Franchising's voice rings through the halls of Congress.

Politics, they say, is a contact sport. And nowhere in the world is the sport practiced with more ferocity than in the cool, quiet, marbled halls of Congress. But it was with welcome relief that hundreds of members of Congress and their staff members opened their office doors to find the smiling faces of enthusiastic franchising community leaders who were delivering a message of hope and opportunity.

More often than not, those who flock to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers arrive

ready for confrontation with sharply-worded statements in hand. But the hundreds of International Franchise Association members who visited the nation's capital for the Seventh Annual Franchise Appreciation Day sessions came bearing evidence of the sector's economic benefits and promise for future generations of entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

Their message: franchising works.

Yes, they expressed their concerns about the struggle to provide adequate, affordable health insurance for themselves, their employees and their families. Yes, they noted the potentially-negative impact that raising the minimum wage could have on job creation and business profitability. Yes, they urged Congress to reform the nation's immigration laws and help thwart the dangers of frivolous litigation.

But their messages were delivered in the spirit of cooperation and in the form of education, not confrontation. And Congress listened.

The Voice Rings Out

Franchising World was there. We wanted to see, up close, the franchising community's version of grassroots political contact. We wanted to hear the actual voices of franchising as they rang out through the halls of Congress. That's why we followed the largest contingent from one company--Dunkin' Brands--which sent 57 representatives, a mix of corporate personnel and franchisees from 15 states.

Dunkin' Brands Inc., which consists of Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins and Togo's, began life as Dunkin' Donuts in 1950. Its founder, William (Bill) Rosenberg, was among the founders of the IFA and for all of his life was almost as active and energetic in association activities as he was in building the company.

His untiring mission, often expressed in full voice, was one of building and strengthening franchisor-franchisee relations. He would have been proud to watch as the Dunkin' group moved en masse from one congressional appointment to another--especially knowing that longtime Dunkin' franchisee George Zografos was helping carry the torch.