Bryce Harlow Foundation Award Dinner Highlights

The 29th Annual Bryce Harlow Award Dinner, held March 24th at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC, brought together a lively crowd of almost 500 government relations professionals.

Although the historic Senate vote on health care reform prevented his attendance, U.S. Senator Tom Carper was recognized as the recipient of the Bryce Harlow Award. Mr. Joel Jankowksy, a senior executive partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, was honored with the Business-Government Relations Award. Senator Mike Enzi and Mr. Vernon Jordan contributed remarks that reminded the audience of the importance of celebrating colleagues today who contribute to the business-government relationship and who practice their profession with the same level of integrity that Bryce Harlow did many years ago.

The 2009-10 Bryce Harlow Fellows were also recognized for their exemplary accomplishments. Board member Gloria Story Dittus served as dinner chair and with the help of the government relations community in Washington, DC, the dinner raised considerable funds to ensure even more fellows will be chosen in future years.

Joel Jankowsky eloquently captured the essence of the evening: “Let me state clearly – lobbying is an honorable profession. I wholeheartedly encourage these young people here tonight who are considering becoming lobbyists to do so. Our republic is forged and tempered by the contest of ideas. We need the very best among us to bring those ideas to that contest, and to do so, individually and collectively by following the Bryce Harlow principles. If we do that, I believe we will begin to restore the public’s confidence in public policy making and in the positive, and valuable, role that professional advocates contribute to it.”

To receive an invitation to next year’s dinner, please contact ldooley@bryceharlow.org.

Click here to see the dinner video.