Guidance to lobby by: ASAE guidelines promote ethical political involvement and encourage active participation in the political process.

In a democracy, effective government depends on the active participation of those being governed. Yet association lobbyists, who are on the advocacy front lines, often find themselves defending against the perception that they represent "just another special interest." To help the public understand the role of association lobbyists as ethical advocates for members, who represent constituents of elected leaders, the ASAE Government Relations Section recently adopted "Guidelines for Association Lobbyists" (see sidebar). ASAE is encouraging its members to adopt these guidelines as they participate in the political process.

The guidelines provide "one way to demonstrate that association lobbyists subscribe voluntarily to an ethical code," says Jason Hall, section council chair and director of government and public affairs, American Association of Museums, Washington, D.C. "It's an initial step to improving the, image of associations and association lobbyists."

Unveiled at the 16th Annual Legislative Summit, in June, the guidelines, approved by the ASAE Board of Directors in March, were adapted from similar guidelines used by the American League of Lobbyists, Alexandria, Virginia. ASAE's Ethics Committee applauds the efforts of the section and hopes that, as a part of the association's overall ethics effort, other sections will develop similar documents for their specific needs.

The lobbyists' guidelines are the first element of the section's professional image project. They are aimed at improving association lobbying by reflecting the highest moral and ethical standards among ASAE members and within their own associations.

Says Colette Nelson, board member, immediate past Government Relations Section chair, and executive vice president of the American Subcontractors Association, Alexandria, Virginia: "Many associations serve as advocates and information sources on behalf of their industries or professions. These guidelines will assist association lobbyists, and their members who lobby, to do so in an honest and ethical manner."

Guidelines for Association Lobbyists

As an individual member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), I believe that effective government depends on the greatest possible participation of those being governed. At the federal, state, and local level, such participation focuses on the legislative and executive branches where association and citizen lobbyists drawn from every major discipline represent literally every segment of society and every sector of the economy.

ASAE further believes that the heavy responsibility of the association lobbyist: functioning in the eve of public opinion, requires standards of ethical behavior beyond those generally accepted by a free and moral society.

ASAE, therefore, offers the following guidelines which it urges be observed by its members and all those whose professional objectives are to influence national, state, and local public policy decisions:

* The association lobbyist accepts the fact that it is the system of representative government we enjoy that makes possible the practice of lobbying and, while keeping the interest of employer or client in a position of primacy, will temper the advocacy role with proper consideration for the general public interest.

* The association lobbyist will protect confidences, not only those of the employers or client but also those of elected and appointed officials of government and professional colleagues.

* The association lobbyist will always deal in accurate, current, and factual information, whether it is being reported to the employer or client, government officials, the media or professional colleagues, and will not engage in misrepresentation of any nature.

* The association lobbyist will acquire enough knowledge of public policy issues to be able to fairly present all points of view.

* The association lobbyist will avoid conflicts of interest, not only conflict with the interests of the employer or client, but also those of colleagues pursuing the same or similar objectives, and where conflict is unavoidable will communicate the facts fully and freely to those affected.

* The association lobbyist will comply with the laws and regulations governing lobbying as well as the standards of conduct applying to officials and staff of the Congress, the Executive Branch, and individual states and will strive to go one step further and function in a manner that goes beyond these official enactments and promulgations.

* The personal conduct of the association lobbyist should not bring discredit to the profession, government, or individual colleagues.

* The association lobbyist will refrain from any form of discrimination which is legally proscribed or simply generally recognized as such.

* A priority goal of the association lobbyist should be to increase public understanding of the process and this objective should be pursued in every possible way - public appearances, media contacts, articles in company and other publications, and contacts in the normal course of everyday life.

* The association lobbyist should constantly strive to upgrade the necessary skills by every, means available, continuing formal education, attendance at meetings and seminars, and participation in ad hoc groups with like-minded colleagues.