile Hawkins, Breaktime Solutions (Mexia). In the second row, from left, are Jaime, Saverio and Daniela Macerola, Rome Enterprises (Houston); Alan Munson, Parlevel Systems (San Antonio); Tim Gilts, The Hershey Co. (McKinney); NAMA's Sandy Larson; Donnie Watkins, Wes-Tex Vending (Mineral Wells); and Patrick and Jane Moran, Moran Munchies (Whitehouse).

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION:Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback welcomes Mid-America Automatic Merchandising Association delegates during the group's inaugural Kansas Day on the Hill legislative program. Standing, from left, are Mike Cox and John Barnes, Treat America (Merriam); MAMA legislative consultant Denny Burgess; Chip Stephenson, American Food and Vending (Kansas City); Joe Hemmelgarn, Premier Food Service (Wichita); Claude Bockhold, Hershey Co.; MAMA board member Bill Bradford; NAMA's Sandy Larson; Keith Bottorff, Suchart Vend Brokerage (Overland Park); and Tom Burgess, MAMA legislative consultant. The National Automatic Merchandising Association has been encouraging its affiliated state councils to strengthen their industry advocacy efforts to inform elected officials about the industry.