The Illinois Electronic Security Association (IESA) staff along with 60 licensed alarm contractors spent a “Day in Springfield,” the capital city of Illinois, on March 25, 2015. After month of planning, the group of state-licensed alarm contractors descended on the Illinois capitol armed with fact sheets, letters of opposition and a clear focus on what they needed to do in order to keep potentially dangerous legislation from advancing.
The group made more than 180 legislative contacts and met with key committee members. While most house and senate members were busy in voting and non-voting committee sessions, IESA was active in reaching out to everyone from staffers to lawmakers. “Everyone had a positive response to us,” remarked Kevin Lehan, executive director of IESA. “It was a chaotic and busy day but we touched many key lawmakers multiple times by focusing our efforts to reach the members of committees that control the fate of two harmful bills.”