Bill Text: FL S2218 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Associated Industries of Florida/90th Anniversary

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-18 - Introduced -SJ 00263; Read 2nd time -SJ 00264; Adopted -SJ 00264 [S2218 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-S2218-Introduced.html

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Florida Senate - 2010                            (NP)    SR 2218 
 
By Senator Thrasher 
8-02148-10                                            20102218__ 
1                          Senate Resolution 
2         A resolution recognizing Associated Industries of 
3         Florida on the occasion of its 90th Anniversary. 
4 
5         WHEREAS, the Duval County Employers’ Association was 
6  established in 1920 for the purpose of defending and promoting 
7  the free enterprise system, and 
8         WHEREAS, business owners and managers from other parts of 
9  the state joined the association, and, in 1923, the membership 
10  changed its name to the Florida Employers’ Association in 
11  recognition of its changed demographics, and 
12         WHEREAS, in 1930, the association changed its name one last 
13  time, incorporating as Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), 
14  and 
15         WHEREAS, in the 1940s, the association initiated innovative 
16  programs to enhance the business community’s participation in 
17  the political process, interviewing candidates for office and 
18  sending them questionnaires asking their views on a wide range 
19  of issues, developing an agenda of legislative priorities for 
20  the legislative session, and taking a proactive stance in the 
21  development of responses to issues of importance to the business 
22  community and, therefore, the state, and 
23         WHEREAS, the 1950s saw the association develop newsletters 
24  and a legislative directory to encourage and equip Florida 
25  employers to become more involved in the state political process 
26  by building personal relationships with legislators in order to 
27  help them better understand the problems facing industry, and 
28         WHEREAS, in 1951, the association broadened its base by 
29  becoming the state affiliate of the National Association of 
30  Manufacturers and, in 1953, moved its headquarters to 
31  Tallahassee to allow the association to better represent its 
32  members before state government, and 
33         WHEREAS, in 1974, the association formed the Florida 
34  business community’s first political action committee, known 
35  today as the Associated Industries of Florida Political Action 
36  Committee, to support candidates deemed appreciative of the need 
37  for a vibrant and secure free enterprise system, and 
38         WHEREAS, in 1991, the association developed one of the 
39  state’s first online legislative information systems, the 
40  Florida Business Network, to provide electronic tracking and 
41  reporting on the legislative process, and, in 1994, created the 
42  Florida Business United Network to electronically track and 
43  report on candidates, voting records, contributions, and other 
44  political information, and 
45         WHEREAS, in 1992, Associated Industries of Florida became 
46  the first business association to form a political operations 
47  department, concentrating on political strategy and polling, 
48  and, in 1994, created the first full-service political 
49  organization for business in the Sunshine State, the AIF 
50  Political Council, which developed an intensive political 
51  profile, questionnaire, and interview process for candidates 
52  that is still considered the “gold standard,” and 
53         WHEREAS, in 1999, Associated Industries of Florida 
54  developed a revolutionary data-gathering instrument dubbed Total 
55  View Equation, which analyzes the state’s legislative districts 
56  based on 160 categories of information, and 
57         WHEREAS, in the 2000s, the association has continued to 
58  forge new alliances and strengthen its ties with business owners 
59  and state, national, and international business groups, while 
60  enhancing its governmental affairs initiatives with the 
61  development of new industry councils that address the myriad 
62  issues affecting specific segments of the business community, 
63  and 
64         WHEREAS, over the course of its rich history, Associated 
65  Industries of Florida has been actively involved in every major 
66  legislative initiative related to the business community, 
67  working tirelessly to ensure that government officials 
68  understand the effect of their decisions on the business 
69  community, and earning the title, “The Voice of Florida 
70  Business,” and 
71         WHEREAS, the association and its members have given 
72  generously to this state through their support of and service to 
73  community organizations and private associations, including the 
74  American Red Cross, the United Way, Foundation USA, Communities 
75  in Schools, the Florida Economics Club, and the Broward 
76  Partnership for the Homeless, NOW, THEREFORE, 
77 
78  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 
79 
80         That Associated Industries of Florida is congratulated on 
81  the occasion of its 90th Anniversary and commended for its many 
82  years of service to the business community and its contribution 
83  to the political process.