The Chapter will conduct an Advocacy Day again during the upcoming 2012 Legislative Session.  Our first official Advocacy Day was held during the 2010 Legislative Session, and coincided with the creation of the Green Schools Caucus, a caucus of House and Senate legislators focusing on creating opportunities to “Green” Kentucky’s schools.  In 2011, the Chapter supported legislation related to regulation of radon testing, and many members had the opportunity to speak with their representatives about the USGBC, energy efficient and green building, and other more specific related issues.  Each year, we are amazed by the willingness of members to join us in Frankfort, and to donate time for a great and long-lasting cause. 

The Kentucky Chapter’s 2012 Advocacy Day will take place January 24th during the 2012 regular Legislative Session.  As soon as we have a date certain, we will get that information out to you, so that you can plan ahead.  We hope that many of you will plan to join us this year.  Advocacy Day is a great opportunity for the Chapter to come together with a strong voice, and for you to convey to your elected representatives, how important the USGBC, LEED, sustainability, green building, healthy indoor environments and energy efficiency are to you or your business.

We have divided our planning efforts amongst many of our talented volunteers.  Brett Ruffing has graciously agreed to serve as our Advocacy Day Coordinator this year.  Chris Tyler - Advocacy Committee Chair, Ryan Daugherty – Legislative Task Force Chair, and of course, Joan Pauly – Executive Director, will also be working with many other volunteers from our Advocacy and Communications Committees to pull this year’s event together.  Right now we are also in need of someone to volunteer for the following positions:  Room/Food Coordinator (coordinates the base room and snacks/drinks for our volunteers on advocacy day), Survey Coordinator (monitors survey and solicitation of member volunteers for Advocacy Day) and Reception Coordinator (coordinates and plans the evening reception). 

This year our goals are even higher than last year - we would like to have more than 50 Chapter volunteers from all corners of the Commonwealth, come to Frankfort to meet with their legislators.  This effort will support specific legislation that is important to the Chapter, as well as the Chapter's broader vision to "improve the health and welfare of all Kentucky citizens through a sustainable and responsible built environment."  By your involvement, you can practice the Chapter's mission to "educate and promote the design, construction, and operation of buildings and the built environment in Kentucky that are environmentally responsible places to live, work and learn". 

Volunteers will meet at the Capitol at 8:30 AM for a full day of advocacy.  The day will begin with training for the volunteers.  Groups will then be set up that will be led by Board or Committee members.  The groups will be based on the attending members' Senator and Representative.  Meetings with the Legislators will be set from 10 AM- 2 PM.  At 2 PM the legislators go in session, where all attendees will observe.  The evening will end with a reception for the volunteers and the legislators. 

Please CLICK HERE to find out who your legislators are and to let us know you are coming!

Please consider volunteering this year.  It’s a great time to network with other members, and to get involved in the political processes that have an impact on you as a Kentucky citizen and KY USGBC chapter member. For more information, contact Ryan Daugherty at rdaugherty@mmlk.com .