Thin Blue Line
By Tom Ashley, NAIFA-Florida CEO
Several years ago, a TV documentary was produced depicting the story of Randall Dale Adams who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a Dallas police officer - a crime which he did not commit. Following a 12-year review of the case Adams was eventually released from prison, one year after the documentary was released.
During the trial's closing arguments, Dallas prosecutor Doug Mulder used the phrase "thin blue line" to describe law enforcement's role in separating society from anarchy. Today, the simple-looking emblem of a thin blue line has many meanings, all rising from the same concept - police officers stand as a thin line which protects society from evil and chaos.
As members of NAIFA, the concept of a thin blue line should not be foreign to us. For could you not say that NAIFA acts as a thin line between federal/state legislators & regulators, and the livelihood of our members? Is it not the same concept in that NAIFA provides protection to all of us from harmful legislation and misguided regulation?
NAIFA's advocacy efforts, both at the state level (NAIFA-Florida) and the national level (NAIFA) shield our members so that they may continue providing the valuable and much-needed advice and products to our clients and prospects.
My role as NAIFA-Florida CEO affords me a close-up view of the legislative process and the responsibilities our state and national lobbyists have in protecting NAIFA members. Believe me when I tell you that the line is indeed thin. Your lobbyists are working hard on your behalf every day - to protect you and your careers. But the number of individuals who have that responsibility is amazingly low. And, right now, it is these same lobbyists who need
your
help.
As we approach the end of 2019, our political action committee (IFAPAC) funds are running low. It is these funds which provide our lobbyists access to state and federal legislators by contributing to their election and re-election campaigns. If funds are not available, it severely inhibits our lobbyists' ability to effectively represent you, our NAIFA members.
I ask you to please consider making a contribution to IFAPAC before the year is out. If you're an ongoing contributor, please consider an additional one-time contribution. If you're not a contributor to IFAPAC, please make a contribution now.
All members can go to naifa.org, click "Advocacy" at the top, then click "IFAPAC". Or use the attached form. (Friday, Dec. 20 is the last day to
mail
check and credit card contributions to IFAPAC, 2901 Telestar Court, 6th Floor, Falls Church, VA 22042 to ensure they are processed for 2019.)
Remember, your thin line of protection - those who are responsible for NAIFA's Advocacy efforts -- needs your help!
