Come to DC to Visit with Your Members of Congress and NASBP but Be Wary of Taking a Cab

My recent trip to DC for a NASBP meeting provided the following unusual experience.

In a cab on my way to the airport from NASBP headquarters, I had been reviewing emails on my iPad until I looked up astonished to discover that we were doing laps around DuPont Circle. I thought to myself that I distinctly remember when I got in the cab the driver acknowledging, in broken English, that my destination was Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This time I asked the cab driver if he knew where he was going. He threw up his hands in bewilderment. I pleaded with him to ask for directions from another cabby, which he did. We eventually ended up on the highway to Reagan airport; however, he missed the exit for the airport. At this point, we were headed to Crystal City, Virginia. To my right in the pouring rain, I noticed a Days Inn that appeared to have a shuttle bus; immediately, I envisioned that this could be my ticket out of this predicament. But, we were stuck in traffic with no way to make our move. I rolled down the window and begged the cab driver next to us to allow me to jump in his cab, but to no avail. I eventually made it to the airport with 15 minutes to spare before boarding my flight. The moral of this story is, when in Washington, D.C., I recommend you take the D.C. Metro.

In all seriousness, I encourage you to come to Washington, D.C. for several reasons. Visit with NASBP staff at the new headquarters (just utilize the DC Metro system to avoid taking a cab). The NASBP staff are always happy to see members, affiliates, and associates. The new office (as of December 2010) at 1140 19th St. NW, Suite 800, is first class and offers a state-of-the-art meeting room. An added bonus is the NASBP office is located near the Smith & Wollensky restaurant that serves the best crab cake sliders east of the Rio Grande.

Another reason why you should make the trip is to meet with your members of Congress. We, as surety professionals, should all be meeting regularly with our federal legislators to educate them about the surety product and its benefits. NASBP Director of Government Relations Larry LeClair can help arrange for you to see your Senators and members of the House of Representatives, while you are in town. Since 2012 is an election year, many of your members of Congress are gearing up for their re-election campaign and receptive to meeting with their constituents, like you.

Unable to make the trip? NASBP members can help another way. They can support NASBP efforts to educate members of Congress by completing the NASBP SuretyPAC Prior Approval Form, which provides NASBP permission to solicit your agency for support of the NASBP SuretyPAC. Remember that the SuretyPAC is the only federal political action committee (PAC) that is 100% devoted to representing the surety industry and establishing and nurturing relationships with candidates running for congressional office. Supporters are acknowledged through contribution levels of Bronze, Silver and Gold. Your agency can authorize only one political action committee to solicit your agency per year. If you authorized another political action committee for 2011, we hope your agency will consider authorizing NASBP for 2012.

Be assured NASBP continues to oppose pieces of legislation across the country that propose bond waivers and threshold increases. The surety bond product is under attack in many states. For example, Virginia is proposing again to increase the bond threshold—this time for transportation projects from $250,000 to $500,000. CEO Mark McCallum and Larry have been communicating effectively with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). NASBP arguments against raising the bond threshold are compelling. For example, when VDOT said it is willing to establish another bureaucracy to qualify and to bond contractors, NASBP countered that the surety industry is best suited to take on this role and is much more cost effective for the taxpayer. NASBP staff also pointed out that bond threshold increases as well as bond waivers do not promote or encourage small businesses to develop sound business practices. NASBP has committed to VDOT that NASBP members will dedicate time and effort to help educate contractors at every level on how best to position themselves to qualify for surety credit.

With several states proposing similar legislation, it is important that the NASBP members, affiliates, and associates work to convince public obligees that educating contractors is one of the solutions, and NASBP is reaching out to more contractors than ever before in this regard. I recently provided a seminar about bonding basics to the local Small Business Association (SBA) in El Paso. Please seek out your local SBA office and pitch in to help educate emerging contractors in your region. The U.S. DOT has Bonding Education Programs (BEPs) slated across the country, and NASBP is a participatory organization in this effort. Click here to find out how you can participate. These DOT BEPs are another way you can get involved. In talking to my colleagues this year, most of their new business stems from the small and emerging market. This year our agency has over a dozen new accounts on the books that are classified as small and emerging clients. I have found them very rewarding.

September was a busy month for NASBP staff and me! That September day (when I took the zany cab ride) I attended a joint meeting of the leadership and staff of the NASBP, Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA). All three associations benefited from this September meeting, because we exchanged ideas on topics that are of mutual interest, and we began planning AGC’s Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management that will be held in early February.

Later in September, the NASBP Regions 1, 2 & 3 Meeting was held just outside Albuquerque, NM from September 15 -18. Attendance was good and the programs were well received. I want to thank Regional Directors Don Appleby, Stuart O’Farrell, and Mark Munekawa for a job well done. The following week the NASBP Regions 4, 5, 6, & 7 Meeting was held in Austin, Texas. The attendance at this Regional Meeting was the best we have seen in over five years. Regional Directors Brad Babcock, Bob Bobo, Jason Gusso, and Kevin Kalish provided great value to all in organizing and coordinating these programs. The entire event was a great success, Director of Meetings Bethany Jones did her usual great job of bringing everything together at both locations. I want to thank everyone who attended these Regional meetings. The feedback NASBP received about them was positive. NASBP always seeks advice on how to enhance membership value at our regional meetings and welcomes your input anytime.

As you read this, I will be half way through my term as NASBP President. It is hard to believe! Since I became President, business has slowed; however, the support and encouragement from members, affiliates, and associates has not waned. I am enriched by all the new friendships I have by virtue of this Presidency. Also, as I write this article, I must note the passing of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at the age 56. I can’t think of another individual who has accomplished more in his or her lifetime. Many of his quotes are worth noting. Several follow the theme of “love what you do.” I know I do. The surety business has provided so many opportunities for so many, including myself. I feel we are all fortunate to be part of it. Thank you.

John M. Rindt
NASBP President

John M. Rindt is Executive Vice President of JDW Insurance in El Paso, TX. John can be reached at jrindt@jdw-insurance.com.