Join the Snow & Ice Legislative Council or an interest group

There’s a satisfaction that comes with snow and ice management work, as it ensures safety and mobility during challenging winter conditions. However, we face a unique set of challenges, including evolving regulations, labor shortages, and the need for standardized practices. This is where active participation in SIMA becomes not just beneficial but crucial. SIMA has several ways for you to help shape the future of the industry.

Use your voice: Participate in the Snow & Ice Legislative Council

The Snow & Ice Legislative Council (SILC) aspires to be a vital advocate for the snow and ice management industry at both state and provincial levels. Its primary mission is to monitor, influence and respond to legislative and regulatory developments that impact snow and ice professionals. By participating in SILC, you gain a platform to make your voice heard and directly contribute to shaping the legal and operational landscape of your business. How can you get involved?

Attend meetings: SILC meetings will discuss current legislative issues, strategize advocacy efforts, and educate members on relevant policy changes. Attending these sessions is the first step to understanding the council's work and identifying areas where your expertise can be most valuable.

Respond to calls to action: When legislation is being considered, send letters, make phone calls, or even schedule meetings with local representatives. Such grassroots efforts amplify the industry's voice and demonstrate how you are impacted by proposed legislation.

Share your expertise: By sharing your challenges, successes and insights with SILC, you help to inform their advocacy strategies and ensure that proposed solutions are practical and effective for the industry. This could involve participating in surveys, providing case studies, or even testifying at legislative hearings.

By actively participating in SILC, you become an integral part of safeguarding your business interests, promoting fair regulations, and ensuring a favorable operating environment for all snow and ice management professionals. To get involved, email martin@sima.org.

Specialized collaboration: Join interest groups

SIMA’s snow and ice interest groups bring collaboration to a personal level. Our groups allow professionals with shared focuses, challenges or business models to collaborate, share best practices, and address specific niche issues. SIMA has active interest groups in residential snow removal, women in snow, business development, and in the Pacific Northwest/Western region.

What occurs in interest groups?

Interest groups center around specific types of operations or geographical regions.

Knowledge sharing: Participants can openly discuss common problems, innovative solutions, and emerging technologies. This fosters a collaborative environment where everyone benefits from collective wisdom.

Best practices development: These groups are ideal for developing and refining industry best practices.

Networking opportunities: Interest groups provide invaluable networking opportunities, connecting you with peers whom you would not have met separately. This can lead to partnerships, referrals, and a strong support network.

Overall, joining an interest group is an excellent way to deepen your expertise, build a strong professional network, and collaboratively elevate specific segments of the snow and ice management industry.

Have an idea for a new interest group? If you identify an unmet need for a specific audience, email evan@sima.org or learn more here.

The snow and ice management industry is complex and ever evolving, but through active participation in SIMA’s SILC or interest groups, you can collaboratively shape an improved, efficient, and respected future for the snow and ice sector. For SIMA members, participation has no cost. Your engagement is not just an option; it's a powerful catalyst for progress. 

Martin Tirado, CAE, is CEO and Executive Director for SIMA. Contact him at martin@sima.org.