AND WHAT DO YOU DO? I'M A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PROFESSIONAL

What do you call a trade association that represents lobbyists when lobbyist has become a dirty word. Lobbyists’ lobbying group (formerly American League of Lobbyists) in Washington DC is now to be referred to as Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP).

The word lobbyist is 'out' in Washington D.C. Federal Affairs Professional, Strategic Communications Professional, Adviser, Advocate, and  Government Relations Professional is 'in'. To people who are not in that business they may not understand what the job of a Government Relations Professional really is. I doubt that these people at meetings or cocktail parties will introduce themselves as government relations professional. The reality is that they’ re still lobbyists no matter what they call themselves. The reality is that a name can only go so far to change perceptions. It’s ultimately the conduct of the people in the profession that really makes the difference.

On this side of the Atlantic we’ve also changed our name to Public Policy Advocates. The difference is that people are more likely to understand those three words ‘PUBLIC’ ‘POLICY’ ‘ADVOCATE than the abstract ‘GOVERNMENT RELATIONS’

Notwithstanding the name change introduced in Washington DC by the American League of Lobbyists, it should be noted that for the most part people still call themselves 'lobbyists' at state level.

Summary

Federal Level (Washington)

• Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP)
• Hispanic Lobbyists Association (HLP)

State Level

• Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists (ASPL), Arkansas.
• Institute of Government Advocates (IGA), California.
• Colorado Association of Professional Lobbyists (CAPL), Colorado.
• Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists (FAPL), Florida.
• Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association (GPLA), Georgia.
• Indiana Government Affairs Society of Indiana (GASI), Indiana.
• Association of Louisiana Lobbyists (ALP), Louisiana.
• Maryland Government Relations Association (MGRA), Maryland.
• Minnesota Government Relations Council (MGRC), Minnesota.
• Government Affairs Professionals of New York (GAP), New York.
• North Carolina Professional Lobbyists Association (NCPLA), North Carolina.
• Ohio Lobbying Association (OLA), Ohio.
• Capitol Club Inc., Oregon.
• Pennsylvania Association for Government Relations (PAGR), Pennsylvania.
• Tennessee Lobbyists Association (TLA)
• The Professional Advocacy Association of Texas (PAAT), Texas.
• Virginia Association of Professional Lobbyists (VAPL), Virginia.
• West Virginia Professional Association of Lobbyists (WPAL), West Virginia.
• Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists (AWL), Wisconsin.
• Wyoming Capitol Club, Wyoming.