The Work of Being Heard

By Laura Lee Blake, ESQ., AAHOA President & CEO

Long before the United States became a nation, Americans were already arguing about a fundamental question: What happens when the people affected by government decisions have no meaningful voice in them?

The answer helped shape the American Revolution.

Among the principles that emerged from that struggle was the belief that government should be accountable to the people it governs. Over the two centuries that followed, Americans continued working to expand participation in that system and protect the right of citizens to engage with their government.

That history is worth remembering, particularly in an election year.

Advocacy Is More Than an Event

Coming from a background as an attorney, I learned that the consequences of a law are often found not in its title, but in its details.

A single provision can create an opportunity or a burden. A regulatory decision can have consequences far beyond the room in which it was made. Understanding those consequences requires attention, expertise, and engagement.

That is part of AAHOA’s responsibility.

Our members are running businesses. They cannot be expected to spend every day monitoring Congress, state legislatures, federal agencies, and the countless policy developments that may affect their operations. AAHOA must help bridge that gap by identifying the issues that matter, keeping members informed, and ensuring that the perspective of hotel owners is represented in decision-making.

Last month, that responsibility was on full display when AAHOA leaders and members from around the country traveled to Capitol Hill for the AAHOA National Leadership & Advocacy Conference. There, we engaged directly with members of Congress and their offices. The conversations were important not simply because they took place in Washington, but because hotel owners brought their experiences into the policymaking process.

That is representative advocacy in action.

A Responsibility Beyond Washington

Advocacy, however, does not begin or end on Capitol Hill.

This November, Americans will participate in another essential part of our democratic system: Voting.

The right to vote was not granted equally or easily throughout American history. Its expansion came through generations of struggle, legislation, and constitutional change. That history reminds us that participation in our democracy should never be treated as automatic or insignificant.

AAHOA will continue to monitor the issues affecting hotel owners and provide members with the information they need to understand what is at stake. We will continue to engage policymakers and advocate for our industry.

But no association can exercise an individual’s civic responsibility on their behalf.

On November 3, take the time to learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot. Participate in the process. Exercise one of the most fundamental rights of American citizenship.

The work of being heard requires that we first choose to speak. Vote.