(CHICAGO) July 25, 2016 — More than 260 NAMA members and guests convened in Washington D.C. July 12 and 13 for NAMA Takes the Hill, far exceeding the goals for the association’s second annual Fly-In, according to Eric Dell, NAMA’s SVP of Government Affairs.
“NAMA Takes the Hill proved to be an incredible success in year two, with attendance up by 30 percent over last year,” Dell said. “We could not accomplish our goals here in Washington without the tremendous support of our members, sponsors and elected officials – working together is key. Participants met with lawmakers from nearly every state, extending greatly the impact and value of relationships forged as we work to grow our industry’s presence at the federal level. With this scale of involvement, NAMA and our members are really poised to help shape policies affecting the future of the industry,” he concluded.
Attendees representing 41 states and Washington D.C. took part in 210 meetings with elected officials and their staffs from both the Senate and the House, meeting with 39 percent of congressional offices overall. Meeting discussions focused on three main issues: Nutrition and Wellness, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act and Sustainability.
A survey of attendees underscored the Fly-In’s positive impact, with 85 percent of respondents saying they would recommend the Fly-In to a friend or colleague.
“NAMA has never been so engaged with its community,” said participant Amy Bartholomee of Vend Central. “It was very exciting to be a part of something so big and impressive! We are a force in this country, thanks to NAMA’s advocacy work.”
About 400 people, including Fly-In participants and congressional staffers attended a NAMA-hosted reception at the U.S. House Rayburn Building, showcasing high-tech vending machines stocked with a selection of the industry’s better-for-you and FitPick-compliant products, along with traditional favorites and beverages.
Tuesday evening preceding the Capitol Hill meetings, NAMA hosted an advocacy education session featuring FDA representatives on Calorie Disclosure compliance and dinner featuring election analyst Charlie Cook of The Cook Political Report. The dinner opened with a military color guard and included a special presentation from Operation Homefront, a national non-profit supporting military families. NAMA partnered with the group to give back to military families by donating backpacks filled with school supplies. As of the Fly-In, NAMA members donated more than 100 backpacks to the cause, including six backpacks presented to a local military family during the dinner. The evening’s events concluded with a private tour of the Capitol.
Founded in 1936, NAMA is the association representing the $25 billion U.S. convenience services industry. With more than 1100 member companies – including many of the world’s most recognized brands – NAMA provides advocacy, education and research for its membership. Visit NAMA on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
