CAP
TE A M
WCA County Ambassador Program
COUNTY
AMBASSADORS
Descend on Capitol for First
Meeting of New Legislative Session
–Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, Wisconsin Counties Association
A
pproximately 100 county ambassadors descended on
the Wisconsin State Capitol on Wednesday, January
18, 2017 to meet with their legislators on issues identified by the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA)
board and staff as priorities for the 2017-2018 Leg-
islative Session.
In 2010, the Wisconsin Counties Association began the County
Ambassador Program (CAP). The goal of the program is to engage
county officials in the association’s efforts to educate lawmakers on the
important role of county government through direct dialogue with
members of the Legislature. Participants in the program work sideby-side with the WCA Government Affairs Team to promote WCA’s
Legislative Agenda/Platform before the Wisconsin State Legislature
and state agency officials. Over the last two sessions, many of the association’s successes can be attributed to the ability of county officials to
offer policymakers real-world examples of the impact of county government on people’s lives.
Members of the County Ambassador Program, referred to as the
CAP Team, come to Madison three to four times per legislative session
to ask legislators for their support on issues impacting county government. Issues discussed at the January 18 meeting include:
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Child Welfare Funding.
County Land Conservation Staffing and Cost-Sharing Grants.
Modernizing 911 Services.
County Veterans Service Officers Grant Funding.
10 February 2017
u
27
59
SENATORS
REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
VISITS
CAP Team members were welcomed to the meeting by the Chair
of the WCA Board of Directors,
Eau Claire County Board Chair
Gregg Moore. Moore surprised
members by serenading WCA Executive Director Mark O’Connell
in honor of his birthday. Following
introductory comments, the WCA
Government Affairs Team briefed
members on the four legislative
issues prior to sending members
to the Capitol to meet with their
legislative delegations. Members
reconvened for lunch, where Senate President Roger Roth discussed
priorities for the 2017-2018 Legislative Session.
Based on Capitol feedback
forms submitted by members to
date, 27 of 33 State Senators and
59 of 99 State Representatives received a visit by at least one CAP
Team member. Once additional
CAP Team members submit their
forms, the counts are sure to go
higher.
It is not too late to become a
member of the CAP Team. If you
are interested in being a part of
the County Ambassador Program,
please contact the WCA office at
1-866-404-2700. The next meeting of the CAP team is scheduled
for Wednesday, April 5, 2017. The
April meeting is also Human Services Day at the Capitol.
Top left: Eau Claire County CAP Team members visit with Representative Warren Petryk. Top right:
Keynote speaker Senate President Roger Roth addressed the CAP Team audience over lunch about priorities for the 2017-2018 Legislative Session. Middle left: CAP Team members are briefed by the WCA
Government Affairs Team. Middle right: Eau Claire County Board Chair & WCA Chair Gregg Moore
(right) with Logan Heuer (left) in Representative Petryk’s office. Bottom: Approximately 100 county
ambassadors met in Madison for the CAP Team meeting.