The Art of Grassroots: Making Our Constitution Work

One of the qualities that make the American political system unique is the access citizens have to their elected officials. James Madison himself set out the right to petition our government within the first amendment to our Constitution.  From town hall meetings to office visits, Americans have long seized the opportunity to speak their minds to those they elect to office. While the current political climate sometimes brings into question the value of one person’s voice, we at CompTIA believe that it has never been more important to speak up and about the issues you care for.  Thoughtful, reasoned input to lawmakers must continue and that is the very purpose of next week’s CompTIA Washington D.C. Fly-In.


Next week, from November 1 to 3, CompTIA will hold its D.C. Fly-in for members and partners. More than 30 member companies will be represented as individuals from across the country will come to Washington, D.C., to participate, first hand, in the advocacy process.


What’s the message to lawmakers?  Before Congress and the Administration continues down the path of tax and regulatory reform, they need to understand who the IT industry is, how we support vertical industries throughout the economy and why attention to the needs of small and medium-sized IT businesses, in particular, is vital.  The best messengers that CompTIA has – its members – will carry this message to the hallways of Capitol Hill.  It should be a terrific week!


With a full agenda set, members will get a chance to meet with one another to discuss industry developments, meet with CompTIA staff to discuss policy, and meet with legislators to discuss legislation and its effects on their businesses.


D.C. Fly-in attendees will start with an evening reception where they will have a chance to mingle with CompTIA Public Advocacy staff, Members of Congress and professional staff. The following day, attendees will go to Congress to meet with their elected officials, to speak with them about their businesses and educate them on the importance of IT in the American economy. That evening the delegation will attend a dinner, where they will get a chance to share their experiences with each other over a nice meal. November 3^rd, attendees will head back to Capitol Hill to attendee a breakfast where U.S. House Members will discuss the CompTIA-formed Small Business IT Caucus, followed by an industry briefing that afternoon.


With an extensive scheduled ahead of them, Fly-In attendees will become immersed in the inter-dealings of Washington, D.C., gaining a vast new perspective on how the IT industry can benefit from advocacy at all levels. In the coming months, in this newsletter, you will hear from members and about their experiences during their time at the CompTIA D.C. Fly-In. So stay tuned.