No USMA funds are given to political campaigns. Even if we wanted that
to happen (which we do not) I believe the limitations I mention below
would prevent that. Instead, our money is spent producing Metric Today,
providing metrication information and materials to inquirers, and
helping to defray the costs involved with visiting members of Congress
to bend their ears. I would be willing to bet that our volunteer
officers dig deeply into their own pockets for a lot of this! I know
that they dig deeply into their calendars for the time.
Individual comments to legislators are of course effective (letters more
so than emails). But collective representation is even more effective.
Think of it, USMA members get two shots at politicking
Congress--individually and as part of the USMA effort.
Jim
"Carter, Baron" wrote:
>
> But don't give USMA funds to political campaigns though!
>
> Baron Carter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: James R. Frysinger [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Thursday, 07 June, 2001 21:52
> To: U.S. Metric Association
> Subject: [USMA:13567] Re: Fw: Good interview today with Ehlers! [Yahoo!
> Clubs: Metric America]
>
> I sense some confusion and lack of knowledge about the meaning of
> "lobby" in this context. That confusion and lack of knowledge may exist
> between only my ears, though.
>
> I believe I know that lobbyists must register as such with someone in
> Washington, DC. I know that not-for-profit organizations are limited in
> what they can do. (For example, they are probably not allowed to make a
> profit and distribute it to their members!) I seem to recall that they
> are thus prevented from doing whatever it is that one does which would
> require registration.
>
> However.... I am certain that the officers (and of course the members)
> of the USMA are allowed to go to Washington, DC (or wherever they need
> to) and to tell members of Congress how we feel about metrication of the
> U.S. and what we would like to see them do. I am also certain that the
> USMA officers not only are allowed to do this, they have done this many
> times. Additionally, they have worked at helping out behind the scenes
> in the preparation of various pro-metric bills or in planning the defeat
> of other bills that would halt or reverse metrication efforts. I guess
> that's not lobbying though. I'll just call it politicking.
>
> Many of these things get reported to USMA members in Metric Today. Of
> course--for strategic reasons similar to the handling of one's cards in
> poker games--not everything gets printed in explicit detail, I'm sure.
> And I wouldn't want all of our cards laid face down on the table.
>
> Jim
>
> kilopascal wrote:
> >
> > 2001-06-07
> >
> > OK folks. It seems there isn't any support in Congress to amend the FPLA.
> > And what is to say that support will materialise by December 2009? We
> > really need to take steps now to get more Congressional support.
> >
> > And to ask the USMA to pitch in will only get the "We can't lobby"
> response.
> >
> > Any comments?
> ....
> --
> Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
> James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
> 10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789
