Effective political representation, and education, is critical to the future of your business. That’s why AWMA has established new services dedicated to maintaining and strengthening your association’s government affairs program.

	AWMA has a powerful legislative Web portal designed to allow members access to crucial legislative information at the federal, state and even the local level! This state-of-the-art Internet action tool connects you directly to your legislators at all levels of government with the simple click of the mouse, giving you the most current, complete and reliable information on your legislators’ voting records, election coverage, full texts of bills and much more. This new technology is critical to promoting a strong grassroots program that will enable our industry to mobilize on issues of importance to your business! Please check out this new service.
	In addition, AWMA continues to offer the two weekly reports for distributor member – AWMA Tobacco Executive Summary and AWMA Tobacco Legislative News – which provide up-to-date, comprehensive information on every facet of tobacco news and issues. This service is provided in partnership with the Tobacco Merchants Association, and if this information were purchased separately, it would exceed the cost of AWMA membership.
	AWMA has also instituted a monthly conference call with our state association Executive Directors to promote improved communication between our various associations and to facilitate lobbying efforts to all the legislative levels. Each month, AWMA invites a featured speaker to address the participants on a wide variety of topics of mutual concern to our industry.
	AWMA represents the convenience distribution industry on Capitol Hill. We keep on top of bills being introduced to Congress and track their movement – then use our AWMA Executive Update and AWMA White Papers to keep members apprised of this information. Through our Political Action Committee we raise money for pro-business candidates and lobby for issues that affect our industry, paying particular attention to legislation on tobacco, taxes, labor and other small-business issues. To begin receiving the AWMA Executive Update newsletter, e-mail Jennifer Moulton at jenniferm@awmanet.org.
	AWMA also supports the WE CARD, a program that helps your retail customers comply with tobacco sales restrictions. Visit www.wecard.org for more information.

In short, AWMA’s government affairs program will help our industry meet the political and legislative challenges that lie ahead and will go a long way towards promoting the vitality of our businesses.