The American Chemical Society (ACS)- Georgia Section Committee on Legislative and Governmental Affairs (COLGA) is a group of chemists, chemical engineers, and chemical sciences students that aims to take advantage of the talents and the expertise of local section members to communicate policy initiatives held by the national ACS office. You can download an official copy of the Public Policy Priorities for the 2005-06 year at the ACS website or here.
The primary activity of COLGA is to meet with legislators and their staff at the local and national levels. Members will be contacting their state representatives based on which district they live in. This year, it will also be encouraged to contact not only U.S. Senate and House legislators, but also those at the Georgia state level so we can make an impact locally as well as a part of ACS' national voice.
Meetings entail meeting a legislator and/or oftentimes, a staff member, for a casual discussion of ACS' stance based on the Public Policy Priorities. The strength speaking with not only a Georgia constituent, but a Georgia constituent who is a member of one of the largest professional scientific organizations in the world, can make a lasting impact with respective legislators.
HOW MUCH OF A TIME COMMITMENT IS COLGA PARTICIPATION?
Participation in formal meetings will be minimal. The majority of time spent will be when meetings are set up by the team with legislators and their staff.
To view past issues of the Georgia Section ACS newsletter featuring COLGA-related articles, just select one of the following links.
