Grassroots Government
Activities Committee
Region [Number] CRC
[RVC name]
[RVC email]
[RVC phone]
[Date]
Why?

Member involvement
and engagement

Guidance and education

Broad scope

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Not U.S.-centric
Official structure for
these activities

Discrete emphasis on
interactions with
local governments

Reports to Members
Council
GGAC Responsibilities
GGAC shall be responsible for
grassroots activities and issues that
relate to local, state and provincial
government bodies in areas of
interest to ASHRAE members, in
order to better coordinate efforts
and understanding between ASHRAE
grassroots members and local
government.
Society GGAC Structure
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Chair
First Vice Chair
Second Vice Chair
Communications Coordinator
Fourteen Regional Vice-Chairs
BOD ex-officio and Coordinating Officer
Advocacy Consultant
Staff Liaison
Where Does GGAC Fit In?

Many ASHRAE-relevant policy issues
are decided at the at the
provincial, state and local level

Chapter members are most
knowledgeable about their
community

Establish your chapter as a resource
for local decision makers
How Do You Do It?
Communication
Between chapters/sections/members
and with ASHRAE staff liaison
Coalition Building
“Force multiplier”
Grassroots Relationships

Chapters and sections should
develop relationships with local
chapters of other organizations

Institutes of Architects

Building Owners and Managers Association

International Code Council

International Facilities Managers Assn.

National Society of Professional Engineers

Green Building Councils
Grassroots Relationships

Many Society-level Memoranda of
Understanding
 Formalize
scope of relationships between
ASHRAE and other organizations
List of MOUs – updated regularly – available on
ASHRAE’s website
https://www.ashrae.org/aboutashrae/policies-and-procedures
Grassroots Relationships

Joint meetings and networking
events

Regular discussions about possible
opportunities for collaboration
 Technical
 Working
programming
with policymakers to
speak to ASHRAE core policy
concerns that may impact their
organizations as well
Connections
•Inventory
•Include
relationships with policymakers
them in events, communications
What Chapters and Members Can Say
Engagement with
Policymakers
Serve as clearinghouse of
grassroots government
adoptions of ASHRAEendorsed standards,
guidelines, and positions
Engagement with
Policymakers
Encourage active, informed
membership by keeping local,
provincial and state
governments updated on
technical issues
Engagement with
Policymakers
Promote appointment of local
members to local, provincial,
state, and, beyond North
America,
national governmental bodies
Limitations
If requested by grassroots
governmental body to assist in
writing or development of
regulations, codes, ordinances,
or laws, or law, or to participate
in advisory group to grassroots
government agency, upon BOG
approval, go ahead,
BUT
Limitations
Chapters,
sections, and members
must not take any action that
conflicts with:
Society
or chapter bylaws
Society‐approved
documents or
publications
Any
existing Memorandum of
Understanding or contractual
obligation between ASHRAE and
another code or standards writing
organization
Limitations
Chapters,
sections, and
members may speak to
technical or
method‐of‐enforcement aspects
of public policy only and must
not support of political party or
candidate
Limitations
Chapters,
sections, and
members must not
jeopardize chapter’s tax
status, or cause chapter,
section, or member to
exceed local, provincial or
state limits regarding
registration as “lobbyist” or
“lobbying organization”
Limitations
Chapters,
sections, and
members must not request
or receive any travel or
transportation
reimbursement (as defined
by ASHRAE Travel Policy),
nor any reimbursement for
time away from regular
employment, for activity
NO LOBBYING!
ASHRAE has
comprehensive matrix of
what constitutes
“lobbying” in all U.S.
states – and is working to
get similar materials for
non-U.S. jurisdictions
“Lobbying” vs. “Advocacy”
In the simplest terms…
“Lobbying” v. “Advocacy”
Lobbying
“Lobbying” v. “Advocacy”
Advocacy
“Lobbying” v. “Advocacy”
Laws and regulations vary state
to state, jurisdiction to
jurisdiction, country to country,
so consult the law no matter
what
Staying Out of Trouble
It is your
responsibility
to know what
can and can’t
be done – and
to convey the
same to your
chapter chairs
Limitations Outlined
ROB Section 2.433
MCO Section 2.6
GGAC MOP
GGAC Resource Manual
GGAC Public Policy
Priorities
ASHRAE-Approved Documents
 Published
Standards and
Guidelines
 Public Policy Issue Briefs
 Position Documents
All are available on ASHRAE
website
Management by Objectives
(MBOs)
RVC to fill in as
each RVC will
assign these to
the chapters
Chapter Chair Responsibilities

Review Section 2.6 of the MCO
 Work with the chapter to keep local, provincial
and state governments updated on technical
issues
 Inform the chapter members of local, provincial
and state government issues
 Seek the appointment of chapter members to
local, provincial and state governmental bodies
 Maintaining a list of all elected officials in the
jurisdictions within the chapter’s geographical
boundaries
 Maintaining a list of appointed or hired
government employees who have a role in the
enforcement or adoption of local codes or
standards relevant to the building sciences
Chapter Chair Responsibilities
Provide tools to train and enable chapter
members to effect positive interactions with
government entities in their communities
 Serve as a conduit to keep their chapter
leaders, RVC, and the Government Affairs
Office staff informed on local governmental
activities of interest to ASHRAE
 Liaising chapter members with educational,
advocacy and programs-related groups within
ASHRAE
 Serving as a clearinghouse of grassroots
government adoptions of ASHRAE-endorsed
standards, guidelines, and positions

Public Policy Priorities
ASHRAE standards
“Doing business”
Energy efficiency in the built environment
Future of the profession
Presidential
Award of
Excellence
• Categories
outline
Society GGAC priority
activities
• Should
serve as
guidance for chapters
and sections on how to
organize GGAC
programming –
especially in initial
phases
Presidential
Award of
Excellence
ASHRAE’s PresidentElect decides the
specific point
allocations
Presidential
Award of
Excellence
PAOE recognizes and
rewards members who
perform activities to
support ASHRAE
initiatives
PAOE Newsletter,
Instructions, and Award
Descriptions are
available at
www.ashrae.org
GGAC PAOE POINTS 2014-15
MINIMUM
PAR
500 Points
650 Points
GRASSROOTS
GOVERNMENT
ACTIVITIES:
CRITERIA
See slides below
GGAC PAOE POINTS 2014-15
POINTS RELATED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL THEME
EFFICIENT USE OF VOLUNTEERS’ TIME:
50 points for establishing and maintaining a chapter Grassroots
Government Activities Committee with at least 2 members to
promote ASHRAE with state, provincial, and local government.
 50 points for grassroots government activities training for
chapter officers and future leaders (minimum 1 hour of training)
(100 points maximum)
 25 points for a Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) member
assigned to the Grassroots Government Activities Committee to
provide YEA ideas and participation

GGAC PAOE POINTS 2014-15
POINTS RELATED TO EFFICIENT CONDUCT OF CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES
150 points for establishing and annually updating a list of government officials
(at any level of government relevant to buildings, engineering or construction,
including building officials, school system facility staff, state energy code
officials, etc.) along with their contact information. (List must be sent to RVC by
October 15.)

AWARDS AND SUBMISSION ACTIVITIES
100 points for each Chapter Government Activities Award entry into Society
competition (each Award entry counted only once)

50 points for each Chapter Government Activities Award entry into Regional
competition (each Award entry counted only once)

50 points for each article on a grassroots government activities-related (e.g.,
state provincial, or local legislative or regulatory issue) published in a chapter
newsletter or posted on a chapter website with copy sent to RVC (maximum of
two articles per month)

GGAC PAOE POINTS 2014-15
MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS OR EVENTS
100 points for each announced and promoted or held joint chapter meeting
with local, state, or provincial government entity to discuss a built environment
or HVAC&R industry-related topic (maximum 1000 points)
 100 points for each documented personal contact (meeting) by a chapter
member with government officials (at any level of government relevant to
buildings, engineering or construction, including building officials, school
system facility staff, state energy code officials, etc.) with the goal of
promoting ASHRAE related subjects or Chapter goals and objectives, with
notification sent to the ASHRAE Government Affairs Office. (Points doubled if
the topic is ASHRAE/USGBC/IES, Standard 189.1 or bEQ) (maximum 800 points)
 100 points for each National Engineers’ Week or non-US equivalent activity
that promotes Engineering
 50 points for maintaining a current listing of local and state Energy code(s)
for entities within chapter area. Include contacts for people managing the
Energy Code(s).
 50 points for each Chapter program on the topic of Government Activities
(minimum 45 minute presentation; maximum 2; maximum 100 points )

GGAC PAOE POINTS 2014-15
RVC ASSIGNS
100 points for the incoming Chapter GGA committee chair
attending the GGAC CRC workshop
 50 points for planning/goal setting session with RVC (points
assigned by RVC by October 1)
 10 points for each GGAC meeting to promote using an Energy
Code based on ASHRAE standards with Energy Code contacts.
Must report to RVC. (maximum 100 points)
 0 to 50 points for achieving goals established in the
planning/goal-setting session with RVC (points assigned by RVC
by June 30)

Government
Activities
Award
• Recognizes
a chapter or
individual demonstrating
outstanding efforts, in state,
provincial, and/or local
government on technical or
policy issues important to
ASHRAE
• Chapter
Chairs submit
nominations to the RVC for
regional award
• Additional
information
regarding the Award can be
found in Section 1 of the GGAC
Resource Manual Section I
ENGINEERS WEEK PROCLAMATIONS
ENGINEERS WEEK IS FEBRUARY 22-28, 2015
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We are working on how do it easily
Puts chapters in front of government officials
Can be a proclamation from a Mayor, Governor or any other elected official
We recommend other activities with E Week as well, visit the NSPE website
below
Learn more at:
http://www.discovere.org/our-programs/engineers-week
http://www.nspe.org/resources/partners-and-state-societies/nationalengineers-week
MORE TO COME ON THIS!!!
Resources
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RVC
Other Chapter Chairs
Society Staff Liaison (Jim
Scarborough [DC Office],
jscarborough@ashrae.org)
ASHRAE Government
Affairs website
(http://www.ashrae.org/
government-affairs)
ASHRAE’s bi-weekly
Government Affairs
Update
(https://www.ashrae.org
/governmentaffairs/governmentaffairs-updates)
Society GGAC Leadership
Chair – Bert Phillips
(phillips@unies.mb.ca)
First Vice Chair – Keith Reihl
(reihl@reihlengineering.com)
Second Vice Chair – Rob Craddock
(rob@inlandmetal.ca)
Communications Coordinator –
Ashish Rakheja
(ashish.rakheja@aecom.com)