Lobby Day 2010 an Outstanding Success Thanks to Broad Industry Involvement

I just returned from Lobby Day in Albany, NY.  By any measure I can think of it has to be considered a resounding success. I don't have the final participant tally, but about 800 coalition members registered to attend, and despite the wintry snowstorm it looked like most, if not all, had made it for the day's events.

Coalition  leader Jeff Saunders announced at the kick off assembly that lobbying history was made by our numbers today.  Never had there been such a large showing by a small business group in a one day, lobbying effort.  I am sure the Capital noticed the hundreds of SOS (Save Our Stores) buttons all over the legislative corridors  today.  The elevator operator for the one in-service lift at "The Egg" had about a dozen pinned on his chest.  Nice touch!

I was a member of one of three Rochester area teams that met with legislators  about the Wine in Grocery issue.  Every single legislator echoed the same observation: they were overwhelmed by the broad origins of our delegation.  They were impressed by the fact that we had not only liquor store owners in the group, but also wineries, wholesale distributors and industry suppliers.  I can't emphasize enough how important that was to the overall success of the day.

Each and every industry member that took the time to come to Albany today has earned the liquor stores' heartfelt gratitude. Your presence made a big impact on the legislators, and may very well be a deciding factor in getting individual legislative support for our cause.